EXPLAINERNews|KurdsWho are the Kurds?The Kurds are widely believed to be the largest stateless ethnic group in the world.
## Regulation: Update on Syria's Ceasefire and Kurdish Integration
Regulation: Update on Syria's Ceasefire and Kurdish Integration
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Under the terms of the agreement, the Syrian government will assume control over territories previously held by the SDF. This agreement aims to facilitate Syria's political reunification efforts following years of civil conflict.
Despite the agreement, reports of ongoing hostilities between Syrian forces and the SDF emerged on Mon, Jan 19, 2026, particularly around a detention facility in al-Shadadi.
According to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian Army will take over the provinces of Raqqa, Deir Az Zor, and Hasakah from the SDF. Additionally, the SDF will be integrated into Syria’s defense and interior ministries as part of a comprehensive 14-point agreement. This move is part of a broader strategy to reunify Syria following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
In line with these efforts, President al-Sharaa issued a decree officially recognizing Kurdish as a national language and granting the Kurdish population official recognition.
Kurdish Demographics and Historical Context
The Kurds are indigenous to the Mesopotamian plains, spanning regions in southeastern Turkiye, northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southwestern Armenia. Despite their significant population, Kurds remain the largest stateless ethnic group globally, with an estimated 30 to 40 million people. They are connected by shared cultural and linguistic ties.
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Kurdish populations are distributed across several countries, and a significant diaspora resides in Europe, primarily in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The Kurdish territories were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s. The post-World War I Treaty of Sevres proposed creating an autonomous Kurdistan, but this proposal was not implemented. The subsequent Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 omitted the establishment of a Kurdish state, leading to ongoing efforts by Kurds to achieve statehood.
Kurdish Situations in Regional Contexts
Kurds constitute approximately 10 percent of Syria's population. Historically, they have faced repression, including the 1962 census in al-Hasakah province, which rendered approximately 120,000 Kurds stateless. Kurdish territories were left under Kurdish control after Syrian government withdrawal during the 2011 uprising. The SDF, established in 2015, played a key role in combating ISIL and securing Kurdish regions.
In Turkiye, Kurds represent 19 percent of the population. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has led resistance efforts seeking cultural recognition, despite being designated as a terrorist organization by multiple governments. The SDF’s leadership has historical ties to the PKK.
Comprising nearly 10 percent of Iran's population, the Kurdish community has long sought political autonomy and cultural rights. The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) has engaged in armed struggles against the Iranian government.
In Iraq, Kurds account for 15 to 20 percent of the population. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), established in 1992, administers a semi-autonomous region. The 2017 independence referendum was not recognized by Baghdad, leading to territorial disputes and economic ramifications for the Kurdish region.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
