Syrian defence ministry says extension goals to assist switch of ISIL prisoners from amenities beforehand held by SDF.
Printed On 24 Jan 2026
A ceasefire settlement between Syria’s army and Kurdish-led forces has been prolonged for 15 days, the Syrian Ministry of Defence introduced.
The ministry mentioned late on Saturday that the extension, which started at 11pm native time (20:00 GMT), goals to assist a United States operation to switch ISIL (ISIS) prisoners from detention amenities beforehand managed by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
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The SDF additionally confirmed that the ceasefire was prolonged, stressing in a press release that the deal “contributes to de-escalation, the safety of civilians, and the creation of the mandatory circumstances for stability”.
Reporting from the Syrian capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Ayman Oghanna mentioned the announcement has spurred a sense of reduction within the nation.
“Whereas this ceasefire is welcome in Syria, there’s nonetheless a number of concern as a result of the central concern that has brought about the combating between the SDF and the federal government hasn’t been resolved,” he mentioned.
“And that concern is integration: integrating SDF fighters and civil establishments into [Syrian] authorities establishments.”
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a take care of the SDF in March of final 12 months to combine the group into state establishments following the autumn of longtime chief Bashar al-Assad.
However the plan faltered amid disagreements between the 2 sides over how greatest to implement the settlement, spurring a wave of lethal clashes in a number of components of the nation in current weeks.
Earlier this week, Damascus announced a four-day truce to halt a wave of combating that noticed Syrian authorities forces quickly advance and seize territory beforehand held by the SDF.
Syrian forces had been approaching a final cluster of Kurdish-held cities within the northeast when the ceasefire was introduced on Tuesday, giving the SDF till Saturday night time to give you a plan to combine with Syria’s military.
The advance has introduced key oil fields, hydroelectric dams and a few amenities holding ISIL fighters and affiliated civilians – together with al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa province – below authorities management.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has been calling on each the Syrian authorities and the SDF to make sure that the ceasefire holds.
On Wednesday, Washington introduced it had begun transferring ISIL-linked detainees from Syria to Iraq. The US army has mentioned as many as 7,000 folks may very well be transferred to Iraqi-controlled amenities.
“We’re intently coordinating with regional companions, together with the Iraqi authorities, and we sincerely recognize their function in making certain the enduring defeat of ISIS,” US Admiral Brad Cooper, the top of US forces within the Center East, mentioned.
