ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Rojava's (northeast Syria) Women's Protection Units (YPJ) said Tuesday that there have been suggestions its fighters could integrate into Syrian state forces as "a special anti-terrorism force" under the Syrian interior ministry, though no official proposal has been presented by Damascus as of yet.

On January 29, Rojava and Damascus reached an agreement for a phased integration process of the Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian state following weeks of clashes, with components of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) having been brought under the auspices of Syria's state security apparatus.

Women's participation in the state's military institutions has been one of Rojava's main concerns in the integration process, with the all-female YPJ having thus far been excluded from the broader framework.

“So far, no official proposals or decisions have been communicated to us by the authorities in Damascus,” the YPJ said in a statement.

“There are suggestions that the YPJ could be integrated as a special anti-terrorism force within the Ministry of Interior, but we have not yet reached a clear decision on this matter,” the YPJ statement added.

In April, a high-level YPJ delegation met with Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra in Damascus to discuss the group's integration into the Syrian army.

Following the meeting, the YPJ said Damascus had shown “flexibility” regarding women's participation in the military.

The YPJ also said that it had presented a written proposal outlining the group's "views and suggestions" during an April meeting, adding that "in the coming days, we will continue discussions with officials in Damascus regarding this issue."

Rojava-based media reported Tuesday that SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Elham Ahmed, a top official in the previous Kurdish-led administration, had met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus to discuss progress in the ongoing process.

Female fighters in Rojava, spearheaded by the all-female YPJ, have become a symbol of resilience and strength worldwide for playing a key role in defeating the terror of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.

However, the status of the YPJ, a core SDF component, has been a source of dispute due to the clashing ideological principles between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Rojava administration.

While Syria’s current leadership harbors Islamist roots, rising to power after rebel groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled the Baathist regime, the Rojava administration is built on feminist and secular principles that prioritize women’s participation, including its defense institutions.

Syrian authorities have displayed reluctance in allowing YPJ fighters, numbering around 20,000, to incorporate into the military and security apparatus. On the other hand, Kurdish officials have rejected any proposal to disband the group.