The new integration deal between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will modestly improve Syria's stability and state-building prospects, accelerate a U.S. military withdrawal and open space for a Syria-Israel security pact, though gains remain fragile due to risks of local violence and a persistent Islamic State threat. On Jan. 30, the SDF and the Syrian transitional government announced a broad agreement on the former's integration into the latter. The deal formalizes the Jan. 18 ceasefire that stopped recent clashes between the two sides, committing the SDF and the Syrian government to a broader cessation of hostilities. Key components of the agreement include a phased integration of select SDF units into the Syrian Defense Ministry, the deployment of Syrian Interior Ministry forces to Kurdish-majority cities like Qamishli and Hassakeh, the merger of Kurdish-led civil administrations into state institutions, and Syrian state assurances regarding Kurdish educational and...
