Syria's al-Sharaa to Meet SDF Leader Abdi After Ceasefire Brings Kurdish Forces Under State Control

 

Short Summary 

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will meet SDF commander Mazloum Abdi on Monday to solidify a ceasefire deal that ends recent fighting and integrates Kurdish-led forces into state institutions. The agreement follows government advances reclaiming areas in Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor, with SDF withdrawing to Hasakah. Celebrations erupted in Damascus amid relief, though scepticism remains. The deal boosts Damascus's control over oil resources and shifts focus to governance, minority protection, and economic recovery in war-weary Syria.

Long Summary 

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet SDF leader Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) in Damascus on Monday, January 20, 2026, to advance implementation of a newly signed ceasefire agreement. The meeting, delayed from Sunday due to weather, aims to consolidate a truce that ended intense clashes and places Kurdish civilian and military structures under central government control.

The deal, announced on January 18 after a swift two-day military operation, saw Syrian army and allied tribal forces retake key northeastern territories, prompting SDF withdrawals from Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa to Hasakah. Abdi accepted the ceasefire in a televised address, describing the fighting as "imposed" and aimed at averting broader civil war, while pledging to defend Kurdish gains.

The agreement provides for full SDF integration into the Syrian army as individuals (after status clearance), deployment of state authorities to reclaimed areas, and safe civilian returns. Al-Sharaa called on tribal forces to support implementation, framing it as fulfilling a prior March 2025 accord.

In Damascus, the announcement sparked widespread celebrations with fireworks, honking cars, and street dancing, reflecting relief after weeks of violence. However, some scepticism persists amid fears the fragile truce could falter in a nation scarred by 14 years of civil war. Public sentiment, including among Syrian Kurds, overwhelmingly favours peace, with economic hardships—affecting 90% of the population below poverty—prioritising recovery.

Analysts highlight Damascus's strengthened position, regaining control over vital oil and gas resources previously held by the SDF. This could fund reconstruction but requires securing infrastructure. Challenges ahead include integrating diverse SDF fighters (including non-Kurds), managing tribal dynamics, and transitioning to civilian governance and policing to protect minorities.

The US welcomed the deal via envoy Tom Barrack, who met al-Sharaa and called it a "turning point" for unity and anti-ISIL efforts. Turkey's President Erdogan also endorsed it, stressing elimination of "terrorism"—referring to SDF links to the PKK.

As focus shifts from battlefields to administration, the al-Sharaa-Abdi meeting is seen as crucial for clarifying ambiguities and ensuring lasting stability in Syria's fragmented north.