Kurdish women fighters who played a central role in the defeat of ISIS in Syria are now exploring ways to integrate into the country’s new security forces, according to recent reports. These women, part of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), had been a vital component of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which received U.S. support since 2015 in the fight against the extremist group.

The SDF has recently moved toward integration with the new Syrian security apparatus, raising questions about the future role of the YPJ, which comprises thousands of female fighters. Kurdish media outlet Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that the YPJ’s General Command held a meeting with Syria’s transitional government Interior Ministry, describing the discussions as positive and focused on the possibility of bringing the women’s units into the ministry’s structure in specialized roles.

The integration process faces significant challenges due to divergent political and ideological backgrounds between the Kurdish fighters and the existing Syrian security leadership. The new Syrian army’s command is predominantly composed of conservative Muslim men, often linked to groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian rebel factions, and is mainly Arab in composition. In contrast, the YPJ and other Kurdish units affiliated with the SDF tend to have left-leaning and secular orientations.

Given these dynamics, the Interior Ministry appears to offer a more flexible path for the YPJ’s inclusion, especially as it has previously absorbed various units and played a stabilizing role in eastern Syria during the government’s reintegration efforts in Hasakah earlier in the year. The ministry has been viewed more favorably than the Defense Ministry in some regions under Kurdish control.

Rudaw, another Kurdish news organization, highlighted that an earlier proposal to incorporate the YPJ into the Syrian army as distinct female brigades was rejected, with officials stating that the Defense Ministry does not accept female combat units. Consequently, the Interior Ministry has emerged as the sole viable option for the women, who already have representation in police forces.

According to Rudaw, the YPJ has tentatively agreed to serve under the Interior Ministry as a counter-terrorism unit, maintaining its cohesion as a distinct organized force. ANHA also detailed a late-night meeting on August 26 between YPJ leaders—including Newroz Ahmad, Sozdar Haji, Khalisa Ayed, and media spokesperson Ruken Jamal—and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab, focusing on cooperation for Syria’s security and stability.

While the final structure and status of the YPJ within Syria’s security institutions remain uncertain, the ongoing talks signal a willingness on both sides to find a place for these female fighters who were crucial in the fight against ISIS. The outcome of these negotiations could shape the future role of Kurdish women in Syria’s evolving security landscape.