Syria’s Foreign Ministry has denied reports that a four day ceasefire with the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces has been extended, Syrian state television reported on January 24.
A foreign ministry source told state run Al Ikhbariyya that claims circulating about an extension of the truce were baseless. The denial came even as officials and diplomats indicated that efforts were continuing to keep the ceasefire in place beyond its scheduled expiry on Saturday evening.
A diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP that the ceasefire would be extended for up to one month, while a Syrian official said an extension was likely in order to allow time to complete the transfer of ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq.
The truce was agreed on January 20 after government forces advanced into areas long held by the SDF and reinforcements were deployed toward Kurdish controlled cities in northeastern Syria.
Washington has said it is transferring up to 7,000 ISIL detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraqi custody, with 150 already moved in the first phase. Iraqi security officials said Europeans were among those transferred.
The ceasefire is part of broader efforts to integrate the Kurds’ de facto administration into the Syrian state as President Ahmad al Sharaa’s authorities seek to consolidate control following the 2024 removal of Bashar al Assad.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has said the SDF’s role as the main anti ISIL force has largely expired, arguing that Syria’s position has shifted after Damascus joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL.
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