On January 21, the Syrian government reported that a drone attack by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) caused the deaths of seven soldiers while they were securing a seized military installation containing explosives. The government characterized this event as a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict in northeastern Syria. However, the SDF quickly denied responsibility for this strike, asserting that the explosion resulted from Syrian soldiers handling explosives themselves, and accused Syria’s army of breaching the ceasefire through attacks in multiple locations.
This clash jeopardizes a recent four-day ceasefire agreement that had been established after days of rapid military advances by the Syrian government. On the previous day, Damascus announced an understanding with the SDF aiming to integrate the Kurdish-led group into the central state's control, warning that failure to reach an accord would prompt an assault on the final two urban centers still under SDF control.
The contested ceasefire and ongoing military maneuvers mark a crucial point for the Kurdish-held territories in the northeast, which have operated with de facto autonomy for years. The situation carries significant implications for Syria’s relations with both the United States and Turkey, as well as for the management of thousands of detained Islamist militants held under SDF custody.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, responded to the developments by urging the SDF, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization due to its links with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), to cease armed resistance and disband to prevent further bloodshed. Meanwhile, the United States, which had previously supported the SDF as a key partner in combating Islamic State militants, has distanced itself from the group’s current position. The U.S. did not obstruct the Syrian government’s recent offensive and encouraged the SDF to accept the ceasefire proposal. Washington stated that the strategic rationale for its partnership with the SDF had passed but emphasized concern over detained Islamic State affiliates and civilian detainees within SDF-controlled facilities, announcing a mission to transfer these prisoners to Iraq.
On January 20, the SDF confirmed acceptance of the ceasefire and committed to refraining from military action unless provoked. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi reiterated the commitment to defending Kurdish-majority areas, which he labeled a “red line.” The region, located at the tri-border area with Turkey and Iraq, contains a mix of Arab and Kurdish populations and holds most of Syria’s energy resources.
As of January 21, Syrian military forces remained deployed around the principal SDF-held cities of Hasakah and Qamishli, as observed by Reuters reporters on the ground. Reinforcements, including tanks, military vehicles, and fighter transports, had been delivered overnight. However, military operations had paused following President Assad’s announcement of the ceasefire, pending the SDF’s response to integration proposals.
The evolving strategic landscape in Syria reflects the outcomes of a tumultuous thirteen months that saw government forces regain territories previously lost to rebel factions led by former al Qaeda commander Sharaa. The SDF had exercised autonomous control over approximately a quarter of Syria during the civil war and had periodically clashed with rebel forces. The U.S. military maintained a limited presence in the northeast, assisting the SDF against assaults by Assad’s forces and allied militias.
Syrian President Assad has meanwhile nurtured positive relations with Washington, transforming his interactions with Damascus authorities. Concurrently, Turkey’s military involvement in northern Syria supports rebel groups opposing both Assad and the SDF, which it views as an extension of the PKK insurgency inside Turkey. Ongoing peace talks between Ankara and the PKK underscore Turkey's interest in ending SDF territorial control.
In remarks to parliament, Erdogan welcomed the declared ceasefire and expressed hope that the SDF’s full integration into Syria’s state apparatus would usher in a new era for the country. Additionally, Erdogan and former U.S. President Donald Trump conducted a telephonic discussion focusing on prisoners held in Syrian jails and the broader anti-Islamic State campaign.