The SDF and Damascus were set to finalize a new round of exchanging prisoners in the northern city of Aleppo, but media affiliated with the Kurdish-led force said it was postponed.
A Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) source told Rudaw on the condition of anonymity that the exchange was postponed “after the Syrian army refused to release women prisoners.”
The YPJ is the women’s branch of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the Kurdish-led and US-backed SDF.
In early April, an agreement was signed between the SDF and the Damascus administration that covers a prisoner swap and outlines a framework for joint security oversight in Aleppo, specifically in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in the north of the city, previously under YPG control.
Per the agreement, the SDF-affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) are to stay and manage security in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark agreement with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on March 10 to integrate the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus. The agreement recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns.