Rojava in Transition: From War to a Vigilant Routine

On the streets of Qamishlo, Hasakah and Kobane, life has returned to an almost everyday rhythm after months marked by uncertainty and military tensions. Markets are operating with relative normality, taxis move along the main roads, and many families are trying to reorganise their homes and recover habits that for a long time had been put on hold. In the cafés of central Qamishlo, young people once again gather in the afternoons while shopkeepers raise their shutters each morning. They are ordinary scenes that, until recently, seemed difficult to imagine.

Women’s protest following the publication of a video by a member of the Syrian government displaying the severed braid of a Kurdish fighter after killing her. Author: Amina Hussein

“Life had been suspended. Qamishlo looked like an abandoned city,” says Ahmed Darwish, owner of a small grocery shop in the city. According to him, the improvement in security has gradually brought people back to the streets and local markets. “People are buying again, talking with their neighbours and spending time outside. It may seem like a small thing, but for us it is very important because it means the city is breathing again,” Darwish adds.

A Cautious Eye on the Situation

The political agreement of 29 January between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government, together with the ceasefire announced shortly afterwards, has helped reduce military tensions across much of north-east Syria. After days of clashes, mass displacement and the constant presence of multiple armed actors, residents are beginning to perceive a gradual change in the security situation. This shift has not removed concerns entirely, but it has restored a degree of stability that makes it possible to resume everyday activities that had been interrupted for weeks.

Despite these improvements, many residents continue to observe the situation with caution. More than a decade of conflict has fostered a wary attitude among the population, who prefer to wait before declaring the new phase secure. “When you have lived through so many years of war, you learn not to trust calm too easily,” explains Nazir Hassan, a resident of Hasakah. “But this time people want to believe it could be different, and that maybe, slowly, we will be able to return to a normal life,” he says.

Humanitarian Aid Begins to Arrive

Advances in security, together with the gradual integration of the SDF into the new structure agreed with the Syrian government, have contributed to this climate of relative stability. At the same time, the arrival of humanitarian aid in several parts of the region has partially eased the situation for many families who, in previous months, had faced shortages of basic goods and difficulties accessing essential services.

One of the most visible effects of the recent agreements has been the reduction in armed clashes and the implementation of humanitarian measures such as the release and exchange of prisoners and displaced persons — an initiative many families had long awaited. These measures have helped create a sense of relief among the population, particularly in communities directly affected by the fighting.

Kobane: A Symbol of Kurdish Resistance

In Kobane, a city that for years symbolised Kurdish resistance against the Islamic State group, the situation has also begun to improve after particularly difficult weeks. Several humanitarian aid convoys have reached the city carrying food, medicines and medical supplies, easing pressure on hospitals and care centres.

“In the first days almost nothing was arriving and people were very worried,” recalls Halima, a resident of Kobane. According to her, the situation began to change with the arrival of the first aid trucks. “Now convoys are coming in with food and medicine. It is still not enough for everyone, but at least we know the city is no longer completely isolated and that things are changing.”

Despite these improvements, local authorities acknowledge that the logistical situation remains complicated. The roads connecting Kobane with other towns in north-east Syria are not fully open, and the transport of goods continues to be irregular. This limits the steady flow of supplies and forces many humanitarian organisations to rely on alternative routes or partial access.

Calls to Preserve the Women’s Brigade

The improvement in security is also being reflected on the military front through a gradual reorganisation of the armed forces present in the region. Under the framework agreed between Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government, the SDF will be integrated through four brigades of more than 1,300 fighters each — a structure intended to redefine the role of Kurdish forces within the new security system.

At the same time, several Kurdish security forces have been deployed in Kurdish-majority towns and cities following the withdrawal of SDF units to previously agreed positions. This redistribution aims to reduce the risk of direct confrontations and establish a more stable security system capable of protecting civilians while the political process continues to unfold.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure the agreement succeeds and that this new phase is stable,” says Rohilat Afrin, commander of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). Afrin stresses that many Kurdish fighters have spent years defending the region and now hope their efforts will not be lost in the reorganisation process. “We want peace to prevail and for the achievements of these years to be preserved. After so many sacrifices, we want the YPJ to continue to exist and for there to be a brigade made up of women.”

Learning in One’s Mother Tongue

Alongside the military changes, the process of administrative integration is also advancing gradually. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which has governed much of the region for years, has begun incorporating its institutions into Syrian state structures under the framework of the recent political agreements.

In this context, delegations from the Syrian government have recently visited Qamishlo airport and several oil fields in the north-east — strategic areas previously under the control of the SDF. These visits form part of a coordination process aimed at establishing joint mechanisms for administrative management, particularly in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy and public services.

One area where this process is already beginning to have an impact is the education system. In Hasakah and other cities, local authorities have initiated talks to reintegrate schools into unified state structures while attempting to preserve some of the elements developed during the years of self-administration.

“AANES education certificates will be recognised by the state, and students who wish will be able to continue receiving classes in their mother tongue,” explains Aya Yousef, a teacher at a school in Qamishlo. According to her, ensuring educational continuity is one of the main priorities after years in which many students have grown up amid instability.

Between Relief and Caution

With the improvement in security and the gradual restoration of services, daily routines have progressively returned to many cities in Rojava. Children are going back to school — at least to those not currently occupied by displaced families — markets are regaining activity, and many households are beginning to plan for the future with a slightly longer horizon.

“Now we can go out into the street without immediate fear, and that allows us to think about things that once seemed impossible,” says Halima, who is still staying with her family in a school turned into a shelter in Kobane. Despite the improvement, her goal is to return home soon. “We have been here for two months. Now we want to go back to our villages and rebuild our lives.”

Despite recent progress, significant challenges remain. Basic infrastructure still requires repairs, many roads are not functioning normally, and the process of political and military integration remains complex. For many residents, the current situation represents more a transitional phase than a definitive solution.

For now, the population lives with a mixture of relief and caution. The war has not disappeared entirely, but it has entered a different phase — less defined by active fighting and more by institutional reorganisation and the gradual reconstruction of everyday life. “After so many years, people just want stability,” says Kamil, a resident of Qamishlo. “We are not asking for miracles. We simply want to live, work and watch our children grow up without having to flee again.”

https://www.nationalia.info/new/11750/rojava-in-transition-from-war-to-a-vigilant-routine