Syrian Democratic Forces

← Previous revision Revision as of 00:09, 24 June 2016 Line 95: Line 95:   The establishment of the SDF was announced on 11 October 2015 during a press conference in [[al-Hasakah]].<ref name=KQ1015>{{cite web |title=Declaration of establishment by Syrian Democratic Forces |publisher=Kurdish Question |url=http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html |date=15 October 2015 |accessdate=15 October 2015}}</ref>   The establishment of the SDF was announced on 11 October 2015 during a press conference in [[al-Hasakah]].<ref name=KQ1015>{{cite web |title=Declaration of establishment by Syrian Democratic Forces |publisher=Kurdish Question |url=http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html |date=15 October 2015 |accessdate=15 October 2015}}</ref>     − The alliance builds upon the successful [[Euphrates Volcano]] joint operations of the Syrian Kurdish [[People's Protection Units|YPG]] and certain factions of the [[Free Syrian Army]], who helped defend the Kurdish town of [[Kobanî]]. Euphrates Volcano was later joined by [[Liwa Thuwwar al-Raqqa]], who participated in the capture of [[Tell Abyad]] from the Islamic State. The larger Syrian Democratic Forces alliance also includes forces from the self-administered [[Jazira Canton]], such as the Christian [[Syriac Military Council]] and the Arab tribe [[Al-Sanadid Forces]] both of whom contributed to combating IS from [[Al-Hasakah]].<ref name="SOHR">{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/05/ypg-backed-by-al-khabour-guards-forces-al-sanadid-army-and-the-syriac-military-council-expels-is-out-of-more-than-230-towns-villages-and-farmlands/|title=YPG, backed by al- Khabour Guards Forces, al- Sanadid army and the Syriac Military Council, expels IS out of more than 230 towns, villages and farmlands|work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|date=28 May 2015|accessdate=16 October 2015}}</ref> Although estimates of the size of the SDF's component forces vary significantly, their total number, including the [[Syrian Arab Coalition]] and Christian militias may be as high as 55,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/syrian-kurds-now-say-they-now-control-territory-the-size-of-qatar-and-kuwait-combined-2015-8 |title=Syrian Kurds now say they now control territory the size of Qatar and Kuwait combined |last=Perry |first=Tom |date=15 August 2015 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> + The alliance builds upon the successful [[Euphrates Volcano]] joint operations of the Syrian Kurdish [[People's Protection Units|YPG]] and certain factions of the [[Free Syrian Army]], who helped defend the Kurdish town of [[Kobanî]]. Euphrates Volcano was later joined by [[Liwa Thuwwar al-Raqqa]], who participated in the capture of [[Tell Abyad]] from the Islamic State. The larger Syrian Democratic Forces alliance also includes forces from the self-administered [[Jazira Canton]], such as the Christian [[Syriac Military Council]] and the Arab tribe [[Al-Sanadid Forces]] both of whom contributed to combating IS from [[Al-Hasakah]].<ref name="SOHR">{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/05/ypg-backed-by-al-khabour-guards-forces-al-sanadid-army-and-the-syriac-military-council-expels-is-out-of-more-than-230-towns-villages-and-farmlands/|title=YPG, backed by al- Khabour Guards Forces, al- Sanadid army and the Syriac Military Council, expels IS out of more than 230 towns, villages and farmlands|work=Syrian Observatory For Human Rights|date=28 May 2015|accessdate=16 October 2015}}</ref> Although estimates of the size of the SDF's component forces vary significantly, their total number may be as high as 55,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/syrian-kurds-now-say-they-now-control-territory-the-size-of-qatar-and-kuwait-combined-2015-8 |title=Syrian Kurds now say they now control territory the size of Qatar and Kuwait combined |last=Perry |first=Tom |date=15 August 2015 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>       Some of the remaining U.S.-[[The Pentagon|Pentagon]]-trained rebels will also be part of the new forces, tasked with "calling in airstrikes against ISIS and recruiting moderate rebels".<ref>{{cite web |first=Bill|last=Chappell |title=New Rebel Coalition Forms in Syria; Insurgents Lost Ground Over Weekend |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/12/447969603/new-rebel-coalition-forms-in-syria-insurgents-lost-ground-over-weekend |date=12 October 2015| accessdate=13 October 2015}}</ref>   Some of the remaining U.S.-[[The Pentagon|Pentagon]]-trained rebels will also be part of the new forces, tasked with "calling in airstrikes against ISIS and recruiting moderate rebels".<ref>{{cite web |first=Bill|last=Chappell |title=New Rebel Coalition Forms in Syria; Insurgents Lost Ground Over Weekend |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/12/447969603/new-rebel-coalition-forms-in-syria-insurgents-lost-ground-over-weekend |date=12 October 2015| accessdate=13 October 2015}}</ref>