Syria's Kurdish region adopts three-star independence flag

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— The semi-autonomous Kurdish-led administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), in northeastern Syria, Thursday that it will officially adopt the new Syrian independence flag, a symbol associated with the opposition forces that fought against the regime of longtime president Bashar al-Assad during the civil war.

In a statement, the Kurdish authority explained that the decision was made to raise the three-starred Syrian flag across all councils, institutions, and facilities under its control.

The flag, which features green, white, and black colors along with three red stars, is seen as a symbol of a new era, reflecting the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity, and national unity.

The Democratic People’s Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) issued a public message, marking the end of what it described as decades of oppression under the Syrian regime.

According to the council, Syrians endured decades of injustice, exclusion, and marginalization, and now they have the right to celebrate their victory in removing the regime that held power for over fifty years.

The statement further emphasized that the flag of independence represents the people’s desire for freedom and national unity. It also highlighted the importance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria as an integral part of Syria, with its residents being key components of the nation’s diverse makeup. As part of the decision, the flag will now be displayed across all areas controlled by the Kurdish-led administration.

The council reiterated its commitment to the principles of justice and equality, with a focus on strengthening national unity within a democratic framework for Syria. The goal is to build a country where all ethnic and religious groups coexist peacefully, and all Syrians are treated with dignity.

The Autonomous Administration in Syrian Kurdistan, led by the PYD (Democratic Union Party), is widely recognized for its secular, decentralized approach to governance. It prioritizes gender equality, direct democracy, and environmental sustainability.

In 2013, the PYD, the political wing of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), established three autonomous cantons—Jazeera, Kobani, and Afrin—creating a Kurdish-led administration across Syrian Kurdistan. Three years later, on March 17, 2016, Kurdish and Arab leaders declared the formation of a “federal region,” uniting these semi-autonomous areas.

However, the region faced significant challenges when, in January 2018, Turkey launched a military operation targeting the YPG in Afrin. By March of the same year, Turkish forces, alongside pro-Turkey Syrian Islamist rebel fighters, had driven the YPG out of the Kurdish Afrin city, further complicating the political landscape.

Despite these setbacks, on September 6, 2018, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) was officially proclaimed in Ain Issa. Since its establishment, the AANES has been working to implement the principles of democratic confederalism in the region, emphasizing local governance, inclusivity, and the empowerment of communities across northern and eastern Syria.