02/02/2026, 3:06 p.m02/02/2026, 3:06 p.m
Syrian government troops have moved into the Kurdish stronghold of Hassakah in accordance with an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Kurdish sources and government circles confirmed this to the German Press Agency (dpa).
Syrian security forces gather before entering the city of Hassakah.Image: AP
During the Syrian civil war, the Kurds established self-government in the north and northeast of the country. The city of Hassakah was considered the administrative center for this. The arrival of government forces was “the end of the rule of self-government and the beginning of a new era of a united Syria,” said military circles. The government and the SDF have not yet made any official statement.
Centralized state is the goal
In the wake of the upheaval in Syria, the new leadership in Damascus has set itself the goal of unifying the country after years of division in order to build a centralized state. An agreement on the integration of Kurdish institutions has been in place since March last year.
In Hassaka, Syrian security forces want to implement an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).Image: AP
Recently, however, there have been tensions and violent clashes in the Kurdish-controlled areas. A new agreement was finally announced on Friday. Moving into Hassakah is a first step towards implementation. (sda/dpa)