Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa hailed a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a "victory for all" Syrians, marking a significant shift in the country's long-standing conflict.
The deal, which was announced on Sunday, calls for the SDF to withdraw from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces, effectively dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that have controlled much of northern Syria since 2012. The agreement also stipulates that senior military and civilian officials will be integrated into the Syrian government's security forces.
In a statement, al-Sharaa said the agreement represents "a pivotal inflection point" towards unity and progress in Syria. He praised US envoy Tom Barrack for his role in brokering the deal, saying it would lead to "renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria".
The SDF's leader, Mazloum Abdi, confirmed the agreement in a video statement, stating that his group had accepted the terms, which include surrendering control of key areas and joining the Syrian military. However, details on when and how the agreement will take effect remain unclear.
The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF have eased following clashes earlier this month. Government forces have since swept into Raqqa city, with crowds celebrating in the streets late into the evening. The news has sparked hope for a brighter future in Syria, but many questions still linger about the implementation of the agreement and its impact on the country's long-standing divisions.
For now, at least, it appears that the SDF's influence is waning, as government forces solidify their grip on critical areas such as oil fields, river dams, and border crossings. The road ahead remains uncertain, but for al-Sharaa, Sunday's announcement marks a significant step towards healing the divisions that have plagued Syria for years.
The deal, which was announced on Sunday, calls for the SDF to withdraw from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces, effectively dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that have controlled much of northern Syria since 2012. The agreement also stipulates that senior military and civilian officials will be integrated into the Syrian government's security forces.
In a statement, al-Sharaa said the agreement represents "a pivotal inflection point" towards unity and progress in Syria. He praised US envoy Tom Barrack for his role in brokering the deal, saying it would lead to "renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria".
The SDF's leader, Mazloum Abdi, confirmed the agreement in a video statement, stating that his group had accepted the terms, which include surrendering control of key areas and joining the Syrian military. However, details on when and how the agreement will take effect remain unclear.
The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF have eased following clashes earlier this month. Government forces have since swept into Raqqa city, with crowds celebrating in the streets late into the evening. The news has sparked hope for a brighter future in Syria, but many questions still linger about the implementation of the agreement and its impact on the country's long-standing divisions.
For now, at least, it appears that the SDF's influence is waning, as government forces solidify their grip on critical areas such as oil fields, river dams, and border crossings. The road ahead remains uncertain, but for al-Sharaa, Sunday's announcement marks a significant step towards healing the divisions that have plagued Syria for years.
, but what about the ppl who are still stuck in refugee camps? and what about the rebels? will they just join the gov forces or do they have a say too? 
it's not all sunshine and rainbows, you know? this ceasefire thingy might be good for Syria's future, but it's also gonna take a while to see how it plays out on the ground 
. But at the same time, I'm not sure if this means more instability in Syria in the long run 
. Like, what happens when government forces start to crack down on anyone who's still opposed to them? 
And what about the people in Raqqa city, they're basically rejoicing because their city is under gov control now 
. I'm all for unity and progress, but let's not forget that Syria has been through so much trauma 
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. it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out, especially with the sdf and gov forces coming together 
. i feel like we're getting closer to a unified syria, but at the same time, there's still so many unanswered questions 
Just heard about this ceasefire agreement in Syria and I gotta say its kinda cool to see leaders finally coming together after all those years of conflict 
The fact that the SDF is willing to surrender control of key areas and join the Syrian military shows they're trying to move forward 
. Plus, al-Sharaa is being super optimistic about it all, saying its gonna lead to unity and progress 
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