In a move that sparked widespread controversy in Syrian political and military circles, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced on March 10, 2026, the appointment of Kurdish leader Sipan Hamo as Deputy Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region, as part of arrangements to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions.
However, this appointment brought back to the forefront a long history of controversy, accusations, and violations associated with the man, who is considered one of the most prominent founders of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the main military wing of the SDF.
A former fighter in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Hamo, whose real name is Samir Aso, was born in the city of Afrin in the northwestern Aleppo countryside. In 1994, he joined the ranks of the PKK, where he spent many years within the organization's military structure, which has been waging an armed conflict with Turkey since the 1980s.
He received his military training in the party's camps in northern Iraq and used several noms de guerre during that period, including "Darwish Afrin" and "Swar," before eventually settling on the name by which he is now known: Sipan Hamo.
Turkey classifies the party as a terrorist organization and accuses its leaders of managing armed networks in several countries in the region.
Return to Syria and the Establishment of the Kurdish Military Force
With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, Hamo returned to Syria and became one of the most prominent figures involved in establishing the People's Protection Units (YPG), which later became the backbone of the Kurdish military force in the country.
Within a few years, he rose to the position of commander-in-chief of the units, before these forces became a key part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which was formed in 2015 with the support of the US-led international coalition to fight the Islamic State.
He led or oversaw major battles against the organization, most notably the Battle of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab) between 2014 and 2015, which became a pivotal moment in the military and political rise of the Kurdish forces.
Control of the Syrian Jazeera
Between 2015 and 2017, the SDF expanded significantly, controlling large areas in eastern Syria, particularly in the Syrian Jazeera region, which includes the governorates of Hasakah and Raqqa and parts of Deir ez-Zor. Following this takeover, the Kurdish administration began using the term "North and East Syria" instead of the region's historical name. This sparked widespread controversy in Syrian political circles, with many considering the new name to reflect a political and administrative project distinct from the traditional structure of the Syrian state.
Allegations of Violations: This military expansion was accompanied by widespread controversy surrounding the conduct of the forces, of which Hamou was a prominent commander. Reports issued by human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, documented accusations against the People's Protection Units (YPG) of committing violations in some of the areas they controlled.
These accusations included the displacement of Arab and Turkmen residents from areas in the Tal Abyad countryside and parts of Hasakah, in addition to the destruction of villages during military operations against ISIS. Other reports also mentioned the imposition of forced conscription in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor regions, and the recruitment of minors into the Kurdish forces.
Although these accusations were primarily directed at the forces as a whole, Hamou held the highest military position within them at that time.
The Loss of Afrin
In 2018, the Kurdish units suffered a major setback when Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch, which ended with Turkish forces and the Syrian National Army taking control of the city of Afrin.
Hamo was the top military commander in the region, making its loss a severe blow to the Kurdish leadership and leading to a prolonged period of reduced media presence for him.
The Behind-the-Scenes Negotiator
After that period, Hamo withdrew from the media spotlight but remained involved in political and military coordination, particularly in communications between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Russia.
He met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Hmeimim Air Base in the Latakia countryside and participated in arrangements for the deployment of Syrian army forces in some areas of northern Syria in 2019.
From Military Commander to Defense Ministry Official
Hamo's name resurfaced after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2014 and the formation of a transitional government headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
As negotiations began regarding the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions, the Ministry of Defense announced in March 2026 his appointment as Deputy Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region.
A Controversial Career
The rise of Sipan Hamo from a fighter in the ranks of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to an official in the Syrian Ministry of Defense reflects the profound transformations that Syria has undergone during the years of war.
While his supporters consider him one of the most prominent architects of the Kurdish military force in the country, his critics view him as a symbol of a period marked by violent conflict and political divisions that redrawn the map of influence in the Syrian Jazeera region and northern Syria.
Reem Al-Nasser - Zaman Al-Wasl
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