QAMISHLI, Syria — Syria’s government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said late Saturday they had extended a fragile Syria ceasefire for 15 days across the northeast after a previous truce expired, easing immediate fears of a renewed push toward Kurdish-held cities, Jan. 24, 2026.
The extension, brokered with U.S. and French mediation, is designed to keep front lines quiet long enough for U.S. forces to move thousands of Islamic State detainees out of contested areas and into Iraq, while Western officials warn President Ahmed al-Sharaa against another rapid offensive that could trigger civilian harm and destabilize detention sites.
Syria ceasefire buys time for ISIS detainee transfers
Syria’s Defense Ministry said the new Syria ceasefire took effect at 11 p.m. local time and was tied to the U.S. effort to relocate detainees from prisons that were previously guarded by the SDF. Reuters reported that the truce was extended “to support an ongoing U.S. operation to transfer Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq.” Reuters reported the 15-day extension.
U.S. Central Command has said it already transferred 150 detainees from a facility in Hasakah to a secure site in Iraq, and that as many as 7,000 could ultimately be moved. “We are closely coordinating with regional partners, including the Iraqi government,” Adm. Brad Cooper said in a U.S. statement carried by Reuters. The Reuters report detailed the initial transfer.
The Associated Press said the extension came hours after a four-day truce expired and amid continued uncertainty over which side will control prisons holding about 9,000 Islamic State fighters in the northeast. AP described the terms and detainee numbers.
U.S. and France press Sharaa after sweeping gains
Diplomatic sources told Reuters that senior U.S. and French officials urged Sharaa not to send troops into remaining Kurdish-held areas, arguing that another surge could spark retaliation cycles and displace civilians already strained by winter shortages. That pressure has sharpened after government forces seized wide stretches of territory in recent weeks, including key infrastructure and detention sites that had anchored Kurdish self-rule.
Human Rights Watch said protection for civilians has been inadequate as control shifts in the northeast, calling for access for humanitarian aid and credible investigations into alleged abuses. Human Rights Watch outlined civilian-protection concerns.
Syria ceasefire and the harder question: what happens to the SDF
The Syria ceasefire is also a political deadline. Damascus has demanded the SDF dissolve and integrate into national army and police structures — a step Kurdish leaders say could leave them vulnerable without guarantees on rights, local governance and security. France 24 reported that Kurdish officials face competing pressures from Damascus, Turkey and Arab tribal actors as the map of control changes quickly.
