Syria Extends Ceasefire With Kurdish-Led SDF to Aid U.S. IS Transfers
Ceasefire extended 15 days to allow U.S. transfer of accused IS militants to Iraqi detention centers.
Overview
Syria's Defense Ministry said late Saturday it extended the ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces by 15 days to support a U.S. transfer of accused Islamic State militants to Iraqi detention centers.
The extension follows expiration of a four-day truce after three weeks of intense clashes in which the SDF lost large parts of its territory, SDF statements and state media show.
The Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement that it will abide by the truce.
The U.S. military said about 9,000 Islamic State detainees remain in northeastern Syria, that it plans to transfer up to 7,000 to Iraq, and that 150 prisoners have already been moved.
The extension gives time to press implementation of a March integration agreement to merge SDF fighters into Syrian security forces, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and officials said, but they warned failing talks could renew fighting.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this story neutrally: they rely on official statements from Syria’s defense ministry, the SDF, state TV and U.S. military, state facts (ceasefire extension, prisoner transfers) without evaluative language, and present competing claims. Coverage remains concise and factual, though it provides limited civilian perspective or deeper geopolitical context.
Sources (4)
FAQ
The ceasefire was extended by 15 days to allow the U.S. to transfer accused Islamic State militants from SDF prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraqi detention centers.
About 9,000 Islamic State detainees remain in northeastern Syria, with the U.S. planning to transfer up to 7,000 to Iraq, and 150 already moved.
The 2026 northeastern Syria offensive involved intense clashes over three weeks, with SDF losing territory; ceasefires were announced on 18 January, 20 January, enforced on 22 January, and extended 15 days on 24 January.
A March integration agreement aims to merge SDF fighters into Syrian security forces, including handing over Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates, IS prisoner camps, border crossings, and oil fields, negotiated via U.S. envoy Tom Barrack.
History
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