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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The aim of the meeting is to chart a common path forward among factions of the Syrian opposition who support democratic principles.Continue Reading
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
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
General Michael Corella of CENTCOM emphasized the commitment of the United States to the anti-ISIS mission in North and East Syria, as well as the support provided by the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to the SDF. Continue Reading
The Newroz holiday, which was celebrated by Kurds almost exclusively in secret during the Assad Regime’s rule, has become a prominent symbol of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and its embrace of the region’s diversity.Continue Reading
Representatives of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS joined the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in celebrating the occasion in Deir-ez-Zor.Continue Reading
On the fourth anniversary of the occupation of the region of Afrin, including its city, by Turkey and extremist militia groups that it supports, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has criticized the international community for its inaction and apathy.Continue Reading
The United States office of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) hosted an event marking the eleventh anniversary of the Syrian uprising, when the Syrian people first demonstrated against the Assad Regime, demanding basic human and democratic rights.Continue Reading
The attack began on January 20, 2022, when dozens of ISIS fighters used car bombs to launch an attack on the al Sina’a Prison, where thousands of ISIS members are held. The attack managed to breach the prison and allowed fighters to escape into surrounding neighborhoods and buildings, as well as take prison staff hostage.Continue Reading
A vehicle that was carrying fighters from the Tel Tamr Military Council to battle ISIS in Hasakah was struck by a Turkish drone strike, reportedly wounding the fighters inside the vehicle… there have been constant Turkish-backed attacks on the Ayn Issa region, leading to several SDF fighters being killed while repelling these attacks. Continue Reading
North and East Syria, where an estimated 5 million people live, and where 1.8 million people rely on humanitarian aid to survive, has steadily been cut off from the rest of the world during the past two years as its border crossings have become increasingly politicized.Continue Reading
The murder of Bassam Mohammed, a Kurdish Red Crescent medical worker in January, 2022 is a shocking indication of the enduring security threat the camp poses. Over 90 people were killed in the camp in 2021, making it the deadliest year at the camp so far. Continue Reading
The Council stated that the issue of Afrin is an issue for all Syrian people, as it is a case of a foreign and hostile state illegally occupying Syrian territory and changing its demographics. They further emphasized their disappointment with the international community, stating that their silence has given Turkey a green light to continue occupying parts of Syria and to expand their attacks.Continue Reading
The bill authorizes $177 million in Train and Equip funding for counter-ISIS operations during the 2022 fiscal year. These funds will support the SDF’s continuous work to disrupt the activities of ISIS and protect the world from Islamic extremist terrorism.Continue Reading
While the SDF and US have held joint exercises before, in particular in the Deir-ez-Zor region, these recent exercises were notable for their use of advanced equipment.Continue Reading
Free Burma Rangers, a US nonprofit organization, has rebuilt an Armenian Apostolic church that was destroyed by ISIS in Raqqa, the former capital of the so-called “ISIS caliphate.”Continue Reading
The new constitution has been on the agenda for the AANES for some time, however, Turkish attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic have long delayed further development and advancement of the region. Continue Reading
Commander Mazloum stated that “The United States said they were opposed to, and would not accept, any attack by Turkey against us.” This was relayed by the United States to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria officially, and US officials told Commander Mazloum that President Biden told President Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 that any attack was unacceptable.Continue Reading
Deescalation of military threats to North and East Syria, as well as economic stabilization of the region, were topics discussed with Ethan Goldrich, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State, visited with top officials in the autonomous region of North and East Syria. Continue Reading
Turkish Air Force drones have been targeting Syrian Democratic Forces soldiers, civilian members of the AANES, and prominent families in the region. These attacks are a blatant violation of the ceasefires signed with Russia and the United States, and prominent members of the AANES have called on the international community to put an end to the attacks. Continue Reading
While the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) has touted a recent anti-drug operation that resulted in the arrests of several drug dealers and the seizure of approximately half a million Captagon pills as evidence of their opposition to the proliferation of narcotics, the number of users and scale of production has continued to increase.Continue Reading
It is only natural that such a closeness in values between the AANES and Catalonia would lead to positive relations and solidarity. This culminated in the Catalan parliament officially recognizing the AANES as a legitimate political entity on October 20, 2021.Continue Reading
Construction vehicles, designed for heavy earthworks, not delicate archaeological sites, have been in use by Turkish-backed organizations at the site of “Nabi Hori,” about 23 km from Afrin. The site has witnessed large-scale excavation efforts by Turkish-backed organizations in full view of Turkish forces.Continue Reading
At least 23 Turkish drone attacks have been launched against “Kurdish targets” since August 1, 2021, states the brief. This includes Turkish attacks in North and East Syria against AANES government officials, children, and civilians.Continue Reading
During the past six years since ISIS was driven out of Kobani, the AANES has worked tirelessly to rebuild and provide for the people. Their resilience is what allows the city to be where it is today. Continue Reading
“Their fight is not over. And because their fight is not over, ours isn’t either. Anyone with any interest whatsoever in peace and democracy must continue to talk about North and East Syria.”Continue Reading
US lawmakers called Turkey a “rogue state” engaging in “increasingly destabilizing behavior.” The letter is yet another sign of worsening relations between the United States and Turkey, both NATO member countries.Continue Reading
Kobani and Rojava Universities Celebrate Their Graduation; The SDC and Its Allies Mark World Kobani Day; COVID-19 Continues to Exacerbate the Economic CrisisContinue Reading
In order to rebuild Raqqa both physically and socially, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has undertaken many actions to address the major issues plaguing the city.Continue Reading