ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) warned on Tuesday of growing threats to civilians in Kurdish-led northeastern Syria (Rojava), calling on the international community to intervene to prevent further escalation.
The PUK’s political leadership said in a statement it was alarmed by “the events that have been unfolding over the past few days in Rojava and northern Syria,” while reaffirming solidarity with the Kurdish population in the region “who heroically fought the war against ISIS terrorists on behalf of the entire world.”
“We condemn the silence regarding the threats made against our people, which is unacceptable,” the statement said.
Kurdish forces in Syria reported they were under attack by armed groups allied with the Syrian government on multiple fronts in northeastern Syria, where the Kurds have governed and controlled security for over a decade. The attacks - which led to hundreds of Islamic State (ISIS) prisoners escaping - was causing massive instability in Kurdish-held territory, including former ISIS strongholds where local officials have long warned of an ISIS resurgence.
The PUK urged foreign mediators supporting a March 2025 agreement mandating a ceasefire and bringing the Kurdish-led government and military entities under Damascus to take immediate action.
Signed between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi, the deal stalled after Damascus rejected an SDF demand to be incorporated as a unit. Damascus has insisted on absorbing SDF fighters individually into regular army units.
“We believe it is the duty of the international community in general, as well as the mediators of the March 10, 2025 Damascus Agreement to immediately take a stand against the escalations and the targeting of civilians,” the PUK statement added.