The agreement reached last week between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Transitional Government in Damascus officially entered into force on Monday. It provides for the gradual integration of the autonomous administration’s military, administrative, and civilian structures into the state.
As agreed, the first units of the transitional regime’s security apparatus, subordinate to the Syrian Interior Ministry, arrived today in Hesekê and Kobanê. They are tasked with coordinating the implementation of the agreement and will subsequently withdraw. Meanwhile, the siege of Kobanê continues.
The key points of the agreement include the following:
Security: Troops will withdraw from existing front lines. In Hesekê, one SDF division with three brigades will remain stationed; in Kobanê, one brigade will remain. The YPJ will continue to be part of the SDF. The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) structures will remain in place and be officially recognized. Additionally, units of the Syrian Interior Ministry will be deployed on a limited basis.
Education: Diplomas from North and East Syria will be officially recognized by the state. Kurdish will be recognized as a mother tongue; negotiations on its implementation in education will continue.
Internally Displaced Persons: Preparations are underway for returns to Afrin, the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo—Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah—as well as other cities, accompanied by security guarantees.
Administration: State institutions will establish a presence, while existing local administrations will remain untouched, including the co-presidency system. The Sêmalka border crossing will remain open. Kobanê will be administratively linked to Aleppo but will remain municipally autonomous.
Politics: Dialogue on the constitution, elections, and institutional coordination will continue. Presidential decrees must not override existing rights.
As part of the preparations, a delegation from Aleppo’s state security authorities visited the city of Kobanê on Sunday and met with the local Asayish leadership. Similar talks are now taking place in Hesekê and Qamishlo to coordinate the integration of local security forces into government structures. To secure the process, the Asayish of the Cizîrê Canton imposed partial curfews in Hesekê and Qamishlo. The population has been called upon to support these measures.
International Reactions: Approval and Expectations
Several states and organizations—including the United Nations, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia—explicitly welcomed the agreement. They described it as “an important step toward de-escalation in North and East Syria” and called on both sides to implement it consistently and to uphold the ceasefire.