4 hours ago February 18, 2026KSN Media Working Group

What’s Happening in Rojava? (17 Feb 2026)

What’s happening in Rojava this fortnight and how we can support the resistance

After a hectic and frankly frightening  January in North and East Syria, the pace has slowed somewhat since the Syrian Transitional Government  (STG) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached an agreement on 30 January, and we have reduced our updates to fortnightly. However, the situation remains critical  and there is more need than ever to demonstrate and develop our solidarity structures across the UK and the world.

Meanwhile, weekly demos continue, solidarity motions are making their way through trades unions networks, and fundraisers and educational events are springing up to not only engage people in firefighting, but to raise awareness of the long-term revolutionary context of the Rojava region and the inspiration and example it can provide for emancipatory organising  across the Global Left.

You can read all of our previous updates here.

The Situation in Rojava 

The SDF and Syrian Government declared a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and agreed to stop arrests related to recent fighting. The SDF will continue to protect detention facilities holding ISIS fighters, and the Syrian government pledged to provide full logistical support for the ongoing US-led detainee relocation process.

Since the agreement, there have been a number of visible integration developments on the ground. This ranges in scope, from agreements to integrate military and security structures and increased monitoring of border zones to prevent weapon and people smuggling, to commencing the reinstatement of Qamishli airport and the national validation of DAANES university qualifications and licensing of its cultural institutions. 

KOBANE

The 25 vitally-needed aid trucks have now reached the city, after having been held up by Turkish border guards.

DISPLACEMENT

The UN puts the number of internally-displaced people (IDPs) now at 146k

Regional Instability 

Repression in Turkey continues after an outpouring of support from Kurds across the country which led many to gather at the Bakur–Rojava border, in some instances breaking through. Across Turkey, state forces carried out night raids targeting democratic opposition with 110 people detained, including  journalists, Human Rights defenders, and women’s & environmental activists. 

UK News

Meanwhile in the UK, the  trial of six Kurdish Londoners accused of membership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)  (arrested following an aggressive police raid, which itself took place just days after a Turkish diplomatic visit involving Haringey MP David Lammy) continues. After weeks of disparate and disorganised evidence from the police, despite having had over a year to develop the case, the defence has now finally taken the stand. We follow the  Kurdish Peoples’ Assembly’s call for “sustained solidarity” with them, and members of our KSN Legal Group are supporting the trial on a daily basis, attending court and supporting the defendants in practical and personal ways.

Elsewhere, an eruption of solidarity demos in towns and cities across the UK have taken place—see our events page for our up-to-date calendar—and film screenings and educations  are being organised to build knowledge on the DAANES and its ecological, feminist and decolonial principles. Conversations with radical municipalist organisations and mainstream political parties on the merits of decentralised governance and the importance of the DAANES model are ongoing: the task of ‘bringing the revolution home’—not only idolising the incredible efforts of the Kurds—is essential if we are to build holistic, profound and sustainable democratic change.

Brighton Screening of the Tishreen film, which birthed a number of upcoming plans to deepens connections and organisational capcity — get in touch if you want to join Brighton KSN!

How to Take Action

The region needs your support more than ever, and there are a number of ways you can help build awareness, raise funds, and organise support.

    • Tools, Resources and Visuals for Organising
    • Post any events or demos you are organising in the Defend Kurdistan UK WhatsApp group, or email hello@kurdistansolidarity.net so we can publicise and support
    • Organise actions against arms companies and the businesses that drive the military-industrial complex!
    • Write to your MPs:
      • Urge your MP to sign Early Day Motion 2664 on the Situation of Kurdish People in Syria
      • Demand that they apply immediate political pressure to stop the attacks, end direct and indirect support for HTS, ISIS and Turkey’s actions in Syria, take a clear position against the ISIS threat, provide urgent humanitarian assistance and instigate international monitoring and accountability. And, crucially, that they work towards the political recognition of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) for a lasting solution. If you are uncertain how to write such a message yourself, you can use a pre-written template.
      • If you have a Green, Your Party or Plaid Cymru MP, or are involved in in those parties (or other progressive parties), it is especially important that you engage with them as they have been more supportive, and their vocal support puts pressure on other MPs
    • Organise film screenings of the Berxwedan Jiyane: The Resistance of Tishreen documentary and get in touch if you want us to help you find local speakers who can give some updates and calls to action at the screenings.

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:

WhatsApp/Social Media Accounts to Follow

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