The agreement between the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, and the interim president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was welcomed by the Kurds and their political parties, including the Kurdish National Council in Syria.

The militia alliance that controls much of north-eastern Syria will merge with new state institutions, the presidency says.

The image of the two men meeting, having discarded their military uniforms and put on suits, illustrates how leaders can seize the moment and opt for peace over war.