A ceasefire has been announced between the Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led troops backed by the United States, as reported by state-run media.
Recently, hostilities had escalated sharply, with Syrian military units capturing the largest oil field in the nation, along with a significant gas field from the Kurdish group. The Syrian government now asserts that its military will secure all oil and gas resources located in the Deir Ezzor and Raqqa regions "to guarantee these vital assets return to the Syrian state," according to the Syrian news agency Sana.
In this new arrangement, all military factions associated with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are expected to withdraw. However, personnel from these groups, including military and security members, will be incorporated into Syria's Ministries of Defense and Interior, retaining their military rankings.
The Syrian government has pledged to ensure the safety of SDF fighters and the civilian administration in both Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, promising not to harm them during this transition.
The loss of the Omar oil field, situated east of the Euphrates River, dealt a significant financial blow to the Kurdish-led forces, as this field was a primary source of revenue for them. Additionally, the Syrian army seized control of the Conoco gas field located in eastern Deir Zor province, marking a strategic advance into areas of northeastern Syria that have historically been under the influence of the American-supported SDF.
Officials from the Syrian government have expressed that the oil wealth previously controlled by the militia had deprived the state of crucial funds necessary for its recovery. Just last week, Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa publicly stated that it was intolerable for a militia to govern a quarter of the country while maintaining control over key oil and commodity resources.
Furthermore, the Syrian army also took command of the northern city of Tabqa along with its dam, as well as the significant Freedom Dam, which was formerly known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqqa late on Saturday. This military advance continued despite calls from Washington urging a halt to the offensive.
Brad Cooper, the head of the US military's Central Command, commented on social media platform X on Saturday, stating that Syrian forces should "cease any offensive actions" in territories situated between Aleppo and Tabqa, approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the east.
The United States has found it necessary to adjust its policy regarding Syria, seeking to balance years of support for the SDF—who played a crucial role in combatting the Islamic State—with backing for Syria's new president, who came to power after rebel forces ousted long-time dictator Bashar al Assad in late 2024.
According to a government source, Kurdish-led forces were overwhelmed following aggressive offensives from Arab tribal fighters, which enabled the Syrian government and its tribal allies to occupy a stretch of territory exceeding 150 kilometers (93 miles), extending from Baghouz near the Iraqi border towards significant towns like al Shuhail and Busayra.
This latest surge in violence has exacerbated existing tensions between President Sharaa's administration, which is committed to the reunification of Syria after 14 years of conflict, and local Kurdish authorities who remain cautious of his Islamist-led government.
Interestingly, Syrian Kurdish leaders have yet to acknowledge the territorial losses they've experienced.
In the days leading up to the capture of the oil and gas fields, Syrian troops had gathered around a cluster of villages situated just west of the Euphrates River, urging SDF personnel stationed there to relocate their forces across the river.
SDF fighters began their withdrawal early on Saturday but later accused Syrian troops of breaching the ceasefire agreement by advancing further east into towns and oilfields that were not included in the initial deal.
The initial withdrawal agreement encompassed the main town of Deir Hafer, located east of Aleppo, along with some surrounding villages primarily inhabited by Arab residents.
The Syrian army reported that four of its soldiers were killed in confrontations with Kurdish militants. In response, the SDF acknowledged that some of their fighters had been killed as well, although they did not disclose specific figures.
Last year, both sides engaged in discussions aimed at integrating Kurdish-led military and civilian administrations into the Syrian government by the end of 2025. Nevertheless, after the deadline passed with minimal progress, violent clashes erupted in the northern city of Aleppo earlier this month.
