Name: Four day ceasefire announced in Syria, Hasakah future to be discussed
Uploaded: 2026-01-21T04:28:45.473Z
Duration: 2 min 47 s
Description: The Syrian government has announced a four-day ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, following renewed fighting in the north. The SDF says it will abide by the truce. The government says the ceasefire will give time for the SDF to find ways to integrate the northeastern province of Hasakah.

The Syrian government has announced a four-day ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, following renewed fighting in the north. The SDF says it will abide by the truce. The government says the ceasefire will give time for the SDF to find ways to integrate the northeastern province of Hasakah.

Damascus

The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached a new agreement establishing a four-day ceasefire, with a focus on the future of Hasakah province. The deal outlines a phased integration of SDF institutions into state structures, while Syrian troops will avoid major Kurdish-populated areas. 

Damascus has given the SDF an ultimatum to fully integrate within four days, and the SDF has expressed commitment to the agreement. The ceasefire coincides with the transfer of responsibility for ISIL detention sites from Kurdish forces to the Syrian government, amid U.S. support for the transition. Some officials and observers remain cautious about the ceasefire's prospects, citing the risk of renewed violence or interference from third parties.

Four day ceasefire announced in Syria, Hasakah future to be discussed

The government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said they'd reached a new common understanding on the future of the country's northeast. The deal focuses on al-Haskah province, promising a phased integration of SDF institutions into the state while keeping Syrian troops out of major Kurdish-populated city centers and villages. Damascus has given the SDF an ultimatum of four days to fully integrate into Syria's institutions. The SDF say they are committed to the agreement. This is the second ceasefire between the SDF and the Syrian government this week. On Sunday, here in Emyad Square, there were celebrations following the first U.S.-brokered ceasefire on January 18. There are no celebrations tonight, as some fear this ceasefire, too, may not hold. Even some in the government say they feel we still may see further violence. To be honest, we might see some skirmishes. I would not say that it's violations or a breakout of violence, but we might see some incidents here and there that... Such as? It will be from a third party or uncontrolled parties on the ground. The ceasefire announcement comes as Kurdish forces withdraw from the sprawling al-Hol camp and other ISIL detention sites that they've guarded for years, handing responsibility to Damascus. Syrian officials accuse the SDF of using the ISIL prisoners as pressure in negotiations, even alleging some detainees were released, claims the SDF rejects. It warns that government attacks and front-line advances have made those facilities impossible to hold. Washington, meanwhile, is openly backing this shift. U.S. envoy Tom Barak says the SDF's anti-ISIL mission has largely run its course, and that Damascus is now positioned to be America's primary partner against the group. U.S. President Donald Trump says Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara still has his backing. The president of Syria is working very, very hard, strong guy, tough guy. Pretty rough resume, but you're not going to put a choir boy in there and, you know, get the job done. I spoke with him yesterday because we were talking about the prisons and, you know, what was going on. We have some of the worst terrorists in the world in those prisons. The latest ceasefire deal may be a watershed moment regarding the unity of Syria after nearly 15 years of division and conflict, or it may be the start of renewed violence as the clock ticks down on the SDF to integrate after Damascus' ultimatum. Eamon O'Ghana, Al Jazeera, Damascus, Syria.

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