01/21/2026, 07:2901/21/2026, 07:29
More than a year after the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad, Syria is still not calming down. Government troops are engaged in battles with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for power, influence and territorial control in northern and eastern Syria. Now there is another ceasefire. What’s happening there right now? An overview.
The struggles of the past days and weeks
In recent weeks there have been repeated clashes between troops of the interim government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north and northeast of Syria. The interim government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is now implementing militarily what could not be implemented in any other way: the government wants to bring the areas that were previously under Kurdish self-administration under its control.
A man holds up a Kurdish flag amid demonstrations.Image: keystone
After the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, it set itself the goal of uniting the country after years of division. A large part of the country is already under state control. However, the areas of Kurdish self-administration in the northeast are still missing. Most of Syria’s oil fields are also located there. They are economically crucial for the country. The government had actually already agreed on integration with the Kurdish leadership. However, an agreement on this was never actually implemented.
In an offensive, government troops have now advanced ever further and have gained control of several of these provinces. The SDF was forced to abandon more and more of its positions.
The situation of the IS camps
The situation in and around camps and prisons for fighters of the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) or their relatives is of particular concern. These are in the currently contested areas. In the Syrian civil war, the SDF fought primarily with a US-led coalition against IS. With the military victory against the terrorist militia, its fighters and their family members were detained in camps in the northeast in order to prevent a resurgence. The camps were guarded and managed by the SDF.
With the new fighting there were also outbreaks of IS prisoners. Due to the advance of government troops and groups allied with them, the SDF was finally forced to give up control of the largest camp – the al-Hol camp – for members of IS fighters in Syria and to withdraw from there.
Government military troops check residents and fighters at checkpoints.Image: keystone
The army said it would advance into the area after the SDF withdrawal and ensure stability. It sees itself as a “fortress for all Syrians”. It remains to be seen how the situation in the camps and prisons will develop.
Concern about the resurgence of the terrorist militia
Thousands of relatives of IS fighters are housed in the al-Hol camp – mainly women, children and young people. Although the camp is not officially considered a prison, residents often describe it as such. They cannot leave the camp voluntarily. There have long been concerns that the new generation of terrorist organizations is growing up here.
The al-Hol camp in northeast Syria.Image: keystone
According to those responsible in the camp, IS continues to exert influence on the residents there and incite murders or attacks. According to their own statements, residents live in a kind of legal vacuum. Human rights organizations repeatedly complain about the catastrophic humanitarian conditions under which the people live there. There are concerns that IS could exploit recent developments and gain new strength.
New ceasefire between SDF and interim government
After a ceasefire on Sunday was declared broken, both sides agreed again on Tuesday evening to stop fighting. The ceasefire will initially apply for four days. During this time, the SDF should develop a plan on how they can further integrate their institutions into the state order.
The ceasefire is initially expected to last four days.Image: keystone
The interim government also promised the SDF that it would be able to nominate candidates for key state positions, including the position of deputy defense minister.
The role of the USA
The USA sees a “great opportunity” for the Kurds in Syria to integrate into a unified Syrian state “with civil rights, cultural protection and political participation,” as US special envoy Tom Barrack announced on X. The SDF was one of the US’s most important allies in the fight against IS in Syria.
The SDF’s original purpose of acting as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has served its purpose, Barrack wrote. Damascus is now both ready and able to assume security responsibilities – including control of IS detention centers and camps.
The SDF, for its part, repeatedly called on the US-led international coalition not to look away during the fighting. (sda/dpa)