DAMASCUS: A ceasefire between Syria’s military and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been extended for an additional 15 days, officials confirmed, just hours after the initial four-day truce expired.
Syria’s Defence Ministry announced late on Saturday that the extension, which took effect at 11:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT), aims to facilitate a US-led operation to transfer ISIS prisoners from detention facilities previously managed by the SDF.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have also confirmed the ceasefire extension.
“Our forces affirm their commitment to the agreement and their dedication to respecting it, which contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of the necessary conditions for stability,” the group said in a statement.
The announcement brought a sense of relief across Syria, which has remained tense since clashes erupted earlier this month between the Syrian military and the SDF over disagreements surrounding the group’s integration into the national army.
Over the past two weeks, Syrian forces have driven the SDF out of the city of Aleppo and taken control of large areas across northern and eastern parts of the country.
Syria’s interim government signed an agreement with the SDF last March under which the group was to hand over territory and eventually integrate its fighters into government forces.
However, a fresh round of talks in early January failed to break the deadlock over the merger, triggering a renewed outbreak of fighting between the two sides.
On Saturday, state television reported that authorities released 126 boys under the age of 18 who had been detained at Al-Aqtan prison near the northern city of Raqqa, which was captured by government forces on Friday. The teenagers were transferred to Raqqa city and reunited with their families, according to the broadcaster.
Al-Aqtan prison also houses some of the estimated 9,000 members of the Daesh group detained in northeastern Syria. While most remain in facilities operated by the SDF, government forces have so far taken control of two prisons, with the remainder still under SDF administration.
Earlier this week, the US military said that some 7,000 Daesh detainees will be transferred to detention centers in neighboring Iraq.
