-Rojava Offensive: Kurdish Families Suffer
- Since Thursday, snow has been lying over destroyed houses, over military vehicles on patrol, over people who have fled and don't no where to go.
- The situation in the Kurdish areas in the north and northeast of syria is coming to a head.
- For the local people, this means one thing above all: fear.
Since Thursday, snow has been lying over destroyed houses, over military vehicles on patrol, over people who have fled and don’t no where to go. When Omar Sulaiman (54) speaks to his sister on the phone, the first thing he hears is the tremor in her voice. he lives in Avenches VD, she in Amude in northeastern syria. She has taken in ten Kurdish families in the last few days – from Aleppo and other regions where there is fighting. “The situation is very threatening,” says Omar. “Everyone does what they can – and still feels helpless.”
The situation in the Kurdish areas in the north and northeast of syria is coming to a head. After years of self-government, the autonomous management in Rojava is coming to an end, according to the DPA news agency. Government troops from Damascus have recaptured large parts of the Kurdish-controlled areas,and the Syrian Democratic Forces have been pushed back. Observers speak of a political turning point – and a strategic change of course by the USA, which had long fought with the Kurds against IS. washington is now relying on Damascus, say military experts. The Kurds felt sold out – and so did Omar: “We are being destroyed and the world is watching – even though we fought IS alongside the USA for years.”
“Kobane is cut off from the outside world”
For the local people, this means one thing above all: fear. A cousin of Omar fled Hasakah because government troops and IS fighters were getting closer and closer. In Kobane there is no longer any internet, hardly any food, “the city is cut off from the outside world.”
“Rojava will be defended to the last”
And that’s exactly why everyone helps. His sister and her daughter are converting schools into sleeping camps; a cousin in al-Hasakah works for the kurdish security service Asayesh and guards areas and prisons with IS fighters. Some of his sons fought at the front against government troops. One came back from Raqqa two days ago – or else, according to Omar, he would have been killed.
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Adversarial Research & Verification – Rojava Situation (as of 2026/01/23 22:25:08)
Source Text Summary: The provided text discusses the situation in Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan), focusing on displacement and the hope for continued support from the Peshmerga. It highlights the plight of displaced people, some sheltering in converted schools, and the determination of Kurds to defend their autonomy despite facing challenges, including landmines and perceived discrimination. the article is written by Carolin Teufelberger for 20min.ch.
Phase 1: Verification & Breaking News check
The situation in Rojava remains highly complex and volatile. Here’s a breakdown of verification and updates as of January 23, 2026:
* Displacement & camps: Reports from UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations continue to confirm notable internal displacement within Syria, including in areas historically populated by Kurds. The conversion of schools and public buildings into temporary shelters is a recurring issue documented by multiple sources (UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International). as of late 2025, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Syria exceeds 6.8 million, with a substantial portion residing in inadequate conditions. (https://www.unhcr.org/syria-emergency.html – UNHCR, accessed Jan 23, 2026).
* Turkish Landmines: The presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) laid by various actors, including Turkish-backed forces, remains a severe threat in areas of former conflict in northern Syria, including Rojava. Numerous reports from organizations like Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) document civilian casualties caused by these devices.(https://www.maginternational.org/where-we-work/syria/ – MAG,accessed Jan 23,2026).
* Kurdish Identity & Discrimination: The claim of discrimination against kurds, even those with European citizenship, reflects a long-standing issue. While holding citizenship in another country provides legal protection, Kurds ofen face prejudice and security concerns when traveling to or residing in Turkey and, to a lesser extent, in some other regional countries. Reports from human Rights Watch and Amnesty International document ongoing discrimination against Kurds in Turkey. (https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/turkey – HRW, accessed Jan 23, 2026).
* Peshmerga Support: the promise of support from the Peshmerga (kurdish armed forces from Iraq) has been a recurring theme since the initial conflicts with ISIS. While there have been instances of Peshmerga fighters crossing into Syria to assist Kurdish forces, the extent and consistency of this support have varied considerably. As of late 2025, direct, large-scale military intervention by the Peshmerga is limited, primarily due to political constraints and the focus on maintaining security within Iraqi Kurdistan. However, there is ongoing cooperation in terms of training and intelligence sharing. (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraqi-kurdish-peshmerga-fighters-enter-syria-help-kurdish-forces-2019-10-09/ - Reuters, archived, but situation remains relevant).
* “Rojava will be defended to the last”: This statement reflects the strong sense of determination among Kurdish communities to maintain their autonomy. Though, the reality on the ground is that Rojava’s autonomy remains fragile and under constant threat from various actors.
Breaking News Check: as of January 23, 2026, there have been no major, breaking developments that fundamentally alter the situation described in the article. Ongoing clashes between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish groups continue to be reported, and the humanitarian situation remains dire. Recent reports (Jan 2026) indicate increased Turkish drone strikes targeting Kurdish infrastructure in northern Syria.
Phase 2: Entity-Based GEO
* Primary Entity: Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) – The autonomous administration in northeastern Syria, primarily inhabited by Kurds, but also including Arabs, assyrians, and other ethnic groups.
* Related Entities:
* Syria: the country within which Rojava is located, currently governed by Bashar