Syrian army enters Qamishli after reaching deal with Kurdish forces

Syrian government troops began entering the northeastern city of Qamishli on Tuesday, marking a major step in a ceasefire agreement with Kurdish-led forces.

The deployment follows a deal signed Friday with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that will integrate the Kurdish-led units into Syrian state institutions. The agreement is intended to end weeks of heightened tensions and armed clashes between the two sides.

Syrian forces also entered the city of Hasakah on Monday under the terms of the accord, state news agency SANA reported.

Local reactions to the military’s arrival have been mixed. While many residents, particularly those of Arab descent, welcomed the move as the beginning of a "new Syria," some Kurdish residents expressed fear and uncertainty about returning to central government control.

The United States has welcomed the agreement, calling it a vital step toward national unification. The government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which assumed power following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, is currently working to bring the fractured country back under central rule.

The landmark agreement between President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) represents a definitive pivot in the drive for national reunification in post-Assad Syria. By formalizing the integration of the SDF—long the centerpiece of U.S.-backed counter-ISIS operations—into the national army, Damascus has engineered a profound geopolitical realignment.

For the new government, the deal is a strategic masterstroke. It effectively restores central authority over vast, resource-rich territories in the northeast that had operated under de facto Kurdish autonomy for years. The move signals a transition toward pragmatic state-building, prioritizing the consolidation of the Syrian state after a decade of fragmented civil war.

Washington’s endorsement of the pact is equally significant. It suggests a fundamental recalibration of U.S. strategy in the Middle East, moving away from the complex policy of supporting non-state actors in favor of regional stability under a unified sovereign entity. This shift reflects an American preference for reinforced state structures as a primary bulwark against extremist resurgence and regional volatility.

However, the path to full implementation remains fraught with systemic risks. The integration process must overcome deep-seated historical mistrust between the central government and Kurdish leadership. Concerns among the Kurdish population regarding their status under Damascus remain high. Ultimately, the long-term viability of this settlement will depend on the Sharaa government’s ability to balance national unity with meaningful concessions on Kurdish cultural and administrative autonomy within a reformed Syrian state.