RT-Engels: 27-01-2026,
Damascus presses for reintegration, Washington hesitates, and the SDF confronts its most dangerous moment in a decade
As Damascus announces a 15-day extension of its ceasefire, the clock is ticking for Syria’s Kurdish-led forces. With the United States reportedly reconsidering its military presence and pressure mounting on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate into the national army, the coming weeks could determine whether Syria edges toward uneasy compromise or plunges back into bloodshed.
The Syrian Defense Ministry has announced the extension of a ceasefire across all areas of the Syrian Army’s operations for a period of 15 days, beginning at 23:00 on January 24. On paper, the move signals restraint after months of escalating clashes. In practice, it represents a narrow window for negotiations that could reshape the balance of power in northern and eastern Syria.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the purpose of the ceasefire is to give the SDF time to decide whether they are willing to integrate into the Syrian Arab Army. If no agreement is reached by the end of the 15-day period, fighting is expected to resume. For many on the ground, that prospect is grim. Estimates suggest that clashes between the SDF and Syrian government forces have already left thousands of fighters from both sides dead, in addition to civilians caught in the crossfire.
The pause comes amid reports that the US is considering a full withdrawal of its roughly 1,000 troops stationed alongside Kurdish forces in Syria.