A four-day ceasefire that helped halt the fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian transitional government came to an end yesterday.
The truce was first announced a few days ago, on Tuesday, January 20. It was struck after Syrian forces pushed the SDF out of a large area in eastern Syria. This led to concerns that ISIS members held in SDF prisons might escape.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rushed to make sure that some of the ISIS detainees were transferred to Iraq. According to CENTCOM, 7,000 prisoners may be eventually moved, with the transfer likely to take time. Now the question is: What will become of the ceasefire?
On Saturday, reports indicated that the ceasefire might be extended. Obviously, this is in the interest of most of the groups involved. The US and other European countries are not interested in seeing more warfare commence in Syria. The Kurds in northern Iraq’s autonomous government have been working to aid their comrades in eastern Syria.
All parties involved are seeking a way for peace – even a fragile one – to continue. However, the Syrian government downplayed reports of a ceasefire extension. Later on Saturday, Damascus maintained that those reports were false.
It is unclear what the major hurdle is to extending the deal. Kurds are currently under siege in Kobane in eastern Syria. There are reports that children are threatened by both the cold and a lack of humanitarian aid. This is a looming disaster. At the same time, Kurdish regions in northeast Syria, such as Qamishli and Hasakah, remain near a new front line with the Syrian government.
Iraq reportedly worried about ISIS detainee transfers
Other reports suggest that Iraq is worried about the ISIS detainee transfers. It has only agreed to accept them because the SDF appeared to be collapsing. According to Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, Iraq will not accept all the detainees if the SDF maintains or expands its control.
Rudaw also reported that “Switzerland calls for de-escalation in northeast Syria (Rojava), voicing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian and security situation amid ongoing clashes and reported violations of international law.”
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said, “Switzerland is deeply concerned about the situation in northeast Syria, in particular the current tensions between different population groups. It is closely monitoring developments in the region and beyond.”
The UN has also expressed concern about Kobane.
“Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said UN partners on the ground are increasingly concerned about conditions for civilians,” Rudaw noted.
UK Special Rep. for Syria Ann Snow has discussed the current crisis in Syria as well. “This is a critical moment for the future of Syria,” Snow told Rudaw. “The latest ceasefire agreement is welcome, but the situation remains fragile. Syria needs dialogue and peace, not further violence.”
Meanwhile, Syria’s Foreign Ministry rejected reports that claimed it had extended a deadline for the SDF regarding the future of Hasakah province.
Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, the director of Arab affairs at Syria’s Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry, said the SDF repeatedly seeks truces and deadlines to gain time without clear objectives and spreads rumors of extensions to embarrass the state.
He said the SDF has so far not responded positively to government proposals and has consistently violated ceasefires, adding that “the Syrian government had offered senior positions to the SDF [although] no candidates have been nominated,” Syria’s state media SANA said.
“All options remain on the table, alongside calm and dialogue, to enforce the law, preserve Syria’s unity, and safeguard the rights of the Syrian people,” Ahmad said.