The New SDF-Syrian Government Agreement

Translation and Analysis

Following a recent government offensive and local uprisings that have effectively ended the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) holdings in Raqqa and Dayr al-Zur provinces (something that was entirely predictable), Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum al-Abdi have signed a ceasefire agreement that effectively represents a surrender deal for the SDF, putting a definitive end to whatever hopes the SDF had of carving out a formally recognised autonomous region within Syria.

The foremost blame for this failure lies with the SDF itself, which ultimately did not prepare itself for a post-Assad scenario in which it would have to negotiate with a government led by the insurgents that brought down Assad.