In a move to stave off a looming conflict, the Syrian government and Kurdish forces have agreed to extend a ceasefire for up to one month, according to diplomatic sources. The ceasefire, which was announced earlier this week, was set to expire on Saturday but will now be prolonged to facilitate the transfer of suspected Islamic State (IS) members from Syria to Iraq.
The decision comes as tensions between the two sides have been building in the northeast of the country. Fighting over three contested neighbourhoods in Aleppo earlier this month led to a swift government offensive, resulting in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) losing the majority of their territory.
The ceasefire was intended to give the SDF time to implement a 14-point plan with the Syrian government, under which the Kurdish militia would disband and its soldiers would integrate into the Syrian army. However, Kurdish leaders have struggled to come to terms with the loss of their autonomous project in the region.
“Ideally, the transfer of Daesh [IS] prisoners from Syria should take place. While this is happening, the existing non-conflict environment needs to be maintained,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday.
The US, which has backed the Kurdish forces for the past decade, has made it clear that it supports Damascus’ efforts to unify the country under its flag. The American military has already begun transferring IS prisoners from Kurdish territories to prevent any escapes ahead of a potential renewed war with the Syrian government.
Despite the ceasefire extension, disputes between the two sides remain. The 14-point plan would bring an end to the autonomous Syrian Kurdish project, which the SDF leadership appears reluctant to accept. If they are unable to unify the SDF and implement the agreement, the alternative would be a return to conflict.
“Soon we will be in Hassakeh and then Qamishli, God willing,” said a Syrian soldier on the battlefield, as government forces and tanks streamed towards the frontline, hoping to bring the northeast under Damascus’ control.
Analysts warn that even if the Syrian government emerges victorious, the conflict could drive away the Kurds, push the SDF underground, and create an insurgency similar to that of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Turkey for years to come.
