Following a period of escalating tensions, the Syrian army has begun deploying troops into areas of eastern Syria previously controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The move comes after a newly brokered agreement signed Monday aims to halt recent fighting and secure a ceasefire, with the SDF agreeing to hand over control of the Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces to Damascus . The agreement’s implementation and its impact on the region’s complex political landscape remain key concerns.
The Syrian government has begun deploying troops to areas previously controlled by Kurdish forces in eastern Syria, following an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to halt fighting and integrate their forces. The move signals a significant shift in control within the region and raises questions about the future of Kurdish autonomy.
The Syrian Democratic Forces reported ongoing clashes with the Syrian Army around the al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa, which holds detained members of ISIS. The SDF also stated that the Syrian Army continued its attacks on their positions in Ain Issa, al-Shaddadi, and Raqqa.
The Syrian Army’s deployment began Monday, a day after Damascus announced a deal with the SDF calling for a ceasefire and the integration of SDF fighters into the state’s military. According to a statement from the operations center of the Syrian Army, the troop movement aims to secure the Jazeera region of Syria in accordance with the agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF.
Military convoys consisting of dozens of vehicles carrying security and military personnel were observed traveling towards the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which the SDF had evacuated early Sunday prior to the agreement’s announcement.
Mohammed al-Khalil, a 50-year-old taxi driver awaiting his son, a volunteer with government forces, expressed his joy, stating, “Our happiness at the liberation is indescribable.”
He continued, “We hope that things will get better now that the Syrian Army has entered,” adding that “the people only want security at this time.”
The agreement, signed by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, requires the Kurdish self-administration to immediately hand over administrative and military control of the Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces to the Syrian government.
The SDF had controlled large parts of the predominantly Arab provinces since driving out ISIS with support from the U.S.-led international coalition.
In Deir ez-Zor, SDF forces were positioned on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River, while the newly deployed government troops were stationed on the western banks, including the city of Deir ez-Zor.
The agreement comprises 14 clauses, the first of which stipulates a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts between government and Kurdish forces, following a military escalation that began earlier this month in the city of Aleppo and expanded eastward.
Amidst the escalating tensions, the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew their forces from large areas in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor.
