The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has revealed that the Syrian government has launched a campaign of arresting Kurdish civilians in Raqqa and Damascus, with the aim of using them in exchange processes with detained fighters held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Arrest of 40 Kurdish Civilians
SOHR documented the arrest of more than 40 Kurdish civilians in the past month. Among those detained, 15 were listed for release, and last Friday the Syrian government freed them as part of a prisoner exchange process.

Objective: Securing Release of SDF Fighters
According to SOHR, Damascus aims to secure the release of genuine SDF fighters, which contradicts the terms of previously agreed arrangements with the SDF.

Detention Centers Holding Fighters
Formerly released detainees reported that prisons in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Tell Abyad contain large numbers of SDF fighters.

Information on Imprisoned Fighters
One of the fighters released last Friday stated that in Aleppo’s military police prison alone, more than 150 detained SDF fighters are being held.

Number of Detained Fighters
SOHR emphasized that, based on the data it has obtained, more than 500 SDF fighters are currently imprisoned in Syrian detention centers. This highlights that the Syrian government is using civilian detainees as bargaining chips in exchange deals.