Syrian President Al-Sharaa Signs Ceasefire Agreement with Kurdish Forces

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - JANUARY 18: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa speaks to media as he signs a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on January 18, 2026 in Damascus, Syria. According to Syrian state media, the deal includes a handover of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governates into government control, and the full integration of SDF fighters into state institutions. It follows the government's recent push towards the key city of Raqqa, after SDF fighters withdrew from Aleppo amid deadly clashes over the implementation of a previous agreement between the two sides. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)