SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government security forces on Thursday have initiated a prisoner swap involving 250 individuals in Aleppo, marking the start of a recent agreement signed on April 1st, reports state media, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
As part of this newly struck deal between the SDF and the Internal Security Forces of Aleppo, the first phase of the agreement saw the SDF release 97 detainees linked to Damascus’ armed forces, while 147 SDF fighters were freed in return.
The prisoner exchange is set to continue Friday, with both sides preparing to release an additional 50 prisoners as part of a 14-point deal between the Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria (Rojava) and the newly formed administration in Damascus. The deal is focused on the security and administration of the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah in Aleppo.
According to the London-based war monitor, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 170 SDF prisoners and several bodies of SDF members will be released, while Kurdish forces will free approximately 400 detainees and the bodies of Damascus-affiliated security forces.