Following the fall of the Assad regime and a military offensive by the transitional government in January 2026, a period of military stalemate led to the signing of a comprehensive 14-point agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus on 30 January 2026. This agreement regulates matters such as military and security integration, which involves the gradual incorporation of the SDF into the Syrian Ministry of Defence. Within this framework, a military division is being established for the province of Hassakeh, consisting of 3 SDF brigades, while the Kobane forces are being incorporated into a brigade under the Aleppo division. A key element of this new structure is the appointment of the Kurdish commander Sipan Hemo as Deputy Minister of Defence for the eastern region. The internal security services are being integrated through the incorporation of the Kurdish Asayish into the Ministry of the Interior. The Asayish are carrying out joint patrols with central government units in cities such as Qamishli and Hassake.
On the administrative and economic levels, the transitional government has taken control of key locations, including the strategic oil fields of Rumailan and Suwaidiya, Qamishli Airport, and important border crossings such as Semalka and Nusaybin. Meanwhile, Nour al-Din Issa was appointed governor of Hassakeh province at the recommendation of the SDF, effectively turning the region's autonomy into a 'strengthened provincial system' under Damascus's sovereignty.
A historic element of the process has been the improvement of Kurdish civil rights and recognition, notably through the enactment of Decree No. 13 of 2026. This decree grants citizenship to tens of thousands of stateless Kurds (maktumeen) and recognises Kurdish as an official language that can be taught in schools. Furthermore, the spring festival of Newroz has been officially declared a national holiday.
Regarding the security situation in north-eastern Syria between October 2025 and February 2026, there was a clear spike in violence during the transitional government’s offensive in January 2026. This violence was concentrated primarily in the provinces of Aleppo, Hassakeh, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, but decreased significantly after the signing of the comprehensive agreement on 30 January 2026. While the situation has since stabilised, significant security risks remain, including unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were left behind after the fighting. Additionally, the city of Kobane is still heavily blockaded by government-affiliated factions, resulting in a fragile humanitarian situation despite the current absence of active combat. In cities such as Qamishli and Hassakeh, order is now maintained by joint Syrian government and Kurdish Asayish patrols, although occasional incidents surrounding political and cultural symbols still occur, such as during the Newroz celebrations.
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