Presidential envoy says 300 SDF detainees to be released soon
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ahmad al‑Hilali, spokesperson for Syria’s presidential team overseeing the implementation of the January 29 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Tuesday that authorities will soon release 300 SDF detainees, adding that the detainees file is in its “final stages.”
Al-Hilali said in an interview with Rudaw that more than 1,500 detainees from both sides have already been freed, while around 500 people remain held in SDF-run prisons on various charges.
He added that detainee lists are subject to continuous review and verification, saying the process “is not governed by declared numbers” and that there is “tangible progress” in releases.
Al-Hilali indicated that the military integration track has reached “advanced technical stages,” noting to the presence of three brigades in Hasakah Governorate.
He pointed out that any formal announcement depends on completing final agreements and adopting them through relevant institutional frameworks.
On the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), the presidential envoy said there is no longer a need for an all-female military force following the end of large-scale fighting and the progress of integration.
He said women’s rights are safeguarded by the constitution and that female personnel are needed in other sectors, including women’s police units.
Al-Hilali described comprehensive military restructuring as the most complex file, citing overlapping organizational, ideological and operational dimensions.
“The challenge is not limited to formal integration,” he said, “but extends to unifying military doctrine, regulating the chain of command, and redistributing forces in line with state requirements.”
Regarding border crossings, al-Hilali said their management is a matter of sovereignty and that there is a “clear vision” to reorganize them under central government administration to unify procedures and strengthen administrative and security oversight.
He reiterated that progress is ongoing across the files linked to the January 29 agreement.