Syria and Kurdish-led militia reach deal to integrate forces

On Jan. 30, 2026, Syria’s government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reached a comprehensive agreement to integrate Kurdish forces into the Syrian military, according to Kurdish officials and Syrian state media. The agreement calls for the formation of a Syrian military division made up of three brigades from the Syrian Democratic Forces, the integration of Kurdish-led civil institutions into Syria’s central government, and the withdrawal of government forces that had amassed along a front line, the sources said.

The S.D.F. said, "The agreement aims to unify Syrian territory and achieve full integration in the region by strengthening cooperation between the concerned parties and unifying efforts to rebuild the country." The deal closes a period of intense uncertainty in northeastern Syria after rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, now the Syrian president, seized power in December 2024.

Negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish leaders had stalled for months, and the situation shifted after Mr. al-Sharaa mounted a military push into Kurdish-held areas and the United States withdrew its support for the Kurdish militia. The agreement includes the creation of a brigade for Kurdish fighters in Kobani and allows government forces to enter Hasaka and Qamishli, two cities long under Kurdish control.

The report says that after the U.S. withdrawal of support, the S.D.F.

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