Kurdish Accord: Al Sharra’s Big Break

In a surprising development, the Turkish-backed Syrian Interim Government—a Sunni Islamist administration led by former militant leader Al-Sharra—has reached an agreement with the Kurdish forces in the northeast. These two factions, previously engaged in violent conflict causing significant casualties, have now struck a deal that could bring some stability to Damascus new rulers. The agreement aligns with their efforts to unify the fractured country and gain international recognition.

As part of the deal, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which currently control the northeast, will integrate into the national army, paving the way for a nationwide ceasefire. The flag of the new Syrian administration—green, white, and black—will now be raised in Rojava as well.

Toward a United Syria

After the HTS-led Syrian Salvation Government, under Al-Sharra, and its military coalition ousted Assad’s regime in Damascus, they assumed the daunting task of rebuilding Syria after a decade-long civil war. Yet, the country remained deeply fractured, with various regions establishing their own autonomous administrations. Chief among these was the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controlled the northeast. Strong and well-organized, the SDF posed a significant challenge, raising concerns that tensions between Damascus and the Kurds could escalate into another prolonged conflict.

Contrary to expectations, Syria’s new HTS-led administration and the SDF reached an agreement that allowed the central government to reclaim much of its former territory, leaving only a few smaller, weaker enclaves outside its control. Over time, these remaining areas are expected to align under HTS leadership, with Al-Sharra overseeing interim governance and the eventual transition to elections.

Now, both HTS and the SDF are spearheading efforts to rebuild Syria, seeking to restore stability after years of destruction. Their cooperation—despite stark ideological differences—marks a critical turning point in the country’s recovery. However, questions remain about whether the SDF will fully integrate into the Islamist-led government in Damascus, given its distinct governance model, particularly its emphasis on women’s rights and decentralization, which diverges sharply from the political traditions of Arab states.

The End of Kurdish State

The agreement will bring northeast Syria under Damascus’ control for the first time since the Kurdish-led administration gained autonomy over the region in 2012 during the civil war. Set for implementation by the end of the year, the deal will transfer authority over all public institutions—including borders, airports, and oilfields—to the central government.

Crucially, the agreement also recognizes Kurdish rights, which had long been suppressed under the Assad regime, where Kurdish language education was banned and Kurdish holidays were prohibited. The text affirms that all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background, will have the right to participate in the country’s new political process.

However, the deal represents a significant setback for the long-standing Kurdish aspiration of an independent Kurdistan. This area had long been considered the most viable location for a Kurdish state, but the agreement effectively closes that path. The news comes amid similar developments in other Kurdish territories, where aspirations for statehood are increasingly being curtailed. In Turkey, Kurdish political integration has deepened as the separatist PKK has largely withdrawn. In Iraq, Baghdad has tightened its grip over Kurdish regions. With Syrian Kurds now aligning with Damascus, the dream of an independent Kurdistan appears more elusive than ever.

Al Sharaa’s Big Win

The agreement marks a major victory for Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who prioritized negotiations with the SDF as part of his effort to consolidate government control. Rather than resorting to force, he pursued diplomacy, engaging directly with the SDF and addressing their key demands to swiftly resolve one of Syria’s most pressing internal conflicts.

For a former militant leader, this moment signifies a remarkable transformation. Once a battlefield commander, Al-Sharaa now emerges as a shrewd diplomat, navigating Syria’s turbulent political landscape with pragmatism and restraint. His success in brokering this deal is expected to strengthen his government’s credibility on the international stage—recognition that Syria’s new leadership urgently seeks.

News of the agreement ignited celebrations, with crowds taking to the streets of Raqqa, northeast Syria, and Damascus. For a nation long fractured by war, it was a rare moment of unity—an image unseen for years and a defining milestone for Al-Sharaa.

Focus to the Northwest

While diplomacy was being celebrated between Damascus and the Kurds, and hopes for peace grew in the northeast, trouble was brewing in the northwest, threatening to overshadow these gains. Though Al-Sharaa may have neutralized a powerful adversary in the northeast, some minority factions in the northwest continue to challenge his authority and that of the Damascus government.

The escalating clashes between the Syrian army and Alawite fighters have drawn international scrutiny and heightened concerns. A brutal five-day battle in northwestern Syria claimed over 1,000 lives, including at least 745 civilians. The violence also sparked retaliatory attacks, as the army targeted Alawite civilians in villages across the region.

The Syrian defense ministry announced the end of its military operations against Assad loyalists along the Syrian coast. Fighting had erupted when regime loyalists launched a coordinated assault on Syrian security forces last Thursday. Now, with the northeast stabilized, Syrian forces can shift their focus to quelling Alawite resistance in the northwest.

What Happens Next?

While trouble is visible in the northwest and along the Israeli border, the accord with the Kurds provides a significant boost for Damascus to move forward. Al-Sharaa is acting more diplomatically and has pledged accountability for the recent violence, stating that anyone involved in the bloodshed of civilians, mistreatment of civilians, overreach of state authority, or abuse of power for personal gain will be held accountable with full decisiveness.

However, uncertainty looms over how this wave of killings will affect the SDF’s transition of military authority to the state. Syria’s Kurdish population, long subjected to oppression under the Assad regime, remains deeply wary. Any disruption to the agreement risks reigniting the cycle of marginalization and conflict they have fought to overcome.