Syrian Democratic Forces military councils

Flag of the Syrian Democratic Forces

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 Shahba) the Deir ez-Zor Military Council.

Manbij

Manbij Military Council
مجلس منبج العسكري
Participant in Syrian Civil War
Flag of the Manbij Military Council
Active 2 April 2016 – present
Groups
Leaders
  • Adnan Abu-Amjad † (military council top commander, 2016–17)
  • Muhammad Mustafa Ali ("Abu Adel", military council top commander since 2017)[6]
  • Faisal Saadoun ("Abu Layla") (DOW)
  • Shervan Derwish (spokesperson)
  • Dilsuz Hashme[7]
  • Ibrahim Semho (Euphrates Liberation Brigade)[7]
  • Abu Jassim
  • Abu Khalaf
  • Ahmad Arsh[4] (Manbij Revolutionaries Battalion)
  • Ibrahim al-Banawi
Headquarters Tishrin Dam (pre-offensive)
Manbij (post-offensive)
Area of operations Aleppo Governorate and Raqqa Governorate, Syria
Battles and wars
Website Official website
Fighters of the Euphrates Liberation Brigade, part of the Manbij Military Council, in Manbij

The Manbij Military Council (MMC) is a coalition established by several groups in the SDF, the Northern Sun Battalion and the Seljuk Brigade, on 2 April 2016 at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates. The military council aimed to capture the city of Manbij across the river and many of the council members are local fighters from the surrounding areas.

History

The Manbij offensive has included the Manbij Military Council, US special operations forces, and minimal YPG and YPJ involvement assisted by US-led coalition airstrikes. The SDF 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".[9]

On 5 April 2016, a civilian council was formed in the town of Sarrin 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,[10] and was created to administer Manbij after its capture.[11]

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 Muhammad Mustafa ("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.[12][13]

In early November 2016, a 'battalion' from the Sham Legion defected and joined the MMC.[14]

On 17 November 2016, the rest of the YPG and YPJ fighters left Manbij, leaving the security of the area and training of troops fully to the council.[15]

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,"[16] 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."[17]

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.[16]

On 17 April 2017, it was announced that 200 fighters from the council would participate in the Battle of Tabqa to take al-Thawra, part of the larger Raqqa campaign.[8] On 24 May 2017, an additional 2,200 fighters were sent for the fourth phase of the campaign.[18]

The Manbij Military Council fought in the Battle of Raqqa since 6 June 2017. On 29 August, Adnan Abu Amjad, general commander of the Manbij Military Council, was killed in action during the battle.[19]

On 17 September 2017, Muhammad Mustafa Ali, also known by his nom de guerre "Abu Adel", was appointed the general commander of the Manbij Military Council as the successor of Adnan Abu Amjad.[6][20]

On 27 November 2017, the Martyr Adnan Abu Amjad Regiment, consisting of 250 fighters was established, and joined the MMC.[5]

Al-Bab

Al-Bab Military Council
مجلس الباب العسكري
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Active 14 August 2016 – present
Groups
  • Al-Bab Revolutionary Front[21]
  • Qebasin Martyrs Brigade
  • Army of Revolutionaries
  • Al-Bab Countryside Martyrs Battalion
  • Free Arima Battalion
  • Martyr Silo al-Rai Brigade
  • Kieba Martyrs Brigade
  • Al-Bab Military Council Female Battalion[22]
Headquarters Manbij
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.[24]

On 31 October 2016, an all-female battalion was established within the al-Bab Military Council.[22]

Jarabulus

Jarabulus Military Council
مجلس جرابلس العسكري
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Flag of the Jarablus Military Council
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.[30]

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.[26]

Deir ez-Zor

Deir ez-Zor Military Council
مجلس دير الزور العسكري
Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Deir ez-Zor Military Council and allies announce the start of their Deir ez-Zor offensive.
Deir ez-Zor Military Council and allies announce the start of their Deir ez-Zor offensive.
Active 8 December 2016 – present
Groups Gathering of al-Baggara Youth[31]
Leaders
  • Rashid Abu Khawla[32] (also known as Ahmad Abu Khawla and Abu Khawla al-Diri; general commander)[33][34]
  • Yasser al-Dahla (also known as Abu Majd al-Rifai,[35] commander of the Gathering of Baggara Youth)[36]
  • Khalid Awad †[37][38]
Area of operations
Size 1,300+ (self claim, Feb. 2017)[39]
4,000 (self claim, Aug. 2017)[40]
Allies Elite Forces
Al-Sanadid Forces
People's Protection Units
Martyr Amara Arab Women's Battalion[41]
Battles and wars
Rashid Abu Khawla,[32] also known as Ahmad Abu Khawla, serves as general commander of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council.[33]

On 8 December 2016 the Deir ez-Zor Military Council was created during a SDF conference in Hasaka. The members consist of remnants of the former armed rebel council of the same name, expelled from the city by the Islamic State in 2014, having joined the SDF in November 2016 and former Islamic State fighters which have been re-trained by U.S. forces.[42][43][44] However, the pro-opposition Deir ez-Zor 24 organization denied that the military council's commander, known as Abu Khawla, was a commander in any FSA group.[45]

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.[34]

On 25 August 2017, 800 fighters left the Elite Forces and was fully integrated into the ranks of the SDF and its Deir ez-Zor Military Council. The fighters accused the Elite Forces of corruption. These forces consisted of 7 units of al-Baggara and al-Shaitat tribal fighters stationed in the eastern Raqqa and southern Hasaka countrysides,[40][46] among them the Gathering of al-Baggara Youth, led by Yasser al-Dahla[36]

On 28 September 2017, Yasser al-Dahla was arrested by SDF military police, which accused Dahla of not effectively participating in the SDF's Deir ez-Zor offensive and the "lack of military discipline". The Gathering of al-Baggara Youth denied these charges, and accused the Deir ez-Zor Military Council of denying Euphrates Shield fighters who defected to the SDF to join the Gathering. Dahla reportedly threatened to cease his group's participation in the Deir ez-Zor offensive.[36] Some time after that incident, Yasser al-Dahla was released. On 9 December 2017, he denied reports that he defected to government forces, while acknowledging the disputes between him and other SDF commanders.[35]

The Deir ez-Zor Military Council clashed with Syrian pro-government forces during the Battle of Khasham,[47] while some fighters of the military council stated in late February 2018 that they wanted to aid the defense of Afrin Region against the Turkish military operation.[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Conflict between US-led coalition allies increases, one Turkish soldier killed". ARA News. 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Join the banner of liberalization of the Euphrates to the Military Council in Aleppo Manbej". ARA News. 2 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "The formation of a brigade Hawks Manbej and join the Council of Manbej military". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 27 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 "A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?". Verify. 6 March 2017.
  5. 1 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE7kGnlkSxM
  6. 1 2 "Muhammad Abu Adel, MMC new commander". Hawar News Agency. 18 September 2017.
  7. 1 2 Aris Roussinos (19 September 2017). "Inside The Fight To Retake Raqqa From ISIS".
  8. 1 2 Wladimir van Wilgenburg (18 April 2017). "200 fighters from Manbij to join Raqqa operation, SDF gets closer to Tabqa centre". ARA News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "SDF-led Manbij Military Council cuts off ISIS supply route between Raqqa and Manbij". Ara News. 2016-06-05. Archived from the original on 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  10. ↑ Wilgenburg, Wladimir van. "Kurds, rebels in rat race to seize ISIS territory". now.mmedia.me. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  11. ↑ "Kurds set up new civilian council for recapturing Syria's Manbij from ISIS". ARA News. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "SDF withdraws from Manbij after liberation, handing city over to local council". aranews. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Manbij Military Council takes over the security of Manbij". ANF. 19 August 2016.
  14. ↑ {{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Syria_Rebel_Obs/status/795425687926636544|title=Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter|publisher}}
  15. ↑ "YPJ and YPG withdraw from Manbij". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Russian general confirms a Kurdish-Russian deal against Turkey". ARA News. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  17. ↑ Andrew Illingworth (2 March 2017). "BREAKING: Kurdish-led SDF to handover huge section of territory to SAA". Al-Masdar News. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  18. ↑ منبج اف ام (24 May 2017). "مجلس منبج العسكري سيشارك بـ2200 مقاتل في تحرير الرقة" – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "SDF: Manbij commander Adnan killed in Raqqa offensive". Rudaw Media Network. 30 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "Mohammed Abu Adel as General Commander of the Manbaj Military Council". Furat FM Radio. 17 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "Turkish-backed rebels, Syrian Army and Kurdish forces all advance in race to al-Bab". 26 November 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion". 1 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  24. ↑ "Military Council Formed for the Liberation of Al-Bab in Rojava". Kurdish Question. 14 August 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 "The military council of Jarablos declared - ANHA". en.hawarnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22.
  26. 1 2 "Turkey's Syria offensive aimed at Kurdish YPG". Deutsche Welle. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "Brigadier General Ali Hijo: We will not stand idly by about Turkification policy in Jarablos". Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 27 November 2016.
  28. ↑ "Turkey storms Syria's Jarabulus". ARA News. 24 August 2016.
  29. 1 2 "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016.
  30. ↑ "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "The Gathering of Al-Bakkara Youth continues their battle and get closer to the hometown of the Sheikh of Bakkara". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 10 September 2017.
  32. 1 2 Zana Omar (9 March 2017). "US-backed Forces Find Chemical Weapons Factory in Deir Ezzor". Voice of America.
  33. 1 2 J.O. (26 February 2017). ""Al-Raqqa isolation from Deir ez-Zor is imminent"". Hawar News Agency.
  34. 1 2 "Leading role in intentionally for "Qassioun": Following the control of tenderness, we are heading towards Diralzor (video)". Qasioun News. 11 December 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Yasser Al-Dahleh, with audio and video, refutes what the media has announced about his break-up and adherence to the regime". Xeber 24. 9 December 2017.
  36. 1 2 3 "Military police of SDF arrest leader of al-Bakkara Youth Gathering Yasser al-Dahla, the defected of Syrian Elite Forces". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 2 October 2017.
  37. ↑ "Wrath of Euphrates announces death of commander in DeirEzzor Military Council Khalid Awad". Syria Live Map. 22 February 2017.
  38. ↑ "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.
  39. ↑ "Abu Khoula: SDF's advance east of al-Raqqa prepares for Deir ez-Zor liberation". Hawar News Agency. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  40. 1 2 Rodi Said (25 August 2017). "U.S.-backed forces to attack Syria's Deir al-Zor soon: SDF official". Reuters.
  41. ↑ "SDF about forming first Arab all-female brigade - ANHA". en.hawarnews.com.
  42. ↑ Hassan Hassan (27 June 2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
  43. ↑ ""Intentionally" holding a meeting in the city of Hasaka to all factions". Enab Baladi. 8 December 2016.
  44. ↑ "Confirmed: US retrains ISIS and ISIS-like jihadists in east Syria and re-brands them 'democratic forces' (VIDEO) - Exclusive". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  45. ↑ "Who is Abu Khawla Al-Diri that appeared recently as the commander of the SDF-linked Deir Ezzor Military Council ?". Deir Ezzor 24. 11 December 2016.
  46. ↑ "Split seven elite battalions and join Syria's democratic forces". Hawar News Agency. 25 August 2017.
  47. ↑ Andrew Illingworth (9 February 2018). "Breaking: US-led forces launch all-out offensive against Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor". al-Masdar News. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  48. ↑ HİVDA HEBUN (23 February 2018). "Fighters in Deir ez-Zor: "We will go to Afrin"". ANF News. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
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