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
President Erdogan Threatens Renewed Ground Operation Following Dozens of Turkish Airstrikes
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on November 21 that Turkey’s most recent operation against North and East Syria is not limited to its activities in the air. This statement comes as Turkey has been threatening a renewed ground offensive in North and East Syria against the Autonomous Administration sinceContinue Reading
Columbia University’s Program on Peacebuilding and Human Rights Hosts Discussion with SDF General Commander
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi was hosted by Columbia University’s Director David Phillips in an informative discussion held on the “Security Situation in North and East Syria.” The recent Turkish escalation and airstrike campaign, along with the status of the anti-ISIS campaign, and relations with the US were at the forefrontContinue Reading
Hospital in Kobani Utterly Destroyed in Latest Round of Turkish Air Raids
Dozens of Turkish airstrikes struck North and East Syria on the evening of November 19 and into the morning of November 20 2022. Kobani, the city that became famous for its status as a symbol of resistance to ISIS, was targeted several times, leading to the city’s primary COVID-19 treatmentContinue Reading
Turkish Air Force Targets Joint SDF-Coalition Base With Deadly Airstrike
United States Central Command confirmed that a Turkish airstrike on a joint Coalition-SDF military base in North and East Syria posed a risk to US troops and personnel. Turkish warplanes continue to pound targets across North and East Syria, and in an unprecedented escalation, including one of the most essentialContinue Reading
Erdogan Does Not Need a Pretext to Invade Our Region Again
“We might come suddenly one night.” These are the words President Erdogan has used many times when referring to the renewed ground invasion of North and East Syria he has long sought after. They are essential in understanding that he has not been waiting for a pretext to attack ourContinue Reading
SDF and Coalition Conduct Joint Military Exercises Near Turkish Border
The Syrian Democratic Forces and US military personnel of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS conducted military exercises near the village of Teqil Beqil, in the Derik region of North and East Syria. The military exercises are the closest to be conducted to the Turkish border, in this case inContinue Reading
SDF and Asayish Launch Security Operation
For nearly two weeks, the SDF and Asayish, with full support from the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, has been conducting an enormous security operation in the sprawling al-Hawl Camp, dubbed “Operation Humanity and Security.” The rising threat from ISIS sleeper cells, and the continuing threat of al-Hawl as an “incubatorContinue Reading
Yazidi Woman Rescued in Al-Hawl Camp
On September 3, 2022 SDF and Asayish forces conducting “Operation Humanity and Security” in al-Hawl Camp discovered and rescued a Yazidi woman who was being forcibly held in the camp. The woman’s name is Wafaa Abbas and she is originally from Kocho, Sinjar. Now 18, she was originally kidnapped byContinue Reading
Autonomous Administration Marks Fourth Anniversary Since Establishment
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria celebrated its fourth anniversary on September 6, 2022 with AANES officials meeting in Raqqa to commemorate the anniversary, remember those who have been killed while serving the region, and to discuss the greatest issues facing it. Farhad Shibli, the Deputy Co-Chair ofContinue Reading
Turkish Leaders Signal Shift In Approach To Relations with Syria
11 years have passed since the start of the Syrian Conflict, and Turkey’s approach to the conflict and its interests have evolved. With elections set for June, 2023 on the horizon, Turkey’s political leaders, both in government and opposition, have refocused their approach to Syria based on the goals ofContinue Reading
Turkish Drone Strikes Become Daily Reality for North and East Syria
The Turkish Military has drastically escalated its drone strike campaign against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces since July 15, 2022. While Turkish drones have been an ever present threat in the region since Turkey’s military invasion and occupation of Ras al-Ayn andContinue Reading
A Turkish Invasion into Syria Would Open the Door for an ISIS Resurgence
They say that all that is required for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Will the world act to prevent another unprovoked military invasion of US allied territory in Syria? Turkey is threatening a large-scale armed invasion into North and East Syria, a region I callContinue Reading
Elham Ahmed Speaks on Turkish Threats to Newlines Institute Panel
President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council Elham Ahmad was hosted by the Newlines Institute For Strategy and Policy in a panel discussion on the current situation in Syria, especially the Turkish threats, economic crisis, and the fight against ISIS. Elham Ahmad said that Turkey is attemptingContinue Reading
SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi Hosts Press Conference on Turkish Invasion Threat
General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, held a press conference on July 15 to address the current military situation in the region. The issues of ISIS detainees, Turkey’s threats, and military coordination with the regime were all topics of discussion. Commander Mazloum stated that he is certainContinue Reading
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul Speaks On Fight Against ISIS, Turkish Threats, and Detention Facilities
The Middle East Institute hosted a panel on the issue of ISIS detainees, An Uncertain Future: Prospects for ISIS detainees in Syria and Iraq. The panel had speakers from both the Biden Administration and various NGOs and nonprofits that were involved in addressing the ISIS detainee issue, both fighters andContinue Reading
Autonomous Administration Marks Ten Years Since the Beginning of the Rojava Revolution
July 19 marked the ten year anniversary of the Rojava Revolution, when the forces that would eventually become the Autonomous Administration first evicted the regime from the town of Kobani, and shortly after the towns of Derik, Afrin, and others. The achievements of the July 19 Revolution, as well asContinue Reading
SDC US Mission Hosts Canadian Parliamentary Delegation in Washington
The US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council met with a Canadian parliamentary delegation at the SDC’s Washington office. The delegation included Kelly McCauley, MP for West Edmonton, Tom Kmiec, MP for Calgary Shepard, and Jamie Schmale, MP for Haliburton Kawartha Lakes. The MPs and SDC members discussed a varietyContinue Reading
The Politicization of Syria’s Border Crossings Continues Unabated
With the entire world facing the increasingly perilous crisis of food insecurity and inflation, basic goods that people need to survive are increasing in price exponentially as a result of various factors, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has significantly disrupted the oil and wheat markets. For Syria,Continue Reading
France Repatriates ISIS-Affiliated Adults For First Time
For the first time, France has repatriated some of its ISIS-affiliated adults from Syria. On July 12, 2022, the French government repatriated 35 children and 16 women from camps run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Prior to this, France had repatriated only 35 children over theContinue Reading
The ISIS Detainee Camp That Will Become a Security Disaster
ISIS is still international, and as such the ISIS issue remains international. So long as the al-Hawl detainee camp and other facilities housing ISIS detainees exist, ISIS will continue to exist. The United Nations Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis visited North and East Syria’s infamous al-Hawl Camp as partContinue Reading
Despite Increasing Adversity, North and East Syria Continues to Provide Services and Reconstruction
Following the defeat of ISIS, much of North and East Syria was left in ruins. The terrorist organization’s apocalyptic ideology led to its fighters often battling to the bitter end, leaving IEDs littered inside buildings they formerly occupied. In March 2019 when North and East Syria was fully liberated, theContinue Reading
Armenian Council of North and East Syria Holds Opening Course
To prepare for the Armenian language’s inclusion in the curriculum of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the next school year, the Armenian Council of North and East Syria has held its first language training course for Armenian. The council is also planning lessons on theContinue Reading
Senior ISIS Leader Captured by US-led Coalition
On June 16 2022, troops of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, led by the United States, conducted an operation in the vicinity of Turkish-occupied Jarablus in northwest Syria, detaining a senior leader of ISIS. According to a statement released by the coalition, the ISIS leader was “assessed to beContinue Reading
Infighting Between Turkish-backed Groups Sharply Escalates in Afrin
Feuds that have been ongoing between Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army” militias escalated beyond sporadic clashes into open warfare between al-Jabha al-Shamiya and Ahrar al-Sham in the occupied Afrin region of northern Syria. Clashes reportedly began between the two groups in the city of al-Bab, following civilian protests against the allegedContinue Reading
The Syrian Refugee Crisis Must Be Solved by a Political Solution, Not Further Displacement
People must be allowed to return to their own homes, not homes owned by other Syrians who are themselves internally or externally displaced. Demographic change that amounts to ethnic cleansing will only exacerbate the sectarian nature of the conflict and lead to further issues.Continue Reading
Assyrian Christian Church Devastated By Turkish Shelling
Turkish forces targeted the Assyrian Christian village of Tel Tawil on May 29, near the settlement Tel Tamr, with artillery shelling. The Mar Sawa Church in the village was nearly destroyed by the shelling.Continue Reading
Syrians Have Lived With Food Insecurity for Years. Now It Has Become a Global Crisis.
Since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine in February, the headlines have been dominated by images of war-torn Ukrainian cities, burnt out tanks, and cruise missile strikes. A major European war for the first time since the Second World War has shocked the world. However, the effectsContinue Reading
Albania Repatriates 13 ISIS-affiliated Women and Children from NES
An Albanian delegation repatriated four ISIS-affiliated women and their nine children on May 27, bringing their overall number of repatriations to 38 since 2020.Continue Reading
Deadly Turkish Drone Strike Targets Qamishli Countryside
According to the Asayish Internal Security Forces, one person was killed and three others were wounded when a car was targeted near the village of Segirka.Continue Reading
US Lifts Sanctions on Key Areas of Syria, including North and East Syria
The general license allows US businesses to invest in agriculture, clean energy, power grid infrastructure, information and telecommunications, transportation and warehousing, construction, finance, water and waste management, manufacturing, trade, health, and education.Continue Reading
White House Issues Waiver to Allow US Defense Department to Increase Spending on ISIS Prisons
The White House statement grants authority to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to increase the amount of US government spending that is permitted for “the cost of construction and repair projects in support of the Counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq and Syria.”Continue Reading
Turkey Will Attempt Further Invasion into Syria, Announces President Erdogan
Turkey has long sought what it deems a 30 kilometer deep “safe zone” or “security zone” in North and East Syria, which would essentially lead to the occupation of all of Syria’s Kurdish-majority regions. Continue Reading
North and East Syria Sees Massive Increase in ISIS Attacks
In just the ten days between April 20 and April 30, ISIS conducted at least 20 attacks. That is more than in the entire months of February 2022 and March 2022 combined.Continue Reading
April Sees a Major Increase in Turkish Attacks Against North and East Syria
Attacks conducted by Turkish and Turkish-backed militias increased in the month of April. These attacks resulted in the deaths of two civilians and a further 23 persons were injured. Five SDF personnel were killed as well.Continue Reading
Future Syria Party Elects New Leader
Al-Mehbash is co-chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), a position he has held since October 2018. He was elected to succeed al-Qaftan as president by members of the Future Syria Party.Continue Reading
Women’s Military Units Host Third Annual Conference
The conference was attended by 400 YPJ commanders and members, including SDF General Command members Newroz Ahmed and Sozdar Derik, as well as members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the Kongra Star Women’s Organization, and other officials of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).Continue Reading
Syrian Regime Ends Siege of AANES-run Aleppo Districts
The Syrian regime has ended its siege of the AANES-governed Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyyeh neighborhoods in Aleppo City, following a mutual agreement between the regime and Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).Continue Reading
After Hasakah, a Renewed Effort to Permanently Defeat ISIS Is Needed
ISIS will not be defeated by force of arms alone. While the efforts to dismantle ISIS cells must continue, the issues of accountability and economic crisis must be addressed as well.Continue Reading
The So-Called Liberated North Has Become a Safe Haven for Extremism and Terrorism
Since the beginning of the Syrian Revolutionary Movement, the Turkish occupation state has been keen to support Islamist groups in an effort to Islamicize Syrian society, under the command of the Muslim Brotherhood. Continue Reading
A Bold Act of Unity for Syrian Christians
As a persecuted religious and ethnic minority in Syria, they are now uniting around constitutional recognition of universal principles — ethnic and identity rights.Continue Reading
With the World’s Eyes on Ukraine, Turkey Steps up Drone Strikes Against North and East Syria
Since the start of April 2022, the Turkish military has again undertaken a near-daily drone strike campaign against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and its institutions, despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement that has been in place since 2019.Continue Reading
Second Syrian Consultative Forum Held in Stockholm
The aim of the meeting is to chart a common path forward among factions of the Syrian opposition who support democratic principles.Continue Reading
Assad Army Besieges Kurdish-Majority Neighborhoods in Aleppo
The fate of 200,000 Syrians remains in peril as Assad’s forces cut off food shipments, causing mass starvation in two neighborhoods under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).Continue Reading
Syria’s Constitutional Committee Talks Fail to Make Progress Again
The committee excludes the Syrian Democratic Council and Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, despite the AANES governing significantly more territory and people than the Turkish-backed opposition that is represented at in the current negotiations. Continue Reading