BEIRUT, Lebanon — The Syrian government and Kurdish forces declared a ceasefire deal on Friday that sets out a phased integration of Kurdish fighters into the state, averting a potentially bloody battle and drawing US praise for a “historic milestone.”

The sides announced the deal after government forces under Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured swaths of northern and eastern Syria from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) group this month. This forced the Kurdish forces to retreat into a shrinking enclave in the northeast.

The fate of the SDF, which took over a quarter or more of Syria during its 2011-2024 civil war, has been one of the biggest issues looming over Syria since Islamist insurgents led by Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad 14 months ago.

US envoy Tom Barrack, who has been closely involved in mediation efforts, declared Friday’s accord “a profound and historic milestone in Syria’s journey toward national reconciliation, unity, and enduring stability.”

The SDF was once Washington’s main Syrian ally, playing a vital part in the fight against Islamic State terrorists. But its position grew weaker as US President Donald Trump built close ties with Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who has now brought almost all of Syria back under the authority of Damascus.

Under the agreement, forces that had massed along front lines in the north would pull back, and Interior Ministry security forces would deploy to the center of the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli in the........

© The Times of Israel