Monthly highlights, May 2026

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# INCREASING POPULAR PROTESTS

Protests against the Damascus government are spreading in different regions, from Raqqa to Damascus, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo. Two main sectors are raising their voice denouncing economical hardships, on one side farmers that are struggling with the wheat prices set by the Damascus government, much lower than other years, especially if compared with the price the Autonomous Administration used to buy it for. Farmers protests denounced that with the lower prices they can't even cover the costs. Another sector leading protests are the oil workers, since the Damascus government is taking control of many oil fields and excluding many oilfield workers that depended on it for survival. At the same time, protests of SDF families demanding the liberation of prisoners continue, since many SDF fighters still remain in prisons.

# FLOODS ON THE EUPHRATES RIVER

After many years of water scarcity, with Turkey keeping dams closed to diminish the water flow into Syria, massive amounts of water were let to flow in to the Euphrates river. It caused floods in many regions, especially in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Bridges have been destroyed, many riverside areas remain under water, with houses, orchards and farmland under water. This comes at the time of the wheat harvest season, with many farmers losing their crops that were recently harvested but still on the fields.

# PARLIAEMENT 'ELECTIONS' IN NORTHERN SYRIA

While most of Syria voted for the People’s Assembly last October, at that time NES was still under DAANES control. The North East incl. Kobani, Haseke and Qamishlo only voted now on the 24th of may. The vote was for the last 11 seats in the parliament, with a very restricted voting method. The number of voters were highly restricted, with less than 200 people allowed to vote in the different cities. A majority of Arab representatives were elected, followed by several KurdS from ENKS. PYD representatives denounced the elections as "undemocratic".

# TRANSPORT OVER SYRIA INCREASE

Partly due to the war tensions with Iran, many air traffic is being redirected over middle east. That comes at a time where Turkey and other countries are reactivating their flights to Syria, that is experiencing an increasing number of flights in their airports. Road traffic is also increasing, with the first international transit convoy that entered Syria from Turkey (in Tal Abyad/Gire Spi) heading to Iraq via the al-Yarubiyah Border Crossing.

# KURDISH LANGUAGE NATIONAL DAY

May 15th is Kurdish language day. his year particularly the day draws attention to the legal right to Kurdish language education in the constitution and laws of the new government. While al-Sharaa did sign a presidential decree guaranteeing Kurdish cultural and language rights, most Kurdish people have little trust in this. Kurdish has been was banned in Syria for decades, and is threatening to become only single subject in school (everything else being taught in Arabic), instead of a whole curriculum being taught in Kurdish. Therefor advocating for and celebrating the Kurdish language is ever so relevant today.

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# EVALUATION

The Syrian government is strengthening its position in the international political arena every day, this is evidenced by the way economic cooperation is being established between the European powers and Syria. Europe sees in Syria a promising country in which it can invest. The recent NATO exercises with the participation of the Syrian army signal to the whole world that Syria is ready for open cooperation with the West in both the political and military spheres. At the same time, the Syrian leadership, being pragmatist, does not openly take either side of the world centers of gravity, but tries to confidently balance between east and west.

Despite the relatively successful foreign policy, the internal economic affairs of Syria are not going well. Increasingly, residents of the Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor regions are expressing dissatisfaction with rising prices. The recent floods caused by the extraordinary opening of Turkish dams seriously damaged many farmers' wheat harvest, and that will severely worsen the situation. The government's urgency on taking full control of oil business is also excluding many oil field workers, that had certain degree of autonomy on how the fields were managed when the regions were under control of SDF. Now many oil field managers and workers are leading protests in different areas, complaining about government's new policies on oil.

The autonomous administration has practically ceased to exist, giving way to state institutions. The commune system continue functioning and solving many aspects of daily life, the Syrian State have no capacity to undermine these grassroots neighborhood cooperation. Most women's institutions also continue their work. The SDF is being reorganized into 4 divisions, maintaining its independence, but not all SDF fighters can be integrated in just those 4 divisions. As ISIS and other Islamist groups are increasing it's presence (and attacks), revolutionary forces are assessing the situation, looking for ways to lay low, to not undermine the integration agreements but keeping readiness to react, expecting a rise of conflict in the near future.

There are increasing tensions about the fate of the YPJ, with big demonstrations all along northern Syria together with many shows of international solidarity in defense of YPJ. The Syrian government does not want to include YPJ units in the army, they are instead inviting them to join the police structure. Such a proposal is categorically unacceptable for YPJ, since the women's army is a critical pats of the women's revolution.

Revolutionary greetings! 🖤

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#Syria #NES #SDF #DAANES #AANES #SNA #SDF #PYD #YPJ #YPG #HTS #Rojava #Kurdistan #Revolution #DefendRojava #Anarchy #Anarchism #Comrades #Internationalism #AbdullahOcalan #Öcalan #PKK #WomenLifeFreedom #TekosinaAnarsist

Pocztówka z Rożawy 01.06

https://kurdystan.fediblog.pl/multimedia/pocztowka-z-rozawy-01-06/

YPJ-Kämpferinnen aus syrischer Gefangenschaft entlassen

28 Kämpferinnen der YPJ und Asayîşa Jin, die während der Offensive gegen Nordostsyrien in Gefangenschaft geraten waren, sind freigelassen worden.

Während der Offensive war es zu massenhaften Verschleppungen in Nordostsyrien gekommen, darunter auch viele Zivilpersonen. Die Gesamtzahl wird von verschiedenen Stellen auf 2.500 bis 4.000 Personen beziffert.

https://deutsch.anf-news.com/frauen/ypj-kampferinnen-aus-syrischer-gefangenschaft-entlassen-51819

#Rojava #WeAreAllYPJ #Ypj #Kurdistan

Weltweiter Aktionstag in Rojava❤️‍🔥

Heute gehen Tausende Menschen aus Qamishlo auf die Straße. Im Rahmen des weltweiten Aktionstages zur Verteidigung der YPJ und der Frauenrechte demonstrieren die Menschen für ein freies und demokratisches Leben.
Rojihlat Afrin wendet sich mit eindringlichen Worten an die Gesellschaft.

#WeAreAllYPJ #Rojava #Qamislo #Kurdistan #Frauenbefreiung #YPJ

Updates about the situation facing the #YPJ

"The transitional government proposes that female YPJ fighters could join the Asayîş internal security forces – comparable to the police. Newroz Ahmed comments that these are two distinct areas of work. Of course, women should also be able to join the Asayîş, and indeed they already do so. However, there are currently major problems there too with the organised participation of women in the work of the Asayîş. Nevertheless, Newroz Ahmed states that the participation of women solely within the ranks of the Asayîş is not acceptable. The integration of women into the army in the form of the YPJ is therefore important, as this ensures the organisation of women in the military sphere.

Newroz Ahmed draws parallels with other state armies, in which women participate actively but only individually. The problems women face affect them as a group and not as individuals. A response to, and solution for, these problems must therefore be in an organised way. Specifically, this means that women are organised into their own battalions or groups, that they have their own female command structure, and their own female contact persons within the Ministry of Defence. The organisation of women must be implemented at all levels so that their own will and their own decisions are represented."

...

"Emîne Osê believes that Syria is currently – driven by the transitional government – moving towards a situation comparable to that in Afghanistan: an Islamist system based on hostility towards democracy, women and minorities. Already, women’s organisations are unable to operate in the areas annexed by government forces in January. Staff members of the women’s organisation Zenobia, for example, are forced to go into hiding because they are being targeted by government forces. The women want to continue their work, but the danger is too great. Staff members of Kongra Star are maintaining contact, but are unable to travel to support women in other areas due to the security situation."

https://womendefendrojava.net/en/2026/05/26/this-mentality-can-be-changed-were-not-obliged-to-accept-it-in-this-form/

#Syria #Rojava

Dear comrades,

We bring our self critic for the misguiding and unclear way we expressed in our last update about constitutional rights. To make it clear: The new Syrian constitution don't explicitly recognize Kurdish rights, but it acknowledge the diversity of Syria. The formal recognition of Kurdish rights is included in a presidential decree that was issued after the negotiations held between SDF and the transitional government. Thanks to comrades that pointed that out and helped to be more clear and precise! 🖤

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We also want to emphasize this statement from the general command of YPJ issued last month:

# KURDISH WOMEN ENSURE A FREE KURDISTAN

Kurdish women struggle to protect the rights of their people. They resist and pay a heavy price for the unity and cohesion of Kurdistan. In their fight for rights and justice, women play a leading role through great sacrifices. Therefore, respecting revolutionary women is a human and moral standard. Through their struggle, Kurdish women break the chains of occupation and reject divisive policies. For this reason, occupying forces target women throughout Kurdistan. Nevertheless, Kurdish women continue their struggle with strong determination and firm belief.
As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we respectfully remember the Peshmerga fighters Ghazal Mulan, Nada Miri, and Samira Al-Ayari, and we affirm that the sound of Kurdish women’s rifles calls only for the freedom of women and the Kurdish people.
Women bravely resist the ruling mentality. We strongly condemn the attacks carried out by the Iranian state on Peshmerga bases in Komala in Eastern Kurdistan. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we affirm that the martyrdom of the three Peshmerga—Nada, Samira, and Ghazal—is a great and painful loss, not only for their families and organizations, but also for us, the people of Kurdistan, and all freedom-loving forces.
We particularly emphasize that attacks on women Peshmerga fighters are not merely military assaults, but political attempts to destroy the role of women in the struggle for freedom. These attacks aim to marginalize women’s voices and exclude their presence in political, military, and social spheres. However, as Kurdish women, we will continue our struggle for freedom with unwavering determination and strong faith, and we will not retreat even an inch.
Regardless of the reasons, we consider it unacceptable that hospitals in the Kurdistan Region refused to receive the body of Ghazal Mulan, and that the mosque remained open for religious purposes after her martyrdom. We call for an urgent investigation into this incident by the relevant authorities. Ghazal, who was seriously injured, could have been saved. This situation was psychologically and humanly difficult for all of us, as women and as the Kurdish people.
As a Kurdish woman, Ghazal chose to defend her land and homeland and fulfilled her national duty. In contrast, no political party should prioritize partisan interests over social and national interests, and all must respect the struggle of Kurdish women for the freedom of the country.
At a time when the Kurdish people are under attack from all sides, we must support one another regardless of differences among Kurdish organizations and parties.
We call on all political, social, and military forces in Kurdistan to unite in the face of these attacks and to strengthen national unity. Under such circumstances, the only way to protect the achievements of the people and the martyrs is through cooperation and unity. Any division will only increase the number of enemies.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ghazal Mulan, her comrades in struggle, and the Kurdish people as a whole. Kurdish women have always fought for the freedom of their people with courage, selflessness, and leadership. Respecting women’s struggle is a human duty.
This is a global cause. We once again salute all women who love their homeland and struggle for freedom, represented in the martyr Ghazal Mulan, and we believe that a free and secure future will be ensured under the leadership of women.

General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
20.04.2026

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#Syria #NES #SDF #DAANES #AANES #SNA #SDF #PYD #YPJ #YPG #HTS #Rojava #Kurdistan #Revolution #DefendRojava #Anarchy #Anarchism #Comrades #Internationalism #AbdullahOcalan #Öcalan #PKK #WomenLifeFreedom #TekosinaAnarsist

Long, fascinating interview with Mazlum Abdi/Kobane in Al-Monitor. Just came out. Highlights below.

https://web.archive.org/web/20260516020830/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/syrian-kurdish-commander-kobane-says-turkey-visit-making-ocalan-meeting-possible?gift_code=H2wlBmcsvqg-dh6haLUtkp78os8

Al-Monitor: The issue of the women fighters — how is that going to be resolved? It seems very difficult given that so many of the new Syrian army’s forces have jihadi backgrounds and would probably be spooked by the presence of radical feminists in their ranks.

Kobane: Damascus says there are no legal provisions for women to hold active combat duty or other positions in the military and that they should be integrated into the Ministry of Interior as part of the internal security forces. The reality is that our women are every bit as brave, smart and competent as any male fighter or commander, if not more so. Negotiations are ongoing, but it seems like that under the current circumstances our women fighters will become part of the internal security forces.

...

Al-Monitor: You acknowledge that mistakes were made. To acknowledge this publicly is a rare thing in the Middle East. So, in the final analysis, when you look back at these 15 years, what would you say the Kurdish people in Rojava have gained?

Kobane: It is very important to remember where we started. We were on the cusp of being destroyed by DAESH. Our people were under siege from all sides. Unlike our brothers in Iraqi Kurdistan, we had nowhere to retreat to. There was Turkey on one side and DAESH on the other. Let us recall what Kobani was reduced to in 2014. The majority of the population was forcibly displaced. We came back from the brink of annihilation. We fought for our survival, and we survived. Today, thanks to the sacrifices of our people, from the corridors of the American Congress to far-flung corners of the globe, the world knows about their heroic resistance against one of the most evil and bloodthirsty organizations that ever came into existence.

Today, in Syria, where Kurds were not granted formal identity papers let alone granted any ethnic rights, we are able to formally negotiate those rights with the government in Damascus, with President Sharaa himself, as Kurds and on behalf of the Kurds. It is true that our people’s hopes and dreams have not been fulfilled in the way we would have wanted. But that is not to say that we will not continue to struggle for our rights, that the story ends here and that we will not do everything within our means to help build a democratic future for Syria. Even if it’s under the overall command of the Syrian army, the Kurds have their own forces who will defend them in their own lands. For the past 15 years, Kurdish children have been studying in their own mother tongue, and we will ensure that they will continue to do so. Imagine that under Assad rule, when I was still a little boy going to middle school, I was imprisoned by the regime for carrying a book in the Kurdish language. Today’s Syria is incomparable with the one that existed before 2011. Our spirit remains unbroken. Forging consensus peacefully, through dialogue, without compromising our dignity, our distinct Kurdish identity — that is our path. The Kurds of Syria are a reality that can no longer be ignored.

#Syria #Rojava #YPJ #SDF

Sich direkt über die Situation der Frauen und der YPJ in Rojava informieren. Heute abend OnlineTalk:

We are all YPJ! Self-defence is our natural right!

🟡 Online Talk: with YPJ & the Women's Movement in Rojava

The focus will be on the achievements of the women’s movement in recent years—and, above all, on the question of what future the YPJ has in the current integration process in Syria. While political negotiations on the integration of the self-administration are ongoing, key advances in women’s rights are increasingly coming under pressure. What role will the YPJ play in the future? What do the current developments mean for women’s rights and self-determination in the region?

📅 May 13, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM Central Europeen Time

Join us, get informed first-hand, and take part in a discussion about perspectives and challenges.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f18ycMOaR_G1ipDY-BYJRQ

#Rojava #YPJ #Kurdistan