ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Women's Protection Units (YPJ) could be integrated as a "distinct and organized force" under Damascus' interior ministry, the all-women force affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Thursday. This comes months after the integration of female Kurdish fighters emerged as a sticking point in the wider integration process.
The YPJ said in a statement that its general command met with an official delegation from the Syrian interior ministry, where "issues of security and stability in Syria" and "cooperation and coordination between the two sides" were discussed extensively.
The future of the all-women units "was the main focus of the meeting," the statement added, noting that "it was emphasized that the YPJ could be integrated, as a distinct and organized force, into the structure of the Ministry of Interior."
The meeting was held in a "positive and constructive atmosphere" to advance "the integration process within the framework of the January 29, 2026 Agreement," the YPJ said, pointing to further "meetings and discussions" ahead.
The YPJ, an all-female force affiliated with the People's Protection Units (YPG), forms a core component of the SDF. It played a pivotal role in liberating the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northeast Syria (Rojava) from the Islamic State (ISIS) in early 2015, with significant backing from the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
The YPJ's Thursday statement comes days after SDF chief Mazloum Abdi on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the forces he heads.
Abdi's announcement pertained to the January 29 accord with Damascus, under which the two sides agreed to integrate the Kurdish-led forces - along with the institutions of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), which governs Rojava - into Syrian state structures.
The development also comes after months of debate between Damascus and Rojava over the integration of Kurdish female fighters.
While the YPJ had sought to integrate under the defense ministry - similar to SDF combat forces, which were structured into intact military brigades built around their existing regional commands in Kurdish-majority areas - DAANES representative Abdulkarim Omar told Rudaw in early August that Damascus rejected the proposal, saying "there are no female [forces] in the [defense] ministry."
The YPJ have therefore agreed to join the interior ministry as a counter-terrorism force, accepting a Syrian government proposal on its future role within state institutions, Omar said, noting the force would join "as a unit or group together under the Ministry of Interior."
