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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Why aren’t there more news media reports about the situation in Afrin? Turkey does not allow reporters into the Afrin region, unless they are strictly managed and do not stray from their official Turkish handlers.Continue Reading
Under the new amendment, nonprofit organizations can transact with entities in Syria to offer humanitarian aid, invest in non-commercial development projects, and generally conduct food/medical/education aid and assistance, as well as other activities.Continue Reading
“President Biden did not give a green light to a Turkish military operation in northern Syria,” said James Jeffrey, who was the US Special Envoy for Syria Engagement until late 2020.Continue Reading
The government of Catalonia, Spain, voted to officially recognize the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) on October 20, 2021. Approving a resolution that was initially presented in parliament in July 2021, Catalan lawmakers voted to recognize the AANES as a “political entity.”Continue Reading
The reception that Ahmad and her delegation received was friendly, with many legislators and officials expressing a willingness to protect the US partnership and further stabilize their region. Continue Reading
During Executive President Ahmad’s visit to Washington DC in September 2021, she met with a wide variety of US officials.Continue Reading
Turkey seems to be trying to fabricate an ancient religious site called Nebi Huri, about 35 miles (45 kilometers) outside of Afrin, Syria, in the region of Syria occupied by the Turkish military and their proxies. They are replacing current Kurdish features with structures in the Ottoman style and destroying ancient Roman features of the site. Continue Reading
This “terrorism fallacy” in the logic of international law is being erroneously applied to the people of North and East Syria. There can be no clearer picture of this error than the images of dead children and a one-year-old baby girl in a hospital in Raqqa — dead at the hands of Turkey.Continue Reading
Macron, Ahmed, and other officials discussed peace talks on Syria and the need for the democratic project in North and East Syria to be supported.Continue Reading
The United Nations Security Council voted on July 9, 2021, to keep one UN humanitarian border crossing, Bab al-Hawa. The other major UN humanitarian crossings, Bab al Salam and al-Yaroubiah, remain closed. Russia was the UNSC member who blocked the re-opening of Bab al Salam and al-Yaroubiah. The closure ofContinue Reading
Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS met in Rome on Monday, June 28, 2021. Participants included US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. They issued a joint statement that reiterated their commitment to fight ISIS…Continue Reading
The report makes key recommendations to US officials, including a policy of “conditional engagement” toward Turkey and an increase in the US troop level from 1,500 to 2,000 troops in the region.Continue Reading
A survivor of torture and detention under the Turkish occupation of Syria, Ms. Zainab Ahmed, age 63, is bravely coming forward to discuss the explicit details of sexual assault, torture, murder, and other atrocities that she has witnessed. The stories of abuse she tells are difficult to hear.Continue Reading
“No one should fear violence, or persecution, for their beliefs. But today, this basic right is threatened in so many places around the world – including Iraq and Syria, Ethiopia, Burma, China, and Nigeria, just to name a few,” said Amb Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the UN.Continue Reading
A recently-retired US diplomat has said that “ethnic cleansing” has occurred under the Turkish occupation of North and East Syria. William Roebuck, former Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, made the comments in an interview last week.Continue Reading
Brownstein celebrated both Newroz and Akito with officials from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), and the local population in Hasakah, Syria.Continue Reading
Secretary Blinken gives first serious statement on Syria | UN Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announces aid to Syria | Deputy Special Envoy celebrates Newroz and Akito in NES | William Roebuck says “ethnic cleansing” has happened under Turkey | AUMF moves closer to repeal | Ned Price fields question on Turkish abuses in Afrin | Special Envoy holds briefingContinue Reading
In an exclusive interview with the Syrian Democratic Times, Newroz Ehmed discusses the future of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the US military presence in Syria, the women’s movement in Syria, the Kurdish experience, what motivates her on a daily basis, and more.Continue Reading
Despite inspiring advances, women in the region are currently facing several unique challenges that threaten to reverse their progress. What are the main challenges to women’s rights in North and East Syria?Continue Reading
In North and East Syria, women lead at the highest levels of government thanks to the co-leadership model. They hold these roles not as tokens, but as decision-makers, respected voices, and influential thinkers.Continue Reading
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
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
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
“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
“We call on the Biden Administration to recognize North and East Syria,” said Mohamad.Continue Reading
“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
“May our shared democratic spirit and focus on peace and security provide the basis for continued collaboration and cooperation…”Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
“The SDF are a first-class counterterrorism force,” said Ambassador James Jeffrey, US Department of State.Continue Reading
“We must all together find solutions. We are ready to find solutions for all people, and stop this bloodshed.”Continue Reading
There is little doubt that COVID-19 is spreading undetected.Continue Reading
US Congress wants to do something for North and East Syria — if Mitch McConnell will allow it.Continue Reading
By popular request, a primer for beginners, to help you understand the election.Continue Reading
Ambassador Jeffrey’s recent remarks on US-Syria policy and bills in US Congress.Continue Reading
A guide to bills in US Congress that are relevant to North and East SyriaContinue Reading
A “robust discussion” and “open dispute” occurred between Trump and Senator James Risch following Turkey’s S-400 purchase.Continue Reading
This week two senior diplomats with the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) spoke in a panel discussion that was part of the 2019 Ministerial on International Religious Freedom hosted by the US State Department. Continue Reading