Crisis in Northeast Syria: A Call for De-escalation 

In January 2026, Syrian government forces have taken control of key cities and provinces in Northeast Syria. These cities have been autonomously administered by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition of militias, for over a decade.

Northeast Syria is a highly diverse region, home to Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, and other communities. As government forces rapidly advance toward Kurdish-majority areas, the SDF has called for mass mobilization framing the moment as a “war of existence” for Kurdish, Assyrian and other minority communities living in this part of Syria. There is a serious risk that large-scale violence could erupt, should government forces enter these areas. An immediate ceasefire must be implemented to prevent further escalation.

There has been a lack of progress in negotiations between the Syrian Transitional Government and the SDF under the March 10 Agreement, which aimed to establish a unified political framework for a united Syria. Consequently, interim President Ahmad al Sharaa turned to military force to take control of territories that remained under SDF administration. In early January 2026, government forces captured the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiye neighbourhoods in Aleppo. As the United States intensified pressure on the SDF to fully integrate its military and civil institutions into the Syria State, government forces continued their rapid advance toward Northeast Syria. These advances into Arab-majority areas were facilitated with the help of local tribes that withdrew their support from the SDF and aligned themselves with government forces. SDF units withdrew from several locations, enabling government forces to take control of large swathes of areas including Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Ein Issa. Public celebrations were reported in these cities, with local residents expressing relief at the end of SDF rule.

Serious fears persist that government forces may continue their advance into Kurdish-majority areas and seek to enter the cities of Hassake and Qamishli. These concerns are heightened by previous incidents in which armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government committed grave violations against Alawite communities along the Syrian coast and Druze populations in Sweida. Alongside the escalating risk of violence, hate speech has intensified among both pro-government forces and pro-SDF supporters. This poses a serious threat to community relations and undermines prospects for peaceful coexistence. In response, Kurdish representatives have called for mass mobilization across local communities, amid fears that advancing government forces may include or be influenced by ISIS-affiliated elements. Within hours, many men and women responded to the call in multiple cities across northeast Syria as well as among Kurdish communities in Turkey and northern Iraq, ready to defend their communities. Meanwhile, displacement among civilians has accelerated, particularly in Hassake, with families fleeing northward toward Qamishli and the Iraqi border in search of safety.

The SDF has lost control of large territories it administered for years under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The AANES gradually emerged after forces of the Assad regime withdrew from this part of the country in 2012 at the onset of the Syrian Revolution, responding to long-standing aspirations for self-rule and self-determination. For decades, Syrian Kurds had been denied their cultural, economic and political rights under the Assad regime. The AANES presented itself as a transformative political project, offering citizens an opportunity to experiment with direct and participatory forms of governance, while promoting gender equality, pluralism, and ethnic and religious diversity. This governance model was often seen as unusual in the Middle East because it promoted women’s participation and rejected discrimination on the basis of identity, at a time when many systems in the region excluded women and marginalized people along sectarian lines. However, despite its progressive aspirations and international visibility during the fight against ISIS, the AANES faced persistent challenges and presented various shortcomings. These ranged from questions of political inclusivity, and increasing authoritarian tendencies to its long-term viability within the Syria state. Today, the takeover of much of this region by Syrian government forces may mark the de facto end of the Syrian Kurds’ experiment in self-rule, raising serious concerns about the future status of Kurdish communities in Syria. Although Ahmed Al Sharaa announced last week a decree that recognizes Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights and restores citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians, these protections were not enshrined in the 2025 constitutional declaration, leaving their long-term guarantees uncertain.

The rapidly changing situation on the ground has raised significant concerns regarding detention facilities holding ISIS-affiliated fighters and their families. Several prisons previously managed by the SDF, including the Al-Hol camp which houses close to 25.000 of ISIS-affiliated individuals, have now fallen under government control. It remains unclear how these facilities are being secured. In the current atmosphere of chaos and instability, there are heightened fears of escapes that could contribute to a resurgence of ISIS activity across the region.

Our Call to Action 

We call for urgent de-escalation to prevent large-scale violence through: 

1. An immediate ceasefire to halt the advance into Kurdish-majority territories. 

2. Resumed negotiations between the Transitional Government and the SDF regarding the integration of military and civil institutions. 

3. Inclusive national dialogue that guarantees meaningful political participation for all Syrian communities. 

4. We urge the European Union and the Dutch government to use all diplomatic leverage to press for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations.