Syria signs historic deal with Kurdish-led forces

Syria's new government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to merge forces.

That's according to the Syrian presidency, releasing a video showing interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi signing the deal.

It's a major step in Shaara's goal to unite Syria, which had seen 14 years of conflict and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December.

The agreement included a complete end of hostilities, and for SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions - which include an airport, oil and gas fields - to become part of the Damascus administration.

In the northeastern city of Qamishli, there were celebrations after the deal.Cars full of cheering people cruised through the streets.

“The people needed an agreement like this. The world is tired of displacement and war, so we are happy with this agreement because it will bring peace to a new, democratic Syria."

The U.S.-backed SDF has been in conflict with Turkey-backed armed groups in northern Syria for years.

That conflict has rumbled on since Assad was toppled. There was no immediate comment on the deal from Turkey, which is a close ally of Sharaa.

Analysts say SDF leaders see the agreement as a hedge against the risk of the Trump administration suddenly withdrawing U.S. forces, which have helped SDF counter the Islamic State in Syria for a decade.

The accord came at another critical moment: Syrian authorities face an insurgency in the coastal region of western Syria by loyalist remnants of Assad's regime.

Violence has spiraled in the past week, and there were reports of large numbers of civilians of Assad's Alawite sect killed in sectarian reprisals.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the killings.

Sharaa said mass killings of Alawites were a threat to his mission to unite Syria. He promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary.