Syria gives Kurds four days to accept integration as US signals end of support

Military members gather near Raqqa prison, where the Syrian army is besieging SDF members after the Syrian army took control of the city of Raqqa, Syria January 19, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano

DAMASCUS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Syria on Tuesday announced a ceasefire with Kurdish forces it has seized ‌swathes of territory from in the northeast and gave them four days to agree on integrating into the central state, which their main ally, the United States, urged them to accept.

The lightning government advances in recent ‌days and the apparent withdrawal of U.S. support for the continued holding of territory by the Syrian Democratic Forces represent the biggest change of control in the country since rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad 13 months ‌ago.