Members of the Syrian government security forces patrol in a vehicle in an area near al-Aqtan prison, on the outskirts of the city of Raqqa, in northeastern Syria, on Jan. 22, 2026. (Credit: Bakr Alkasem/AFP)
BEIRUT — The foreign affairs ministry welcomed the agreement signed between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Damascus on Jan. 20, 2026, according to a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
The ministry also welcomed the presidential decree adopted on Jan. 16 by Ahmad al-Sharaa, declaring Kurdish an official language and guaranteeing national rights for this minority.
It added that "reserving the right to bear arms exclusively for legitimate Syrian institutions will help consolidate Syria’s sovereignty, preserve the unity of its territory, and strengthen the role of Syrian state institutions, which are the best guarantee for all components of the Syrian people."
This statement echoes the domestic situation in Lebanon, where the state is trying to restore its monopoly on weapons and is opposed by Hezbollah's resistance, which refuses to fully disarm.
"Lebanon, bound to Syria by ties of brotherhood and historic relations, reaffirms its commitment to its sovereignty and territorial unity, as well as its constant aspiration to establish the best relations with Syria, in the interest of both brotherly countries," the ministry concluded.
After clashes that pushed the SDF out of several areas in Syria, Sharaa announced the signing of a cease-fire.
The Syrian authorities announced, Tuesday, Jan. 20, a new cease-fire with Kurdish forces, who had retreated under military pressure into their stronghold in northern Syria, a few days after a first cease-fire effort had failed.
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