Rojava Region

Source: TH

Subject: Mapping

Context: Renewed fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led SDF has endangered Rojava’s autonomy after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024.

• Despite a 14-point ceasefire and integration agreement, sharp disputes over autonomy, force deployment, and the roles of Türkiye and the U.S. continue.

About Rojava Region:

What it is?

• Rojava, officially called the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), is a de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria. It follows the ideology of democratic confederalism, emphasizing local self-rule, gender equality, and ethnic pluralism, though it lacks international recognition.

Located in:

• Rojava lies in northeastern Syria, covering parts of Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo (Kobane)

• It is strategically located along the Euphrates basin and key oil- and gas-rich areas of eastern Syria.

Neighbouring countries / regions

• Türkiye to the north

• Iraq (Kurdistan Region) to the east

• Syrian government–controlled areas to the west and south

This location makes Rojava a geopolitical crossroads involving regional and global powers.

History:

• 2012: Syrian state forces withdrew from Kurdish areas during the civil war, allowing Kurds to establish self-administration.

• 2014–2015: Kurdish militias, especially the People’s Protection Units (YPG), gained global prominence after defeating ISIS at Kobane with U.S. air support.

• 2015: Formation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a multi-ethnic alliance led by Kurds.

• 2016–2023: Region evolved through multiple constitutional forms, culminating in DAANES.

• 2024–26: After Assad’s fall, Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa moved to re-centralise power, leading to clashes and loss of nearly 80% of DAANES-held territory.

Core issues

• Autonomy vs centralisation: Damascus wants a unified, centralised Syrian state; Kurds seek to retain self-rule built over a decade.

• Security control: The government demands individual integration of SDF fighters, while Kurds resist deployment of state troops in core Kurdish cities like Kobane and Qamishli.

• External actors: Türkiye opposes Kurdish autonomy, viewing the YPG as linked to the PKK. United States earlier backed the SDF against ISIS but is now warming to Damascus to counter Iran and Russia.

• Türkiye opposes Kurdish autonomy, viewing the YPG as linked to the PKK.

• United States earlier backed the SDF against ISIS but is now warming to Damascus to counter Iran and Russia.

• ISIS risk: Fighting has enabled jailbreaks and instability, reviving jihadist threats.