STORY
In a joint statement released on 27 January 2026, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States have called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in North East Syria to avoid a “security vacuum” that could be exploited by the Islamic State (ISIS). The diplomatic intervention followed high-level meetings between UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Minister of State Serap Güler and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack.
The four nations welcomed the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between Syrian Government Forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on 24 January. International observers remain particularly concerned about the security of ISIS detention centres in the region, where thousands of detainees are currently held. To mitigate the risk of mass escapes during the volatility, the United States has begun an operation to transfer approximately 7,000 of the most “hardened” ISIS fighters from SDF-run prisons to detention facilities in Iraq.
The joint statement emphasised that a unified and sovereign Syrian state that protects the rights of all citizens remains the most effective path to long-term stability. This diplomatic push aligns with a new 14-point integration plan, which seeks to disband the SDF and merge its individual members into the Syrian national army and police forces. While the current ceasefire has allowed the first UN aid convoys to reach besieged areas like Kobani, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 173,000 people displaced by the recent offensive.