Syrian government troops kept up their dizzying advance against the Syrian Democratic Forces on Sunday, gaining nearly full control of Raqqa, the erstwhile capital of the Islamic State, which was seized almost nine years ago by the Kurdish-led militia with the help of the United States.

Hours later, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced what amounted to the effective capitulation of the Kurdish-led militia that is widely viewed as having some of the toughest and bravest women and male fighters in the region. Syrian state media published an image of Sharaa holding the text of an agreement whose terms broadly favor Damascus, according to images of the text circulated online. The agreement is said to have been endorsed by the SDF commander in chief, Mazlum Kobane, who was meant to have traveled to Damascus today to sign the document in the presence of US Syria envoy Tom Barrack. Kobane is said to have ultimately signed the document remotely, rather than in person in Damascus.

In a post on the X platform, Barrack commended the sides for their “constructive efforts” and for “paving the way for renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria.” 

“Two great Syrian leaders, driven by the shared visions of liberating their country and people from tyranny, have now come together to forge a brighter future for all Syrians,” Barrack noted.