The Syrian government and the SDF have reached a ceasefire agreement

The Syrian government and the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached an agreement on Sunday on an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, Syrian state media reported.

As part of the ceasefire, the SDF is to withdraw east of the Euphrates River, Reuters reported, citing a government document.

The statement of the Syrian authorities, quoted by the media, stated that all SDF forces were to be incorporated into the structures of the Syrian ministries of defense and interior affairs. In addition, the SDF will be obliged to evacuate from Syria all people associated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish authorities.

According to Reuters, the document with the above arrangements was signed by Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara and SDF leader Mazlum Abdi. They are scheduled to meet on Monday.

The government in Damascus is also to take military and administrative control over the provinces of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa. Until now, these areas were mostly under Kurdish control. All border crossings, gas and oil deposits in these regions are also to be taken over by the authorities headed by al-Shara, who comes from Islamist organizations.

US presidential envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces is a “key turning point.”

For several days, fighting has been going on in northern Syria between the forces subordinated to the government in Damascus and the SDF, which was driven out of Aleppo on January 11. (PAP)

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