Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have signed a 14-point ceasefire agreement ending the recent round of heavy clashes in Northern Syria between government forces and their allies, and Kurdish-led paramilitaries and their allies, which culminated in the near total collapse of defensive lines held by the SDF and massive gains by the Syrian Army. The ceasefire agreement includes:

First: A comprehensive and immediate ceasefire on all fronts and points of contact between the Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in parallel with the withdrawal of all military formations affiliated with the "SDF" to the area east of the Euphrates as a preliminary step for redeployment.

Second: Handing over the governorates of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa administratively and militarily to the Syrian government in full immediately, including receiving all civil institutions and facilities, with the issuance of immediate decisions to confirm the current employees within the specialized ministries affiliated with the Syrian state, and the government's commitment not to harass SDF employees and fighters and the civil administration in the two governorates.

Third: Integrating all civil institutions in Al-Hasakah Governorate into the Syrian state institutions and its administrative structures.

Fourth: The Syrian government taking over all border crossings and oil and gas fields in the region, and securing their protection by the regular forces to ensure the return of resources to the Syrian state.

Fifth: Integrating all military and security elements of the "SDF" into the structure of the Syrian Ministries of Defense and Interior on an "individual" basis after conducting the necessary security vetting, while granting them military ranks and material and logistical entitlements as appropriate, while protecting the privacy of the Kurdish regions.

Sixth: The SDF leadership commits not to include remnants of the defunct regime in its ranks and to submit lists of officers of the defunct regime present in areas of Northeastern Syria.

Seventh: Issuing a presidential decree appointing a candidate to occupy the position of governor of Al-Hasakah, as a guarantee of political participation and local representation.

Eighth: Evacuating the city of "Ain al-Arab/Kobani" of heavy military presence, forming a security force from the people of the city, and maintaining a local police force administratively affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

Ninth: Merging the administration responsible for the file of ISIS prisoners and camps, in addition to the forces responsible for protecting these facilities, with the Syrian government, so that the
Syrian government assumes full legal and security responsibility for them.

Tenth: Approval of a list of nominated leaders submitted by the SDF leadership to fill senior military, security, and civil positions in the central state structure to ensure national
partnership.

Eleventh: Welcoming Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, which stipulates recognition of Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, addressing the legal and civil issues of unregistered persons, and restoring property rights accumulated from previous decades.

Twelfth: The SDF commits to removing all non-Syrian leaders and elements of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outside the borders of the Syrian Arab Republic to ensure sovereignty and stability of the neighborhood.

Thirteenth: The Syrian state is committed to continuing the fight against terrorism (ISIS) as an active member of the international coalition, with joint coordination with the United States in this framework to ensure the security and stability of the region.

Fourteenth: Working to reach understandings regarding the safe and dignified return of the people of the Afrin and Sheikh Magsoud regions to their areas.

Images released show members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) during the interception, boarding, and seizure of the stateless sanctioned crude oil tanker, M/T Sophia, in the Southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela on Jan. 7, 2026.