Syrian Arab Republic - Information collection on developments regarding the SDF and Kurdish areas

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Background information

The following documents provide background information on the recent developments:

The most recent documents on the issue

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Considered synonyms: (kurdisch kurdish) areas, (kurdisch kurdish) majority areas, autonome administration nord und ostsyrien, autonome administration von nord und ostsyrien, autonome verwaltung nord und ostsyrien, autonome verwaltung von nord und ostsyrien, autonomous administration of north and east syria, democratic federation of northern syria, demokratische föderation nordsyrien, demokratische föderation nordsyriens, demokratische kräfte syriens, dfns, dks, fds, forze democratiche siriane, föderation nordsyrien rojava, kurdisch kontrollierte gebiete, kurdish controlled areas, kurdish controlled territories, kurdish self administration, kurdistan as suriyya, kurdistān as sūriyya, qasad, qsd, quwwat suriya al dimuqratiya, rojavaya kurdistane, rojavaya kurdistanê, sanes, sdf controlled areas, selbstverwaltung in nordostsyrien, selbstverwaltung in nordostsyrien rojava, self administration in northeast syria, syrian democratic forces, von sdf kontrollierte gebiete, von ypg kontrollierte gebiete, westkurdistan, ypg controlled areas

  • 21 January 2026 | Al Jazeera (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Article on the impact of territorial gains of Syrian government troops against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the country's Kurdish minority

    Syrian forces makes gains against SDF: What it means for country’s Kurds (Media Report, English)

    • Syrian forces makes gains against SDF: What it means for country’s Kurds
    • Article on the impact of territorial gains of Syrian government troops against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the country's Kurdish minority
    • Artikel zu den Auswirkungen der territorialen Gewinne der syrischen Regierungstruppen gegen die von Kurden geführten Syrischen Demokratischen Kräfte (SDF) auf die kurdische Minderheit des Landes
    • Territorial gains in northeast Syria, where government forces have retaken the cities of Raqqa and Deir Az Zor from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have been a boon to President Ahmed al-Sharaa. […] “This was about [the Syrian government forces] taking control of the most resource-rich parts of SDF territory that had the demographically highest number of Arabs, so they managed to play this very well by having a limited offensive but, at the same time, getting the tribal networks to rise up against SDF rule; and once they did that, it was basically game over for the SDF,” Geist Pinfold, said […] There has also been a discussion about foreign fighters in SDF-controlled areas, which, under the ceasefire agreement, Nahhas said, the SDF was required to expel any “PKK-linked or affiliated individuals or operatives”. Then there is the United States, which helped broker the ceasefire due to its close relationship with the SDF and Damascus. […] Graham and others may be concerned about reports of 39 escaped ISIL detainees [] from prisons previously held by the SDF, or, on the other side, SDF claims that government forces killed female Kurdish fighters. But the sentiment in the US seems to be shifting heavily in favour of Damascus. […] “This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.”
    enID 2135574

  • 21 January 2026 | SRF – Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Northeastern Syria: New fighting between government troops and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces could lead to the end of Kurdish autonomy

    Konflikt in Nordostsyrien; Syriens Kurden vor der Kapitulation? (Media Report, German)

    • Northeastern Syria: New fighting between government troops and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces could lead to the end of Kurdish autonomy
    • Wieder sind im Nordosten Syriens Kämpfe ausgebrochen zwischen Truppen der syrischen Übergangsregierung und den kurdisch geführten Syrischen Demokratischen Kräfte (SDF). Am Dienstagabend vermeldete Damaskus eine erneute Waffenruhe von vier Tagen um eine definitive Einigung mit den Kurden zu erzielen. […] Ohne den Rückhalt dieser Stämme und durch den Seitenwechsel zahlreicher arabischer Kämpfer in ihren Reihen verloren die SDF entscheidend an Boden. == Existenzängste im kurdischen Kernland == Die SDF mussten sich in ihre kurdischen Kerngebiete nahe der türkischen und irakischen Grenze zurückziehen. […] Sie fürchtet, dass das Vorrücken der Regierungstruppen zu Chaos führen und der Kontrollverlust über die Gefängnisse ein Erstarken des IS begünstigen könnte. == Das kurdische Autonomieprojekt «Rojava» == Seit rund zehn Jahren haben die Kurden im Nordosten Syriens eine de facto autonome Verwaltungsstruktur aufgebaut, oft als «Rojava» bezeichnet. […] Mit ihrer eigenen Miliz, den Syrischen Demokratischen Kräften (SDF), kontrollierten sie ein Gebiet, das weit über die traditionell kurdischen Siedlungsgebiete hinausging. Als wichtiger Partner der USA im Kampf gegen die Terrormiliz «Islamischer Staat» (IS) konnten sie ihren Einflussbereich ausdehnen. […] Die syrische Übergangsregierung will nun den SDF vier Tage Zeit geben, um einen Plan für die praktische Integration der nordöstlichen Provinz Hasaka zu erarbeiten. Derweil versuchen türkische Kurden, bei einer Demonstration heute über die Grenze nach Syrien zu gelangen. Echo der Zeit, 20.01.2026, 18:00 Uhr
    deID 2135583

  • 21 January 2026 | Deutschlandfunk (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Northeastern Syria: Negotiations between government troops and Kurdish militia SDF on ending conflict break down; IS terrorists escape from prisons

    Syrien - Kurden-Miliz erklärt Verhandlungen mit Zentralregierung für gescheitert - IS-Terroristen aus Gefängnissen ausgebrochen (Media Report, German)

    • Northeastern Syria: Negotiations between government troops and Kurdish militia SDF on ending conflict break down; IS terrorists escape from prisons
    • Nordostsyrien: Verhandlungen zwischen Regierungstruppen und der kurdischen Miliz SDF über das Ende des Konflikts abgebrochen; IS-Terroristen aus Gefängnissen ausgebrochen
    • Die Verhandlungen über ein Ende des Konflikts zwischen Regierungstruppen und der kurdischen Miliz SDF wurden am Dienstag abgebrochen. Ein Vertreter der autonomen kurdischen Verwaltung erklärte, die Gespräche in Damaskus seien gescheitert, da die Regierung eine bedingungslose Kapitulation der Kurden gefordert habe. […] In den vergangenen Tagen hatten syrische Regierungstruppen bei einer Offensive in der Großstadt Aleppo und im Nordosten des Landes Kämpfer der kurdisch geführten SDF-Miliz aus mehreren bisher von ihnen beherrschten Gebieten vertrieben. Am Sonntag verkündete der syrische Übergangspräsident al-Scharaa dann einen Waffenstillstand und gab ein Abkommen mit den Kurden bekannt. […] Nach Angaben des syrischen Innenministeriums handelt es sich um rund 120 IS-Terroristen, die SDF-Miliz sprach von bis zu 1.500 Ausgebrochenen. == Machtverlust für die Kurden == In der Region haben die Kurden seit 2016 zahlreiche Gefängnisse und Internierungslager eingerichtet, in denen sich nach Schätzungen unter anderem rund 11.000 ehemalige IS-Kämpfer mit ihren Familien befinden sollen.
    deID 2135584

  • 21 January 2026 | New Lines Magazine (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Northeast Syria: Article on the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its impact

    In Raqqa, Damascus Returns as the Rojava Project Recedes (Media Report, English)

    • In Raqqa, Damascus Returns as the Rojava Project Recedes
    • Northeast Syria: Article on the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its impact
    • Nordostsyrien: Artikel zum Rückzug der Demokratischen Kräfte Syriens (SDF) und seinen Auswirkungen
    • == A deal between the central government and the Syrian Democratic Forces appears to be closing the chapter on Kurdish self-rule in the country’s northeast == Paloma de Dinechin [https://newlinesmag.com/writers/paloma-de-dinechin/]Paloma de Dinechin is a Franco-Chilean investigative journalist based in Syria At dawn, by the blue waters of the Euphrates, hundreds of military vehicles streamed […] Today, I’m coming to liberate it,” said Abu Khaled, 33, a soldier from the Syrian army’s 82nd Division, one of the regular units mobilized by Damascus during its push into areas of northern Syria formerly held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). On the road, a soldier embraced a man in tears. It was his brother. They had not seen each other for years. […] Using the Kurdish name for the region that had been under self-rule, he insisted that the Rojava project — formally known as the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria — was never about secession. “I’m Syrian and Kurdish, I want federalism,” he said, the sounds of ambulances and gunfire occasionally drowning out his words. […] “For me, it’s not the end of Rojava,” the Kurdish notable said. But the agreement effectively marks the end of the autonomous administration in northeast Syria, without constitutional recognition of Kurdish status. In Raqqa’s streets, as the gunfire faded, a soldier wounded in the leg walked past civilians on the sidewalk, returning from the front. […] “Until now, the autonomous administration and the SDF provided protection. What comes next is uncertain — especially after reports of massacres along the coast and in Sweida.” While Raqqa dances, Hasakah waits, as Syrian government forces advance in the countryside.
    enID 2135637

  • 21 January 2026 | New Lines Magazine (Author)

    Iraq, Syrian Arab Republic

    Northeastern Syria: US troops transfer 150 IS fighters from prison camp in Al-Hasakah to secure location in Iraq

    USA wollen bis zu 7.000 IS-Gefangene von Syrien in den Irak verlegen (Media Report, English)

    • Ursprünglich waren die SDF der wichtigste Partner der USA im Kampf gegen den IS. Mittlerweile gehört aber auch die Übergangsregierung der internationalen Koalition an. Der US-Gesandte Tom Barrack sagte dazu gestern: Der ursprüngliche Zweck der SDF, als primäre Anti-IS-Truppe vor Ort zu fungieren, habe ausgedient. […] Das syrische Verteidigungsministerium beschuldigte die SDF, einen ihrer Einsätze mit einer Drohne angegriffen zu haben. Dabei seien sieben Soldaten getötet und 20 weitere verletzt worden, hieß es vom Ministerium. "Wir weisen die Behauptungen kategorisch zurück", reagierten die SDF umgehend in einer Presseerklärung. […] SDF-Kräfte hätten in dem Gebiet keine militärischen Aktivitäten durchgeführt. Nach ihren Informationen habe sich die Explosion aufgrund eines Unfalls "beim Munitionstransport" durch Regierungstruppen ereignet, hieß es. […] Eine Schwächung der Kurden und der kurdisch angeführten SDF bedeutet unterdessen einen strategischen Erfolg für den türkischen Präsidenten Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Ankara betrachtet die SDF als Ableger der verbotenen Arbeiterpartei Kurdistans (PKK). Auch die USA und die EU stufen die PKK als Terrororganisation ein. Die Türkei führt derzeit Friedensverhandlungen mit der PKK. […] Die dort lebenden Kurden wollen in dem Gebiet Rojava dagegen ihren Traum von einem eigenen Staat vorantreiben. Die Kurden leben vorwiegend im Südosten der Türkei, aber auch im Iran, im Irak sowie in Syrien. (APA, red, 21.1.2026)
    enID 2135638

  • 21 January 2026 | Al Jazeera (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Al-Hasaka governorate: Al-Hol camp, which houses thousands of people linked to the Islamic State (IS) group, taken by by Syrian government forces

    Syrian army takes control of camp holding thousands linked to ISIL (Media Report, English)

    • SDF chief Mazloum Abdi urged US-led coalition to ‘bear responsibilities’ for securing facilities coming under gov’t control. […] Armoured vehicles carrying troops moved into the camp [https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2025/3/12/al-hol-syria-isil-isis], located in the desert region of Hasakeh province, on Wednesday – a day after the Syrian government announced afour-day ceasefire [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/20/syrian-government-sdf-agree-on-a-four-day-ceasefire] with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces […] (SDF). […] The government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/19/syrias-president-al-sharaa-to-meet-sdf-leader-abdi-after-ceasefire-deal] in Damascus has been pushing for Kurdish fighters to integrate into Syrian state institutions, as outlined under a March 2025 deal signed with SDF. […] The SDF remains in control of the vast majority of more than a dozen prisons where some 9,000 members of ISIL have been held for years, according to The Associated Press. The largest facility, holding about 4,500 ISIL-linked detainees, is the Gweiran Prison, located in the city of Hasakeh, which is still under full control of the SDF.
    enID 2135644

  • 20 January 2026 | DW – Deutsche Welle (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Article on fighting between the Syrian-Kurdish militia Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the troops of the interim government

    Kurds vs. Syrian government troops: What you need to know (Media Report, English)

    • Article on fighting between the Syrian-Kurdish militia Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the troops of the interim government
    • Artikel zu Kämpfen zwischen der syrisch-kurdischen Miliz Demokratische Kräfte Syriens (SDF) und den Truppen der Interimsregierung
    • The fight is between the Syrian-Kurdish militia known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, and the new interim Syrian government. == What happened? == For almost 14 years of the Syrian civil war, the SDF had been in control of most of northeastern Syria. […] In fighting the "Islamic State," the SDF were allied with US troops. The area the SDF controlled for over a decade came to be known as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, or AANES. It's also often referred to as Rojava. […] Previously Kurdish-controlled areas held much of Syria'soil and gas wealth []. Industry observers say that in 2024, around 90% of Syrian oil production was coming from Kurdish-controlled regions. == Who should control Kurdish-majority areas? […] == The weekend's fighting saw the SDF driven out of the Arab-majority areas they had previously controlled, partially because Arab tribes there turned against them. But what of the Kurdish-majority areas? At a Monday meeting between Syria's al-Sharaa and SDF commander Abdi, reports say Abdi insisted the SDF be allowed to retain control of them. […] During recent fighting,hundreds of Kurdish families [] fled into SDF-controlled areas. == Integration of Kurdish paramilitary groups == Another major issue [] for the Kurdish paramilitary groups was their proposed integration into the Syrian general army. The SDF had wanted to hold onto their own units within the army, but the Syrian government was opposed to this.
    enID 2135573

  • 20 January 2026 | Thomson Reuters (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Syrian government gives Kurdish forces 4 days to agree on integration into central state

    Syria gives Kurds four days to accept integration as US signals end of support (Media Report, English)

    • The lightning government advances in recent days and the apparent withdrawal of U.S. support for the continued holding of territory by the Syrian Democratic Forces represent the biggest change of control in the country since rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad 13 months ago. […] . == FOUR-DAY CEASEFIRE == The SDF said it accepted a ceasefire agreement with the Damascus government and that it would not engage in any military action unless attacked. A Syrian government statement said it had reached an understanding with the SDF for it to devise an integration plan for Hasakah province or risk state forces entering two SDF-controlled cities. […] The SDF said it had also withdrawn from al-Hol camp housing thousands of civilians linked to the jihadist group near the Iraqi border. A senior Syrian government defence official said Damascus had notified the U.S. of the SDF intention to withdraw from the vicinity of al-Hol camp and that government forces were ready to deploy there. […] The SDF remains in control of Hasakah City, the provincial capital, which is ethnically mixed between Kurds and Arabs, and the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli. […] On Sunday the SDF agreed to withdraw from the Arab-majority provinces of Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, and on Monday government forces pushed into Hasakah province. Reports indicated that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi and Sharaa held a rocky meeting on Monday, after Abdi's signature appeared on a 14-point agreement with the government.
    enID 2135575

  • 20 January 2026 | Guardian (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    North-east Syria: Kurdish-led forces (SDF) withdraw from detention camp housing tens of thousands of IS-linked detainees

    Kurdish forces withdraw from IS detention camp in north-east Syria (Media Report, English)

    • North-east Syria: Kurdish-led forces (SDF) withdraw from detention camp housing tens of thousands of IS-linked detainees
    • Nordostsyrien: Kurdisch-geführte Streitkräfte (SDF) ziehen sich aus Gefängnislager zurück, in dem zehntausende Menschen mit IS-Verbindungen untergebracht sind
    • A spokesperson for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said: “Our forces were compelled to withdraw from al-Hawl camp and redeploy in the vicinity of cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing risks and threats.” They blamed the withdrawal on a “failure of the international community”. […] The Syrian government said it would assume control of al-Hawl camp, accusing the SDF of leaving it without guards, allowing detainees to escape. It also accused the SDF of doing the same at a prison in Raqqa from which 120 prisoners escaped, a claim the SDF denied. […] After the meeting, Kurdish officials, Abdi included, called for a general mobilisation across Kurdish-majority areas and to resist Damascus’s advance towards their territory. SDF media published pictures of people, young and old, holding assault rifles seemingly in preparation for a further assault. […] If the four-day ceasefire fails and Damascus’s forces advance into Kurdish-majority areas, fighting is likely to be deadlier than in previous days. In those areas they have infrastructure, including heavy artillery, drones and underground tunnel networks. […] The Syrian government said in a statement on Tuesday that it would not enter Kurdish areas and that the army’s goal was “to restore stability and protect government institutions”. The SDF was for years the US’s biggest partner in Syria and together they defeated the IS “caliphate” in 2019.
    enID 2135576

  • 20 January 2026 | Der Standard (Author)

    Syrian Arab Republic

    Northern Syria: Interim government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agree to ceasefire

    Neuer Waffenstillstand in Syrien vereinbart (Media Report, German)

    • Northern Syria: Interim government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agree to ceasefire
    • Nordsyrien: Übergangsregierung und kurdisch-geführte Demokratische Kräfte Syriens (SDF) einigen sich auf Waffenstillstand
    • Kurdenmilizen ziehen unterdessen von einem berüchtigten IS-Lager in Syrien ab Damaskus – Nach erneuten Gefechten in Nordsyrien haben sich die Übergangsregierung und die kurdisch angeführten Syrischen Demokratischen Kräfte (SDF) auf einen Waffenstillstand geeinigt. Das bestätigten die SDF und das Verteidigungsministerium in Damaskus. […] Die SDF erklärten die "volle Verpflichtung" ihrer Streitkräfte zu der Vereinbarung. In einer von der staatlichen Nachrichtenagentur Sana veröffentlichen Regierungserklärung hieß es, den SDF wurden vier Tage eingeräumt, um einen konkreten Plan zur praktischen Integration der Provinz Hasaka auszuarbeiten. […] Die SDF ziehen unterdessen nach eigenen Angaben von dem berüchtigten Lager al-Hol in Syrien ab. In dem Lager, das die SDF bisher bewachten, sind Tausende Angehörige von Kämpfern der Terrormiliz Islamischer Staat (IS) untergebracht, vor allem Frauen, Kinder und Jugendliche. Der Abzug folgt auf eine Offensive von Regierungstruppen im Nordosten. […] Die kurdisch angeführten Syrischen Demokratischen Kräfte (SDF) erklärten dagegen gestern, rund 1.500 IS-Kämpfer seien aus dem Gefängnis ausgebrochen. Die SDF-Truppen hätten dort keine Kontrolle mehr. […] Die SDF waren lang der wichtigste Verbündete des US-Militärs im Kampf gegen den IS in Syrien. Die kurdisch angeführten Milizen kontrollierten die Gefängnisse bisher. Nach dem Vormarsch der Regierungstruppen in den Nordosten gibt es Sorge, dass der IS die instabile Lage ausnutzen und sich neu gruppieren könnte. "Die Bedrohung wächst deutlich", teilten die SDF gestern mit.
    deID 2135581
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Source
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation
Published
21 January 2026
Cite as:
ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation: Syrian Arab Republic - Information collection on developments regarding the SDF and Kurdish areas, 21 January 2026
https://www.ecoi.net/en/countries/syrian-arab-republic/featured-topics/information-collection-on-developments-regarding-the-sdf-and-kurdish-areas
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