Syria and Kurdish Forces Strike Broad Integration Pact to End Clashes

Syria’s government and the Kurdish-led SDF announced a 14-point deal to bring Kurdish civilian and military authorities under central state institutions, merging SDF forces into the defence and interior ministries as individuals, and handing border crossings, oil and gas fields, prisons and camps housing ISIS fighters to the government; Deir al-Zor and Raqqa would come under government control, with Hasakeh’s governor appointed by consensus and the SDF allowed to nominate some leaders, plus a commitment to expel all non-Syrian PKK affiliates. The pact aims to end days of fighting, though some clashes linger and key details remain to be finalised; U.S. envoy Tom Barrack called it a pivotal inflection point, while regional dynamics, including Turkey’s stance, keep pressure on the process and a Monday meeting between Mazloum Abdi and President Sharaa is planned.