| I am shocked — the Hayat Tahrir al Sham/Al Nusra government, previously a branch of Al Qaeda in Syria, is pulling out all the stops to act like they aren’t radical Islamists. |
Communist, atheist fighting females in uniform with weapons, while in Afghanistan the analogous Taliban are not allowing girls to go to school beyond sixth grade or wander outside uncovered and unguarded by a male relative. You understand my perplexity, dear Reader — this is nothing like the female units of the Morals Police fielded by ISIS and Iran.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.
Over 20,000 Rojava employees integrated into Syrian state structure: official
[Rudaw] Over 20,000 employees in northeast Syria (Rojava) have been integrated into Damascus' state structure, a senior member of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's team overseeing the integration process told Rudaw on Wednesday, further pointing to efforts to reopen key border crossings between Rojava, the Kurdistan Region and Turkey.
"The integration process is ongoing. It is happening, and employees [in Rojava] are being transferred into the state system," said Ahmad al-Hilali, who also serves as deputy governor of the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province, speaking to Rudaw's Solin Mohammedamin on the sidelines of the 64th Damascus International Fair.
Hilali further noted the completion of integration of 4,000 fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), adding that they have been on the government's payroll for the past three months.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi on Tuesday announced the disbanding of the force, declaring its mission complete. The announcement pertained to the landmark January 29 Agreement between Damascus and the SDF to integrate Rojava's civil and military institutions.
Under the accord, border crossings previously administered by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), which governs Rojava, were handed over to the Syrian state and incorporated into the national customs system.
Hilali on Wednesday pointed to "very good steps [that] have been taken" toward formalizing the Semalka border crossing between Rojava and the Kurdistan Region.
Semalka, known as Fishkhabur on the Iraqi side, is a critical transit point established in 2012-2013 that has served as the primary artery for civilian travel, medical evacuations, trade, and humanitarian aid into Rojava.
Hilali explained that formalizing the Semalka crossing is linked to the opening of a Syrian consulate in Erbil - "a step currently being studied by the Syrian foreign ministry," he said.
"When the consulate opens, the status of the Semalka crossing between us and the Kurdistan Region will certainly improve," he added.
The deputy governor of Hasaka further pointed to ongoing efforts to reopen the Nusaybin border crossing between Rojava and Turkey, which has been closed since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
Hilali attributed the delay in inauguration to the old structure being “too small. Now there is a larger area that engineers are studying. I expect it to be completed by the new year," he said.