SDF and Syrian Army Exchange Prisoners and Remains Amid Growing Cooperation
According to SOHR, 100 detainees held by the SDF were released in exchange for 150 prisoners held by the Syrian Army as part of the deal.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed on Thursday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Army have conducted a major exchange of prisoners and remains, marking another development in their evolving relationship.
According to SOHR, 100 detainees held by the SDF were released in exchange for 150 prisoners held by the Syrian Army as part of the deal. The exchange also included the handover of remains from previous clashes between the two sides.
The process dates back to January 12, 2025, when SDF and Syrian national Army (SNA) engaged in violent confrontations near the Tishrin Dam and the Qara Qozak Bridge, located in the Aleppo countryside. Since then, negotiations had been underway to secure the release of detainees and return the bodies of those killed in combat.
SDF Recovers Fallen Fighters in Exchange for Turkish Detainees
As part of the agreement, the SDF received the remains of 40 of its fighters from the Syrian Army. In return, the SDF released 25 detainees, including four Turkish nationals who had been captured during previous operations.
While neither the Syrian government nor the SDF have officially commented on the details of the exchange, sources familiar with the negotiations stated that the agreement was facilitated as part of a broader effort to de-escalate tensions and build confidence between the two sides.
Broader Agreement on Kurdish Neighborhoods in Aleppo
The latest exchange follows a broader deal between the SDF and the transitional Syrian government regarding the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo.
Earlier this week, the Syrian Interior Ministry confirmed that the SDF agreed to withdraw from both neighborhoods, ensuring that civilian institutions would remain operational and protected under the new arrangement.
One of the key provisions of the deal is securing freedom of movement between Aleppo’s Kurdish districts and the northeastern regions of Syria, a move expected to ease restrictions and improve local connectivity.
This development comes in the wake of a larger agreement reached last month between SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which laid the groundwork for integrating Kurdish forces into the newly restructured Syrian Army.
The prisoner exchange and recent agreements highlight the shifting dynamics between the SDF and the Syrian government, as both sides navigate a delicate path toward military and political coordination.
