Syrian Democratic Forces military councils
Throughout 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces have established four separate military councils (three in the Shahba region) in order to facilitate and conduct military operations. As of December 2016, the four military councils are the Manbij Military Council, the al-Bab Military Council, the Jarabulus Military Council, and (outside the Shahba) the Deir Ezzor Military Council.
Contents
Manbij[edit]
| Manbij Military Council | |
|---|---|
| مجلس منبج العسكري Participant in Syrian Civil War |
|
Flag of the Manbij Military Council
|
|
| Active | 2 April 2016 – present |
| Groups |
|
| Leaders | |
| Headquarters | Tishrin Dam (pre-offensive) Manbij (post-offensive) |
| Area of operations | Manbij District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
| Website | Official website |
The Manbij Military Council (MMC) is a coalition established by components of the SDF group Army of Revolutionaries (Northern Sun Battalion and the Seljuk Brigade). on 2 April 2016 at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates. The military council aims to capture the city of Manbij across the river and many of the council members are local fighters from the surrounding areas.
History[edit]
The Manbij offensive has included the Manbij Military Council, the US Special Operations Forces, and minimal YPG and YPJ involvement assisted by coalition airstrikes. The fighters are mostly Arabs. During the offensive, an SDF fighter gave his perspective as "we have Arabs, Kurds, nobody knows how many exactly, we all work under the SDF-forces".[5]
On 5 April, a civilian council was formed in the town of Sarin by individuals originally from Manbij who had fled when Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took over. The council consists of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Circassians,[6] and was created to administer Manbij after its capture.[7]
The commander of the Manbij Military Council, Abu Layla, died of wounds he suffered from gunshots in the Manbij front against the Islamic State. He was succeeded by Abu Adel.
On 19 August 2016, the Manbij Military Council issued a statement which announced that it was taking over the security of Manbij city center and villages from the YPG and YPJ, though some of their fighters remained to continue to provide training and other support duties.[8][9] On 17 November 2016, the 2nd and final batch of YPG and YPJ fighters left Manbij, leaving the security of the area and training of troops fully to the council.[10]
Post-Manbij offensive expansion[edit]
- On 1 October 2016, 250 fighters from Manbij graduated from military training formed the Euphrates Liberation Brigade as part of the Manbij Military Council and the SDF.[3]
- In early November 2016, a 'battalion' from the Sham Legion defected and joined the MMC.[11]
- On 27 November 2016, 260 fighters from Manbij graduated after training and formed the Manbij Hawks Brigade, as part of the Manbij Military Council.[4]
- On 4 February 2017, 100 fighters in Manbij completed training and joined the Manbij Military Council.[12]
- On 2 March 2017, the Manbij Military Council handed over a vast expanse of territory west of Manbij to the Syrian Army to create a buffer zone between the SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. They released a statement saying that "Defending the civilians and protecting them from the adverse impact of the war, ensuring the security of Manbij and frustrating the invasion plans of the Turkish army against Syrian soil are the goals we have taken for all the peoples living on the lands of Syria,"[13] and that
"To reach these objectives [the defense of Manbij] we have transferred, after reaching a new alliance with Russia, the defence of the line to the west of Manbij – where the villages between us and the gang groups [FSA, Ahrar al-Sham] affiliated to the Turkish army are – to Syrian state forces."[14]
and
The SDF ceded this territory west of Manbij because it is clear that there are limits to the extent that the United States will intervene on behalf of the SDF’s interests west of the Euphrates.[13]
Al-Bab[edit]
| Al-Bab Military Council | |
|---|---|
| مجلس الباب العسكري Participant in the Syrian Civil War |
|
 |
|
| Active | 14 August 2016 – present |
| Groups |
|
| Headquarters | Manbij & Afrin |
| Area of operations | Shahba region |
| Battles and wars | |
The al-Bab Military Council was formed on 14 August 2016 by seven small SDF-affiliated factions with the goal of capturing the city of al-Bab, west of Manbij and "a symbol of the revolution and the foundation for a democratic, free and plural Syria". The military council called for US support, and later Afrin-based SDF forces launched the an offensive in the countryside, west of al-Bab.[17]
On 31 October 2016, an all-female battalion was established within the al-Bab Military Council.[15]
Jarabulus[edit]
| Jarabulus Military Council | |
|---|---|
| مجلس جرابلس العسكري Participant in the Syrian Civil War |
|
Flag of the Jarablus Military Council
|
|
| Active | August 2016 – present |
| Groups |
|
| Leaders | |
| Headquarters | Manbij |
| Area of operations | Manbij District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
The Jarabulus Military Council is an SDF coalition in the Shahba Region formed by local fighters from the city of Jarabulus and the surrounding areas, who had fled from ISIL.[25]
Abdel Sattar al-Jader, the initial leader of the Jarabulus Military Council and the commander of the Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades, was assassinated just prior to the Turkish military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, and the SDF have accused Turkish military intelligence of organizing the assassination.[21]
Deir Ezzor[edit]
| Deir Ezzor Military Council | |
|---|---|
| مجلس دير الزور العسكري Participant in the Syrian Civil War |
|
 |
|
| Active | 8 December 2016 – present |
| Leaders | Ahmad Abu Khoula (general commander)[26][27] Khalid Awad †[28][29] |
| Area of operations | |
| Allies | Elite Forces Al-Sanadid Forces People's Protection Units |
| Battles and wars | Raqqa offensive (2016–present) |
On 8 December 2016 the Deir Ezzor Military Council was created during a SDF conference in Hasaka.[30] On 11 December, the council stated that after completing the second phase of the Northern Raqqa offensive they will redirect their focus to Deir ez-Zor Governorate.[27]
References[edit]
- ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manbij_offensive
- ^ "Conflict between US-led coalition allies increases, one Turkish soldier killed". ARA News. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Join the banner of liberalization of the Euphrates to the Military Council in Aleppo Manbej". ARA News. 2 October 2016.
- ^ a b "The formation of a brigade Hawks Manbej and join the Council of Manbej military". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 27 November 2016.
- ^ "SDF-led Manbij Military Council cuts off ISIS supply route between Raqqa and Manbij". Ara News. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- ^ Wilgenburg, Wladimir van. "Kurds, rebels in rat race to seize ISIS territory". now.mmedia.me. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
- ^ "Kurds set up new civilian council for recapturing Syria's Manbij from ISIS". ARA News. 6 April 2016.
- ^ "SDF withdraws from Manbij after liberation, handing city over to local council". aranews. 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Manbij Military Council takes over the security of Manbij". ANF. 19 August 2016.
- ^ "YPJ and YPG withdraw from Manbij". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter".
- ^ "100 fighters join the Manbij Military Council". Hawar News Agency. 4 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Russian general confirms a Kurdish-Russian deal against Turkey". ARA News. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ Andrew Illingworth (2 March 2017). "BREAKING: Kurdish-led SDF to handover huge section of territory to SAA". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Military Council Formed for the Liberation of Al-Bab in Rojava". Kurdish Question. 14 August 2016.
- ^ http://en.hawarnews.com/the-military-council-of-jarablos-declared/
- ^ http://en.hawarnews.com/the-military-council-of-jarablos-declared/
- ^ http://en.hawarnews.com/the-military-council-of-jarablos-declared/
- ^ a b "Turkey's Syria offensive aimed at Kurdish YPG". Deutsche Welle. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "Brigadier General Ali Hijo: We will not stand idly by about Turkification policy in Jarablos". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Turkey storms Syria's Jarabulus". ARA News. 24 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ J.O. (26 February 2017). ""Al-Raqqa isolation from Deir ez-Zor is imminent"". Hawar News Agency.
- ^ a b "Leading role in intentionally for «Qassioun»: Following the control of tenderness, we are heading towards Diralzor (video)". Qasioun News. 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Wrath of Euphrates announces death of commander in DeirEzzor Military Council Khalid Awad". Syria Live Map. 22 February 2017.
- ^ "More than 40 barrels target the west of Rif Dimashq and more fighters of Syria Democratic Forces killed in clashes at the eastern countryside of Al-Raqqah". SOHR. 22 February 2017.
- ^ ""Intentionally" holding a meeting in the city of Hasaka to all factions". Enab Baladi. 8 December 2016.
