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In November 2015, these groups created the Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo and Idlib governorates.
In November 2015, these groups created the Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo and Idlib governorates.
* [[The Revolutionary Army (Syrian rebel group)|The Revolutionary Army]]
* [[The Revolutionary Army (Syrian rebel group)|The Revolutionary Army]]
* [[Division 30]]
* Idlib Countryside Martyrs Brigade
* Idlib Countryside Martyrs Brigade
* Ayn Jalout Brigade
* Ayn Jalout Brigade

Revision as of 08:10, 18 November 2015

Syrian Democratic Forces
قوات سوريا الديمقراطية
Hêzên Sûriya Demokratîk
Dates of operation10 October 2015 – present
Group(s)
HeadquartersHasakah, Syria
Active regionsRojava
Hasakah Governorate[4]
Al-Raqqah Governorate
Aleppo Governorate
Idlib Governorate[5]
Allies Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
Opponents Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Syrian Democratic Forces (Arabic: قوات سوريا الديمقراطية, Kurdish: Hêzên Sûriya Demokratîk) or SDF, are an alliance of Kurdish, Arab, Assyrians, Armenian and Turkmen militias established during the Syrian Civil War. Founded in October 2015, they seek to expel the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from the Ar-Raqqah Governorate and other areas in Syria. The SDF consider themselves a "unified national military force to all Syrians consisting of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians and all others living in the geographical locations of Syria." Furthermore, they are aiming to build a self-governing, inclusive and democratic Syria.[citation needed]

The alliance builds upon the successful Euphrates Volcano joint operations of the Syrian Kurdish YPG and certain factions of the Free Syrian Army, who helped defend the Kurdish town of Kobanê. Euphrates Volcano was later joined by Liwa Thuwwar al-Raqqa, who participated in the capture of Tell Abyad from the Islamic State. The larger Syrian Democratic Forces alliance now also includes forces from self-administered Jazira Canton as the Christian Syriac Military Council and the largely pro-regime Al-Sanadid Forces, who helped the YPG in purging the IS from Al-Hasakah.

With a strength of around 4,000 fighters, the Arab groups within the alliance will operate under the joint name Syrian Arab Coalition and will be committed to push down towards ISIS de facto capital Ar-Raqqah, while staying east of the Euphrates river.[6] Some of the remaining U.S.-Pentagon-trained rebels will also be part of the new forces, tasked with "calling in airstrikes against ISIS and recruiting moderate rebels".[7]

Establishment

The establishment was announced on 11 October 2015. The alliance was officially established during a press conference in al-Hasakah.[8]

On 17 November, 15 rebel groups based in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, including local YPG/YPJ units, joined the SDF as well.[5]

Signatory groups

The following thirteen groups signed the founding document:[8]

  1. People's Protection Units (YPG)
  2. Women's Protection Units (YPJ)
  3. Al-Sanadid Forces
  4. Syriac Military Council (MFS)
  5. Euphrates Volcano
  6. Northern Sun Battalion
  7. Seljuk Brigade
  8. Brigade Groups of Al-Jazira
  9. Jabhat al-Akrad
  10. Jaysh al-Thuwar
  11. Al-Tahrir Brigade
  12. Lîwai 99 Muşat
  13. Liwaa Siqur El-Badiye[9]

Aleppo/Idlib expansion

In November 2015, these groups created the Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo and Idlib governorates.

  • The Revolutionary Army
  • Idlib Countryside Martyrs Brigade
  • Ayn Jalout Brigade
  • 99th Brigade
  • al-Hamzah Brigade
  • al-Qaqa Brigade
  • Special Operations Center 455
  • Seljuk Brigade
  • Regiment 102
  • Ahrar al-Shamal
  • Tribal Forces in Aleppo and it countryside
  • Jabhat al-Akrad
  • YPG
  • YPJ[5]
  • Liwaa Siqur El-Badiye[9]

Support by the U.S. led alliance

On 12 October 2015, the Pentagon confirmed U.S. C-17 transport aircraft having dropped 100 pallets with 45 tons of arms and ammunition over Northern Syria to benefit "Arab groups." YPG spokesman Polat Can confirmed the airdrop over Rojava, identifying the freight as being "assault rifles, mortars and ammunition, but no TOW anti-tank missiles nor anti-aircraft weapons."[10] However, the main Arab groups within the Syrian Arab Coalition denied that they received the shipment and pointed out that the airdrop may have been intended for their Kurdish allies.[11]

While the weapons are primarily intended for the Arab affiliates turning towards Raqqa, Can reiterated the Kurds’ first priority was linking the Kurdish enclave of Afrin with Kobani, thereby clearing the remaining 60 miles of Syria–Turkey border, including the border town of Jarablus, from IS occupation.[10] YPG General commander Sipan Hemo however told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that an attack on the IS headquarters in ar-Raqqah was expected "within weeks."[12]

The airdrop came only days after the Pentagon had officially abandoned its failed $500m train-and-equip program of "moderate rebels" fighting ISIS.[13] It was mildly criticized by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, who feared "at least a considerable part of these weapons will fall into the terrorists’ hands."[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PHOTO: Announcement of New Syrian Army, will fight under SDF, will be able to call in airstrikes". Twitter.
  2. ^ "A group called the "New Syrian Army" has been declared, affiliated with Authenticity and Development Front and boasts lots of American equipment". Reddit.
  3. ^ "Jack Shahine". Twitter.
  4. ^ Tim Lister (1 November 2015). "New assaults on ISIS in Iraq and in Syria". CNN.
  5. ^ a b c "15 rebel factions are ready to fight under SDF banner in Aleppo and Idlib". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  6. ^ Suleiman al-Khalidi; Tom Perry (12 October 2015). "New Syrian rebel alliance formed, says weapons on the way". Reuters. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  7. ^ Bill Chappell (12 October 2015). "New Rebel Coalition Forms In Syria; Insurgents Lost Ground Over Weekend". NPR. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Declaration of establishment by Syrian Democratic Forces". Kurdish Question. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  9. ^ a b "أبناء العشائر العربية يشكلون لواءً وينضمون إلى QSD". Hawar News.
  10. ^ a b Roy Gutman (12 October 2015). "U.S. begins airdrops of weapons to Kurdish forces in northern Syria". McClatchy. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Syrian Arab militias dispute they received U.S. airdrop of ammunition". McClatchy DC. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  12. ^ Tom Perry (13 October 2015). "Syrian Kurdish militia sees Raqqa assault 'within weeks': report". Reuters. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Syria conflict: US air drop for anti-IS forces in Hassakeh". BBC. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Lavrov: Little doubt US arms delivered to Syrian opposition to fall into terrorists' hands". RT. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Syrian_Democratic_Forces&oldid=691201560"