Syrian government forces, backed by allied tribal fighters, have made territorial gains against Kurdish-led forces in northern and eastern Syria, including the capture of major oil and gas fields, Syrian state media and activists said on Sunday.

Sharaa’s announcement on Friday came after days of fighting between the government and Kurdish forces. On Saturday, those forces began withdrawing from a flashpoint east of Aleppo.

The Kurdish region remains a major obstacle to President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s consolidation of control over Syria.

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree affirming the rights of the Kurdish Syrians, formally recognising their language and restoring citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians, state news agency SANA reported on Friday.