2024: Syria’s Most Consequential Year, From the Northeast
The people of North and East Syria and all Syrian people now clearly desire to create a unified Syria that is inclusive, democratic, pluralistic, and sovereign.Continue Reading
Co-Chair Elham Ahmad Condemns ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Attack in New Orleans
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of the United States and wish the injured a swift recovery,” said Ahmad. “It is now imperative to strengthen this partnership and expand it into political economic dimensions to address and eliminate all sources of terrorism.”Continue Reading
Syrian Christians Find Safety in the Pluralist Model in Northeast Syria
Christians in Syria and Iraq have faced severe persecution in recent years, particularly from extremist groups like ISIS. In Syria, the ongoing civil war has left Christian communities vulnerable to violence, forced conversions, and displacement. The rise of ISIS in 2014 led to widespread destruction of Christian homes, churches, andContinue Reading
Syrian Democratic Council Joins Latvian Embassy in Event Highlighting Women in Technology
(from left) Sinam Mohamad, Chief of Mission of SDC-US and Dace Melbārde, Parliamentary Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “We need to empower women to actively participate in politics, otherwise we risk perpetuating old cycles of poverty and discrimination. It starts with breaking stereotypes in family and society,Continue Reading
Syrian Democratic Council Advances Women, Peace, and Security at the United Nations
The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) attended this year’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) week at the United Nations, an annual event held in October to highlight the importance of gender equality in peace-building efforts around the world. The global WPS agenda is based around UN Security Council Resolution 1325, whichContinue Reading
Turkish-backed Faction Steals Dozens of Olive Trees in Occupied Afrin
According to local sources, militants from the Samarkand faction of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) have cut down dozens of trees near Haj Hassane village in the countryside of Afrin. They have also imposed fees of $1 per tree on the olive tree owners of Rajo district to moveContinue Reading
Northeast Syrian Civilian and Military Leaders Congratulate President-Elect Trump
Following the 2024 US presidential elections, the military and political leadership of northeast Syria, including Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Co-Chair Leyla Qehreman and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi, congratulated President Trump on his victory. The SDF and SDC had extensive contacts during the previous Trump Administration, includingContinue Reading
Syrian Democratic Forces Launch Extensive Anti-ISIS Operation in Al-Hawl
The Syrian Democratic Forces launched one of the most comprehensive counter-terrorism operations since ISIS’ territorial Caliphate came to an end in 2019 during Operation “Enduring Security.” This latest operation has now concluded its second and final phase, with the help of the US-led International Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The firstContinue Reading
Northeast Syria Reels From Turkish Airstrikes
At the end of October 2024, Turkish military forces launched an enormous wave of airstrikes against mostly civilian targets in northeast Syria. Millions of people in the region, already battered by previous strikes, a siege-like economic embargo, and incoming refugees fleeing Lebanon’s war, have seen their daily lives become increasinglyContinue Reading
Unprovoked Turkish Attacks Devastate Civilian Life in Northeast Syria
The attacks caused the deaths of 14 civilians and injured over 40 people. Bakeries, medical facilities, power plants, oil fields, and gas plants were struck.Continue Reading
The Partnership Between the US and SDF Is One of the Global War on Terror’s Biggest Success Stories. Strengthening It Should Be a Priority.
By October of 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were formed as a multi-ethnic coalition of Arabs, Kurds, and Syriacs, united by their belief in a democratic Syria, and the necessity of defeating ISIS.Continue Reading
Seeking Refuge from Conflict in Lebanon, Syrians Return Home
As of October 11, over 258,000 people had fled Lebanon to different parts of Syria since the start of hostilities, according to UNICEF.Continue Reading
Afrin’s Olive Wealth Continues To Be Stolen
Over 300 olive trees were looted in the past days by Turkish-backed militants occupying the region of Afrin, Syria.Continue Reading
Five Years On, Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad Are Largely Forgotten
Five years have now passed since Turkey and its Syrian proxies launched their third operation in Northern Syria, invading and occupying the cities of Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad. Continue Reading
Sanctioned Extremists Open Fire on Peaceful Protestors in Occupied Afrin
A peaceful protest of women in Kakhra, western Afrin, was violently attacked by the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, known also as the al-Amshat militia.Continue Reading
Large-Scale Security Campaign Conducted by Internal Security Forces in Raqqa
Twenty-six wanted individuals, accused of a variety of criminal offenses, were arrested, including three major drug traffickers, who clashed with security forces for several hours before being apprehended.Continue Reading
Turkish Drones Rain Terror Down From the Skies Above Northeast Syria
On September 3, a drone struck the vehicle of a senior commander of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in the city of Qamishli, killing him.Continue Reading
Growing University System in DAANES Begins a New Year
Another school year has begun in the university system in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Over 3,000 students attend the three DAANES universities, Rojava University, located in Qamishlo, Kobane University in Kobane, and the newest, Al-Sharq University in Raqqa. A fourth, the University of Afrin,Continue Reading
Senior ISIS Leader Captured as Terrorist Activities Skyrocket
Several ISIS foreign fighters escaped from custody, and were loose in the region around Raqqa, the Caliphate’s former capital. The SDF quickly managed to recapture two of them, but three remain at large.Continue Reading
Despite Turkish Threat, Syrian Children Are Determined to Continue Their Education
The new school year began on September 9 in the areas of Syria administered by the Autonomous Administration, with over 850,000 students enrolled, according to the Education Board.Continue Reading
A Struggle Within a Struggle: Kurdish Women in Diplomacy
In honor of International Women in Diplomacy Day, the Kurdish Peace Institute in Washington DC held a panel with Kurdish representatives from Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. The panel included Ceylan Akca, a parliamentarian from Turkey, Treefa Aziz, the Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, and the Syrian DemocraticContinue Reading
Entrenchment of Afrin’s Occupation Continues
The Afrin region of North-East Syria continues to suffer under the Turkish occupation, as the demographic change in the region is further entrenched. After cutting down hundreds of trees, a Turkish NGO, the Istanbul-based Humanitarian Relief Foundation, helped fund the construction of a 300 house settlement in the al-Zaydiyah neighborhood.Continue Reading
Arrival of Summer Exacerbates Devastating Water Crisis in Syria’s Northeast
North and East Syria has faced an increasingly existential threat in a water crisis that refuses to abate. Through a combination of climate change and Turkish weaponization of water, Syria’s Northeast has seen the water levels of the Euphrates River reach historic lows, and some parts, such as the KhaburContinue Reading
ISIS Activity Surges in Government-held Syria
The sprawling, hostile environment of Central Syria’s desert has proven itself to be an ideal sanctuary for ISIS militants seeking to reestablish the terrorist organization’s brutal rule over the region. Syrian military forces, backed by their Iranian and Russian sponsors, have so far found themselves failing to effectively combat theContinue Reading
Syrian Women Meet to Discuss the Country’s Future
The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and the Syrian Women’s Council (SWC) met in Raqqa to discuss perspectives on Syria’s political situation and the future for the country. The meeting brought together the women’s office of the SDC with the SWC, an umbrella group representing women working within the DAANES, NGOs,Continue Reading
Turkish Drones Return to North-East Syria in Force After Period of Relative Calm
The Turkish military conducted eight drone strikes against members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish Red Crescent ambulance that was responding to the scene, and civilian homes around the town of Amude.Continue Reading
Historic Bridge in Raqqa Re-opens Seven Years After the City’s Liberation
Raqqa is witnessing significant growth of both its population and commercial activity due to its strategic location and relative safety. The bridge was built according to the standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards, a first for the region.Continue Reading
Death of Major ISIS Leader Announced by US CENTCOM
While CENTCOM did not specify the location or which actor, if anybody, provided assistance in the operation, the Syrian Democratic Forces, in a statement congratulation CENTCOM on the successful operation, clarified that al-Janabi was located in Turkish-occupied Afrin, which has become a hub for extremist groups, including ISIS and Hayat Tahir al-Sham, to operate freely in.Continue Reading
Historic Tribal Forum Hosted by the Syrian Democratic Council and Syrian Democratic Forces
SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and SDC Co-Chair Mahmoud al-Muslat both spoke at the event, with Muslat emphasizing the need for a decentralized and democratic framework for the country, the importance of unity and support from the other Arab countries and allies, and encouraging the active participation of Syria’s tribes in the nation’s future.Continue Reading
Women in Northern Syria are Building Peace
As the conflict has gone on, and our system has grown and matured, women have gotten more experience, and men’s opinions have shifted. Women like Ilham Ahmed and Hevrin Khalef have shown that it is possible for women in Syria to be at the forefront of political change.Continue Reading
Turkey’s “Safe Zone” is Turning into a Death Zone for Christians in Syria
Using violence and deadly drone attacks to force a Syriac Christian community into diaspora amounts to active ethnic cleansing of a historical community indigenous to the region.Continue Reading
Recent ISIS Attacks Show that Terror Group is Gaining Strength
ISIS is once again active in Syria. There has been a recent surge in ISIS attacks, including attacks on Syrian troops – the soldiers of Bashar al-Assad – in the desert. In the first three months of 2023, ISIS in Syria killed 84 Syrian soldiers and 44 civilians. In MarchContinue Reading
Women and Men Share Power in ‘Co-Chair’ System Throughout North and East Syria
The social contract of North and East Syria has stipulated that all government bodies must have one man and one woman sharing power in the executive seats. Continue Reading
Kurdish Statue Removed in Afrin is Latest in Turkification of Northwest Syria
Turkish-backed militias recently removed the iconic Kurdish statue of Kawa the Blacksmith, replacing it with a large, shiny, army-green design representing a cluster of olives representing Operation Olive Branch.Continue Reading
Tripartite Meeting Between the SDC, AANES, and SDF Held Amidst Complicated Security and Political Context
Earlier this month the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) held a joint meeting to address strategic policy in North East Syria. The three groups form the backbone of the structure of the democratic project in theContinue Reading
New Book by US Scholar Highlighted at Washington Think Tank
This week the Wilson Center, the US congressionally funded bi-partisan think tank, hosted Amy Austin Holmes for a discussion about her book, “Statelet of Survivors, The Making of a Semi-Autonomous Region in Northeast Syria.” The book is based on nearly a decade of field work and research about the AutonomousContinue Reading
Five Years After the Liberation of Baghuz, ISIS is Reorganizing Itself in Syria
It is more important than ever to continue support through training, equipment, stipends, security infrastructure, and logistics.Continue Reading
Canceled Erdogan White House Visit Raises Questions About Troubled US-Turkey Relationship
The schedule move has prompted many to speculate on whether US-Turkey relationship is becoming even more problematic than before.Continue Reading
Turkish NGO Gives Homes to Syrian Militants Under Guise of Earthquake Humanitarian Aid
The families receiving these homes were falsely registered as the legal owners of houses that were destroyed by the February 2023 earthquake.Continue Reading
News from the Region, April 2024
Turkish drone strike kills a Syrian Democratic Forces commander, three Christian security personnel killed by Turkish attack, pro-regime tribal militias attack in Deir ez Zor, SDC meets with Arab tribal leaders, and Yazidis celebrate New Year.Continue Reading
Turkish Bombs Devastate a Region Already Suffering
Recent days have seen a dramatic escalation in Turkey’s aggression against North and East Syria with a series of heavy airstrikes across the region targeting civilian infrastructure including electrical facilities, fuel depots, factories, food and water infrastructure, and even a hospital. These attacks have resulted in the deaths and injuriesContinue Reading
International Womens Day: Celebrating Successes and Continuing the Struggle
On this day, International Womens Day, we celebrate and congratulate all of the women who have stepped forward, raised their voices, and called out for their rights to be protected. Throughout the world, on this day, women are marching for their freedom and their rights. Women’s rights are human rights,Continue Reading
Women Celebrate International Womens Day Throughout North and East Syria
Throughout North and East Syria, women marked International Women’s Day with marches, rallies, seminars, special events, and declarations. They acknowledged the gains in women’s freedoms that have occurred, while also vowing to continue the struggle for equality, human rights, and power to control their own destinies. They danced, enjoyed music,Continue Reading
YPJ Women’s Protection Units: We Will Fight For “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî”
The YPJ Women’s Protection Units are military units of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria. To commemorate International Women’s Day, March 8, 2023, and their 10th anniversary, they issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to fighting for their rights and the rights of all women. “InContinue Reading
SDF Launches Counterterrorism Operation in Response to Deadly Raqqa Attack
On December 28, 2022, 1,000 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (NES), in coordination with the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS, launched a major operation to target ISIS cells in the Tel Hamis, Tel Barak, and Al-Hol regions of NES. TheContinue Reading
High-Level Delegation Led By PUK Leader and Head of CJTFOIR Visits North and East Syria
In a first for the region, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Autonomous Administration (AANES), and Democratic Union Party (PYD) received a high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Bafel Talabani, the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, Commander of Combined Joint Task Forces – Operation Inherent ResolveContinue Reading
2023 Repatriations Begin as Spain and Barbados Repatriate Citizens
The State Department praised Spain’s efforts to repatriate its citizens from North and East Syria, as the state became the first to repatriate individuals affiliated with ISIS in 2023, bringing two women and 13 children home. Days later, Barbados repatriated a female ISIS member and two children from the campContinue Reading
Study Finds European Components Used in Drone Attacks in North and East Syria
Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an organization dedicated to tracking the origins of weapons and weapon components used in war, has found evidence of European Union-manufactured components being used in missiles fired by Turkish drones in North and East Syria. The organization stated that after analyzing the remnants of 17 air-to-surfaceContinue Reading
As Erdogan and Assad move towards reconciliation, SDC and National Alliance for Syria Hold Joint Press Conference
On January 10, 2023, a press conference was held between the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and National Alliance For Syria (NAFS) in the city of Qamishli. Both parties jointly announced the results of a series of meetings held since December, in which the potential Erdogan-Assad reconciliation and its political, military,Continue Reading
Turkey Launches Enormous Airstrike Campaign Against North and East Syria
The Turkish military launched a major air assault on North and East Syria on the night of November 19, 2022, going into the morning of the 20th. The scale of the attack was unprecedented since the Turkish invasion of the region in October 2019, when the Turkish military occupied theContinue Reading