Syrian Democratic Forces
Kurdish: هێزى ديموكراتيى سوورى

Arabic: قوات سوريا الديمقراطية

Syriac: ܚܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܕܣܘܪܝܐ ܕܝܡܩܪܛܝܬܐ
Dates of operation2015-Present
Group(s)See Section
Allies
  • Popular Mobolization Forces (Sometimes)[17]
Opponents
WebsiteSDF Press English

The Syrian Democratic Forces is a US-funded coalition or a group of Kurdish and Arab militias in Northern Syria that was founded in 2015 fighting in the Syrian Civil War,[25] it is the main defense force for Rojava. The group is made out of mostly Kurds and Arabs, there are Chechen and Armenian fighters also; The group is mainly made up of YPG and YPJ fighters, along with some Free Syrian Army groups.[26] The Syrian Democratic Forces have fought against the Islamic State and Turkey, since Turkey said that the YPG is a part of the PKK,[27] a Turkish Kurd terror group. Not only have they fought Turkey and ISIS, but they also fought the Syrian National Army,[23] [22] the Syrian Arab Armed Forces some times and also fought other militias in Northern Syria.

After the Islamic State was kicked out of Syria by the Syrian Democratic Forces, Turkey was the main enemy of the Syrian Democratic Forces, along with the Syrian National Army. After Trump became president, the Syrian Democratic Forces was "mainly abandoned" by the United States. The group was also aided by NATO and the EU with airstrikes and weapons.[2] The main goal of the Syrian Democratic Forces is to create a "Secular, democratic, and a federalized Syrian Republic" and also to fight for Rojava and kick out the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda groups in Syria and Rojava.[28]

History

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Establishment

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Islamic State Insurgency

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Turkish Invasion of Northern Syria

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Internal Conflict

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Aid from the Syrians

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Controversies

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Cleansing of Non-Kurdish Groups

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Torturing & Abuse

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Child Soldiers

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Foreign Aid

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NATO & EU support

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Syrian and Russian aid

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CJTF–OIR Aid

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Organization

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References

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  1. "SDF will turn to Assad if Turkey attacks in Syria". Al-Jazeera. Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Wilgenburg, Wladimir. "SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES (SYRIA)". ECFR. Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  3. "Syria: Kurdish forces would work with Damascus to fend off Turkish incursion". i24 News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  4. "SDF 'open' to joining forces with Assad regime to repel Turkey military operation". Middle East Monitor. Middle East Monitor. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Who are the Syrian Democratic Forces?". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  6. "France Admits Special Forces Operating on Ground With Rebels in Syria". Newsweek. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  7. "Saudi Arabia in talks with YPG to form new force". Daily Sabah. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  8. Cite error: The named reference arabforce was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  9. "Trump's New Army? Saudi Arabia in Talks to Build Syria Arab Force, Report Says". Newsweek. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. "Saudi Arabia pledges $100 million for SDF-controlled areas liberated from Daesh in Syria". Daily Sabah. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. "Activists and a rebel commander say Kurdish fighters have launched an attack in northern Syria under the cover of Russian airstrikes to try and capture a military air base held by insurgents". U.S. News & World Report. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  12. "Russia cooperates with PYD against ISIL". Today's Zaman. 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015.
  13. "Russian support for PKK's Syrian arm PYD". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  14. "Kurds attack Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces with Russian help". i24 News. 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  15. "YPG advances near Turkey's border". Rudaw Media Network. 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  16. Wood, L. Todd (8 February 2016). "Russia supporting Kurdish groups in Syria to Turkey's detriment". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  17. "فصيل من الحشد الشعبي ينقذ مقاتلين من قوات سوريا الديمقراطية على". Rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  18. Glioti, Andrea (7 May 2013). "Kurdish group gaining autonomy in northern Syria". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  19. "Second HAT course members graduate – ANHA". Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
  20. Wilgenburg, Wladimir; Knights, Michael. "Accidental Allies: The US–Syrian Democratic Forces Partnership Against the Islamic State". Washington Institusion. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, Michael Knights. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  21. "Syrian Army, Kurdish forces clash fight for control of abandoned ISIS villages". Al-Masdar News. Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  22. 22.0 22.1 "Money, hatred for the Kurds drives Turkey's Syrian fighters". AP News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?". Voa News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  24. 24.0 24.1 "YPG, YPJ and Asayish forces control most of El Newşe neighborhood". Hawar News. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  25. "Faction Guide of the Syrian war". Diclehaber. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  26. "In Depth, Religious & Ethnic Groups". Exploring the various ethnic and religious groups that make up the social fabric of Syrian society and, in some cases, are armed players in the war.: 2. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  27. STEIN, AARON. "THE AMERICAN DECONFLICTION DISADVANTAGE: ANKARA'S DRONE CAMPAIGN IN SYRIA AND IRAQ". AARON STEIN. War on the Rocks. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  28. Lund, Aron. "Origins of the Syrian Democratic Forces: A Primer". Syria Deeply. Aron Lund. Retrieved 1 October 2022.