Damascus, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Syrian defense authority has proclaimed a four-day ceasefire throughout all operational sectors of the Syrian army to bolster agreements established with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

This ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, taking effect at 8:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), as part of the commitment to the accords with the SDF and the broader goal of maintaining national security and stability, according to a statement from state media.

Officials in Syria characterize this military pause as a confidence-building measure aimed at fostering dialogue and creating an environment suitable for the execution of agreed-upon mechanisms, while also curbing further escalations on the ground.

Earlier, Syria's interim authority disclosed a consensus with the SDF regarding the integration of Hasakah province after a period marked by instability and security challenges in northern Syria.

As per a statement from the state news agency SANA, both parties have consented to allow the SDF a four-day window to conduct internal discussions and formulate a comprehensive plan for the practical integration mechanisms. Should an agreement be reached, Syrian forces will remain on the outskirts of Hasakah and Qamishli, without entering the city centers, while negotiations continue on a phased and peaceful integration timetable for the province.

The statement also affirms that Syrian military forces will not enter Kurdish villages, and only locally recruited security units from the local populace will be permitted there, in accordance with the reached understanding.

Additionally, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi will nominate a candidate for the deputy chief of the defense authority, propose a candidate for the governor of Hasakah, and suggest representatives for the national parliament, along with a list of individuals for employment in state institutions, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Both sides have agreed to integrate all SDF military and security personnel into the defense and interior authorities, while discussions regarding the modalities of this process are ongoing. Civilian institutions currently overseen by the SDF will also be incorporated into the interim authority.

The interim authority has acknowledged Kurdish linguistic and cultural rights and is addressing issues related to citizenship.

This announcement arrives amid increased tensions in northern and northeastern Syria, where recent skirmishes, security incidents involving Islamic State detainees, and population displacements have highlighted the fragile nature of a broader Damascus-SDF agreement aimed at restoring state authority and stabilizing the region.

In response to the announcement, Abdi stated that the SDF has repositioned its forces to predominantly Kurdish areas, emphasizing that safeguarding those regions is a ‘red line’ and pledging to defend them if necessary.