Fragile Ceasefire Holds as Syrian Army and Kurdish-Led SDF Trade Accusations

A fragile ceasefire between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) appears to be broadly holding, even as both sides accuse one another of recent violations.

Claims of Violations

State media and the Syrian military, citing the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), said the SDF launched more than 25 FPV-type explosive drones at Syrian army positions in the Aleppo countryside. The military's operations command reported the strikes around Ain al-Arab (Kobane) destroyed four army vehicles and that several drones were intercepted by air defences before striking residential areas.

SANA and the Defence Ministry also accused the SDF of targeting the M4 highway — the main road connecting Aleppo with Latakia — and of striking civilian homes and roads in Sarrin town, south of Ain al-Arab, causing multiple injuries.

SDF Response

The SDF denied initiating the ceasefire violations and said government forces launched attacks southeast of Ain al-Arab from the early hours of Monday, including heavy artillery shelling that struck residential neighbourhoods. "As a result of these attacks, violent clashes erupted between our forces and the attacking factions," the SDF said in a statement posted on X, adding that fighting was ongoing.

SDF Statement (excerpt): "Clashes erupted after government attacks on residential neighbourhoods; additional government reinforcements, including tanks and armoured vehicles, were deployed."

The SDF also alleged that intensified Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle flights were present in the area during the government deployment. The Turkish involvement allegation has been reported by the SDF and has not been independently confirmed in this report.

Ceasefire Extension And US Detainee Operation

An initial four-day truce was extended by 15 days after it expired late Saturday. According to the Syrian Defence Ministry, the extension is intended to facilitate a US operation to transfer detainees held in SDF-run prisons — individuals alleged to have links to ISIL (ISIS) — from northeastern Syria to Iraqi-controlled facilities.

On January 21, US Central Command announced the start of a mission to move detainees from Hasakah province to secure locations in Iraq. The operation began with US forces transferring dozens of ISIL-linked detainees, with officials saying plans exist to move up to hundreds in subsequent waves.

Background And Context

Government forces have made rapid territorial gains in the north and east in recent weeks. The article attributes those gains to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying his forces toppled Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and that he seeks to reassert state control across Syria, including SDF-held areas. These claims stem from government-aligned reporting and have not been independently verified within this piece.

The SDF has administered autonomous civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria for about a decade and has resisted integration into central government structures. After a year-end deadline for a merger passed with limited progress, Syrian troops launched an offensive earlier this month, prompting the current ceasefire and subsequent accusations of violations.

Outlook: While the truce appears to be largely holding, the reciprocal accusations, reports of drone strikes and artillery fire, and ongoing population movements mean the situation remains tense. Independent verification of many claims is limited; readers should be aware that accounts differ by source.