Rojava Information Center

RIC analyzed footage from the STG assault on al-Hol camp. We found: 📌No evidence of SDF releasing detainees 📌Foreigners’ annex breached during STG assault; unknown number of fugitives 📌Attack began with revolt of local al-Hol residents, likely coordinated with STG 📌Asayish withdraw after 2 pronged attack and camp revolt Read the full report and our conclusion here: rojavainformationcenter.org/2026/01/attack…

Salih Muslim, senior Kurdish politician & leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), passed away from health issues. He was key in shaping the politics in North and East Syria. His body was taken from Erbil & buried in Kobane on March 15, with memorials taking place en route

RIC assisted BBC World Service for their podcast on the history and future of women's autonomy in North and East Syria after the January offensive and integration deal between the Syrian Transitional Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. bbc.com/audio/play/p0n…

Leyla Qahraman from the Syrian Democratic Council told RIC: “This is the result of the long struggle of the people of Afrin. [Their return] was one of the main terms of the January 29 Agreement. Their houses and lands must be returned to them and they must not be threatened by anyone. […] Today our people return, with many of their loved ones no longer here to see it. But the people trust that the long struggle has finally achieved something.”

Imad, from Afrin, told RIC: “We are a family of eight. It has been eight years of displacement: from Afrin to Shehba, then to Tabqa, then to Heseke, and later to Derik. Our house was destroyed since the region was first occupied. The Hamza Division was controlling our area. I had 180 olive trees. Last summer I managed to go [to Afrin], but they left nothing. They were all cut. When I go back, of course I will plant olive trees again. We cannot live without olive trees. Of course, to go back to our land, we are happy.”

400 displaced families departed from Heseke today in a convoy returning to Afrin. The step is a first in the right of return of thousands of displaced people. Syrian Transitional Government Internal Security Forces & Siyamend Afrin of the Asayish are present in the convoy.

Friends of journalists Ahmed Polad and Eva Maria Michelmann, who have been disappeared by the Syrian Army since January 18, held their pictures alongside the families of prisoners. The prisoners are comprised of civilians as well as military personnel.

The event followed continuous protests by the families of prisoners, including outside the United Nations building in Qamishlo earlier in the week. Today, Salha told RIC, “I am waiting for my father. It has been one month since I saw him. How long will we have to wait?”

1,070 people are imprisoned by the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) from the January military offensive against the SDF. Qamishlo’s March 8 Women’s Day events were combined with a platform for the families of prisoners.

[INTERVIEW] RIC spoke with Ruksen Mohamed, spokesperson of Women's Protection Units (YPJ), in early Feb 2026 about: 📌 Integration agreement with Damascus 📌 Women’s role as fighters since beginning of the Rojava Revolution Read the full interview here: rojavainformationcenter.org/2026/03/interv…

Hundreds of civilians and fighters are still missing following the STG takeover, with Michelmann and Polad’s names reportedly among those discussed between STG and SDF. With no clear information to date, the YRA and the two journalists’ employers have called for clarity over their fate.

The journalists were able to leave the surrounded building following negotiation efforts, but were not included in an evacuation convoy to territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Instead, they were last seen in the hands of STG fighters, being placed into a vehicle.

Two journalists last seen in the hands of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) have been missing since 18 January, prompting calls for their release. Eva Maria Michelmann, a German freelance journalist and Ahmed Polad, a Kurdish reporter, went missing as STG forces took control of Raqqa, the Free Media Association of Rojava (YRA) said.

Sleeper Cell Report January 2026 – Thousands of ISIS fighters moved to Iraq amidst invasion chaos rojavainformationcenter.org/2026/02/sleepe…

The Afrin Council & Association announced today that people displaced from Afrin will start returning. The first convoy will be 400 families heading to the regions of Shiya, Mabata, and Jindires. It was not announced when convoys will leave from Jazira Canton.

Yesterday, more than a thousand people marched in Qamishlo demanding preservation of Kurdish as the language of instruction in education, continued existence of YPJ, right of return of displaced people, and constitutional guarantee for protection of rights for Kurds in Syria.

[INTERVIEW] RIC spoke with Sheikh Akram Mashoush of the Jabour Tribe about: 📌Tribal defections 📌History of Jabour Tribe 📌Latest ceasefire agreement Read the interview here: rojavainformationcenter.org/2026/02/sheikh…

Yesterday, a new governor of Heseke, Nour al-Din Ahmed, was appointed by the SDF. Ahmed was head of SDF public relations in 2014, had worked within structures of the DAANES, and had lost a son in 2014 during the battle of Kobane against ISIS.

On Tuesday, the Internal Security Forces of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) entered the city of Qamishlo to commence the integration process of the SDF and DAANES structures into the STG. The integration process includes: restructuring 3 brigades of SDF into the Syrian Army, appointing senior civilian and security appointments such as the governor of Heseke, restoring principal state institutions, returning border crossings, and handing over oil fields into government administration.