During a recent visit, flags of both Rojava and the new Syrian government flew at a roundabout on the city’s edge. The agreement also established the commitment that neither side would deploy military forces into cities or towns, according to the International Crisis Group. Graffiti covered nearby buildings, reading “PKK,” “Rojava,” and “Rojava will not fall.” Previously, the SDF numbered roughly 60,000 soldiers, which leaves more than 50,000 whose status, including their future salaries, remains unresolved. Yousef, 40, is co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Kurdish political group that dominated the Rojava government.