In a seismic shift for the Syrian geopolitical landscape, Syrian Internal Security forces began their official entry into the city of Qamishli on February 3.
This movement marks the operational phase of a landmark agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), effectively signaling the end of years of administrative fragmentation in the country's northeast.
The entry into Qamishli follows a similar deployment in Al-Hasakah on February 2. These strategic maneuvers are the direct result of a comprehensive treaty signed on January 18 by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which mandates the permanent cessation of hostilities and the full integration of the SDF into state institutions.
The Architecture of the Agreement
The "January 18 Accord" serves as a blueprint for the restoration of state sovereignty over the Al-Jazira region (encompassing Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor). The key pillars of the deal include administrative re-unification, which is the full merger of all civil institutions previously under the "Autonomous Administration" into the Syrian state's legal and administrative frameworks.
Security and military integration involves the individual integration of SDF military and security personnel into the Ministries of Defense and Interior. Following security vetting, personnel will be granted official ranks and financial entitlements.
Resource sovereignty allows the Syrian government to assume full control over all international border crossings and the vital oil and gas fields in the region, with protection provided by regular army units.
Cultural recognition follows Decree No. 13, issued by President al-Sharaa on January 16, which formally recognizes Syrian Kurds as an "integral and original" part of the Syrian people, enshrining their cultural and linguistic identity within the national framework.
A Community in Transition: The Christian Minority
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the atmosphere in the region is one of "cautious relief" tinged with anxiety. The Christian community-- primarily Syriac-Assyrians and Armenians-- has seen its numbers dwindle from 30% of the population in the mid-20th century to a mere fraction today.
Bashir Ishaq Saadi, Deputy Head of the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO), noted that while the agreement has quelled the immediate fear of a scorched-earth military confrontation, concerns remain regarding hate speech and social cohesion. "Our position remains steadfast: we support political solutions and the sovereignty of the state over all Syrian geography," Saadi told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Current estimates suggest the Christian population in the Jazira region has plummeted from 170,000 before the conflict to roughly 40,000. In the Khabur region, once home to 15,000 Assyrians, only 800 remain. Local leaders, including Archbishop Mar Maurice Amsih, have called for neutrality and a peaceful transition to prevent further displacement.
The Washington Pivot: A New Realpolitik
The implementation of this deal reflects a dramatic reversal in US foreign policy. Under the administration of President Donald Trump, Washington has moved away from supporting Kurdish "autonomy" in favor of a unified Syrian state under President al-Sharaa.
Analysts suggest this shift crystallized during President al-Sharaa's visit to the White House in November 2025. By December, the US began applying direct pressure on SDF leadership to accept integration, viewing the previous status quo as an obstacle to long-term regional stability. A critical component of this transition involves the transfer of 29 detention centers-- holding roughly 10,000 ISIS fighters and 40,000 women and children-- to Syrian government control, potentially unblocking the diplomatic impasse regarding the repatriation of foreign nationals.
Regional Reactions: A Rare Consensus
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