A crisis followed the sudden announcement of the withdrawal of US troops from the border between Turkey and North and East Syria. Through October and November of 2019, officials of the Syrian Democratic Council engaged in an intense series of meetings and negotiations in order to influence US policy toward North and East Syria.

Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council, visited Washington DC for official meetings, in order to influence US officials on US policy towards North and East Syria.
Photo (left to right): US Senator Marsha Blackburn; US Senator Chris Van Hollen; translator and supporter Ahed Al-Hendi; Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Senator Jeanne Shaheen; US Senator Lindsey Graham; US Senator Richard Blumenthal; Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council.
Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad hosted a meeting at the Washington DC office of the Syrian Democratic Council with leaders of the US offices of the major Kurdish parties. The meeting in early October was in response to the present crisis.
SDC officials met with the most influential figures in US Congress, such as US Senator James Risch, Head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (pictured). Risch introduced a comprehensive legislation sanctioning Turkey and supporting the people of North and East Syria. The legislation is working its way through Congress and will hopefully become US law.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Senator James Risch; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council.
Ms. Elezabeth Gawrie, Deputy to Head of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), traveled to Washington DC to join SDC officials in meetings with US officials. In this picture, officials are in the Rayburn Senate Office Building rotunda, where media often conducts interviews with US Congresspersons.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Elezabeth Gawrie, Deputy to Head of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
SDC and AANES officials met with major nonprofit organizations such as the Family Research Council, one of the most influential Christian groups in the US. These groups called for protection of the region to support international religious freedom, and called on their followers to support humanitarian aid for the region.
Photo (left to right): Travis Weber, Family Research Council; Mr. Bassam Saker, US Representative, Syrian Democratic Council; translator and supporter Ahed Al-Hendi; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; Lt Gen Jerry Boykin, Family Research Council; Ms. Elezabeth Gawrie, Deputy to Head, Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
SDC and AANES officials met with US Congresspersons on both sides of the aisle, both Democrat and Republican.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Elezabeth Gawrie, Deputy to Head of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES); Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Representative Jim McGovern; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; Mr. Bassam Saker, US Representative, Syrian Democratic Council.
SDC officials met with representatives of humanitarian nonprofit organizations. Here they are pictured with a representative from the Crisis Group.
Photo (left to right): Mr. Bassam Ishak, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council, US Representative David Trone; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Senator Chris Murphy.
Photo (left to right): Mr. Bassam Ishak, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Representative Scott Perry; Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; Mr. Bassam Saker, US Representative, Syrian Democratic Council.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council; US Senator Tim Kaine; Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council.
SDC officials exit the US Capitol Building.
Photo (left to right): Ms. Ilham Ahmed, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council; Ms. Sinam Sherkany Mohamad, Co-Chief, US Mission of the Syrian Democratic Council.