Today, Monday, January 19, 2026, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi is set to travel to Damascus to finalize the ceasefire and integration deal signed earlier this weekend with Syria's interim authority. 🤝
In a speech broadcast by Kurdish media outlet Rudaw this Sunday, Abdi explained that the withdrawal of SDF forces from Raqqa and Deir al-Zour provinces was aimed at sparing lives and preventing the conflict from slipping into civil war. With clashes, shelling and shifting frontlines unfolding west of the Euphrates, both sides are eager to stabilize the region.
Here's what to watch for in today's talks:
- Timeline for SDF withdrawal east of the Euphrates 🗓️
- Security arrangements and integration of SDF personnel into state forces 🔒
- Transition of civil institutions in Raqqa, Deir al-Zour and Hasakah 🏛️
- Guarantees for cultural and administrative autonomy in Kurdish-majority areas 🌍
The agreement signed on Saturday called for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire and the handover of public institutions to the interim authority. Damascus will take control of border crossings, oil and gas fields, while promising not to prosecute former SDF fighters or administrators.
Among the highlights is the recognition of Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, the restoration of property claims, and a roadmap for displaced residents to return safely to Afrin and Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood.
Security integration measures include vetting SDF members for official ranks, salaries and benefits. Prisons and camps holding Islamic State detainees will merge into state institutions, with forces guarding them joining national structures.
As Abdi heads to Damascus today, the focus is on implementation. Both sides hope this deal will be the most comprehensive framework yet for ending parallel governance, consolidating state authority and charting a more stable future for northeastern Syria.
Stay tuned for updates on this historic turn in Syria's long-running conflict. ✨
Reference(s):
SDF leader to head to Damascus to finalize deal with interim authority
cgtn.com
