"Since the push, the government has largely asserted control of the Deir el-Zour and Raqqa provinces, critical areas under the SDF that include oil and gas fields, river dams along the Euphrates, and border crossings. Syria's state-run news agency SANA showed President Ahmad al-Sharaa signing and holding the agreement. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, who was scheduled to meet with the president in Damascus, was not seen, though his signature appeared on the document."
"Al-Sharaa told journalists that Abdi could not travel due to bad weather and will visit Damascus on Monday after reaching the agreement over the phone. "It's a victory for all Syrians of all backgrounds," al-Sharaa told journalists in Damascus after signing the agreement. "Hopefully Syria will end its state of division and moves to a state of unity and progress.""
Syrian government announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces and asserted near-full control across the country, dismantling Kurdish-led forces in the northeast. Clashes earlier this month escalated into a major government push eastward, and the SDF largely retreated after confrontations along a front line in eastern Aleppo province. A prior March agreement to merge the SDF with Damascus failed to hold amid mutual accusations of violations. Since the offensive, government forces have taken control of Deir el-Zour and Raqqa provinces, securing oil and gas fields, Euphrates river dams, and border crossings. President Ahmad al-Sharaa signed the agreement; SDF leader Mazloum Abdi's signature appeared though he was not present.
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