July 19 Revolution: Liberation and Resilience

The July 19 Revolution of 2012 was not a sudden event. It was the result of years of political and social organization. Months before the revolution began, the region witnessed its first sacrifice with the martyrdom of activist Kamal Hussein on March 26, 2012, after an ambush by members of the former Baath regime, making him the revolution's first martyr.

On July 19, 2012, the city of Kobani witnessed the first defining moment of the revolution, as local residents succeeded in ending the presence of the former Baath regime's institutions in the city. This marked the beginning of a new phase in which the city's administration was handed over to its own people, alongside the announcement of the formation of the People's Protection Units (YPG) to protect the region and defend the revolution's achievements.

Within days, the revolution spread to other cities and towns. Residents of Afrin liberated their city the following day, followed by Amuda and Al-Darbasiyah on November 9, and Tell Tamer on November 10. The liberated areas gradually expanded to include Derik, Garkê Legê, Çil Agha, Tirbespiyeh, Rmelan, and the Kurdish neighborhoods of Hasakah, covering most cities and towns across Hasakah Governorate. The former Baath regime's presence was eventually reduced to a few security zones in Hasakah and Qamishlo.

The revolution also reached the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah in Aleppo, as well as Zoor Ava in Damascus, where residents organized themselves around the principle of self-defense.

Alongside the liberation efforts, civil institutions were established to manage public affairs. These included local councils and service, economic, and security bodies, aiming to create a new model of governance known as the Autonomous Administration, with the participation of the region's diverse communities.

Beginning of the Attacks

As the revolution expanded, armed groups backed by Turkey launched attacks on areas across North and East Syria.

On November 8, 2012, Jabhat al-Nusra and dozens of factions identifying themselves as the Free Syrian Army launched the first large-scale assault on the city of Serekaniye. The city witnessed months of fighting before the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ) fully repelled the attackers and liberated the city on July 17, 2013.

During the same period, areas south of Jal Agha and Kerki Laki came under repeated attacks from the same groups. However, local defense forces succeeded in repelling the assaults and protecting the region while liberation efforts continued elsewhere.

The year 2013 also witnessed major military and political developments. These included the establishment of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) on April 4 as the region's first organized women's military force, the declaration of a general mobilization in response to escalating attacks, the liberation of Zarghan and Tell Kocher, and the launch of military campaigns to secure all areas of Rojava.

The attacks also spread to the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods in Aleppo. They began with assaults by the former Baath regime in 2012 and were followed by attacks by armed groups affiliated with Turkey in 2013. Despite this, residents of both neighborhoods maintained a historic resistance until the end of 2016, when they declared victory over the attacking groups alongside the liberation of eastern Aleppo.

Kobani: The Battle Changed the Course of the War

On July 2, 2014, ISIS mercenaries launched attacks on the city of Kobani, with the most intense offensive beginning on September 15, using heavy weapons they had seized after capturing vast areas of Iraq and Syria.

On September 22 of the same year, Abdullah Ocalan issued a widely cited call, stating: "The fall of Kobani is the fall of Kurdistan, and the Kurdish people must act with this understanding." The appeal was followed by a large public mobilization in support of the city's defense.

After months of fighting, Kobani became the focus of international attention as fighters of the YPG and the YPJ resisted ISIS attacks. The resistance, marked by the sacrifices of Arin Mirkan and her comrades, inspired international support, paving the way for the intervention of the Global Coalition against ISIS and the establishment of a long-term partnership in counterterrorism efforts.

On January 26, 2015, Kobani was fully liberated, marking ISIS's first major strategic defeat. Following this victory, the YPG shifted its strategy from defending territory to liberating areas under ISIS control.

From Defense to Liberation

Following the victory in Kobani, a new phase began, focusing on pursuing ISIS across Syria.

In October 2015, the SDF were established, bringing together fighters from the region's diverse communities. The SDF went on to lead a series of military operations against ISIS while also confronting Turkish military offensives.

Over the following years, the SDF captured Al-Hol, the Tishreen Dam, Al-Shaddadi, and the city of Manbij in August 2016. Broader campaigns followed, culminating in the liberation of Tabqa and its dam in May 2017.

While covering these military campaigns, the agency lost several correspondents who were martyred in an ISIS suicide attack in October 2017: Delishan Ibbish, Rizgar Adanmish, and Hoker Mohammed.

Meanwhile, the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo came under chemical and toxic substance attacks on March 8 and April 7–8, 2016, allegedly carried out by Turkey-backed armed groups. The attacks caused casualties among civilians and YPG/YPJ fighters, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and the destruction of nearly 40 percent of the two neighborhoods.

On October 20, 2017, the SDF announced the liberation of Raqqa, which ISIS had declared its de facto capital in Syria. Military operations then continued east of the Euphrates until reaching the town of Baghouz, where, on March 23, 2019, the defeat of ISIS's last territorial stronghold was declared.

Although ISIS lost its territorial control, security forces continued conducting operations against sleeper cells. These included campaigns known as People's Hammer, Jazeera Thunderbolt, and Security Reinforcement, as well as security operations in Al-Hol Camp and Al-Sina'a Prison in Hasakah, which witnessed one of ISIS's largest prison assault attempts in 2022.

The Establishment of the Autonomous Administration

In January 2014, the Democratic Autonomous Administration was declared in the Jazira, Kobani, and Afrin cantons. Executive bodies, legislative councils, and people's courts were established to manage public services and the economic, educational, health, and judicial sectors.

As the liberated territory expanded, these institutions underwent continuous restructuring. In 2018, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was officially established, later evolving through reforms to its council system and expanded responsibilities for civilian institutions across multiple sectors.

One of the most significant milestones came on December 13, 2023, when the People's Council of North and East Syria (General Council) approved a new Social Contract. The document serves as a constitution drafted by representatives of the region's Kurdish, Arab, Syriac-Assyrian, Circassian, Turkmen, and other communities, based on principles of pluralism, participation, and democracy.

These years also witnessed a number of political developments, including the establishment of the SDC, the launch of initiatives aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian conflict, and the strengthening of relations with several European countries as part of broader efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.

Turkish Attacks: Efforts to Eliminate the Autonomous Administration

Alongside the war against ISIS and as the group's territorial defeat approached, the region entered a new phase as Turkey began launching direct military operations against the Autonomous Administration, after previously relying on armed factions it had supported.

On January 20, 2018, the Turkish army and allied armed groups launched a military offensive that ended with the capture of Afrin on March 18. The offensive resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians during the years of occupation, the displacement of more than 350,000 residents, demographic changes in the region, and thousands of documented war crimes.

In October 2019, Turkish military operations expanded to include the cities of Serekaniye and Gire Spi. Turkish forces and allied armed groups captured both cities and the surrounding areas, triggering a large wave of displacement. The war crimes were committed during the offensive, including the use of white phosphorus and incendiary napalm, citing the widely circulated image of the child Mohammed Hamid ("Mohammed of Serekaniye") as evidence.

The agency's correspondent, Saad Al-Ahmad, was also martyed in  a direct attack by the Turkish military while covering shelling targeting the city, civilians, and human shield convoys heading toward Serekaniye on October 13, 2019.

The attacks did not stop there. In the following years, artillery shelling and drone strikes continued across a wide geographical area stretching from Derik in the east to Afrin in the west. These strikes targeted military positions, civilian sites, and public infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of fighters and public figures at different times and locations.

Among those mentioned are Hevrin Khalaf, Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party; activists Zahra Berkel, Hebun Mela Khalil, and Amina Waisi; Jiyan Tolhildan, commander of the Counter-Terrorism Units; Karker Tolhildan, founder of the Afrin Liberation Forces; journalists Aqid Roj and Nazim Dashtan; and the agency's correspondent Jihan Bilkin, who was martyred alongside colleague Nazim Dashtan over Turkish drone strike on the road between Tishreen Dam and the city of Sirrin, south of Kobani, on December 19, 2024.

Targeting Critical Infrastructure

Between 2022 and 2024, attacks on critical infrastructure in North and East Syria intensified. Turkish military strikes targeted power stations, electricity transmission facilities, oil and gas installations, water stations, grain silos, bridges, roads, healthcare facilities, and other public service infrastructure.

While documenting these attacks, the agency's correspondent Issam Abdullah was martyred over a Turkish airstrike on the village of Teql Beql near Derik while covering damage to an electricity station.

These attacks led to a decline in electricity production, water shortages affecting millions of civilians, and significant damage to the agricultural and industrial sectors. Tishreen Dam was reportedly put out of service by the end of 2024 as a result of repeated shelling, while the Qereqozak Bridge and several other vital facilities were also damaged.

Following the fall of the Baath regime on December 8, 2024, the region entered a new phase focused on political, legal, and constitutional efforts, including calls to secure rights and ensure inclusive participation in building the future of Syria.