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President Ahmed Al‑Sharaa Signs Jan 30 Accord Dissolving Rojava Autonomy and Merging SDF

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  • Members of the Kurdish-led SDF queue to settle their status with the Syrian government on 27 January, 2026
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Jan 30 Accord Ends Rojava Autonomy and Merges SDF The Syrian president Ahmed Al‑Sharaa imposed an agreement on 30 January that formally dissolves the Kurdish‑run autonomous region in north‑east Syria, ending a twelve‑year experiment without threatening anyone [1]. The deal integrates the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national army, creates three Kurdish brigades, and appoints a Kurdish‑chosen governor for Hasakah [4]. It also guarantees Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, including making Kurdish a national language and recognizing the Kurdish new year as a holiday [4]. The agreement follows a ceasefire declared on 18 January that allowed government forces to seize the Omar oil field and the Tabqa dam [4].

U.S. Withdrawal Leaves Kurdish Forces Without Protection Washington has removed its backing for the Kurdish enclave and its military wing, ending years of U.S. protection that had shielded the region [1]. The United States now backs interim president Al‑Sharaa, a former al‑Qaeda affiliate who assumed power in December 2024, a shift Kurdish fighters describe as a betrayal [5]. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack called the integration pact “historic,” underscoring Washington’s interest in a unified Syria after ending direct support to Kurdish forces [4]. The withdrawal has accelerated Kurdish territorial losses and heightened fears of renewed extremist activity [5].

Syrian Interior Ministry Deploys to Qamishli Under Integration Deal On 4 February, Syrian Interior Ministry units entered the Kurdish‑majority city of Qamishli, restricting their mandate to state facilities such as civil‑registry offices, the airport, and oil sites [2]. Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al‑Din al‑Baba pledged coordination with the “other side” and a program to assume control of crossings and oil facilities [2]. Kurdish security leader Samer Ahmad affirmed that Kurdish forces remain in charge of city security and will withdraw after integration [2]. Arab residents in nearby Tell Brak welcomed the convoy, chanting unity slogans and hoping the regular Syrian army will assume broader control [2].

Territorial Losses Include Omar Oil Field as Government Advances Syrian government troops have pushed the SDF out of resource‑rich areas, notably the Omar oil field, during the two weeks preceding the Jan 30 agreement [5]. The ceasefire set to expire on 7 February remains fragile, and negotiations continue to extend or make it permanent [5]. The transfer of the Omar field and the strategic Tabqa dam to Damascus was a key provision of the integration deal [4]. Detention camps such as al‑Hol have come under government control, with UN officials describing conditions there as “tense and volatile” [4][5].

Resurgent ISIS Cells Exploit Security Gaps Amid Transition After the interim government’s takeover, ISIS launched heavy assaults on 6 January, forcing SDF withdrawals from towns like Tabqa, Raqqa, and Deir ez‑Zor [3]. The release of roughly 2,000 IS prisoners in a Shaddadi raid and further incidents at al‑Hol have broadened the threat landscape [3]. Kurdish leader Afrin warns that the security vacuum created by the integration process is enabling ISIS cells to re‑emerge across Syria, including in Damascus [3]. She calls for an international political solution to prevent a larger resurgence of the group [3].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 22 2025 – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrives in Damascus with a delegation, meets Syrian interim president Ahmad al‑Jaafari and urges rapid integration of the Kurdish‑led SDF into the Syrian army, while clashes erupt in Aleppo after both sides blame each other for opening fire on a Kurdish checkpoint[29].

Jan 6 2026 – Forces of the Syrian Interim Government, Turkey‑backed brigades, Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham and ISIS launch heavy assaults on SDF‑held Tabqa, Raqqa and Deir ez‑Zour, forcing the Syrian Democratic Forces and Women’s Defence Units to withdraw to protect civilians[7].

Jan 7 2026 – Syrian army declares the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh “closed military areas” and shells them, killing at least 12 civilians and prompting mass displacement; later the same day the army opens evacuation corridors, sets a 3 p.m. deadline, and shells the districts after the deadline expires[23][24][28].

Jan 8 2026 – Damascus launches new strikes in Aleppo after issuing evacuation orders, releases seven target maps and imposes a curfew, while the Syrian civil defence reports 13,500 civilians evacuated; the army also announces a humanitarian corridor east of Aleppo, signalling a possible offensive in Deir Hafer and Maskana[22][16].

Jan 9 2026 – Kurdish fighters refuse to leave Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh and Bani Zeid despite a truce, 16,000 civilians flee, and the United States publicly welcomes the ceasefire, urging its durability[26].

Jan 10 2026 – Syrian forces intensify strikes on Sheikh Maqsud, claim the operation is over 90 % complete and urge remaining armed elements to surrender; the defence ministry reports several SDF arrests, while the Syrian army says it has cleared the last Kurdish‑held area in Aleppo, and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack meets Jordan’s foreign minister to consolidate the ceasefire[21][20].

Jan 11 2026 – The final Kurdish‑led SDF units withdraw from Aleppo via buses carrying about 360 fighters and civilians, marking the end of the city‑wide Kurdish presence; first responders enter the devastated neighbourhoods and report extensive damage and casualties[19][18].

Jan 15 2026 – The Syrian army opens a civilian evacuation corridor east of Aleppo, operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and signals a forthcoming offensive in Deir Hafer and Maskana, while urging SDF and other groups to withdraw to the eastern Euphrates bank[16].

Jan 18 2026 – Damascus and the SDF announce a ceasefire; SDF commander Mazloum Abdi confirms acceptance of withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir el‑Zour, and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack praises the accord as a step toward a unified Syria[15].

Jan 19 2026 – Despite the ceasefire, fighting erupts around al‑Aqtan prison, killing nine SDF fighters and wounding 20; Turkish President Erdogan urges the SDF to comply with the agreement, while the 14‑point ceasefire outlines SDF withdrawal, integration as individuals and handover of oil fields and border crossings[14][13].

Jan 20 2026 – Turkey’s pro‑Kurdish DEM party warns that Syrian violence could derail Ankara’s peace process, and President Erdogan publicly presses the SDF to fulfill the ceasefire and PKK disarmament commitments[12].

Jan 21 2026 – The U.S. begins transferring IS detainees from northeast Syria to Iraq, moving an initial 150 prisoners and planning to relocate up to 7,000; CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper discusses the operation with President Sharaa, while fresh clashes in Hassakeh kill seven Syrian soldiers[11][5].

Jan 22 2026 – The United Nations assumes management of al‑Hol camp after the SDF withdraws, but warns conditions remain “tense and volatile”; President Sharaa issues a decree granting Kurdish language status, nationality to stateless Kurds and declaring Nowruz a national holiday, while government forces seize the Kurdish‑held northeast, including the Omar oil field and Tabqa dam[3][4].

Jan 23 2026 – Syrian troops capture al‑Aqtan prison north of Raqqa following a Kurdish evacuation, while earlier that week they had taken Shaddadeh prison, prompting a chaotic escape of about 120 IS detainees and the opening of a corridor for 800 SDF fighters to head toward Kobani[9].

Jan 24 2026 – Damascus extends the ceasefire by 15 days to support the U.S. IS‑detainee transfer, the SDF affirms its commitment, 126 minors are released from al‑Aqtan prison, and a new accord incorporates individual SDF mergers into state security forces[8].

Jan 29 2026 – The United States shifts its backing to interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, labeling the SDF partnership “largely expired”; Kurdish commander Azad calls the move “a slap in the face,” and the fragile truce is set to lapse on 7 Feb, prompting urgent negotiations[2].

Jan 30 2026 – The Syrian government and the Kurdish‑led SDF sign an integration deal that creates a three‑brigade military division, transfers the Omar oil field and Tabqa dam to Damascus, and guarantees Kurdish cultural and civil rights; U.S. envoy Tom Barrack calls the pact “a profound and historic milestone,” while the UN notes that al‑Hol camp conditions remain volatile[1].

Feb 2 2026 – ISIS resurges as the Syrian Interim Government releases roughly 2,000 IS prisoners and security gaps allow active IS cells to operate across Syria, prompting Kurdish leader Afrin to warn that the group’s revival threatens regional stability[7].

Feb 3‑4 2026 – Syrian Interior Ministry units roll into Qamishli, securing civil‑registry offices, the airport and other state facilities as part of the integration deal, while Kurdish security leaders assure the forces are temporary and will withdraw after integration[6].

Feb 5 2026 – President Ahmed Al‑Charaa signs an accord that formally ends the Rojava autonomous region, dissolving the Kurdish‑run enclave; the United States withdraws its protective umbrella over the Kurdish forces, marking a decisive shift toward full Syrian reunification[30].

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