Monthly evaluation
On the ground in Rojava, not much has changed over March. The situation still seems fragile. The more the time goes, the more negotiations and agreements are falling short on their implementation, it becomes more clear that women liberation is the core of this revolution. It is something we already knew as it is often emphasized, but it is becoming very clear once again. As political and military lines are changing due to "integration", it is the women's movement that helps to remember where are the fault lines and main contradictions located. The discussions about YPJ are the most clear example of it.
For all those forces who those who try to impose their authority, the question of women's freedom, together with the proposal of all nations coexisting together with ethnic and cultural autonomy, is still a problem. It questions their legitimacy, it poses a danger to the program of the Syrian state, as well as to the ongoing regional projects of Israel, US and Turkey. It is a reminder about the real ongoing struggles and the eventuality of renewed war. The military structures of SDF, as well as the civilian bodies of the Autonomous Administration, continue their resistance, navigating the contradictions and conflicts as they come.
One thing is sure, the Syrian civil war is not over yet: there are constant militarized attacks on minorities, there is Assadist underground insurgency, there are powerful Arab tribes who won't accept external domination, there is Israeli intervention in the south, there are Druze who advocate for independence from Syria... And there are also entire battalions of religious fundamentalists, who after more than a decade fighting for an islamic state with al-Qaeda or ISIS, see now themselves integrated in the new Syrian army. Many of them are comfortable as they rise the ranks of state power, but others are disappointed to see the new Syrian government shaking hands with US, Russia and Israel. That is creating a perfect ground for ISIS, which is on the rise again.
Syria is far from any sort of resolution and peace, and on top of all that the new regional war, unleashed by the attacks of Israel and US against Iran, are making things even more complicated. Kurdish forces are trying to keep distance with this war, not just in Syria but also in Iran. Revolutionary forces are working to build up a political alliance with other forces opposed to the Islamic republic, mainly other Kurdish parties but not only. They are not rushing into the war, knowing from experience that war itself won't address the political and ideological struggle that is needed for a real transformation of society.
Still, iranian drones are not only exploding on US bases, but also on critical infrastructure all around middle east. Several locations on the Kurdish regions in Iraq are suffering attacks, including kurdish revolutionary territories close to the iranian border. KRG authorities don't have the capacity to stop iranian dornes, and even the house of Maseud Barzani has become a target for the Shahed drones.
Another sidetrack of this war is how it is serving as excuse for Turkey to stall the peace process started in Bakur. It gives them the perfect smoke cover to simply delay any steps for democratization, leaving the steps taken by the revolutionary movement made in this last year unanswered. Still, many kurds continue working tirelessly for such a peace process. In Öcalans recent message for Newroz, emphasis was put on action, on making the struggle practical. A key term coming up in this regard is the commune, thus efforts of grassroots decentralized self-organisation of society. But when it comes to the Turkish government, seems clear they prefer to wait, leaving doors open to consider what will be more beneficial for them based on the results of the war on Iran.
On the ground in Rojava, not much has changed over March. The situation still seems fragile. The more the time goes, the more negotiations and agreements are falling short on their implementation, it becomes more clear that women liberation is the core of this revolution. It is something we already knew as it is often emphasized, but it is becoming very clear once again. As political and military lines are changing due to "integration", it is the women's movement that helps to remember where are the fault lines and main contradictions located. The discussions about YPJ are the most clear example of it.
For all those forces who those who try to impose their authority, the question of women's freedom, together with the proposal of all nations coexisting together with ethnic and cultural autonomy, is still a problem. It questions their legitimacy, it poses a danger to the program of the Syrian state, as well as to the ongoing regional projects of Israel, US and Turkey. It is a reminder about the real ongoing struggles and the eventuality of renewed war. The military structures of SDF, as well as the civilian bodies of the Autonomous Administration, continue their resistance, navigating the contradictions and conflicts as they come.
One thing is sure, the Syrian civil war is not over yet: there are constant militarized attacks on minorities, there is Assadist underground insurgency, there are powerful Arab tribes who won't accept external domination, there is Israeli intervention in the south, there are Druze who advocate for independence from Syria... And there are also entire battalions of religious fundamentalists, who after more than a decade fighting for an islamic state with al-Qaeda or ISIS, see now themselves integrated in the new Syrian army. Many of them are comfortable as they rise the ranks of state power, but others are disappointed to see the new Syrian government shaking hands with US, Russia and Israel. That is creating a perfect ground for ISIS, which is on the rise again.
Syria is far from any sort of resolution and peace, and on top of all that the new regional war, unleashed by the attacks of Israel and US against Iran, are making things even more complicated. Kurdish forces are trying to keep distance with this war, not just in Syria but also in Iran. Revolutionary forces are working to build up a political alliance with other forces opposed to the Islamic republic, mainly other Kurdish parties but not only. They are not rushing into the war, knowing from experience that war itself won't address the political and ideological struggle that is needed for a real transformation of society.
Still, iranian drones are not only exploding on US bases, but also on critical infrastructure all around middle east. Several locations on the Kurdish regions in Iraq are suffering attacks, including kurdish revolutionary territories close to the iranian border. KRG authorities don't have the capacity to stop iranian dornes, and even the house of Maseud Barzani has become a target for the Shahed drones.
Another sidetrack of this war is how it is serving as excuse for Turkey to stall the peace process started in Bakur. It gives them the perfect smoke cover to simply delay any steps for democratization, leaving the steps taken by the revolutionary movement made in this last year unanswered. Still, many kurds continue working tirelessly for such a peace process. In Öcalans recent message for Newroz, emphasis was put on action, on making the struggle practical. A key term coming up in this regard is the commune, thus efforts of grassroots decentralized self-organisation of society. But when it comes to the Turkish government, seems clear they prefer to wait, leaving doors open to consider what will be more beneficial for them based on the results of the war on Iran.
All this unfolding conflicts are forcing us more than ever to reflect what it means to be a revolutionary. Rojava created an example of what a stateless society can be, navigating a sea of local, regional and geopolitical conflicts with really high consequences. But nothing lasts forever and the situation is constantly changing, constantly evolving. Can we achieve victory through war as the dominant field of struggle? Perhaps the answer might not be the same everywhere. In Kurdistan, the Kurdish Liberation Movement has been fighting a war for over half a century. Currently this movement is taking steps to open their for political maneuvering, shifting away from armed struggle as the main strategy without losing their means of self-defense. Now, can this revolutionary society coexist with the Syrian state and wage this political struggle, can it stop the war? The answer to this is unfolding before our eyes, but the final result is yet to be seen.
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
🔥2
Highlights 06-12.04.2026
📌400 liberated in a new prisoner exchange
400 SDF members were released in the third prisoner exchange with the transitional government. With the current group, the number of people released so far from Northeast Syria has risen to around 870. This last group also included 35 YPJ fighters. The released prisoners were brought to Hassakah. The releases are considered part of an ongoing process, the continuation of which depends on the further implementation of the January 29 agreement. At the same time, the demand remains to free all those still being held. During the offensive, up to 4,000 people from Northeast Syria were abducted, including German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and her Kurdish colleague Ahmed Polad. Their fate remains unknown.
📌Unrest and raids in Sheikh Maqhsood
STG forces carried out raids in several Kurdish homes in the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo. The situation in the historic Kurdish neighborhoods is very tense since the attacks on January, that forced many people to flee to save their live. Mass graves had been discovered over recent months, with more that 4.800 bodies that were buried unnamed. Those bodies belong to residents of the neighborhoods (fighters and civilians) as well as SNA fighters who attacked the neighborhoods on January.
📌Mayor of Kobane get back her position
A delegation from the Kobanê Administration visited Aleppo province a few days ago, and Almaz Romî was officially appointed as Mayor of Kobanê by Aleppo Governor Ezam Xerîb. She worked in different areas of the Kobane administration since 2013, including the the coordination committee of Kongra star in 2018. After the handover ceremony, Almaz Romî said: “Within the framework of the January 29 Agreement, institutions will be integrated with government institutions. Today in Kobanê we have launched the process of integrating the institutions of the Kobanê Municipality into the General People’s Municipality. For this purpose, I held a meeting with the Aleppo Governor two days ago and was appointed as Mayor of Kobanê.”
📌Israel moves further in Daraa countryside
Israeli army forces continued their advances toward Wadi al-Raqad in the Yarmouk Basin area of Daraa western countryside, southern Syria. SANA agency reported that around 12 Israeli military vehicles crossed through the Tel Abu al-Ghaythar gate along the separation line with the Golan Heights and entered the village of Hamata, raided a young man’s house and arrested him before withdrawing toward the Golan. Areas in the western countryside of Daraa have witnessed repeated incidents involving Israeli raids and artillery since the collapse of the Assad regime.
📌400 liberated in a new prisoner exchange
400 SDF members were released in the third prisoner exchange with the transitional government. With the current group, the number of people released so far from Northeast Syria has risen to around 870. This last group also included 35 YPJ fighters. The released prisoners were brought to Hassakah. The releases are considered part of an ongoing process, the continuation of which depends on the further implementation of the January 29 agreement. At the same time, the demand remains to free all those still being held. During the offensive, up to 4,000 people from Northeast Syria were abducted, including German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and her Kurdish colleague Ahmed Polad. Their fate remains unknown.
📌Unrest and raids in Sheikh Maqhsood
STG forces carried out raids in several Kurdish homes in the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo. The situation in the historic Kurdish neighborhoods is very tense since the attacks on January, that forced many people to flee to save their live. Mass graves had been discovered over recent months, with more that 4.800 bodies that were buried unnamed. Those bodies belong to residents of the neighborhoods (fighters and civilians) as well as SNA fighters who attacked the neighborhoods on January.
📌Mayor of Kobane get back her position
A delegation from the Kobanê Administration visited Aleppo province a few days ago, and Almaz Romî was officially appointed as Mayor of Kobanê by Aleppo Governor Ezam Xerîb. She worked in different areas of the Kobane administration since 2013, including the the coordination committee of Kongra star in 2018. After the handover ceremony, Almaz Romî said: “Within the framework of the January 29 Agreement, institutions will be integrated with government institutions. Today in Kobanê we have launched the process of integrating the institutions of the Kobanê Municipality into the General People’s Municipality. For this purpose, I held a meeting with the Aleppo Governor two days ago and was appointed as Mayor of Kobanê.”
📌Israel moves further in Daraa countryside
Israeli army forces continued their advances toward Wadi al-Raqad in the Yarmouk Basin area of Daraa western countryside, southern Syria. SANA agency reported that around 12 Israeli military vehicles crossed through the Tel Abu al-Ghaythar gate along the separation line with the Golan Heights and entered the village of Hamata, raided a young man’s house and arrested him before withdrawing toward the Golan. Areas in the western countryside of Daraa have witnessed repeated incidents involving Israeli raids and artillery since the collapse of the Assad regime.
❤5
Dear comrades,
First of all we want to share a self critic for our absence the last weeks. We are reorganizing a bit our work system and we failed to send updates on time, also to communicate about if. So better late than never: from now on we will continue reporting on a monthly base 🖤
First of all we want to share a self critic for our absence the last weeks. We are reorganizing a bit our work system and we failed to send updates on time, also to communicate about if. So better late than never: from now on we will continue reporting on a monthly base 🖤
❤6
Monthly higlights
📌YPJ Campaign
A campaign under the slogan "We are all YPJ" has been started and is gaining attention both nationally and internationally. The women's movement and organizations of Rojava started this campaign the 26th of April with the aim to have YPJ be part of the integration process.
As we have mentioned before, the role of YPJ and NES's women's organizations more generally, is and will continue to be a stickling point in the negotiations because women's struggle is a foundation of the revolution while at the same time al-Sharaa with his islamic fundamentalist ideology does not want to legitimize women's power and rightful place in society.
📌Unrest and repression under STG
- Amid increasing living costs, protests took place in different cities of Syria, including a Damascus. Prices of oil and gas are being raised by the government, reaching prices impossible to pay for most of the population. The government recently issued a decree announcing that every demonstration has to be approved by the government beforehand or it will be considered illegal.
- Following some clashes in Homs where a government soldier was killed by an Alawite man, a wave of attacks and raids against Alawite population once again took place in that region, not as big as before but still inflaming ethnic tensions and conflicts.
- In Haseke, after government forces removed the sign in Kurdish and arabic to change it for one in arabic and english, a wave of protests erupted around the building, removing the new sign and demanding the one that included kurdish language to be put back.
- In Idlib, a brigade of Uzbek radical islamists clashed with government forces after some of their members were arrested. This is the second incident involving foreign fighters in Idlib after in October some French islamist groups also clashed with government forces on the outskirts of their training camp close to the Turkish border.
📌MIT Aiding Arab Tribal Forces
Reports are circulating about alleged meetings between MIT (Turkish intelligence) and some tribal leaders, to negotiate and build groups able to carry out attacks and killings in kurdish majority areas of north east Syria. Allegedly, MIT is providing weapons, training and funding to some men connected to what has been presented as "tribal armies", building an underground network able to carry out insurgent attacks on Kurdish regions. Those groups may be able to count with tacit government support while allowing government forces to deny any official links, building on tactics of paramilitary counter-guerrilla that the Turkish State has been using for decades against the kurdish movement.
📌Largest Convoy of Returnees to Afrin
A fifth convoy of Afrin refugees departed from Haseke on May 10th, comprising an estimated 1,600 families of Kurds, who were forced to leave their homes in 2018 following the Olive Branch military operation. This has been the largest so far, bigger than the forth one that traveled on early May with around 1,000 families.
The first of these convoys went to Afrin on March 9, and consisted of around 400 displaced families. A second group of around 200 families arrived on April 4, followed by a third convoy of approximately 800 families that reached Afrin on April 14. So in total we are counting around 4000 families that returned to Afrin, even if the conditions there are still unclear as the influence of the Turkish state and its armed groups, comprised of former SNA, still have a heavy presence in the region.
📌YPJ Campaign
A campaign under the slogan "We are all YPJ" has been started and is gaining attention both nationally and internationally. The women's movement and organizations of Rojava started this campaign the 26th of April with the aim to have YPJ be part of the integration process.
As we have mentioned before, the role of YPJ and NES's women's organizations more generally, is and will continue to be a stickling point in the negotiations because women's struggle is a foundation of the revolution while at the same time al-Sharaa with his islamic fundamentalist ideology does not want to legitimize women's power and rightful place in society.
📌Unrest and repression under STG
- Amid increasing living costs, protests took place in different cities of Syria, including a Damascus. Prices of oil and gas are being raised by the government, reaching prices impossible to pay for most of the population. The government recently issued a decree announcing that every demonstration has to be approved by the government beforehand or it will be considered illegal.
- Following some clashes in Homs where a government soldier was killed by an Alawite man, a wave of attacks and raids against Alawite population once again took place in that region, not as big as before but still inflaming ethnic tensions and conflicts.
- In Haseke, after government forces removed the sign in Kurdish and arabic to change it for one in arabic and english, a wave of protests erupted around the building, removing the new sign and demanding the one that included kurdish language to be put back.
- In Idlib, a brigade of Uzbek radical islamists clashed with government forces after some of their members were arrested. This is the second incident involving foreign fighters in Idlib after in October some French islamist groups also clashed with government forces on the outskirts of their training camp close to the Turkish border.
📌MIT Aiding Arab Tribal Forces
Reports are circulating about alleged meetings between MIT (Turkish intelligence) and some tribal leaders, to negotiate and build groups able to carry out attacks and killings in kurdish majority areas of north east Syria. Allegedly, MIT is providing weapons, training and funding to some men connected to what has been presented as "tribal armies", building an underground network able to carry out insurgent attacks on Kurdish regions. Those groups may be able to count with tacit government support while allowing government forces to deny any official links, building on tactics of paramilitary counter-guerrilla that the Turkish State has been using for decades against the kurdish movement.
📌Largest Convoy of Returnees to Afrin
A fifth convoy of Afrin refugees departed from Haseke on May 10th, comprising an estimated 1,600 families of Kurds, who were forced to leave their homes in 2018 following the Olive Branch military operation. This has been the largest so far, bigger than the forth one that traveled on early May with around 1,000 families.
The first of these convoys went to Afrin on March 9, and consisted of around 400 displaced families. A second group of around 200 families arrived on April 4, followed by a third convoy of approximately 800 families that reached Afrin on April 14. So in total we are counting around 4000 families that returned to Afrin, even if the conditions there are still unclear as the influence of the Turkish state and its armed groups, comprised of former SNA, still have a heavy presence in the region.
📌Reshuffling Power Positions on Syria's Government
Ahmad al‑Sharaa issued a series of presidential decrees introducing new appointments to senior positions within the Presidency and several ministries.
Under the decrees, Abdulrahman Badr al‑Din al‑A‘ma was appointed Secretary-General of the Presidency, replacing Maher al‑Sharaa, the brother of the president. Khaled Fawaz Zaarour succeeded Hamza Mustafa as Minister of Information. In the Agriculture Ministry, Bassel Hafez al‑Suweidan was named minister, replacing Amjad Badr.
The decrees further appointed new governors in several governorates; Ghassan Elias al‑Sayyed Ahmad as Governor of Quneitra, replacing Ahmad al‑Dalati, Murhaf Khaled al‑Naasan as Governor of Homs, Ahmad Ali Mustafa as Governor of Latakia, Ziyad Fawaz al‑Ayesh was appointed Governor of Deir ez‑Zor.
📌Stalling of Peace Process in Bakur
In recent declarations, leaders of the apoist movement stated that the peace initiative with Turkey has been effectively "frozen", since Ankara has failed to implement the necessary legal and political reforms to advance the process.
The Apoist Movement leadership also held a press conference marking the first anniversary of the PKK’s dissolution congress, were they evaluated the achievements of the Kurdish liberation movement. They remarked that the dissolution of PKK should be understood as a new beginning for the Kurdish liberation movement, opening space for political and democratic developments.
Ahmad al‑Sharaa issued a series of presidential decrees introducing new appointments to senior positions within the Presidency and several ministries.
Under the decrees, Abdulrahman Badr al‑Din al‑A‘ma was appointed Secretary-General of the Presidency, replacing Maher al‑Sharaa, the brother of the president. Khaled Fawaz Zaarour succeeded Hamza Mustafa as Minister of Information. In the Agriculture Ministry, Bassel Hafez al‑Suweidan was named minister, replacing Amjad Badr.
The decrees further appointed new governors in several governorates; Ghassan Elias al‑Sayyed Ahmad as Governor of Quneitra, replacing Ahmad al‑Dalati, Murhaf Khaled al‑Naasan as Governor of Homs, Ahmad Ali Mustafa as Governor of Latakia, Ziyad Fawaz al‑Ayesh was appointed Governor of Deir ez‑Zor.
📌Stalling of Peace Process in Bakur
In recent declarations, leaders of the apoist movement stated that the peace initiative with Turkey has been effectively "frozen", since Ankara has failed to implement the necessary legal and political reforms to advance the process.
The Apoist Movement leadership also held a press conference marking the first anniversary of the PKK’s dissolution congress, were they evaluated the achievements of the Kurdish liberation movement. They remarked that the dissolution of PKK should be understood as a new beginning for the Kurdish liberation movement, opening space for political and democratic developments.
Evaluation
In the last month we saw how the war tensions between US and Israel against Iran continue to cast their shadow over the whole Middle East. Western powers formalize their ties with the Syrian government, and today (May 11th) Syria and the EU will hold the first high-level political talks since the fall of the Assad regime. It is expected that the talks will focus on establishing a political framework for the relations between the EU and Syria and to assess EU support for economical recovery and political transition.
The project of the Autonomous Administration of NES as an official institution is ending, as talks about integration into the Syrian State are becoming the everyday life in NES. The revolutionary movement is working to defend the values and achievements of the revolution as the formal institutions dissolve, but the communes and the grassroots movement continue on its path. Many people is sad about those loses, but at the same time very aware of the reasons behind it.
The decisions of SDF and the DAANES prevented a bloodbath, and everyone on the ground is very aware of that. The lives of the people of NES were put in front of any political agenda, allowing for a relative peace and calm on the ground. The political and military bodies of NES maneuvered in the best way possible to avoid any massacres or long bloody battles. As prisoners exchange go on, families celebrate that their sons and daughters come back home, knowing that in other conditions they wouldn't be able to see them ever again.
At the same time, important political achievements have been reached for kurds in Syria, with their rights formally recognized in the constitution and official decrees. That brings some hopes for political struggle instead of simply continuation of war, but everyone is aware that those agreements mean nothing if people are not organized and ready to fight when the state tries to walk back on any of those achievements. The means of self-defense have also been somewhat preserved, making sure that SDF didn't end up surrendering or simply giving up weapons.
Today is clear that al-Sharaa is a good strategist. He used his cards very well to achieve the central position he wanted. He is a pragmatist with no problems to compromise the ideological lines of his organization in order to strengthen his own grip on Syrian State power. How much he will try to return to his islamist roots as he consolidates power, how much he will simply embrace western capitalist politics and play the role of responsible head of state for western powers is something that will become more clear in time to come.
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
In the last month we saw how the war tensions between US and Israel against Iran continue to cast their shadow over the whole Middle East. Western powers formalize their ties with the Syrian government, and today (May 11th) Syria and the EU will hold the first high-level political talks since the fall of the Assad regime. It is expected that the talks will focus on establishing a political framework for the relations between the EU and Syria and to assess EU support for economical recovery and political transition.
The project of the Autonomous Administration of NES as an official institution is ending, as talks about integration into the Syrian State are becoming the everyday life in NES. The revolutionary movement is working to defend the values and achievements of the revolution as the formal institutions dissolve, but the communes and the grassroots movement continue on its path. Many people is sad about those loses, but at the same time very aware of the reasons behind it.
The decisions of SDF and the DAANES prevented a bloodbath, and everyone on the ground is very aware of that. The lives of the people of NES were put in front of any political agenda, allowing for a relative peace and calm on the ground. The political and military bodies of NES maneuvered in the best way possible to avoid any massacres or long bloody battles. As prisoners exchange go on, families celebrate that their sons and daughters come back home, knowing that in other conditions they wouldn't be able to see them ever again.
At the same time, important political achievements have been reached for kurds in Syria, with their rights formally recognized in the constitution and official decrees. That brings some hopes for political struggle instead of simply continuation of war, but everyone is aware that those agreements mean nothing if people are not organized and ready to fight when the state tries to walk back on any of those achievements. The means of self-defense have also been somewhat preserved, making sure that SDF didn't end up surrendering or simply giving up weapons.
Today is clear that al-Sharaa is a good strategist. He used his cards very well to achieve the central position he wanted. He is a pragmatist with no problems to compromise the ideological lines of his organization in order to strengthen his own grip on Syrian State power. How much he will try to return to his islamist roots as he consolidates power, how much he will simply embrace western capitalist politics and play the role of responsible head of state for western powers is something that will become more clear in time to come.
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
❤3
We also want to emphasize this statement from the general command of YPJ issued last month:
Kurdish Women Ensure a Free Kurdistan
Kurdish women struggle to protect the rights of their people. They resist and pay a heavy price for the unity and cohesion of Kurdistan. In their fight for rights and justice, women play a leading role through great sacrifices. Therefore, respecting revolutionary women is a human and moral standard. Through their struggle, Kurdish women break the chains of occupation and reject divisive policies. For this reason, occupying forces target women throughout Kurdistan. Nevertheless, Kurdish women continue their struggle with strong determination and firm belief.
As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we respectfully remember the Peshmerga fighters Ghazal Mulan, Nada Miri, and Samira Al-Ayari, and we affirm that the sound of Kurdish women’s rifles calls only for the freedom of women and the Kurdish people.
Women bravely resist the ruling mentality. We strongly condemn the attacks carried out by the Iranian state on Peshmerga bases in Komala in Eastern Kurdistan. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we affirm that the martyrdom of the three Peshmerga—Nada, Samira, and Ghazal—is a great and painful loss, not only for their families and organizations, but also for us, the people of Kurdistan, and all freedom-loving forces.
We particularly emphasize that attacks on women Peshmerga fighters are not merely military assaults, but political attempts to destroy the role of women in the struggle for freedom. These attacks aim to marginalize women’s voices and exclude their presence in political, military, and social spheres. However, as Kurdish women, we will continue our struggle for freedom with unwavering determination and strong faith, and we will not retreat even an inch.
Regardless of the reasons, we consider it unacceptable that hospitals in the Kurdistan Region refused to receive the body of Ghazal Mulan, and that the mosque remained open for religious purposes after her martyrdom. We call for an urgent investigation into this incident by the relevant authorities. Ghazal, who was seriously injured, could have been saved. This situation was psychologically and humanly difficult for all of us, as women and as the Kurdish people.
As a Kurdish woman, Ghazal chose to defend her land and homeland and fulfilled her national duty. In contrast, no political party should prioritize partisan interests over social and national interests, and all must respect the struggle of Kurdish women for the freedom of the country.
At a time when the Kurdish people are under attack from all sides, we must support one another regardless of differences among Kurdish organizations and parties.
We call on all political, social, and military forces in Kurdistan to unite in the face of these attacks and to strengthen national unity. Under such circumstances, the only way to protect the achievements of the people and the martyrs is through cooperation and unity. Any division will only increase the number of enemies.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ghazal Mulan, her comrades in struggle, and the Kurdish people as a whole. Kurdish women have always fought for the freedom of their people with courage, selflessness, and leadership. Respecting women’s struggle is a human duty.
This is a global cause. We once again salute all women who love their homeland and struggle for freedom, represented in the martyr Ghazal Mulan, and we believe that a free and secure future will be ensured under the leadership of women.
General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
20.04.2026
Kurdish Women Ensure a Free Kurdistan
Kurdish women struggle to protect the rights of their people. They resist and pay a heavy price for the unity and cohesion of Kurdistan. In their fight for rights and justice, women play a leading role through great sacrifices. Therefore, respecting revolutionary women is a human and moral standard. Through their struggle, Kurdish women break the chains of occupation and reject divisive policies. For this reason, occupying forces target women throughout Kurdistan. Nevertheless, Kurdish women continue their struggle with strong determination and firm belief.
As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we respectfully remember the Peshmerga fighters Ghazal Mulan, Nada Miri, and Samira Al-Ayari, and we affirm that the sound of Kurdish women’s rifles calls only for the freedom of women and the Kurdish people.
Women bravely resist the ruling mentality. We strongly condemn the attacks carried out by the Iranian state on Peshmerga bases in Komala in Eastern Kurdistan. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we affirm that the martyrdom of the three Peshmerga—Nada, Samira, and Ghazal—is a great and painful loss, not only for their families and organizations, but also for us, the people of Kurdistan, and all freedom-loving forces.
We particularly emphasize that attacks on women Peshmerga fighters are not merely military assaults, but political attempts to destroy the role of women in the struggle for freedom. These attacks aim to marginalize women’s voices and exclude their presence in political, military, and social spheres. However, as Kurdish women, we will continue our struggle for freedom with unwavering determination and strong faith, and we will not retreat even an inch.
Regardless of the reasons, we consider it unacceptable that hospitals in the Kurdistan Region refused to receive the body of Ghazal Mulan, and that the mosque remained open for religious purposes after her martyrdom. We call for an urgent investigation into this incident by the relevant authorities. Ghazal, who was seriously injured, could have been saved. This situation was psychologically and humanly difficult for all of us, as women and as the Kurdish people.
As a Kurdish woman, Ghazal chose to defend her land and homeland and fulfilled her national duty. In contrast, no political party should prioritize partisan interests over social and national interests, and all must respect the struggle of Kurdish women for the freedom of the country.
At a time when the Kurdish people are under attack from all sides, we must support one another regardless of differences among Kurdish organizations and parties.
We call on all political, social, and military forces in Kurdistan to unite in the face of these attacks and to strengthen national unity. Under such circumstances, the only way to protect the achievements of the people and the martyrs is through cooperation and unity. Any division will only increase the number of enemies.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ghazal Mulan, her comrades in struggle, and the Kurdish people as a whole. Kurdish women have always fought for the freedom of their people with courage, selflessness, and leadership. Respecting women’s struggle is a human duty.
This is a global cause. We once again salute all women who love their homeland and struggle for freedom, represented in the martyr Ghazal Mulan, and we believe that a free and secure future will be ensured under the leadership of women.
General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
20.04.2026
❤8
Monthly highlights, May
📌 Increasing popular protests
Protests against the Damascus government are spreading in different regions, from Raqqa to Damascus, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo. Two main sectors are raising their voice denouncing economical hardships, on one side farmers that are struggling with the wheat prices set by the Damascus government, much lower than other years, especially if compared with the price the Autonomous Administration used to buy it for. Farmers protests denounced that with the lower prices they can't even cover the costs. Another sector leading protests are the oil workers, since the Damascus goverment is taking control of many oil fields and excluding many oilfield workers that depended on it for survival. At the same time, protests of SDF families demanding the liberation of prisoners continue, since many SDF fighters still remain in prisons.
📌 Floods on the Eufrates river
After many years of water scarcity, with Turkey keeping dams closed to diminish the water flow into Syria, massive amounts of water were let to flow in to the euphrates river. It caused floods in many regions, especially in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Bridges have been destroyed, many riverside areas remain under water, with houses, orchards and farmland under water. This comes at the time of the wheat harvest season, with many farmers losing their crops that were recently harvested but still on the fields.
📌 Parliament "elections" in northern Syria
While most of Syria voted for the People’s Assembly last October, at that time NES was still under DAANES control. The North East incl. Kobani, Haseke and Qamishlo only voted now on the 24th of may. The vote was for the last 11 seats in the parliament, with a very restricted voting method. The number of voters were highly restricted, with less than 200 people allowed to vote in the different cities. A majority of arab representatives were elected, followed by several kurds from ENKS. PYD representatives denounced the elections as "undemocratic".
📌 Transport over Syria increase
Partly due to the war tensions with Iran, many air traffic is being redirected over middle east. That comes at a time where Turkey and other countries are reactivating their flights to Syria, that is experiencing an increasing number of flights in their airports. Road traffic is also increassing, with the first international transit convoy that entered Syria from Turkey (in Tal Abyad/Gire Spi) heading to Iraq via the al-Yarubiyah Border Crossing.
📌 Kurdish language national day
May 15th is Kurdish language day. his year particularly the day draws attention to the legal right to Kurdish language education in the constitution and laws of the new government. While al-Sharaa did sign a presidential decree guaranteeing Kurdish cultural and language rights, most Kurdish people have little trust in this. Kurdish has been was banned in Syria for decades, and is threatening to become only single subject in school (everything else being taught in Arabic), instead of a whole curriculum being taught in Kurdish. Therefor advocating for and celebrating the Kurdish language is ever so relevant today.
📌 Increasing popular protests
Protests against the Damascus government are spreading in different regions, from Raqqa to Damascus, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo. Two main sectors are raising their voice denouncing economical hardships, on one side farmers that are struggling with the wheat prices set by the Damascus government, much lower than other years, especially if compared with the price the Autonomous Administration used to buy it for. Farmers protests denounced that with the lower prices they can't even cover the costs. Another sector leading protests are the oil workers, since the Damascus goverment is taking control of many oil fields and excluding many oilfield workers that depended on it for survival. At the same time, protests of SDF families demanding the liberation of prisoners continue, since many SDF fighters still remain in prisons.
📌 Floods on the Eufrates river
After many years of water scarcity, with Turkey keeping dams closed to diminish the water flow into Syria, massive amounts of water were let to flow in to the euphrates river. It caused floods in many regions, especially in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Bridges have been destroyed, many riverside areas remain under water, with houses, orchards and farmland under water. This comes at the time of the wheat harvest season, with many farmers losing their crops that were recently harvested but still on the fields.
📌 Parliament "elections" in northern Syria
While most of Syria voted for the People’s Assembly last October, at that time NES was still under DAANES control. The North East incl. Kobani, Haseke and Qamishlo only voted now on the 24th of may. The vote was for the last 11 seats in the parliament, with a very restricted voting method. The number of voters were highly restricted, with less than 200 people allowed to vote in the different cities. A majority of arab representatives were elected, followed by several kurds from ENKS. PYD representatives denounced the elections as "undemocratic".
📌 Transport over Syria increase
Partly due to the war tensions with Iran, many air traffic is being redirected over middle east. That comes at a time where Turkey and other countries are reactivating their flights to Syria, that is experiencing an increasing number of flights in their airports. Road traffic is also increassing, with the first international transit convoy that entered Syria from Turkey (in Tal Abyad/Gire Spi) heading to Iraq via the al-Yarubiyah Border Crossing.
📌 Kurdish language national day
May 15th is Kurdish language day. his year particularly the day draws attention to the legal right to Kurdish language education in the constitution and laws of the new government. While al-Sharaa did sign a presidential decree guaranteeing Kurdish cultural and language rights, most Kurdish people have little trust in this. Kurdish has been was banned in Syria for decades, and is threatening to become only single subject in school (everything else being taught in Arabic), instead of a whole curriculum being taught in Kurdish. Therefor advocating for and celebrating the Kurdish language is ever so relevant today.
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💬 Evaluation
The Syrian government is strengthening its position in the international political arena every day, this is evidenced by the way economic cooperation is being established between the European powers and Syria. Europe sees in Syria a promising country in which it can invest. The recent NATO exercises with the participation of the Syrian army signal to the whole world that Syria is ready for open cooperation with the West in both the political and military spheres. At the same time, the Syrian leadership, being pragmatist, does not openly take either side of the world centers of gravity, but tries to confidently balance between east and west.
Despite the relatively successful foreign policy, the internal economic affairs of Syria are not going well. Increasingly, residents of the Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor regions are expressing dissatisfaction with rising prices. The recent floods caused by the extraordinary opening of turkish dams seriously damaged many farmers' wheat harvest, and that will severely worsen the situation. The government's urgency on taking full control of oil business is also excluding many oil field workers, that had certain degree of autonomy on how the fields were managed when the regions were under control of SDF. Now many oil field managers and workers are leading protests in different areas, complaining about government's new policies on oil.
The autonomous administration has practically ceased to exist, giving way to state institutions. The commune system continue functioning and solving many aspects of daily life, the Syrian State have no capacity to undermine these grassroots neighborhood cooperation. Most women's institutions also continue their work. The SDF is being reorganized into 4 divisions, maintaining its independence, but not all SDF fighters can be integrated in just those 4 divisions. As ISIS and other islamist groups are increasing it's presence (and attacks), revolutionary forces are assessing the situation, looking for ways to lay low, to not undermine the integration agreements but keeping readiness to react, expecting a rise of conflict in the near future.
There are increasing tensions about the fate of the YPJ, with big demonstrations all along northern Syria together with many shows of international solidarity in defense of YPJ. The Syrian government does not want to include YPJ units in the army, they are instead inviting them to join the police structure. Such a proposal is categorically unacceptable for YPJ, since the women's army is a critical pats of the women's revolution.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
The Syrian government is strengthening its position in the international political arena every day, this is evidenced by the way economic cooperation is being established between the European powers and Syria. Europe sees in Syria a promising country in which it can invest. The recent NATO exercises with the participation of the Syrian army signal to the whole world that Syria is ready for open cooperation with the West in both the political and military spheres. At the same time, the Syrian leadership, being pragmatist, does not openly take either side of the world centers of gravity, but tries to confidently balance between east and west.
Despite the relatively successful foreign policy, the internal economic affairs of Syria are not going well. Increasingly, residents of the Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor regions are expressing dissatisfaction with rising prices. The recent floods caused by the extraordinary opening of turkish dams seriously damaged many farmers' wheat harvest, and that will severely worsen the situation. The government's urgency on taking full control of oil business is also excluding many oil field workers, that had certain degree of autonomy on how the fields were managed when the regions were under control of SDF. Now many oil field managers and workers are leading protests in different areas, complaining about government's new policies on oil.
The autonomous administration has practically ceased to exist, giving way to state institutions. The commune system continue functioning and solving many aspects of daily life, the Syrian State have no capacity to undermine these grassroots neighborhood cooperation. Most women's institutions also continue their work. The SDF is being reorganized into 4 divisions, maintaining its independence, but not all SDF fighters can be integrated in just those 4 divisions. As ISIS and other islamist groups are increasing it's presence (and attacks), revolutionary forces are assessing the situation, looking for ways to lay low, to not undermine the integration agreements but keeping readiness to react, expecting a rise of conflict in the near future.
There are increasing tensions about the fate of the YPJ, with big demonstrations all along northern Syria together with many shows of international solidarity in defense of YPJ. The Syrian government does not want to include YPJ units in the army, they are instead inviting them to join the police structure. Such a proposal is categorically unacceptable for YPJ, since the women's army is a critical pats of the women's revolution.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
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Monthly higlights, August
📌Finalization of SDF integration process
In the end of August Mazlum Ebdi announced the completion of the integration of SDF into the new Syrian army, composed of 3 divisions in Hasakah and 1 in Kobane. The integration of Asayish in the ministry of interior is undergoing some new developments as well, with YPJ integrating in it as well as a new Asayish structure in Afrin.
📌Clashes on the return of Serekaniye
Hundreds of displaced families from Serekaniye returned to their homes at the beginning of August, but they were halted by remanent groups of SNA militias and other pro-turkish groups, who attack the convoy upon its arrival. Men armed with knifes and sticks, some even with firearms, charged against Kurdish civilians screaming anti-kurdish slogans and threatening to kill them. Several people were injured, and the attacks continued over night. In many Kurdish cities demonstrations took place to denounce those attacks.
📌Israel bomb al-Zuhur airbase
On August 19 Israel bombed the al-Zuhur airbase, where the Turkish army was planning to transport military equipment. The attacks took place when the base was empty, and Israel claimed it followed warnings issued to the Turkey to prevent military build up in Syria. The Syrian government denounced the attack,the US also criticized it. It is one more example of the growing tensions between Turkey and Israel in Syria.
📌Normalization of Syria
The US removed Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list. With this restrictions on banking and finance are also lifted. Global electronic payments, eg with mastercard, can now be done in Syria.
📌Framework law in Turkish parliament
On August 10 the Turkish parliament approved a law to proceed with the peace process and dissolution of PKK. The law provides some legal frame for PKK member to not be prosecuted if they lay down weapons, insisting that it does not apply to those accused of "specific serious crimes" neither high rank PKK members. It does not address any Kurdish demands for political and cultural rights, but is being presented as a first step for the ongoing negotiations on the peace process.
📌Finalization of SDF integration process
In the end of August Mazlum Ebdi announced the completion of the integration of SDF into the new Syrian army, composed of 3 divisions in Hasakah and 1 in Kobane. The integration of Asayish in the ministry of interior is undergoing some new developments as well, with YPJ integrating in it as well as a new Asayish structure in Afrin.
📌Clashes on the return of Serekaniye
Hundreds of displaced families from Serekaniye returned to their homes at the beginning of August, but they were halted by remanent groups of SNA militias and other pro-turkish groups, who attack the convoy upon its arrival. Men armed with knifes and sticks, some even with firearms, charged against Kurdish civilians screaming anti-kurdish slogans and threatening to kill them. Several people were injured, and the attacks continued over night. In many Kurdish cities demonstrations took place to denounce those attacks.
📌Israel bomb al-Zuhur airbase
On August 19 Israel bombed the al-Zuhur airbase, where the Turkish army was planning to transport military equipment. The attacks took place when the base was empty, and Israel claimed it followed warnings issued to the Turkey to prevent military build up in Syria. The Syrian government denounced the attack,the US also criticized it. It is one more example of the growing tensions between Turkey and Israel in Syria.
📌Normalization of Syria
The US removed Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list. With this restrictions on banking and finance are also lifted. Global electronic payments, eg with mastercard, can now be done in Syria.
📌Framework law in Turkish parliament
On August 10 the Turkish parliament approved a law to proceed with the peace process and dissolution of PKK. The law provides some legal frame for PKK member to not be prosecuted if they lay down weapons, insisting that it does not apply to those accused of "specific serious crimes" neither high rank PKK members. It does not address any Kurdish demands for political and cultural rights, but is being presented as a first step for the ongoing negotiations on the peace process.
💬Evaluation
On Rights on Paper, Reality on the Ground
Al-Sharaa's Presidential Decree 13 recognised Kurdish as a national language and permits Kurdish-language education. On the surface, that's a big deal. In practice, though, the gap between the decree and what's actually happening is where the real tension lives. The August 30 protests at Rojava University and the 4,265 teachers in Afrin and eastern Aleppo facing an uncertain future make it clear that even a year on, Kurdish-language education is quietly being eroded. Crucially, none of these rights are anchored in a constitution, and Kurdish representatives weren't at the table when the constitutional drafting process kicked off in March 2025. That's not a great foundation for reconciliation.
The Kurdish project isn't over, but it's narrowing or shifting from a model of territorial administration toward a much more constrained negotiation over cultural rights, local governance, and administrative competences. If that process keeps stalling without real progress for Kurds, it risks setting a precedent that other minority communities in Syria will end up facing.
On the Economic Squeeze
Integration has also meant a noticeably worse economic situation in the northeast. The region was never rich, but it had a degree of self-reliance — oil revenue, local trade, its own management. Since the handover to Damascus, fuel subsidies have been cut, drinking water is a growing problem in several areas, and prices have been climbing. DAANES kept things as stable as it could with the resources it had; now that the central government is in charge, basic services and access to critical resources have become a much bigger issue than they were before.
On the SDF's Dissolution
Internally and abroad, the SDF's dissolution was framed as a "historic" moment. From the DAANES side, the picture is a lot more complicated. The SDF had been the largest organized military force outside Damascus's control for over a decade, and its dismantling wasn't really a negotiation so much as an imposition. The strong influence of Turkey, not just the government of al-Sharaa but also on the diplomatic US mission in middle east, has been critical. Erdogan attempts to get a green light for a big operation in northern Syria against SDF was not a secret. To avoid that and prevent such a doomsday scenario for the Kurdish population in Syria, SDF sat on the negotiation table to salvage certain degree of autonomy from SDF forces. The final agreement resulted in the integration of SDF in divisions local divisions (3 in hassakah, 1 in Kobane), keeping their command structures and their territorial integrity. Assayish (civil defense forces) got integrated in the ministry of interior in a similar deal, keeping also local autonomy. After months of negotiations about the role of YPJ in the new Syria, it finally got integrated in the ministry of interior, not in the military forces as intended.
The final agreements translate into big concessions with not many gains. Some basic recognition of cultural and political identity of the Kurdish people has been acknowledged by the new Syrian government, with Newroz recognized as a national holiday and Kurdish language as a subject in schools. On the ground, we can see many Kurds discontent with the results, deepening resentment and questioning the legitimacy of the new government. The self-administration and SDF showed their commitment to protect Kurdish lives, accepting to disolve in order to avoid war. Now all the efforts on building autonomy are gonna be put to real test. The grassroots organizing, with hundreds of local communes, academies and cooperatives, were to become the main vehicles of transformation of a democratic society.
On Rights on Paper, Reality on the Ground
Al-Sharaa's Presidential Decree 13 recognised Kurdish as a national language and permits Kurdish-language education. On the surface, that's a big deal. In practice, though, the gap between the decree and what's actually happening is where the real tension lives. The August 30 protests at Rojava University and the 4,265 teachers in Afrin and eastern Aleppo facing an uncertain future make it clear that even a year on, Kurdish-language education is quietly being eroded. Crucially, none of these rights are anchored in a constitution, and Kurdish representatives weren't at the table when the constitutional drafting process kicked off in March 2025. That's not a great foundation for reconciliation.
The Kurdish project isn't over, but it's narrowing or shifting from a model of territorial administration toward a much more constrained negotiation over cultural rights, local governance, and administrative competences. If that process keeps stalling without real progress for Kurds, it risks setting a precedent that other minority communities in Syria will end up facing.
On the Economic Squeeze
Integration has also meant a noticeably worse economic situation in the northeast. The region was never rich, but it had a degree of self-reliance — oil revenue, local trade, its own management. Since the handover to Damascus, fuel subsidies have been cut, drinking water is a growing problem in several areas, and prices have been climbing. DAANES kept things as stable as it could with the resources it had; now that the central government is in charge, basic services and access to critical resources have become a much bigger issue than they were before.
On the SDF's Dissolution
Internally and abroad, the SDF's dissolution was framed as a "historic" moment. From the DAANES side, the picture is a lot more complicated. The SDF had been the largest organized military force outside Damascus's control for over a decade, and its dismantling wasn't really a negotiation so much as an imposition. The strong influence of Turkey, not just the government of al-Sharaa but also on the diplomatic US mission in middle east, has been critical. Erdogan attempts to get a green light for a big operation in northern Syria against SDF was not a secret. To avoid that and prevent such a doomsday scenario for the Kurdish population in Syria, SDF sat on the negotiation table to salvage certain degree of autonomy from SDF forces. The final agreement resulted in the integration of SDF in divisions local divisions (3 in hassakah, 1 in Kobane), keeping their command structures and their territorial integrity. Assayish (civil defense forces) got integrated in the ministry of interior in a similar deal, keeping also local autonomy. After months of negotiations about the role of YPJ in the new Syria, it finally got integrated in the ministry of interior, not in the military forces as intended.
The final agreements translate into big concessions with not many gains. Some basic recognition of cultural and political identity of the Kurdish people has been acknowledged by the new Syrian government, with Newroz recognized as a national holiday and Kurdish language as a subject in schools. On the ground, we can see many Kurds discontent with the results, deepening resentment and questioning the legitimacy of the new government. The self-administration and SDF showed their commitment to protect Kurdish lives, accepting to disolve in order to avoid war. Now all the efforts on building autonomy are gonna be put to real test. The grassroots organizing, with hundreds of local communes, academies and cooperatives, were to become the main vehicles of transformation of a democratic society.
Rojava never aimed to become an independent part of Syria. It aimed to develop the revolutionary practices and blueprints to become a free society. Not just for Syria, not just for Kurdistan, but beyond. After a decade and a half of revolutionary process, with all the victories and the losses, a new balance of power emerged in Syria. The revolutionary movement learned a lot, the Kurdish Liberation Movement is now recognized internationally as a leading force and guidance for revolutionaries all around the world. Now is time to put once again all lessons learned in practice.
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
Revolutionary greetings 🖤
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