Statement Issued by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of The Syrian Arab Republic

Statement Issued by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of The Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus, January 18, 2026 - The Syrian Arab Republic affirms that the unity and cohesion of the Syrian people, in all its components, is the solid foundation for any lasting stability.

Based on this vision, the Syrian state continues its practical steps to consolidate the unity of institutions and national sovereignty over all Syrian territory, including the path of institutional and military integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces within state institutions, according to clear arrangements that guarantee stability and security, prevent any institutional vacuum, and affirm the state’s monopoly on the use of force within the framework of the law.

In this context, His Excellency President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Presidential Decree No. (13) of 2026, which stipulates the recognition of the cultural and linguistic rights of the Syrian Kurds, and addresses the legal and civil issues of unregistered persons, and the accumulated property rights files from previous decades, reflecting a political and legal commitment to building a comprehensive state that treats its citizens fairly and protects their rights, far from exclusion or discrimination.

Based on the understandings reached today, a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire was agreed upon on all fronts and points of contact. It was also agreed to hand over the governorates of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa administratively and militarily to the Syrian government in their entirety, including the handover of civilian institutions and facilities, the regularization of current employees within the relevant ministries, and the integration of civilian institutions in Hasakah Governorate into the Syrian state institutions and their administrative structures.

The Syrian state emphasizes that this agreement embodies the established approach based on prioritizing reason, dialogue, and consensual solutions, in a way that preserves dignity, rights, and civil peace, and establishes a responsible national partnership, thus preventing bloodshed and protecting property.

The Syrian state, while welcoming and congratulating the Syrians on this agreement, views it as a pivotal step towards a new phase characterized by the unification of institutions, the consolidation of stability, and the launch of a comprehensive national path for recovery and reconstruction. It also calls on the international community to support this path as a real opportunity to consolidate local security and regional stability, which will contribute to achieving economic prosperity and common interests to build a secure, dignified, and prosperous future worthy of the sacrifices, resilience, and aspirations of the Syrians.