In the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, a significant exchange of prisoners occurred on Monday between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), aligning with an agreement formed earlier this year. The swapping of over 400 prisoners is considered a strategic move to foster trust and reduce hostilities between both parties.
According to Mulham al-Akidi, Aleppo province’s deputy governor, the prisoner exchange involved the release of 470 individuals, which is seen as an effort to ease tensions in the region. Al-Akidi further noted that more prisoners might be released in the future if deemed necessary.
Among those released was Yasser Mohammed Hakim, who detailed his experience of mistakenly entering an SDF-controlled zone six months ago. He described being imprisoned with members of the Islamic State group, highlighting the severity of his detention conditions. “They put us with the biggest terrorists,” Hakim reflected, noting the impact of losing six months of his life as a result of what he termed a misstep.
Earlier in March, a groundbreaking agreement was reached between Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led authorities managing northeastern parts of the country. This pact included a ceasefire and a pledge to integrate the main U.S.-backed forces with the Syrian military.
The implementation of this agreement has significantly reduced the violent confrontations between the SDF and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of forces supported by Turkey. Prior to the accord, intensive clashes had resulted in numerous casualties and injuries on both sides.
The Syrian regime, facing the challenge of uniting the disparate ethnic and religious factions within the nation, endeavors to assert its control and broker political accords amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.