ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Syrian defense ministry on Saturday announced a 15-day extension to its ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), shortly after Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said that Damascus was mulling its next options.

"We announce the extension of the ceasefire in all sectors of the Syrian Arab Army operations for 15 days, effective from 23:00 on January 24, 2026," the ministry said in a statement.

"This extension of the ceasefire comes in support of the US operation to evacuate [Islamic State] ISIS prisoners from SDF prisons to Iraq."

The SDF confirmed shortly after the Syrian defense ministry's statement that a 15-day ceasefire had been reached with the transitional Syrian government "through international mediation, while dialogue with Damascus continues."

"Our forces affirm their commitment to the agreement and their dedication to respecting it, which contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of the necessary conditions for stability," the Kurdish-led force said in a statement.

Mustafa said earlier on Saturday “the deadline given to the SDF has expired, and the Syrian government affirms that it is now studying its next options" in an X post.

Reuters reported prior to the announcement of the extension that the US and France had urged Sharaa not to advance into the remaining Kurdish-held areas in Rojava. 

Washington is in coordination with Baghdad to transfer some 7,000 ISIS prisoners to Iraq, as heightened tensions and Syria's uncertain dynamics pose a security risk to the thousands of ISIS members held in Syrian prisons, with several hundreds having escaped their cells as Damascus takes control of the prisons holding the Jihadists.

The previous ceasefire, announced on Tuesday evening by Syria's defense ministry, aimed to halt hostilities between the two sides for four days, during which the both parties were supposed to hash out the details of an agreement regarding the military and civilian integration of Hasakah into the Syrian state institutions.

Talks failed to bear fruit however, as a suffocating siege by the Syrian government's forces around the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane continues, with at least five children dying from the severe cold and lack of medicine, according to the Kurdish Red Crescent.

Both sides have repeatedly accused one another of violating the ceasefire over the past four days.

Updated with Background at 11:13 pm.

Updated with SDF statement at 11:36 pm.