General Mazlum Abdi Kobani Speaks of Biden Policy on Syria, Willingness to Visit with US Officials
General Mazlum Abdi Kobani, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, expresses high hopes that US President Joe Biden’s team will proactively address the Syrian crisis in a way that protects the human rights of all Syrians.Continue Reading
Backlash for The New York Times After Dubious Article on Turkish Occupation
Many experts were shocked when The New York Times, one of the most respected news sources in the world, published an article that seemed to say that the Turkish occupation of Afrin had been good for the region, and that Turkey’s brutal land grab was somehow a humanitarian mission.Continue Reading
A Symbol of Unity, Six Years After Christians Attacked By ISIS
Six years ago, the Assyrian Christians of the Khabour villages in Syria were undergoing a brutal attack by ISIS. The villagers were brutalized, detained, and held for ransom. Many doubted they would survive the ordeal.Continue Reading
“The Daughters of Kobani” is Released to Rave Reviews, TV Series Deal with Hillary Clinton’s Production Company
The book, “The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice” also traces the personal stories of several YPJ commanders and other individuals before, during, and after the battle, and offers valuable political, ideological, and historic context for the fight.Continue Reading
No Clear Prospects Yet for Vaccine in North and East Syria
Based on prior aid delivery practices, it seems certain that the Assad government will reserve the vaccines for its own government officials and loyalist regions, while leaving other regions of Syria to fend for themselves.Continue Reading
What Shape is US Policy Taking Toward North and East Syria?
There are some signs emerging on what Biden’s Syria policy may look like. For now, the US military is planning to stay where it is in North and East Syria and in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Operation Inherent Resolve.Continue Reading
Ayn Issa Shows the Enduring Consequences of America’s Withdrawal
The ongoing situation in Ayn Issa continues to display the chaotic situation that resulted from the abrupt withdrawal of American forces in October 2019 and the Turkish invasion that followed. Turkish, Russian, and regime forces all became major influencers of events in regions of Syria that they previously had very little influence over.Continue Reading
330 Students Have Graduated from University of Rojava
There have been 330 graduates of the University of Rojava, who have graduated in the five years since its founding during times of war, instability, and hardship.Continue Reading
Syrian Democratic Council Meets with Belgian Delegation
The President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council, Ilham Ahmed, received a delegation of Belgian parliamentarians in Qamishlo the first week of December 2020. They discussed political and humanitarian issues.Continue Reading
A Year for Building Stability and Peace
2021 is the year that the people of North and East Syria are calling upon the international community for inclusion in talks on the future of Syria. We ask to be recognized as a key player in the solution to the Syrian crisis.Continue Reading
Year in Review: 2020 in North and East Syria
As 2021 dawns, the AANES remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict through dialog. It remains committed to initiatives to expand true democracy in the region — feminism, religious diversity, ethnic diversity, self-rule, and self-protection.Continue Reading
Human Rights Organisation of Afrin, Syria, Releases Shocking Report on Abuses
Since the first day of Turkey’s occupation of Afrin, the horrendous human rights violations against civilians, especially the Kurds, have not stopped, as all immoral and illegal practices are being carried out against the remaining locals who were trapped inside the region.Continue Reading
COVID Outbreak in North and East Syria Accelerating
The number of COVID-19 cases in North and East Syria since the start of the pandemic is now 8,313 cases. Of these cases, there have been 285 deaths. The number of cases continues to climb, and represents a dangerous acceleration in the transmission of the virus.Continue Reading
For the People of Shehba, Isolation and Attacks are a Daily Threat
Little is known about the wellbeing of its 240,000 people. Shehba is in peril, and the international community is not paying attention.Continue Reading
Turkish Motives in North and East Syria Questioned by US Congress
“Erdogan has taken the country in a very bad direction in my view,” said Representative Jim Costa (D-CA). “It’s not the Turkey we knew two decades ago.”Continue Reading
US-Syria Policy in the Biden Administration
“We call on the Biden Administration to recognize North and East Syria,” said Mohamad.Continue Reading
Despite Challenges, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces Remains Strong
In Syria, the SDF has played the lead role as a reliable and effective partner for the United States in their war against ISIS and Islamic extremism.Continue Reading
Number of Recorded COVID Cases in North and East Syria Nears 8,000
This brings the total number of cases in North and East Syria since the start of the pandemic to 7,824, of which 263 have died. The number of recorded cases is accelerating.Continue Reading
National Conference in North and East Syria Issues Final Statement
The Syrian Democratic Council held thirteen symposia and a series of public meetings, practicing democracy for the region of North and East Syria.Continue Reading
SDC Wishes Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to United States
“Shining a light in the darkest night, the Christmas Tree was lit in the town square in Hasakah, North and East Syria — a remarkable display of the religious freedom and diversity in our region.”Continue Reading
Officials from North and East Syria Congratulate Joe Biden on US Presidential Election
“May our shared democratic spirit and focus on peace and security provide the basis for continued collaboration and cooperation…”Continue Reading
Interview with General Mazloum Abdi Kobane: Kobane Responds to US Election, Current Events
General Mazloum expressed his optimism that the new presidential administration of Joe Biden could be favorable.Continue Reading
Feminism in Syria May Be Under Threat, But Our Project Will Always Be an Inspiration
The radical inclusion of our co-leadership model is the step that the women of our region needed. No matter what happens to our model, we will endure as an inspiration and an example of what happens when women claim their power.Continue Reading
Coronavirus Grows More Dire in North and East Syria
The total number of cases in the region are at 6,691 since the start of the pandemic. Of this number, 183 have died.Continue Reading
White House Extends ISIS-Related Emergency Status in North and East Syria
The Syrian Democratic Forces are still keeping the world safe from ISIS — a year and a half after President Donald Trump announced the fall of the “caliphate.”Continue Reading
Justice For Kurds Places Centerfold Ad in The New York Times
“As we mark the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of northern Syria on October 9, 2019, the Kurds’ reality remains one of darkness and indeed oppression at the hands of those with designs of empire,” reads the ad.Continue Reading
US Commission on International Religious Freedom Visits AANES Officials in Raqqa, Syria
Nadine Maenza, a commissioner of the USCIRF and a high-ranking US official on religious freedom, was one of the officials in the delegation.Continue Reading
World Kobane Day 2020 Reminds Us of the Power of Resistance
In 2014, the people of North and East Syria fought to defend their homeland, but they also fought for an idea: democracy. Today, the struggle for true democracy continues.Continue Reading
North and East Syria Are Still Burning, a Year After Turkey’s So-Called “Ceasefire”
Human rights violations are committed each day. Our people live in fear. The bombs and the violence never stopped. “Ceasefire” seems like nothing more than an empty word, a word that means nothing to Turkey.Continue Reading
One Year After the Turkish Invasion that Shocked the World, Turkey Still Occupies Our Land
Before Turkey and Turkish-backed militias commit even more war crimes and human rights atrocities, uproot our communities, and cause our culture to go extinct, we must have meaningful action from the global community.Continue Reading
Top US State Department Officials Visit North and East Syria
The officials discussed ways that the United States can pressure Turkey to withdraw from North and East Syria, support inclusion of North and East Syria in the UNSCR 2254 talks, UN peace talks on the future of Syria, as well as continued support for the intra-Kurdish dialog.Continue Reading
UN Report Cites Turkish Human Rights Abuses in North and East Syria
The Commission specifically lists crimes committed by the SNA in the Afrin region and Ras Al-Ain, which are under occupation by the Turkish state.Continue Reading
Coronavirus Crisis in North and East Syria Enters Dangerous Phase
This brings the total number of COVID infections in North and East Syria to 1,918 cases, of which 69 have died, and 496 have recovered. This represents a dangerous phase in the region’s Coronavirus crisis, with more and more new cases being reported daily.Continue Reading
Co-Chief of US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council profiled in The Washington Diplomat
Sinam Sherkany Mohamad was recently profiled by The Washington Diplomat, an influential publication in international affairs circles in Washington DC. The article outlines Mohamad’s work in Washington DC, representing the interests of the Syrian Democratic Council to the US State Department, the White House, US Congress, and other US institutions and organizations.Continue Reading
Lilon Film Festival Takes Place Among Displaced from Afrin
The festival aimed to signal to the displaced, to Syria, and to the international community that Afrin’s culture is still alive and well among those who fled Afrin after the 2018 Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation of the canton. The festival’s slogan was, “a flower alone does not constitute a garden.”Continue Reading
Symposium Brings Arab Tribal Leaders, AANES Officials, and Other Representatives Together
The latest symposium was organized into two main segments. First, participants sought to articulate the commonalities among all Syrians, and draft a plan to unite efforts and work together in a framework that respects all the cultures, religions, and ethnicities of Syria.Continue Reading
A Year of Turkish Occupation for Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî: Interview with General Mazlum
“During the year that has passed since the Turkish state’s occupation of our regions, it clarifies that the main goal of the Turkish state is to occupy the region, not the pretexts that the Turkish state claimed, in addition to implementing Turkification policies in the region…”Continue Reading
Water, the Source of Life
By Sinam Sherkany Mohamad Water is the source of life. To North and East Syria, there is no source of water more vital than the Euphrates river. The Euphrates river has been used to power critical hydroelectric dams, irrigate farmland, provide transportation, maintain the many ecosystems of the region, andContinue Reading
Four Ways the Caesar Act Sanctions Impact Syria
By Syrian Democratic Times It has been over two months since the United States imposed harsh sanctions on Syria, following the implementation of the Caesar Act by US Congress on June 17, 2020. The sanctions have broad bipartisan support in the US Congress and are not likely to be liftedContinue Reading
Coronavirus Crisis in North and East Syria Will Occur Within Weeks, says Health Commission
By Syrian Democratic Times Over 130 cases have now been reported in NES, while the true number of cases is likely to be much higher Widespread community transmission of Coronavirus is likely occurring Stay-home orders, social distancing guidelines, mask requirements issued Syrian government has not respected quarantine requirements for peopleContinue Reading
US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council Hosts Webinar, “The Future of North and East Syria”
By Syrian Democratic Times In its first-ever webinar, the US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council hosted a discussion titled “The Future of North and East Syria” on July 20, 2020 with the Program on Peacebuilding and Human Rights at Columbia University. CLICK HERE to view a video of theContinue Reading
Eleven Steps on the Path to Syria’s Future
By Issa Ibrahim, Special Contributor to the SDT Eleven points, in my opinion, define the features of Syria, a country worthy of normal life, which expresses that we Syrians are part of this world, and it places us as human beings and as a country on the path of urbanization:Continue Reading
Fighting Crimes Against Women Every Day
The women’s movement in North and East Syria works every day to fight all of the forms of violence that women and girls face. Continue Reading
مقابلة مع آلدار خليل
حينما يكون النضال من أجل شعب مظلوم ضحى أبناؤه وبناته بالآلاف لا توجد فوارق كبيرة بين أية مرحلة من المراحل، لكن التطورات هي التي أحياناً تفرض نوعاً من التغيير في سلسلة النشاطات والمهام الواجب إتباعها.Continue Reading
Exclusive Interview with Aldar Khalil, PYD
“Our goal is to achieve stability, unity, a democratic future for Syria, and decentralization of the government. Our project represents the foundation of a great solution for all of Syria.”Continue Reading
Seven Points for Enhancing Social Cohesion in Syria
Seven measures to enhance social cohesion as part of a transition to a democratic system that will allow our nation to move forward in harmony.Continue Reading
US State Department and the Impacts of the Caesar Act
US State Department officials went on a campaign over the past two weeks in order to influence public opinion on the Caesar Act.Continue Reading
General Mazlum Kobani Meets With Arab Tribal Leaders
In a strong sign of unity, elders of a large number of Arab tribes met with General Mazlum Kobani, re-affirming their commitment to the principles of democracy.Continue Reading
Ilham Ahmed Presents at Panel on Turkish Occupation
Ahmed discussed human rights violations by Turkey and Turkish-backed militias, the occupation of Afrin, and other issues.Continue Reading
SDC US Presents in Panels on North and East Syria
Sinam Sherkany Mohamad presented at two panels to highlight the human rights violations occurring in North and East Syria, especially in Afrin.Continue Reading