Syria ceasefire with Kurdish forces expires amid uncertainty

A four-day ceasefire between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces expired on Saturday night, with the truce’s ‍fate uncertain and both sides exchanging accusations of violations.

The ceasefire ended at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT), with Syrian troops and Kurdish forces massed on opposing sides of front lines around the last cluster of Kurdish-held cities.

The deadline given to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has expired, Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said.
“The Syrian government affirms that it is now considering its next options,” he added on X.

There was no immediate comment from the SDF on the ceasefire’s fate.

Government troops have seized swathes ⁠of northern and eastern territory in the last two weeks from the SDF in a rapid turn of events that has consolidated President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rule. Government forces were closing in on the last SDF strongholds earlier this week when he abruptly announced a ceasefire, giving them until Saturday night to lay down arms and come up with a plan to integrate with Syria’s army – or to resume fighting.

Syria’s foreign ministry denied on Saturday reports that an agreement to extend the ceasefire had been reached, describing them as baseless, according to the state news agency.

The ministry also said there had been no “positive response” to the government’s proposal, accusing the SDF of repeated violations of the truce.

The SDF said the government was moving toward escalation in a “systematic manner.”

“Military build-ups and logistical movements have ‍been observed, clearly indicating an intent to escalate and push the region toward a new confrontation,” the SDF said in a statement.