After successful negotiations with Syria’s new government, President Donald Trump reversed long-standing US policy toward the country by lifting several sanctions and ending Washington’s cooperation with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The move left the SDF without protection and effectively ended hopes for Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria under American backing. Following the shift, Syrian government forces captured large territories from SDF control on January 20, prompting the group to renew a ceasefire with Damascus that includes integrating SDF fighters into the national army.

The policy change marks a major geopolitical turn in Syria’s prolonged civil conflict, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Arabia reportedly playing key roles. The SDF, once a key US partner in the fight against the Islamic State, now faces isolation as Washington aligns with Damascus in the anti-IS coalition. US envoy Tom Barrack stated that the SDF’s original mission had effectively ended, angering Kurdish leaders who had relied on earlier US assurances.

Analysts suggest the withdrawal of US support signals the end of over a decade of Kurdish self-rule in Syria’s northeast, consolidating President Ahmed al-Sharar’s control over the country’s largest territory since the war began in 2012.

Five civilians were killed in a landmine explosion in northern Syria near the Tishrin and Kara Kozak dams, according to a statement released by Syrian authorities on Tuesday. The victims were reportedly returning to their village when the explosion occurred. Officials said the mines had been planted by the YPG group before withdrawing from the area.

The statement accused the YPG of preventing civilians from reaching government-controlled zones by laying landmines on roads, endangering thousands of lives. The Aleppo Media Directorate also reported that the group had blocked humanitarian aid deliveries and restricted access to several villages, including Al-Jada, Al-Qubba, and Tal Ahmar.

In response, the Aleppo Response Central Committee, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, has sent food, medical supplies, and essential relief to the Ain al-Arab area.

The Syrian military and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have extended their ceasefire for another 15 days, according to a statement issued late Saturday by Syria’s Ministry of Defense. The new period began at 11 p.m. local time, with the stated goal of assisting the United States in transferring ISIL detainees from SDF-controlled detention centers to Iraq.

The SDF confirmed the extension, saying the agreement would help reduce tensions, protect civilians, and create conditions for stability. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Ayman Ogana noted that the announcement brought relief among the public. The ceasefire follows a broader effort by the Syrian government to integrate the SDF into state institutions.

After the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, current President Ahmed al-Shara signed an agreement with the SDF in March of the previous year to formalize that integration process.

The United States is reportedly considering withdrawing all its troops from Syria, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Thursday. Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the report said the Syrian government has launched a major offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country’s north. If the SDF collapses, officials indicated that there would be no further need for U.S. troops to remain in Syria. Currently, between 800 and 1,000 American soldiers are deployed there, and ongoing clashes between the SDF and Syrian forces have increased risks for U.S. personnel.

The offensive is part of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharar’s effort to disarm militias formed during the 14-year civil war and integrate their fighters into the national army. Officials also noted that cooperation with the Syrian military would be problematic, as some of its members are sympathetic to jihadists and have been accused of atrocities against Kurdish and Druze minorities.

The SDF, once a key force against Islamic State militants, is viewed by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK, according to the report.

Rifaat al-Assad, the exiled uncle of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, has died in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 88, according to media reports citing Reuters. He was the brother of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Rifaat became infamous for leading forces that crushed an Islamist uprising in the central Syrian city of Hama in 1982, an operation that involved airstrikes and shelling and reportedly killed around 37,000 people. The brutality of that campaign earned him the nickname “Butcher of Hama.”

Following the Hama crackdown, Rifaat attempted a failed coup against his brother Hafez, which forced him into exile. He spent many years in France, where he faced charges of embezzling Syrian state funds. In 2020, a French court sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered the confiscation of his assets. After the verdict was upheld in 2022, Rifaat returned to Syria.

In December 2024, after Bashar al-Assad was deposed, Rifaat fled Syria again, traveling through Lebanon to Dubai, where he later died.

Seven civilians were killed in a drone attack carried out by the YPG militant group in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province, according to TRT World. The strike targeted a horse farm in the Al-Nashwa neighborhood, injuring several others, including women and children. The incident occurred as the Syrian government announced a ceasefire agreement with the YPG.

The YPG is identified as the Syrian branch of the PKK, which Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union classify as a terrorist organization. Prior to the ceasefire, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had declared a four-day truce with the Syrian government after consolidating their positions in the region. The ceasefire took effect at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the Syrian army.

The Syrian military further stated that, as part of efforts to integrate Kurdish forces into the state structure, the SDF was asked to nominate a candidate to serve as assistant defense minister in Damascus.

About 200 Islamic State (IS) detainees escaped from a prison in Syria’s eastern Hasakah province on Monday amid confusion during a control handover between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government. The incident occurred at the Al-Shaddadi prison, and both U.S. officials and regional sources confirmed the escape.

The escape followed a unification agreement signed on Sunday under which the SDF agreed to withdraw from two Arab-majority provinces it had long controlled. As part of the deal, responsibility for prisons holding IS detainees was to be transferred from the SDF to the Syrian government. Damascus accused the SDF of deliberately delaying the handover, while Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara voiced dissatisfaction with Kurdish autonomy and hinted at dissolving the SDF leadership.

According to U.S. officials, Washington had been working with the SDF to relocate the most dangerous foreign IS prisoners to more secure facilities before the ceasefire. Following the escape, Syrian forces imposed a curfew in Al-Shaddadi and launched a large-scale operation to capture the fugitives.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced a four-day ceasefire with the Syrian government after the army consolidated its positions in the country’s northeast. According to the Syrian army, the truce took effect on Tuesday at 8 p.m. local time. The army also requested that the SDF nominate a candidate to serve as an assistant defense minister in Damascus as part of efforts to integrate Kurdish forces into the state structure.

The SDF confirmed its agreement to the ceasefire, stating it would refrain from military action unless attacked again. In a statement, the group expressed readiness to implement the agreement and resolve disputes through political dialogue. However, shortly after the ceasefire took effect, the SDF accused government-backed groups of launching heavy-weapon attacks near Tal Baroud village south of Hasakah and shelling the city of Zarkan.

In recent days, the Syrian army has reportedly advanced rapidly, taking control of areas previously held by the SDF, signaling a volatile situation despite the declared truce.

The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an immediate ceasefire agreement after several days of intense clashes. According to the deal, the SDF will withdraw its forces from the western bank of the Euphrates River, and part of its fighters will be integrated into the Syrian army. The agreement was signed on Sunday, January 18, following days of heavy fighting between government troops and the SDF.

Under the terms of the agreement, the SDF will propose a list of its leaders for appointments to senior military, security, and civilian positions under the central government to ensure national partnership. Control of key facilities, including border crossings and oil and gas fields, will be handed over to the Syrian government. A similar understanding earlier in March had failed to materialize.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara stated that the deal would bring full administrative and military control of al-Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa provinces under government authority. Jordan welcomed the ceasefire and integration agreement, calling it an important step toward strengthening Syria’s unity, stability, and security.

Syria has officially declared the Kurdish language as a national language through a decree issued by President Ahmed Al-Shara. The decree also recognizes the national rights of the Kurdish community and restores their citizenship, which had been revoked following the controversial 1962 census. Additionally, Damascus has declared Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, as an official public holiday. The decree will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.

According to the decree, Kurdish citizens are described as an integral part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is recognized as a vital component of Syria’s unified and diverse national identity. The government pledged to protect cultural and linguistic diversity and to ensure Kurdish citizens’ rights to preserve their heritage, arts, and language development within the framework of national sovereignty.

The decree further allows Kurdish to be taught in public and private schools in areas with significant Kurdish populations, either as an optional subject or as part of cultural and educational activities.

Syrian Kurdish fighters have agreed to withdraw from Aleppo city under a ceasefire following several days of fighting with government forces, according to an AFP report on Sunday. The Syrian military said it had completed operations in the Sheikh Maqsoud district, while state television reported that surrendering Kurdish fighters were being transported by bus to northeastern Syria. The government also announced control over the Ashrafiyah neighborhood, previously held by Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that an agreement had been reached to implement a ceasefire and evacuate wounded fighters, civilians, and others from the affected districts. However, the SDF initially claimed that its fighters had not been relocated and accused the government of forcibly displacing civilians. The ceasefire was reportedly mediated by international parties to halt attacks on Aleppo’s population.

The clashes, which erupted after talks on Kurdish integration into the new government stalled, have been the most intense since the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. At least 21 civilians were killed, and about 155,000 people fled their homes, according to Aleppo’s governor.

The United States has carried out a large-scale attack on ISIS bases across Syria, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The operation took place from 12:30 a.m. to dawn on Saturday, following the killing of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra last month. CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at ISIS positions throughout Syria but did not confirm any casualties.

Al Jazeera reported that the operation, named “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” was launched in response to the December 13 ambush in Palmyra. Syria’s Interior Ministry said the gunman involved was a member of the country’s security forces who was being dismissed for extremist views. The US military began the operation on December 19, targeting 70 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in central Syria.

By December 30, US forces announced that about 25 ISIS fighters had been killed or captured since the start of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The latest strikes mark an escalation in Washington’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.

Syria’s Defense Ministry has announced a ceasefire in several districts of Aleppo following deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. The truce took effect early Friday after days of violence that forced thousands of civilians to flee. At least 21 people were killed in what observers described as the worst fighting since Islamist authorities took power over a year ago. The clashes, which began Tuesday, pitted the Syrian army against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with both sides blaming each other for the escalation.

The ministry said the ceasefire covers Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zeid districts from 3 a.m., aiming to prevent further military tension in residential areas. Kurdish fighters were ordered to withdraw by 9 a.m. local time to allow displaced civilians to return home safely. According to state television, around 16,000 people had already left the affected neighborhoods. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi warned that attacks on Kurdish areas undermine reconciliation efforts, noting that talks on integrating Kurdish structures into the new government remain stalled.

Analysts said Aleppo is a vulnerable area for the SDF, and any wider conflict could draw in Turkey and Israel, posing a serious threat to Syria’s stability.

Heavy clashes between the Syrian Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have intensified in Aleppo, prompting thousands of residents to flee. To control the situation, local authorities have imposed a curfew across several neighborhoods, including Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, Bani Zeid, Al-Sirian, Al-Hulok, and Al-Midan, effective until further notice, according to Al Jazeera.

The Aleppo Internal Security Command stated that the curfew aims to ensure public safety, maintain order, and prevent further casualties. During the curfew, all civilian movement is prohibited. The city’s media department reported that since fighting began earlier in the week, large numbers of people have fled from Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud.

The Syrian Army accused the SDF of shelling civilian areas with artillery and mortars, resulting in at least 22 deaths and 173 injuries this week. The SDF denied the allegations, claiming that casualties were caused by attacks from groups linked to the Damascus government.

Heavy fighting between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has forced thousands of civilians to flee Aleppo. Authorities reported on Wednesday night that more than 45,000 people have been displaced since the clashes began on Tuesday. Most of the displaced are moving toward the Afrin valley in the northwest. Many residents are leaving on foot through humanitarian corridors established by the Syrian army, though it remains uncertain when they might return.

Residents described desperate conditions as they fled the violence. Ahmed, a resident of Aleppo, said they escaped the fighting without knowing where to go. Another displaced person, 41-year-old Ammar Razi, said he and his family were forced to leave the country with their six children, uncertain if they would ever return.

Officials confirmed that nine people have been killed since the fighting began. In response, schools, universities, and government offices in Aleppo were closed on Wednesday, and flights at Aleppo airport were suspended until Thursday evening.