People attempt to cross the ruins of a destroyed bridge along the banks of the Euphrates River in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa on Monday. Despite the fact that Syria’s civil war has dragged on for 15 years, much has changed in the span of just over a week. It now appears Al-Sharaa has managed to pull off another stunning advance over the last 11 days with a deal which also secures the SDF’s disarmament and integration into the state. The shadow of a war between Syria’s new government and the SDF has hung heavy over the country for the last year. The deal stipulates the SDF’s withdrawal from the Arab-majority provinces under its control, as well as its integration into the institutions of the Syrian state.

Source: The Irish Times January 19, 2026 19:52 UTC