YPG and Syrian government negotiate significant prisoner exchange

In a recent agreement between the YPG, the Syrian government's new administration, and the PKK, nearly 100 individuals detained by the YPG in Aleppo were released on April 3, 2025. In return, the Syrian regime freed 97 members of the PKK/YPG.

The exchange occurred at the Layramoun Junction in Aleppo province, following a deal signed on Tuesday. This initial phase of the swap involved the release of approximately 100 detainees who had been held since the collapse of the Baath regime.

This development follows a statement from a Syrian official indicating that the YPG would withdraw from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo. Lt. Col. Mohammed Abdul Ghani announced, "All military forces will withdraw to northeastern Syria." He further detailed that specific arrangements would be established by central committees and the Defense Ministry concerning the military status of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), emphasizing that there would be no military presence in these neighborhoods and a demilitarization process would take place.

The agreement, signed in February by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ferhat Abdi Şahin—known as "Mazloum Kobani," a prominent figure in the SDF—marks a significant milestone in re-establishing government control over most of Syria. The plan aims to be implemented by the end of the year, with the central government expected to regain control over all border crossings with Iraq and Türkiye in the northeast, as well as airports and oil fields.

Ankara closely monitors the integration of former PKK/YPG members into Syria’s army and security forces. Türkiye insists that these forces should not concentrate in specific areas but be distributed homogeneously. Additionally, Ankara emphasizes the necessity for foreign fighters within the SDF to exit the country.

Currently, the SDF, an armed faction supported by the U.S., controls roughly one-third of Syria, including the majority of its oil and gas resources. The YPG adopts the SDF designation to enhance its legitimacy amidst ongoing regional tensions.