(Refiles to add opening quotation mark in paragraph 22) By Feras Dalatey, Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Orhan Qereman and Jonathan Spicer Feb 13 (Reuters) – ⁠A ⁠U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria leaves thorny questions unresolved, as ⁠Kurds seek to retain some authority despite a much weakened hand following the rapid advance of central government forces. The progress of the deal tests the ability ​of Syria’s new leaders to stabilise a nation fractured by 14 years of war, following several bouts of violence pitting it against minority groups who are suspicious of the Islamist-led government. The struggle for Syria’s northeast has brought the biggest shift ‌in control since former leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December ‌2024. After months of deadlock, Damascus seized swathes of territory from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) before agreeing to the plan that foresees its remaining enclave being integrated into the state. Preliminary steps have gone smoothly since the January 29 ⁠agreement: small contingents of government ⁠forces have deployed into two Kurdish-run cities, fighters have withdrawn from frontlines, and Damascus on …