2 hours ago January 19, 2026Kurdistan Solidarity Network

What’s Happening in Rojava

What’s happening in Rojava?

Over the past couple of weeks tensions between the the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have broken out into war. The SDF, which includes the YPG and YPJ, is the military force which defends the territory of North and East Syria: the home of the Rojava Revolution. The communities of North and East Syria and the political project of the Rojava Revolution are facing an existential threat as the STG army, alongside jihadist militias backed by the Turkish state, launch a large scale invasion of the territory.

All over the world people are resisting authoritarian forces and genocidal violence – from Sudan to Palestine to Venezuela to Kurdistan. In our home countries we are also organising for the right to live in dignity, freedom and peace. In these turbulent times we must extend solidarity to people around the world who are on the front lines of this fight, recognising that our struggles for liberation are one and the same.
What can we do?

The situation is constantly changing, but the things that are being asked of us by the people in Rojava and the Kurdish community in Britain are:

  • Organising demonstrations in order to increase public awareness of what’s happening. There is currently a call for organising demonstrations on Wednesday (21st January) and this weekend (24th and 25th January). If you organise a demonstration, banner drop, or local action – please take photos and post them in the Defend Kurdistan UK WhatsApp group (or send to hello@kurdistansolidarity.net) so we can share them with friends in Rojava.
  • Write and publicise public statements condemning the actions of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG), and expressing solidarity with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Share messages with hello@kurdistansolidarity.net so we can amplify them.
  • Donate to Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistane), the on-the-ground emergency relief forces who are supporting the evacuation of civilians and providing frontline humanitarian relief as the situation deteriorates. The most reliable way to donate to Kurdish Red Crescent is via the German branch of the charity:
  • Organise actions against arms companies and the businesses that drive the military-industrial complex!

The messages that we are trying to communicate are:

The Syrian Transitional Government (STG), led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, is only paying lip service to democracy and diversity. Since seizing control of Damascus just over a year ago, Al-Sharaa’s government – dominated by members of al-Qaeda offshoot Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – has attacked religious and ethnic minorities across Syria. The latest onslaught on Kurdish-majority areas in North and East Syria is part of the violent authoritarianism of Al-Sharaa’s government.

In contrast, the region of North and East Syria has built a multi-cultural and democratic system based on women’s rights, ecological sustainability, workers’ coops and grassroots power. This revolutionary political project is facing an existential threat as STG forces, working in partnership with jihadist militias backed by the Turkish government and Turkish Army drones, are seeking to overrun the territory and impose authoritarian rule.

Despite the ceasefire announced on 18th January, STG forces are continuing to advance, and are now surrounding Kobane – the city where the heroic resistance of the YPJ and YPG turned the tide against the ISIS caliphate in 2015 #KobanêUnderAttack.

We must be loud and united in our condemnation of the actions of the Syrian Transitional Government, and in support of the Rojava Revolution and the people of North and East Syria!

How to keep track of what’s happening?

It can be really confusing to know what’s happening on the ground, and what it means. Most mainstream news sources (including Al-Jazeera) have a terrible track record in accurately reporting what’s happening in North and East Syria. We would recommend the following ways of following developments:

Instagram

WhatsApp

Twitter/X

  • YPG (Peoples’ Defence Units) and YPJ (Women’s Defence Units): @YpgInt
  • Syrian Democratic Forces: @SDF_Syria
  • Rojava Information Center (RIC): @RojavaIC

Telegram Channels

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