A delegation from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the associated Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeastern Syria (DAANES) arrived in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss arrangements related to the recent ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria, as Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa spoke with President Donald Trump before heading to Russia.
A source close to DAANES told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, DAANES co-chair Ilham Ahmed, and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) commander Rohlat Afrin were holding talks with senior Syrian government officials as part of efforts to reach a new security and administrative agreement in the country’s northeast.
This comes after a sweeping offensive by government forces this month, which saw them capture most of the territory in northeastern Syria once held by the SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition of militias which includes the YPG (People’s Protection Units) and YPJ (Women’s Protection Units).
While the SDF is Kurdish-led, most of the territory it controlled before the government offensive was predominantly Arab.
The fighting followed the breakdown of an agreement signed in March 2025, which stipulated that SDF forces and institutions would integrate into the Syrian state.
The source said that Syrian government security forces, in coordination with the SDF’s Asayish Internal Security Forces, were expected to enter the northeastern Syrian cities of Hasakeh and Qamishli, still held by the SDF, soon.
The Syrian government will also take over the administration of the currently closed Nusaybin border crossing between Turkey and Syria, in addition to all the other border crossings in Hasakah province, according to the source.
The Semalka crossing with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is also to be handed over later.
The Syrian government will also reportedly supervise oil wells in the Rumailan area, along with the rest of Hasakeh province. Most of the oil wells once controlled by the SDF were captured by government forces in their January offensive.
According to the source, the SDF will begin implementing the agreement within the next 48 hours, and redeploy its forces to predominantly Kurdish towns such as Amuda, Darbasiya and Malikiya. However, he added that it could still renege on implementing the agreement, saying that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) had control over the SDF's decision-making.
On the ground, sources also told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the front lines between the SDF and the Syrian army were calm, particularly around the Kurdish-majority city of Kobane in Aleppo province and near Hasakeh city.
Trump expresses satisfaction with SDF-Syria govt situation
Amid the negotiations, US President Donald Trump said he spoke to Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa while expressing satisfaction with developments on the ground, even though the SDF has long been backed by the United States.
"I had a great conversation with the highly respected president of Syria, and all of the things having to do with Syria and that area," Trump told reporters.
"It's working out very well, so we're very happy about it."
Trump's show of support contrasts with earlier threats by one of his key backers in Congress, Senator Lindsey Graham, to reimpose sanctions on Syria in response to the recent offensive.
Shifting away from his threats, Graham on Tuesday instead credited Trump with restoring stability and demanded that Saudi Arabia use its influence on Syria to "keep the region from falling further into chaos."
Sharaa told Trump of "Syria's full commitment to its territorial integrity and its national sovereignty and the state's keenness to preserve its institutions and promote civil peace," according to a statement by the Syrian presidency.
The United States allied with the SDF beginning over a decade ago to fight the Islamic State extremist group, which was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019.
But Trump envoy Tom Barrack said this month that the partnership had outlived its usefulness and backed the Syrian government's efforts.
Sharaa visits Russia amid withdrawal from Qamishli airport
Trump’s call with Sharaa came as the Syrian leader prepared to visit Russia for talks.
The Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin will discuss the Russian military’s continued presence in Syria when he meets Sharaa on Wednesday.
Russia is currently withdrawing forces from the SDF-controlled Qamishli airport in northeast Syria, Reuters reported this week, although it is expected to maintain its larger air base and naval facility at Hemeimim on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
Russia was a key ally of the former regime of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, but since a rebel offensive led by Sharaa toppled him in December 2024, Moscow has been working to build relations with Sharaa and ensure a continued military presence in the country, which serves to bolster its influence in the Middle East.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the two leaders would discuss economic cooperation and the situation in the region.
"I have no doubt that all issues related to the presence of our troops in Syria will also be raised during today's talks," he added.
Peskov declined to comment when asked about the possibility that Russia might agree to extradite Assad, who fled to Moscow after his overthrow.
Agencies contributed to this report.