The second phase of a prisoner exchange scheduled for 29 May in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods of Aleppo did not proceed as planned. According to reports, Damascus-led security forces postponed the release of prisoners affiliated with the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and the return of the remains of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) personnel.
This exchange was part of a broader 14-point agreement signed on 1 April between local councils in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh and the Damascus administration. The agreement aimed to coordinate joint security measures between SDF-aligned forces and Damascus-led military units in the Aleppo area. One of its key provisions was the mutual release of detainees held by both parties.
The first phase of the exchange took place on 3 April, during which 146 SDF and YPJ members were released in return for 97 individuals detained by the Damascus government. The agreement outlined the release of a total of 285 prisoners and 161 detainees in its second phase. However, a portion of this second exchange, specifically the release of YPJ members and the return of SDF fighters’ remains, has not been fulfilled by the Damascus-led forces.
Qahraman Baker, the head of Asayish (Internal Security Forces) under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), stated that efforts would continue to ensure the release of YPJ prisoners and the transfer of deceased SDF personnel. “We will not back down,” he added.
Visual evidence of SDF convoys transporting prisoners into Sheikh Maqsoud on the intended exchange date has been circulated, indicating preparations for implementation on their part.
As of now, there has been no official explanation from the Damascus-led forces regarding the delay. The postponement raises questions about the next steps in the implementation of the agreement and its broader impact on security coordination in Aleppo.
