Damascus, Oct 8, (dpa/GNA) – Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire in northern and north-eastern Syria, officials reported on Tuesday.
The agreement came after a meeting in Damascus between Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi, the minister announced on social media.
In a post on X, Abu Qasra said “I met a short while ago with Mr. Mazloum Abdi in the capital, Damascus, and we agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts and military deployment points in northern and northeastern Syria, with this agreement to be implemented immediately.”
This comes as a high-level delegation from the SDF and the Kurdish Autonomous Administration, headed by the Abdi, arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The delegation is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaiban, in a meeting held under US auspices.
Joan Mulla Ibrahim, media officer of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration, confirmed to dpa that a negotiating delegation is in Damascus, and is continuing talks with the transitional government.
Both sides are focusing on implementing the ceasefire, preventing the presence and use of weapons, and ensuring stability to avoid the outbreak of a new war.
Mulla Ibrahim described the violence in Sheikh Maqsoud as “horrific and unacceptable”, and noted that investigations are ongoing.
He stressed that national dialogue must be based on Syrian consensus, respect for all parties and the avoidance of sidelining anyone. It must aim to allow Syrians to rebuild after 14 years of conflict and the abuses of the previous regime.
Clashes in Aleppo erupted on Monday near the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods, which are under SDF control.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that one member of the security forces was killed and three were injured, while civil defence sources said one civilian died and five were wounded by SDF rocket shelling.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described a “cautious calm” in the area following the ceasefire.
The escalation occurred after the Syrian army redeployed forces near the front lines with the SDF.
The defence ministry said these movements were “part of a planned redeployment, not new military operations.”
The SDF denied attacking government positions, calling the clashes “a direct result of provocations by government forces and their attempts to advance with tanks.”
The ceasefire marks a crucial step in easing tensions along the volatile northern front, with both Damascus and Kurdish authorities emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation.
GNA