Syrian army and SDF ceasefire deal in Aleppo city amid Barrack’s visit

Just as things seemed to have wined down, news concerning northern Syria has once again reemerged, with SDF being at the center stage.

The clash and ceasefire between SDF and government forces

On Monday, October 6, 2025, United States-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clashed with the Syrian security forces in two neighborhoods of the city of Aleppo in northern Syria. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Syrian state-run TV, reported that SDF forces have targeted a Syrian security checkpoint near the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood “with mortar shells and heavy machine guns”, resulting in the death of one security member and the injury of three from Internal Security Forces along with several civilians as well.

Meanwhile, SDF denied any responsibility for the incident, claiming that its forces had previously withdrawn from the region months ago. Consequently, the Kurdish-led group accused government military factions of carrying out “repeated attacks” against civilians in the two Aleppo neighborhoods and imposing a siege on them. These actions, along with renewed attempts by government forces to advance militarily, have prompted “the residents” to resist the provocations and “defend themselves”. However, the Syrian Ministry of Defence previously stated that recent manoeuvres by its forces along several front lines with the SDF in the northeast of the country were not new operations but part of a planned redeployment.

Despite these limited skirmishes between the two on Monday evening, a ceasefire was reached Tuesday morning, but no further details were revealed.

On March 10, 2025, SDF and the interim Syrian government signed a landmark agreement aimed at integrating Kurdish structures into the Syrian state. Although meant to mark a significant step towards national reconciliation and stability, mutual agreement has failed to materialize and implementation has stalled with regards to two contentious issues: firstly, the disarmament and integration of SDF fighter in the Syrian army, second, the establishment of a decentralized governance system (potentially even a federal one) which would allocate substantial powers to the Kurds (as a means to secure their gains throughout the 14-year civil war as well as their de facto autonomy and their longstanding right to internal self-determination).

Barrack’s visit to SDF in northeast Syria

Shortly after the ceasefire was reached, US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and US CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper met with SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi and senior officials in northeast Syria. This marked Barrack’s first visit to northern and eastern Syria.

While renewing American support and partnership with SDF, the talks focused as well on accelerating implementation of the 10 March agreement with Damascus, conforming with US President Donald Trump’s “vision of ‘give Syria a chance’ by allowing Syrians to unite with all Syrians in a renewed effort for cooperative peace and prosperity,” as Barrack posted on the X platform.

It is worth noting that Washington had previously pressed the group into entering negotiations with the central government concerning its integration, under mutually accepted terms.