Kurdish YPJ women fighters excluded from Syria's new army

Kurdish women combatants from the Autonomous Administration of North‑East Syria have announced a coordinated effort to enlist in the Syrian Arab Republic’s newly announced national army. The move follows President Bashar al‑Assad’s decree earlier this month to restructure the armed forces and incorporate a range of militia groups into a unified command. Representatives of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), which have fought alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces since 2012, said they intend to submit formal applications through the Ministry of Defense, citing a desire to contribute to the country’s reconstruction and to secure official recognition for their service.

The integration drive comes amid ongoing negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish political leaders over the future status of the northeast, a region that has operated with a degree of autonomy since the defeat of ISIS. Officials from the Ministry of Defense have indicated that applicants will undergo standard vetting procedures and be placed in mixed units, though they have not clarified how gender‑specific roles will be addressed. Observers note that the inclusion of Kurdish women fighters could signal a shift in the government’s approach to minority participation, but the outcome will depend on the resolution of broader political disputes and the implementation of the new army’s recruitment framework.