A ceasefire between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has mostly held despite mutual accusations of violations, a day after the agreement was extended by 15 days.
The Syrian army on Sunday said the SDF launched more than 25 explosive drones at military positions in the Aleppo countryside, damaging four vehicles. The SDF also reportedly targeted the M4 highway and residential areas in Sarrin town, injuring several civilians, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
The Ministry of Defense said several drones were intercepted before reaching civilian areas east of Aleppo.
On Monday, the SDF said Syrian forces attacked areas southeast of Ain al-Arab (Kobane) with artillery, resulting in clashes between both sides. In a statement on social media, the SDF said government forces deployed reinforcements backed by Turkish drone overflights.
The ceasefire was extended shortly after an initial four-day truce expired on Saturday night. The extension supports a U.S.-led effort to transfer suspected Islamic State fighters currently detained in SDF-run facilities in northeastern Syria to Iraq, according to the Syrian Ministry of Defense.
On January 21, U.S. Central Command said it began transporting dozens of detainees from Hasakah province to Iraq, with plans to move hundreds more.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after government forces ousted Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, has pledged to reassert control over all Syrian territory, including SDF-held regions. Kurdish-led authorities, who have administered autonomous governance in the northeast for a decade, have resisted calls to integrate with state institutions.
Military operations resumed after a year-end deadline for a political merger passed without agreement.
