Syrian security forces enter Qamishli under integration deal with SDF

Syrian security forces began entering the city of Qamishli in Hasakah province on Tuesday under a ceasefire and phased integration agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). According to the state-run SANA news agency, a convoy of Internal Security Forces vehicles moved into the city, with local residents reportedly welcoming the deployment.

The entry follows a “comprehensive agreement” announced on Friday between the Syrian government and the SDF, which aims to end the state of division and lay the groundwork for full integration of the group’s members and institutions into the Syrian state. This latest accord builds upon a previous ceasefire and integration deal signed on January 18, which the Syrian government said had been repeatedly violated by the SDF, leading to what it termed a “serious escalation.”

Background of the Agreement

The January 18 agreement called for a ceasefire and the integration of SDF fighters and structures into Syrian state institutions. However, violations prompted a Syrian military operation that retook large areas in eastern and northeastern Syria. The new deal specifically addresses the status of the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli and outlines steps for military integration.