Syria and Turkey pledge coordination after Damascus-SDF truce deal

Monday 19 January 2026 - 13:40

By: Dakir Madiha

Syria and Turkey pledge coordination after Damascus-SDF truce deal

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call on Sunday, committing to closer coordination following the announcement of a comprehensive ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. This high-level dialogue signals a possible realignment in regional dynamics as Damascus moves to reassert control over northeastern Syria.

Erdoğan stressed the need to eradicate terrorism entirely from Syrian soil for the benefit of Syria and the broader region, according to a statement from Turkey's Communications Director Burhanettin Duran. Al-Sharaa highlighted the priority of Syria's territorial integrity and extending state sovereignty nationwide. Both leaders affirmed strong bilateral ties and agreed to sustain top-level coordination.

The call came less than 24 hours after al-Sharaa revealed a 14-point deal with the SDF, finalized on January 18 in Damascus with U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack present. Under its terms, SDF military units will withdraw east of the Euphrates River, allowing Damascus to take full administrative and military control of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates, all border crossings, and key energy infrastructure.

SDF military and security personnel will integrate individually into Syria's Defense and Interior Ministries after security vetting, receiving ranks and legal rights. A presidential decree will appoint a governor for Hasakah province, ensuring local political participation and representation. Crucially for Ankara, the 12th clause requires the SDF to expel all non-Syrian PKK leaders and members from Syrian territory; Turkey views the SDF's main component, the YPG, as a PKK offshoot.

The diplomatic breakthrough garnered international backing. Barrack called it a "pivotal turning point where former adversaries choose partnership over division," facilitating the SDF's smooth integration into the Syrian state. The Kurdistan Region mediated prominently, with al-Sharaa thanking President Massoud Barzani publicly as a key facilitator. Barzani and Barrack met SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Erbil on January 17 to ease tensions and restart talks.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry welcomed the deal, hoping it advances stability and security efforts grounded in Syria's territorial integrity. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz described it as an encouraging step forward.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi confirmed acceptance of the ceasefire in a televised address, stating his forces withdrew from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to save lives and avert civil war. A planned meeting between Abdi and al-Sharaa in Damascus shifted to Tuesday due to bad weather, but the truce holds. The agreement also endorses Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, recognizing Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights while addressing statelessness issues. France voiced support, hailing it as a crucial moment for the new Syria's unity.