ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) said late Wednesday that 35 of its members remain in Syrian government prisons following their detention during the latest conflict.
“The number of our detained comrades from the YPJ is 35. So far, 13 women have been released, five of whom were our fighters in the YPJ. Regarding the issue of our detained comrades, our meetings and efforts are ongoing,” Rukan Jamal, YPJ spokesperson, told Rudaw.
The Syrian Arab Army and its allied armed groups launched an offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in late December, taking control of most SDF-held areas, including the oil-rich Deir ez-Zor. Following weeks of tensions, both sides reached an agreement that provides a framework for the SDF’s integration into the army.
The YPJ is the all-female wing of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF.
Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) and Damascus have exchanged hundreds of prisoners. Hundreds more were expected to be released this week, but the process has been delayed until next week, according to local media.
Jamal declined to specify the total number of YPJ fighters.
A member of the presidential team overseeing the SDF integration recently said that YPJ members cannot join the army but can “volunteer” as members of police forces.
“We have informed the ministry of defense that as YPJ, we do not want to remain outside the army, but our demand is to take our place within the SDF brigades as an independent and equal force,” the YPJ spokesperson told Rudaw.
She also explained that the absence of a clear timeline for the integration process, along with the lack of a final decision on the YPJ issue, leaves the future of the all-female force’s integration unclear. “We are awaiting the final decision of the ministry of defense and the government in Damascus.”
As part of the integration process, Damascus has appointed an SDF-affiliated governor for Hasaka province, assigned a deputy defense minister for SDF-held areas, and named a deputy head for Hasaka’s state-affiliated internal security forces.
Nalin Hassan contributed to this article from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.
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