The Syrian government has announced a four-day ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the army continued to seize territory in the country’s northeast following lightning advances.

The Syrian Army announced the ceasefire, which came into effect at 8pm (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

It also said it had asked the SDF to provide the name of a candidate for the role of assistant to the defence minister in Damascus, as part of efforts to integrate the Kurds into the Syrian state.

The SDF confirmed it had accepted the ceasefire and said it would not engage in any military action unless attacked.

“We also affirm our openness to political paths, negotiated solutions, and dialogue, and our readiness to move forward with the implementation of the January 18 agreement in a manner that serves de-escalation and stability,” the SDF said in a statement.

However, shortly after the ceasefire came into effect, the SDF claimed that government-allied groups were launching an attack, “using heavy weapons”, on the village of Tal Baroud, along the Abyad road, south of Hasakah.

According to the SDF’s spokesperson, Farhad Shami, the town of Zarkan has been “under intense artillery shelling” in recent hours by Damascus-affiliated factions. He said that government-allied forces have also attacked al-Aqtan Prison north of Raqqa, using five suicide drones and heavy gunfire.

In the past few days, the Syrian government has rapidly advanced and seized territory held by the SDF, in the biggest success and change of control for President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the fall of former leader Bashar al-Assad.

Syria’s Ministry of Interior said the army’s forces have begun to take control of the al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria, home to thousands of ISIL (ISIS) fighters’ families as well as other long-term refugees from the conflict. The SDF abandoned control of the camp earlier today.