A four-day ceasefire that helped end fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Transitional Government is supposed to end on January 25. The four-day ceasefire was announced on January 20. It came after Syrian forces pushed the SDF out of a large area of eastern Syria. This led to concerns that ISIS members held in prisons by the SDF might escape. US Central Command rushed to make sure some of the ISIS detainees are transferred to Iraq. It will take time to move all 7,000 of them, the estimate CENTCOM has provided for how many might be moved.
The question is what becomes of the ceasefire. Earlier in the day on January 24, there were reports that the ceasefire would be extended. This is obviously in the interest of most groups involved.
The US and European countries don’t want to see more fighting in Syria. The Kurds in northern Iraq’s autonomous government have been working to help their comrades in eastern Syria. Everyone wants to find a way for accommodation to continue. However, the Syrian government downplayed stories about a ceasefire being extended. In the afternoon of January 24, Damascus kept saying the reports were false.
It's unclear what the major hurdle is to extending the deal. Kurds are now under siege in Kobane in eastern Syria. There are reports that children are threatened by the cold and 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 frontline with the Syrian government.
Iraq reportedly worried about ISIS detainee transfers
Other reports indicate that Iraq is worried about the ISIS detainee transfers. It has only agreed to take them in because the SDF appeared to be collapsing. If the SDF maintains or expands its control, then Iraq says it won’t take all the detainees, according to a report at Kurdish media Rudaw.
Meanwhile, 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 that “Switzerland is deeply concerned about the situation in north-east 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, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said UN partners on the ground are increasingly concerned about conditions for civilians,” Rudaw noted.
UK Special Representative for Syria Ann Snow has also discussed the current crisis in Syria. “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 said it rejected reports claiming it had extended a deadline for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) regarding the future of Hasakah province, describing them as baseless.
“Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, Director of Arab Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, 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, but 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,” al-Ahmad said.