SDF remains on high alert as Hasaka ceasefire extended by 15 days

HASAKA, Syria - Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in Hasaka are keeping their weapons ready despite a 15-day ceasefire extension with the Syrian Arab Army, underscoring the fragile calm along the frontlines.

The truce, extended on Saturday, aims to facilitate the transfer of Islamic State (ISIS) detainees from SDF-controlled prisons in Syria to Iraq, following a short four-day ceasefire announced last week.

SDF fighters have maintained full readiness across all five Hasaka frontlines amid sporadic attacks by groups affiliated with the Syrian Arab Army during the initial days of the truce.

“It is now a ceasefire, but during those four days of the truce, they attacked twice. We are constantly maintaining our readiness,” Jan Sher Mohammed, an SDF officer in Hasaka, told Rudaw's Bakhtiyar Qadir on Sunday.

“Whether there is a ceasefire or not, the SDF fighters and our people are ready for any attack. We are defending ourselves and taking our precautions because we do not trust the gangs among them. We don't know when they will attack in disguise of a ceasefire. Therefore, we are taking our precautions,” Mohammed added.

All war frontlines have been fortified into defensive positions by the SDF fighters, with paths for advancement blocked to ensure preparedness against any sudden assault.

The ceasefire has also offered temporary relief for civilians displaced by recent military operations. Many residents have fled areas near the Damascus-controlled fronts to areas under the control of the Kurdish fighters, taking advantage of the pause in hostilities.

“We are bringing these teenagers with us; we are afraid for them, my son. We aren't afraid [for ourselves], thank God – we and you are one. May God protect us for the sake of the Prophet, and may God extinguish the fire of this [war], my son,” said Gamra Mohammed, an internally displaced person.

Another IDP, Mohammed Khidir, noted that they were displaced from the area “because we were afraid of the military operations - in case a clash or something happened. We moved the children and women out.”

“Now, thank God, there is a 15-day truce and people have returned to their homes,” he added.

Despite the ceasefire, a curfew remains in effect daily from 7 pm to 8 am, reflecting continued security concerns along Hasaka’s borders.

The extended truce comes as negotiations between the SDF and Damascus continue over the long-term integration of Kurdish-led forces, with Damascus seeking to absorb fighters individually.

The ceasefire and negotiations follow a large-scale offensive by the Syrian Arab Army and its affiliated groups in mid-January targeting eastern Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka, marking one of the most intense military escalations in months.