From establishment to building Syria: Journey of SDF since 2015

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in 2011, and as the country entered a complex phase of political and military division, expanding regional and international interventions, and the emergence of multiple armed forces with differing agendas, the field became increasingly fragmented and the conflict expanded. This coincided with the decline of the Syrian revolution’s initial political slogans, escalating violence and destruction, and the spread of extremist organizations, foremost among them ISIS, which expanded across large areas of Syria and Iraq between 2013 and 2015.

Amid this situation, a military project emerged in North and East Syria based on the idea of “multi-component” participation and joint action among Kurdish, Arab and Syriac factions, culminating in the announcement of the formation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on October 10, 2015.

Establishment… October 10, 2015

On October 10, 2015, eight military factions announced the formation of the SDF during a news conference, following a series of meetings between Kurdish, Arab and Syriac military forces aimed at unifying military efforts to confront ISIS and other threats.

The announcement came at a time when ISIS influence was expanding in Syria and Iraq, particularly during 2014 and 2015, while Syrian factions were suffering from divisions and multiple allegiances, alongside escalating regional and international intervention in the Syrian file.

From the moment of its announcement, the SDF emphasized that its goal was to build a democratic Syria based on equality and justice, without excluding any component.

The founding meetings in 2015 included the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), the Sanadid Forces, the Gathering of Jazira Brigades, the Syrian Arab Coalition, the Syriac Military Council, the Revolutionary Army, and the Euphrates Volcano Operations Room.

These meetings resulted in the formation of a unified military umbrella aimed at coordinating field efforts and confronting ISIS, amid what was then described as a “security vacuum” in North and East Syria following the expulsion of the forces of the Baathist regime.

Internal Regulations and Military Structure

On January 25, 2016, the first meeting of the SDF Military Council was held, during which the internal regulations were approved and the Military Council was established as the supreme body.

On December 26, 2016, the SDF approved its internal regulations, which established the organizational and structural foundations of the forces and defined mechanisms for military leadership and administration.

As the force developed, specialized units were established, including Special Forces in 2018, Counterterrorism Forces in 2018, Rapid Intervention Forces in 2019, Military Intelligence in 2019, Mine Clearance Forces in 2020, and Air Intervention Forces in 2024.

According to its statements, the SDF also established dozens of military academies between 2017 and 2025 to prepare fighters ideologically and militarily and develop their combat capabilities. The number of male and female fighters who passed through these academies exceeded 100,000, according to statements by SDF commanders to ANHA Agency.

The Military Beginning Against ISIS

Weeks after its establishment, the SDF launched its first military operations against ISIS on October 30, 2015, in the southern countryside of Hasakah, particularly in the al-Hol area.

The forces fought the battle to liberate Tishreen Dam on December 26 of the same year, which represented a strategic turning point in the course of military operations in northern Syria.

During 2016, military operations expanded into the southern countryside of Kobani and the countryside of Manbij.

2016… The Battle of Manbij

At the beginning of June 2016, the SDF launched the Battle of Manbij against ISIS. The battle ended with the liberation of the city, which was considered one of the most important military operations to cut ISIS supply lines toward the Turkish border.

2017–2018… The Battle of Raqqa

Between 2017 and 2018, the SDF, with the support of the international coalition, led the operation to liberate Raqqa, which represented a major center of gravity for ISIS in Syria.

2018–2019… The Battles of Deir ez-Zor

During 2018 and 2019, the SDF fought battles in the eastern and northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor. The operations ended with the announcement of the elimination of the last ISIS groups in the area on March 23, 2019.

In 2019, major military operations against ISIS ended, and the SDF entered a new phase focused primarily on combating ISIS sleeper cells.

Military Geography

At the height of its presence, the SDF covered areas estimated at around 30% of Syria’s territory, with its areas of deployment distributed across the Jazira, Euphrates and Deir ez-Zor regions.

Its military councils included “Raqqa, Manbij, Tabqa, Kobani, Qamishlo, Hasakah, al-Hol, al-Shaddadi, Serekaniye, Amuda and Derik.”

In 2026, the forces, which had lost around 13,000 fighters and had more than 24,000 of its members wounded, returned to the Kurdish areas following the military developments in the country and attacks by forces of the Syrian transitional government and Turkish-backed factions.

Afrin… The First Turkish Attacks

On January 20, 2018, Turkey and its mercenaries launched an attack on Afrin in northwestern Syria. The operation continued until March 18, 2018, and ended with the occupation of the city and its countryside.

The operation led to large waves of displacement among the population, accompanied by demographic and security changes in the area.

Serekaniye and Girê Spî… The 2019 Offensive

On October 9, 2019, Turkey and its mercenaries launched an attack on Serekaniye and Girê Spî/Tal Abyad. The operation ended with the withdrawal of the SDF from the two cities after about 10 days of fighting, followed by cease-fire agreements and redeployments in some border areas, along with major changes to the map of control in northeastern Syria.

Manbij… Escalation in 2024

During 2024, Manbij witnessed intermittent military escalation, including repeated shelling and attacks, as well as clashes along the contact lines between Turkey and its mercenaries and the SDF.

Despite no comprehensive change in control on the ground, the area remained one of the main points of tension in the eastern Aleppo countryside until January of this year, when the SDF withdrew from it under an agreement and international sponsorship for a cease-fire.

Tishreen Dam… Continued Attacks

During 2024 and 2025, the area around Tishreen Dam was subjected to a series of attacks, including artillery and airstrikes and drone attacks, as part of repeated military escalation along the contact lines.

The attacks were linked to attempts to exert pressure on strategic positions along the Euphrates River and resulted in human and material losses in the area surrounding the dam, before the SDF withdrew under the same international cease-fire agreement in January of this year.

Airstrikes on North and East Syria

From the establishment of the SDF in 2015 through 2025, areas of North and East Syria where the forces were deployed were subjected to a series of air and artillery attacks, including repeated strikes by Turkish drones and fighter jets.

The strikes focused on military sites, infrastructure and service facilities, particularly in the Jazira, Euphrates and Deir ez-Zor regions. This led to heightened security tensions and continued military attrition in the region despite the end of major battles against ISIS, as documented and monitored by ANHA Agency.

Political Transformations After 2024

Syria entered a new political phase in 2024 following the fall of the Baathist regime, opening the issue of restructuring the military institution and determining the future of armed forces operating in the country.

During 2025 and 2026, political and military talks and preliminary security agreements began between the SDF and the Syrian transitional government, including the March 10 agreement, which consisted of eight main provisions.

However, this process later stalled with the beginning of a military escalation by the transitional government and Turkey against areas under SDF control at the beginning of this year.

Events developed into a period of war before the process was later resumed and resulted in a new agreement, following the SDF’s withdrawal from Tabqa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, al-Shaddadi and al-Hol, alongside the handover by the SDF of around 4,000 ISIS detainees to the international coalition, which transferred them to Iraq.

January 29, 2026 Agreement

On Jan. 29, 2026, a new agreement was signed between the SDF and the Syrian transitional government.

The agreement called for a cease-fire and the beginning of a process to redeploy military and internal security forces in the Jazira and Kobani, in addition to integrating civil institutions and retaining employees in their positions.

It also included guarantees for the return of displaced people to their areas as part of efforts aimed at unifying Syrian territory and strengthening stability.

As part of implementing the agreement, the cease-fire was enforced and the military escalation ended. Prisoner exchanges between the two sides also took place, in addition to the return of displaced people from Afrin to their original areas. Work is currently underway to prepare for the return of all displaced people from Serekaniye and Shahba to their homes.

For its part, forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior entered the cities of Qamishlo, Hasakah and Kobani under security arrangements at the time. Under the arrangements for implementing the agreement, the SDF appointed the governor of Hasakah, while work proceeded to establish three military brigades for the SDF in Hasakah province and one military brigade in Kobani.

The period also witnessed the appointment of several figures to positions under the new understandings, including the selection of SDF commander Samir Oso as deputy defense minister for the eastern region in the transitional government, the selection of Jiya Kobani as deputy commander of the 60th Division, and the appointment of Mahmoud Khalil, “Siamand Afrin,” as deputy commander-general of the Internal Security Forces in Hasakah province.

The process also included the integration of administrative and service institutions between the two sides into directorates affiliated with the government ministry in the Jazira and Kobani. Some of these directorates were headed by figures from the Autonomous Administration, while others were headed by figures appointed by the government.

Recognition of Kurdish Identity

In the political context, Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 13, which recognized Kurdish identity as part of Syrian identity and recognized the cultural rights of Kurds in the country. However, Kurds were not fully satisfied with the measure and called for the Kurdish language to be recognized as an official language in the country and in education.

This was later reflected in the beginning of the restoration of citizenship to Kurdish citizens who had been stripped of it, starting April 6 of the same year.

The Final Stage… Understandings on the Future of the SDF and the Kurdish File

As implementation of the January 29 agreement progressed, Damascus and the SDF began discussing the political, military, security and administrative details of the next stage.

According to the information available, Damascus proposed that SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi assume the position of an adviser responsible for the Kurdish file in the Syrian presidency, stressing that he should be part of the presidential team.

The information also indicated that Ilham Ahmed may assume a senior position within the Syrian transitional government.

On the education file, the information indicates that an agreement was reached to adopt the Kurdish language in education by translating five to six curriculum subjects into Kurdish alongside Arabic.

Other sources also indicated that an agreement had been reached to integrate the YPJ into the Ministry of Interior.

The reported arrangements also include the distribution of responsibilities within government and security institutions and the completion of the remaining provisions of the January 29 agreement, particularly after Mazloum Abdi announced a transition to a “new stage” following the completion of military, security and administrative integration.

However, there has been no official confirmation so far from the Syrian transitional government, the Autonomous Administration or the SDF regarding the reported responsibilities of Mazloum Abdi, the position that Ilham Ahmed may assume, the integration of the YPJ, or the status of the Kurdish language in education.

The exception is Mazloum Abdi’s confirmation yesterday that education in Kurdish is “a right our people have sought for decades, and we will work to implement the decision to provide education in Kurdish during the current year. We have seen an open position from President al-Sharaa regarding education in the mother tongue, and we will build on the decision to provide education in Kurdish in the near future.”

According to the information available, the Syrian transitional government is likely to issue a statement or a series of decisions officially revealing the results of the meetings held in Damascus and the understandings reached regarding the Kurdish file and the status of the Kurdish language, as well as the nature of the positions and responsibilities that Kurdish figures and leaders will assume within the state, particularly after Mazloum Abdi announced yesterday the end of the mission of the SDF and the entry into a stage of building Syria.

August 25, 2026… Announcement of the End of the SDF Mission

Last night, August 25, following a series of political, military and security meetings in the capital Damascus, SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi announced the end of the mission of the SDF as an independent military force, following the completion of the integration of its forces into brigades of the Syrian army.

Abdi said Syria had entered a new stage defined by peace and participation in building a new Syria, announcing a transition from the military stage to the stage of construction.

He said what is required is for this day to mark the beginning of a real transition “from battlefields to the fields of construction, from the era of weapons to the era of peace, and from the stage of defending Syria to the stage of building Syria.”

The announcement comes as arrangements between Damascus and the SDF are moving from the stage of military and security negotiations to a new phase based on integrating forces and institutions into the Syrian state, alongside addressing the political, administrative and cultural issues that have remained unresolved over the past years.

A-H 

ANHA