ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Syrian state TV early Sunday reported that clashes erupted between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province overnight, accusing the SDF of instigating the attack. 

“Clashes with machine guns and shells between the army and SDF in the towns of Mahkan and al-Kashmah in eastern Deir ez-Zor,” Syria TV announced, adding that the confrontation “continued for hours.”

It stated that the Kurdish-led forces attempted to “infiltrate several areas controlled by the army,” noting that the clashes were thwarted by the Syrian troops and caused “no change in the control map” of the province.

However, the SDF reported that their positions were targeted by “unknown armed elements” who “fired an RPG round” in Deir ez-Zor. 

“Our forces responded appropriately, accurately targeting the source of the fire,” the SDF statement said.

This development comes following a verbal agreement between the two parties after delegations on both sides came together in a high-level meeting in Damascus early October, where both sides agreed to an “immediate ceasefire.”

The meeting further discussed mechanisms of implementing the March 10 agreement, which has been continuously delayed as the SDF and Damascus-affiliated forces have engaged in clashes repeatedly in recent months, with both sides accusing the other of provocations and attacks.

On March 10, Sharaa and Abdi signed an agreement that would see the SDF and its institutions in northeast Syria (Rojava) integrate with the Syrian state.

The US-backed SDF functions as the de facto army of northeast Syria and played a key role in the territorial defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria in 2019.