A new agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian government strengthens cooperation and repatriates displaced people.

The Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria announced yesterday, Monday, reaching an agreement with the transitional government in Damascus to establish a "joint mechanism" for the return of Syrian families from the Al-Hol camp, which houses tens of thousands of individuals allegedly affiliated with ISIS. This came after a meeting between local authorities, representatives of the central government in Damascus, and a delegation from the U.S.-led international coalition fighting ISIS in the region. Sheikhmous Ahmed, an official in the Kurdish-led authority controlling northeastern Syria, stated that the agreement entails a joint mechanism for repatriating the displaced, denying discussions about handing over camp management to Damascus in the near future, emphasizing that camp administration remains under Kurdish authority. Human rights organizations have reported poor living conditions and violence within the camp over the years, housing around 37,000 people, mostly wives and children of ISIS fighters, as well as supporters of the organization from various nationalities including Iraqi and Western. The camp also hosts displaced Syrians, with an existing mechanism for repatriating those willing to return to their communities under Kurdish administration, where reintegration centers have been established. However, this is the first agreement reached with the central government in Damascus regarding the return of these Syrians to areas under its control. This agreement comes in the context of efforts to enhance cooperation between Kurdish authorities and the new leadership in Damascus, following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. Last March, the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Shar'a, signed an agreement with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the Kurds and the United States, outlining the integration of these forces into the new Syrian National Army, and the submission of border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, airports, and oil fields in the northeast to central government control. The agreement also includes transferring prisons holding around 9,000 suspected ISIS members to central government administration. This agreement represents a significant step towards unifying the various factions that divided Syria into "small states" due to the war that began in 2011. However, the implementation of the agreement has been slow so far, amid pressure from Washington, especially to hand over prison management in northeastern Syria to Damascus. These developments are crucial in the context of rebuilding the Syrian state and imposing its control over its entire territory, especially in the northeastern regions that have been semi-autonomous in recent years.