Syria extends truce with Kurdish forces for 15 days

Syria on Saturday extended a truce with Kurdish forces by 15 days, saying it was doing so to support the transfer of Daesh detainees from Syria to Iraq.

In a statement, the Syrian defence ministry announced the "extension of the ceasefire... for 15 days" starting at 11pm (20:00 GMT) on Saturday.

"The extension of the ceasefire comes in support of the American operation to transfer [Daesh] detainees from SDF prisons to Iraq," the statement added, referring to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Washington has begun transferring thousands of Daesh detainees who were held in SDF-run prisons in Syria to Iraq, following advances by government forces at the expense of Kurdish forces in northern and northeastern Syria.

After the two sides had agreed to a four-day ceasefire set to expire late Saturday, they announced an extension of the arrangement.

For its part, the Syrian Democratic Forces confirmed the extension of the agreement, saying it was reached “through international mediation, alongside the continuation of dialogue with Damascus.”

The SDF added: “Our forces reaffirm their commitment to the agreement and their determination to respect it in a manner that contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of conditions necessary for stability.”

A ceasefire has been in effect for several days as part of a broader understanding between the government and the Kurds, which stipulates continuing discussions on the future integration of Kurdish institutions in Hasakah province (northeastern Syria) into state institutions, following the SDF’s withdrawal from large areas in the north and east of the country amid clashes with government forces.

Several sources had earlier told Agence France-Presse on Saturday that they expected the ceasefire to be extended for a period that could reach up to a month.

A Syrian government source explained that “the completion of the transfer of [Daesh] detainees is one of the reasons behind the extension.”

In parallel with the ceasefire, Washington began transferring detainees from the extremist group from Syria to Iraq, saying their number “reaches seven thousand detainees.”

A batch of 150 members, including prominent Daesh figures among them Europeans, arrived in Iraq from a Hasakah prison on Wednesday, according to two Iraqi officials who spoke on Friday.

On Saturday, the Syrian government released at least 126 minors who had been detained at al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa (north), according to state media, after taking over the facility from Kurdish forces.

The Future of Kurdish Institutions

The Syrian presidency had announced on Tuesday that a new understanding had been reached with the Syrian Democratic Forces, including a four-day period for “consultations.”

According to the text of the understanding published by the presidency, “Syrian forces will not enter the city centers of Hasakah and Qamishli” if the agreement proceeds, while “the timetable and details for the peaceful integration of Hasakah province, including the predominantly Kurdish city of Qamishli,” will be discussed at a later stage.

It also stated that army forces would not enter “Kurdish villages,” where “no armed forces will be present… except for local security forces made up of residents of the area.”

The understanding allows SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to propose candidates for the posts of deputy defense minister and governor of Hasakah, in addition to names for representation in parliament, according to the presidency.

A Kurdish source told AFP that the SDF had submitted “a proposal via US mediator Tom Barrack to the Syrian government” as part of consultations on the future of Kurdish institutions, including a suggestion that “the government take over the management of crossings and borders in a way that ensures the security and preservation of the region.”

The source said the SDF had named its candidate for the post of deputy defense minister and would also name “a list of parliamentary candidates.”

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which also included Arab fighters, played a pivotal role during years of the Syrian conflict.

Backed by the United States, they fought Daesh and succeeded in largely defeating it in Syria.

As a result, they managed to establish control over vast areas in the north and east of the country containing major oil fields, where they set up a self-administration.

They also detained thousands of Daesh fighters, whose number Amnesty International estimated in August 2023 at around ten thousand.

However, since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, the new Syrian authorities led by Ahmed al-Sharaa have declared their determination to unify the country under their new banner.

They held negotiations with the Kurds to integrate their forces and institutions into state bodies, but the talks stalled, eventually leading to a military confrontation.