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
Avoiding the Authoritarian Trap: What Syria’s New Leaders Must Learn from Assad’s Downfall
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, Syria has entered a sensitive and complex transitional period, led by interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa. This new phase has raised urgent questions about Syria’s future after Assad. How can a new Syria emerge that avoids repeating the mistakes ofContinue Reading
Surge in ISIS Activity As Militants Take Advantage of Syria’s Uncertainty, Attack New Syrian Government and Autonomous Administration
As Syria grapples with ongoing instability, ISIS militants have escalated their operations, exploiting the country’s fragile security landscape and deepening tensions. Last week, the group claimed their first attacks directly on Syrian Transitional Government forces in the southern majority Druze province of Suweida. This marks a significant escalation, as ISISContinue Reading
United Kurdish Delegation Heads to Damascus Amid Progress in Syria Talks
Following years of political deadlock, Syria’s largest Kurdish parties came together and signed a landmark agreement on April 26. In a meeting of 400 delegates, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), one of the largest parties within the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and the Kurdish National CouncilContinue Reading
President Trump and European Union Announce Reprieve of Syria Sanctions
In a dramatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria following his first-ever meeting with Syrian President al-Sharaa. The meeting was facilitated by Saudi officials on the sidelines of a regional conference between President Trump and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders. It marked the firstContinue Reading
Syria Appoints US-Sanctioned Warlord to High-Ranking Defense Position
President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his Damascus-based Transitional Government are attempting to consolidate various factions, organizations, and structures into a unified Syria as the world looks on. Agreements such as the one between President al-Sharaa and Commander Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces have offered a glimmer of hope thatContinue Reading
Ceasefire Reached Over Tishreen Dam Following Months of Turkish Strikes
EUPHRATES RIVER, Syria — Following months of escalating Turkish aggression that threatened the stability of the Tishreen dam, one of northeast Syria’s most vital infrastructure projects, the Global Coalition has brokered a ceasefire between Turkey, Turkish-backed militias, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The agreement comes after sustained drone strikesContinue Reading
Negotiations Around the Civil and Military Integration of the Northeast Ongoing
DAMASCUS — The political landscape of Syria remains in flux following a rapid offensive late last year that saw Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seize control of Damascus. Since then, the fate of Syria’s autonomous northeast has hung in the balance. Despite their geographic isolation, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—aContinue Reading
Breakthrough Agreement Reached Between Damascus and Kurdish-Majority Neighborhoods in Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria – After months of rising tensions, a significant agreement has been reached concerning the status of the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, Syria’s second biggest city. The deal, finalized earlier this month, marks a key turning point in efforts to stabilize the fractured northern cityContinue Reading
Yazidis Celebrate Red Wednesday as an Official Holiday in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
HASAKAH, Syria — Yazidis across northeast Syria gathered this week to celebrate Red Wednesday, the Yazidi New Year, after the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria officially recognized the occasion as a public holiday. The move is part of a broader effort to preserve and promote the region’s multi-ethnicContinue Reading
White House Reinstates Emergency Aid to Syria’s Northeast Amid Growing Humanitarian and Security Concerns
WASHINGTON — In a swift policy reversal, the White House has moved to reinstate several emergency food aid programs, including critical support for conflict-stricken regions of Syria. The decision was communicated through an internal email from Jeremy Lewin, acting deputy director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), instructingContinue Reading
Eight Children From the Same Family Killed by Turkish Drone Strike Outside Kobani
Late Sunday night ten members of a single family were killed between the villages of Qomji and Barkh Botan outside of Kobani. The dead include a man and woman and their eight children. The only surviving member of the Othman Abdo family, a 9 nine year old girl, was severelyContinue Reading
Continued Turkish-backed Attacks On Tishreen Dam Put Security of the Northeast at Risk
Despite an existing ceasefire, intense fighting has continued between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) groups, with Turkish airstrikes providing support to the SNA. Fighting has remained concentrated near the Euphrates, in the region separating Manbij and Kobani, especially around the Tishreen Dam. The DamContinue Reading
Syria Sees Deadly Massacres of Alawite Communities on the Coast
Over the past week there has been a bloody massacre of Alaawites in Syria, including killings of women, children, the elderly, and noncombatants. The death toll is in the thousands and climbing. The atrocities committed by extremist militants have been documented and posted on social media by the militants themselves. Scores of horrific videos haveContinue Reading
As Change Sweeps Syria, the Future of ISIS Fighters and Their Families Remains Uncertain
In the permanently altered political situation in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime, the status of ten thousand ISIS fighters, including two thousand foreigners, as well as tens of thousands of women and children related to them, remains unclear. The SDF and Internal Security Forces of the AutonomousContinue Reading
Turkish Airstrikes Kill 12 in Shaddadi Desert
Yesterday, Turkish fighter jets and drones conducted a series of airstrikes against several targets near Shaddadi, south of Hasakah in North-East Syria. An SDF military position, housing for civilian workers, and a civilian vehicle transporting local shepherds were all hit. In total, 16 airstrikes targeted the region, killing four SDF members, sixContinue 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