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Analysis: Reasons Behind the Kurdish-SDF Surrender in Syria

Published January 19, 2026, 08:13
Analysis: Reasons Behind the Kurdish-SDF Surrender in Syria

The ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government constitutes a substantial surrender of the SDF, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The agreement involves the handover of the Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces to the Syrian government, as well as the gradual integration of the Hasaka province. Damascus will take control of prisons holding ISIS detainees and the al-Hol camp, which houses thousands of displaced people, including supporters of the Islamic State. Furthermore, the integration of SDF fighters into the Syrian Ministry of Defense is planned, not as an autonomous force, but as individuals. The agreement did not result from a political compromise but from military pressure from the government and uprisings by Arab tribes in areas controlled by the SDF. These developments led to the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from significant territories. ISW highlights internal disagreements within the SDF, with hardline elements undermining negotiations. The collapse of the SDF creates a strategic dilemma for the United States, as Kurdish forces were a key partner in the fight against ISIS.