Amidst the bloodshed of conflict in the country, Syria’s interim government has reached an understanding with the rebel Kurds! On Monday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed Al-Shara signed an agreement with Mazlum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-controlled armed organization Syrian Democratic Front. The deal could be implemented by December this year.

According to the agreement, the interim government will take control of the northeastern part of Syria that has been under the hands of the rebel Kurds for so long. The Kurdish-controlled Syrian Democratic Forces had demanded autonomy in northeastern Syria during Bashar al-Assad’s regime. However, they have largely backed away from that demand. The agreement states that the Syrian interim government will recognize the Kurds’ “constitutional rights” in that region. Kurds will be allowed to study in their own language, and assurances have been given to include them in political processes.

The Kurds, who were economically, socially, and politically marginalized during Assad’s era, had declared rebellion against the Syrian government. To counter the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) in West Asia, America supported the Kurdish-controlled armed group Syrian Democratic Front.

Under suspicion of being linked with IS, the Kurds detained nearly 9,000 people. According to the agreement, these prisoners will be handed over to the government. Many believe that these prisoners might be integrated into the official military forces. This raises questions about whether the interim government might use them to suppress Assad’s minority Alawite supporters.

Since last week, bloody conflicts have been ongoing between Syria’s interim government security officials and followers of the country’s former president, Bashar al-Assad. Last December, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) along with their allies ‘Jaysh al-Izza’ ousted Assad’s government and seized control of the capital Damascus. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that since Thursday, 745 civilians have died in Syria. Additionally, the death toll includes 125 Syrian government and security officials, as well as at least 148 of Assad’s supporters.

On Monday, Syria’s interim government announced that the campaign against former President Assad’s supporters had ended. However, following recent clashes, the Syrian government is now facing international pressure. In this climate, it is believed that the government’s attempt to reach an agreement with the rebel groups is an effort to send a positive message.