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Page title without namespace (page_title) | 'People's Defense Units' |
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Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Mainly-Kurdish militia in Syria}}
{{Redirect|YPG}}
{{Distinguish|Women's Protection Units}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = People's Defense Units
| native_name = {{lang|ku|Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (YPG)}} <br />{{lang|ar|{{rlm}}وحدات حماية الشعب{{lrm}}{{lrm}}}}
| image = People's Protection Units Flag.svg
| caption = Flag of the YPG
| dates = 2011–present
| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kurdish Supreme Committee.svg}} [[Kurdish Supreme Committee]] (2011–2013)<ref name=casualties /><br />{{flagicon image|De facto SA-NES Flag.svg}} [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]] (2013–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13112013|title=PYD announces surprise interim government in Syria's Kurdish regions|publisher=[[Rudaw Media Network|Rudaw]]|access-date=9 October 2014|date=13 November 2013}}</ref><br />
| type = [[Light infantry]] militia with several [[Technical (vehicle)|motorised]] battalions
| size = 78,000 (Including YPJ, 2017 estimate){{sfnp|Rashid|2018|p=16}}
| command_structure = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]]<!-- affects the field "Part of"-->
| garrison_label = Garrison
| march =
| battles = [[Syrian Civil War]]/[[Rojava conflict]]
* [[Rojava conflict#YPG claims territory|2012 Rojava campaign]]
* [[Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)|Battle of Aleppo]]
** [[Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)]]
* [[Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–13)]]
** [[Battle of Ras al-Ayn]]
** [[Battle of al-Yaarubiyah]]
* [[Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)]]
* [[Siege of Kobanî]]
* [[Al-Hasakah offensive (February–March 2015)|Al-Hasakah offensive]]
* [[Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)|Battle of Sarrin]]
* [[Tell Abyad offensive]]
* [[Battle of Al-Hasakah (June–August 2015)|Battle of Al-Hasakah]]
* [[Al-Hawl offensive]]
* [[Tishrin Dam offensive]]
* [[Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)|Al-Shaddadi offensive]]
* [[Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)]]
* [[Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)|Northern Raqqa offensive]]
* [[Manbij offensive]]
* [[Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)]]
* [[Operation Euphrates Shield]]
* [[Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)]]
* [[Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)]]
* [[Operation Olive Branch]]
* [[Eastern Syria Insurgency]]
* [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]]
[[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)|Iraqi Civil War]]
* [[December 2014 Sinjar offensive|2014 Sinjar offensive]]
* [[November 2015 Sinjar offensive|2015 Sinjar offensive]]
<!--Commanders-->| website = {{Official website|https://www.ypgrojava.org/}}
| commander1 = Mahmoud Berkhadan
| commander1_label = General Commander
| commander2 = [[Nuri Mahmoud]]
| commander2_label = Spokesperson
| notable_commanders = Zainab Afrin
Nalîn Dêrik
Sozdar Dêrik
Serhildan Garisî
Rêdûr Khalil
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = Emblem
}}
{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}
{{Campaignbox Rojava Revolution}}
[[File:Claimed and de facto territory of Rojava.png|thumb|210px|SDF-controlled territory (green), claimed territory (orange), [[Turkish occupation of northern Syria|Turkish-occupied Afrin]] (red) in October 2018]]
The '''People's Defense Units''' ('''YPG'''),{{Efn|({{lang-ku|یەکینەیێن پاراستنا گەل|Yekîneyên Parastina Gel}} (YPG) {{IPA-ku|jɛkiːnɛjeːn pɑːɾɑːstɯnɑː ɡɛl|pron|Kmr-Yekîneyên Parastina Gel.oga}}; {{lang-ar|وحدات حماية الشعب|Waḥdāt Ḥimāyat aš-Šaʽb}})}} also called '''People's Protection Units''', is a mainly [[Kurds in Syria|Kurdish]] militant group in [[Syria]] and the primary component of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/ascent-of-the-pyd-and-the-sdf |title=Ascent of the PYD and the SDF |last1=Barfi |first1=Barak |date=April 2016 |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/kurds-turkey-pkk-ypg/470991/|title=Who Exactly Are 'the Kurds'?|first=Steven A.|last=Cook|work=The Atlantic |access-date=16 February 2017|date=25 February 2016}}</ref> YPG provides updates about its activities through [https://t.me/YPGInfo YPG Press Office Telegram channel] and social media accounts.
The YPG mostly consists of [[Kurds]], but also includes Arabs and [[YPG International|foreign volunteers]]; it is closely allied to the [[Syriac Military Council]], an [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] militia. The YPG was formed in 2011. It expanded rapidly in the [[Syrian Civil War]] and came to predominate over other armed Syrian Kurdish groups. A sister militia, the [[Women's Protection Units]] (YPJ), fights alongside them. The YPG is active in the [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]] (Rojava), particularly in [[Syrian Kurdistan|its Kurdish regions]].
In early 2015, the group won a major victory over the so-called [[Islamic State]] (IS) during the [[siege of Kobanî]], where the YPG began to receive air and ground support from the United States and other [[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve]] militaries. Since then, the YPG has primarily fought against IS, as well as on occasion fighting other [[Syrian opposition|Syrian rebel groups]] and the [[Turkish Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/kurdish-forces-bolster-assad-in-aleppo|title=Kurdish Forces Bolster Assad in Aleppo|publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy|language=en|access-date=2017-03-17 |date=29 July 2016}}</ref> In late 2015, the YPG became part of the SDF, an umbrella group intended to better incorporate Arabs and [[Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War|minorities]] into the war effort. In 2016–2017, the SDF's [[Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)|Raqqa campaign]] led to the liberation of the city of [[Raqqa]], the Islamic State's ''de facto'' capital. Several western sources have described the YPG as the "most effective" force in fighting IS in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33690060|agency=BBC|date=23 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US troops wearing YPG patches in Syria|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-ypg-patches-syria-2016-5|work=Business Insider|date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
According to Turkey<ref>{{Cite web |title=PKK / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/pkk.en.mfa |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=www.mfa.gov.tr}}</ref> and Qatar,<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2018 |title=Syrian terrorist list produces 163 names and no agreement |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-terrorist-idUSKCN0VQ25E |work=Reuters}}</ref> the YPG is a terrorist organization,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Christina |date=2015 |title=Turkey's Double Standard on Terrorism: Accuses BBC of supporting PKK, backs other groups from China, Russia and US |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/193475/370_Lin.pdf |website=Institute for Strategic, Political, Security and Economic Consultancy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turak |first=Natasha |date=2022-05-23 |title=Conflict, politics and history: Why Turkey is standing in the way of both Sweden and Finland's NATO bids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/why-turkey-doesnt-want-sweden-finland-to-join-nato.html |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=2022-05-20 |title=Sweden blasts Turkish 'disinformation' as Erdoğan delays NATO accession |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-turkey-nato-erdogan-disinformation/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en-US}}</ref> closely associated with the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization. The flag of the YPG is also a banned symbol in [[Germany]] as per [[Strafgesetzbuch section 86a]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=German police raid leftist for posting Kurdish YPG flag {{!}} DW {{!}} 19.08.2017 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-raid-leftist-for-posting-kurdish-ypg-flag/a-40160377 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=German lawmaker sparks criticism after displaying banned YPG flag in parliament |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2017/11/21/german-lawmaker-sparks-criticism-after-displaying-banned-ypg-flag-in-parliament |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=[[Daily Sabah]] |language=en-US}}</ref> although the organization itself is not recognised as terrorist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yücel |first=Deniz |author-link=Deniz Yücel |date=24 February 2016 |title=Gute Kurden, böse Kurden. Wer ist Terrorist? |language=de |trans-title=Good Kurds, bad Kurds. Who is terrorist? |work=[[Die Welt]] |location=Berlin |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article152602725/Gute-Kurden-boese-Kurden-Wer-ist-Terrorist.html |access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref> Finland and Sweden's alleged support for the YPG, is one of the points which caused [[Turkey in NATO|Turkey]] to oppose Finland and Sweden's [[Enlargement of NATO|NATO accession bid]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerem |first=Schamberger |date=24 May 2022 |title=Der türkische NATO-Krieg gegen Kurdistan |url=https://jacobin.de/artikel/der-turkische-nato-krieg-gegen-kurdistan-nordirak-erdogan/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[Jacobin]] |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Richard |first=Milne |date=2022-05-20 |title=Sweden's Nato ambitions run into Kurdish row |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7defc9ce-d6d6-4485-94df-ca79eb37fa13 |access-date=2022-05-26}}</ref>
In June 2022, then–Finnish President [[Sauli Niinistö]] announced in [[Madrid]], after the agreement with Turkey, that Finland does not see the YPG as a terrorist organization and that Finland will continue to support the YPG.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Finlandiya: YPG’ye terör örgütü demedik, değişen bir şey yok |url=https://www.diken.com.tr/finlandiya-ypgye-teror-orgutu-demedik-degisen-bir-sey-yok/ |publisher=Diken |language=tr}}</ref> The Turkish terror classification is not shared by key international bodies in the fight against the Islamic State in which the YPG takes part.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Deewanee |first=Azad |date=March 2022 |title=The Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Turkish Official Discourse |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00438200211063520 |journal=World Affairs |language=en |volume=185 |issue=1 |pages=59–90 |doi=10.1177/00438200211063520 |s2cid=244947795 |issn=0043-8200 |via=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE]]}}</ref> Due to this Turkish view, [[United States Army Special Operations Command|US Army Special Operations Commander]] General [[Raymond A. Thomas|Raymond Thomas]] suggested the YPG to change their name, after which the name of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF) was found.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Sangar |date=22 July 2017 |title=We told YPG to change brand name in 2015: US General |work=[[Kurdistan 24]] |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/12098-We-told-YPG-to-change-brand-name-in-2015:-US-General}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-07-21 |title=U.S. general told Syria's YPG: 'You have got to change your brand' |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-ypg-idUSKBN1A62SS |access-date=2023-01-09}}</ref>According to the Turkish state-run [[Anadolu Agency]], the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and YPG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US fails to account for $715M in weapons for YPG/PKK |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fails-to-account-for-715m-in-weapons-for-ypg-pkk/1740082 |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> Among the heavy weaponry provided are [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] American anti-tank missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-06-09 |title=YPG deploys US-made TOW missiles in Syria amid possible operation |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref>
According to the Turkish state-run [[Anadolu Agency]], the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and YPG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US fails to account for $715M in weapons for YPG/PKK |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fails-to-account-for-715m-in-weapons-for-ypg-pkk/1740082 |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> Among the heavy weaponry provided are [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] American anti-tank missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-06-09 |title=YPG deploys US-made TOW missiles in Syria amid possible operation |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early origins ==
Kurdish activists attempted to unify themselves following the [[2004 Qamishli riots]]. The riots began as clashes between rivaling football fans before taking a political turn, with Arab fans raising pictures of [[Saddam Hussein]] while the Kurdish fans reportedly proclaimed "We will sacrifice our lives for Bush". This resulted in clashes between the two groups who attacked each other with sticks, stones and knives. Government security forces entered the city to quell the riot, firing at the crowds. The riots resulted in around 36 dead, most of them Kurds.
They did not, however, emerge as a significant force until the [[Syrian civil war]] erupted in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=UA 15/05 Torture and ill-treatment/ possible unfair trial |date=19 January 2005 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/88000/mde240032005en.pdf |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name="Vice">{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-ypg|title=Meet the YPG, the Kurdish militia that doesn't want help from anyone|last=Gold|first=Danny|date=31 October 2012|quote=A member of YPG's central command … said that the YPG formed in 2004 shortly after the Qamishlo riots, when a number of Kurdish youth realized that they needed to be able to defend themselves more efficiently. They did not officially declare themselves until the revolution started in 2011.|magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|VICE]]|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>
=== Establishment ===
The self-defence committees that were to become the YPG were formed in July and August 2011 as the Self Protection units (YXG).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ayboga, Flach and Knapp|first=Ercan, Anja and Michael|title=Revolution in Rojava; Democratic Autonomy and Women's liberation in Syrian Kurdistan|publisher=Pluto Press|year=2016|isbn=9780745336596|location=London, United Kingdom|pages=51|language=English}}</ref>
Existing underground [[Kurds|Kurdish]] political parties, the [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and the [[Kurdish National Council]] (KNC), joined to form the [[Kurdish Supreme Committee]] (KSC) and established the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to defend Kurdish-inhabited areas in northern Syria, i.e. [[Syrian Kurdistan]] and the Kurdish enclave of [[Sheikh Maqsood]] in [[Aleppo]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=YPG |title=About Us |url=https://www.ypgrojava.org/About-Us |website=ypgrojava.org |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref><ref name=casualties>{{cite news|title=Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli |url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html |access-date=27 July 2012 |publisher=Rudaw |date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724224808/http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html |archive-date=24 July 2012 }}</ref> Originally a wholly Kurdish force, the YPG began to recruit [[Arabs]] from at least 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://merip.org/2020/07/arabs-across-syria-join-the-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces/|title=Arabs Across Syria Join the Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces|date=28 July 2020|publisher=MERIP}}</ref>
== Control of Kurdish areas ==
In July 2012, the YPG had a standoff with Syrian government forces in the Kurdish city of [[Kobanî]] and the surrounding areas. After negotiations, government forces withdrew and the YPG took control of [[Kobanî]], [[Amuda]], and [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]].<ref name=casualties /><ref>{{cite news|title=Kurds Give Ultimatum to Syrian Security Forces|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd541.htm |access-date=9 October 2014|publisher=Rudaw|date=21 July 2012}}</ref>
By December 2012, it had expanded to eight [[Brigade (military)|brigades]], which were formed in [[Qamishlo]], Kobanî, and [[Ras al-Ayn]] (Serê Kaniyê), and in the districts of [[Afrin District|Afrin]], [[Al-Malikiyah District|al-Malikiyah]], and [[Al-Bab District|al-Bab]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region |title=The Kurdish Protection Units have formed a new brigade in the Al–Bab region |work=Scientia Humana |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=18 December 2013 |quote=Kurdish Information Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025429/http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region |archive-date=8 January 2013 }}</ref>
=== Late 2012: Islamist attacks make YPG dominant ===
The YPG did not initially take an offensive posture in the Syrian Civil War. Aiming mostly to defend Kurdish-majority areas, it avoided engaging Syrian government forces, which still controlled several enclaves in Kurdish territory. The YPG changed this policy when Ras al-Ayn was taken by the [[al-Qaeda]]-affiliated [[al-Nusra Front]]. At first the YPG conquered the surrounding government-controlled areas: [[al-Darbasiyah]] (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), [[Tel Tamer]] and [[al-Malikiyah]] (Kurdish: Dêrika Hemko). The subsequent [[Battle of Ras al-Ayn]] started in earnest when on 19 November 2012, the al-Nusra Front and a second al-Qaeda affiliate, [[Ghuraba al-Sham]], attacked Kurdish positions in the town. The battle ended with a YPG victory in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/76750/World/Region/Kurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx |title=Kurds expel jihadists from flashpoint Syrian town: NGO|agency=AFP|work=Al-Ahram Weekly|date=17 July 2013|access-date=13 February 2015}}</ref>
While many rebel groups clashed with the YPG, [[jihadist]] and [[Salafist]] groups did so the most often.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote=While rebel groups from across the ideological spectrum have clashed with the PYD, jihadi and Salafi groups have done so most aggressively and consistently |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The YPG proved to be the only Kurdish militia able to effectively resist the fundamentalists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/interview/22072013 |title=YPG Commander: Kurds Are Bulwark Against Islamic Extremism in Syria|publisher=Rudaw|access-date=9 October 2014|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> While the YPG protected the Kurdish communities it was able to extract a price: it prevented the emergence of new, rival militias and forced existing ones to cooperate with or join the YPG forces on its terms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote=The PYD's growing influence largely has come at the expense of other Kurdishgroups. In particular, it has prevented emergence of new, rival militias while forcing existing ones to cooperate with or join PYD forces on their terms |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was how the Islamist attacks enabled the YPG to unite the Syrian Kurds under its banner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf|author=International Crisis Group|title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria|date=8 May 2014|quote=Crisis Group interview, Erbil, 4 July 2013: Intensified Islamist attacks in Kurdish areas shifted Kurdish public opinion toward the PYD. A resident of Tell Tamr, a partly Kurdish town targeted by armed Islamist groups, said, "in the aftermath of the battle of Ras al-Ayn, Islamists entered Tell Tamr. They began kidnapping and killing Kurds. I am not a YPG supporter, and I will never be. But if it weren't for the YPG, not a single Kurd would be left in the [al-] Jazeera region". Crisis Group interview, Erbil, July 2013. A journalist working for a pro-KDP channel commented: "I was the most critical person against the PYD. But at the moment, I have to admit that they are saving the people from the worst".|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and caused<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote="At the same time, Ankara turned a blind eye to the Islamist fighters crossing from Turkey into Syria, viewing them – in addition to helping bring down the Assad regime – as potential counterweights to the PYD. The strategy backfired; the PYD not only gained territory, but also bolstered its appeal among Kurds as their only protector from jihadis. In September 2013, a Turkish official acknowledged: 'We made the PYD stronger by trying to undermine it'" |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> it to become the de facto army of the Syrian Kurds.<ref name="bb">{{cite book|last1=N. Abboud|first1=Samer|title=Syria|date=12 November 2015|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-7456-9801-4|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BPbrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT116}}</ref><ref name="nn">{{cite news|date=2014|title=Kurdish Woman Leading Battle Against Islamic State in Kobane: Activists|work=[[NDTV]]|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kurdish-woman-leading-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-678354|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="aus">{{cite news|title=Woman leads Kurds in battle against Islamic State in Kobane: activists|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/woman-leads-kurds-in-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-20141013-1158kr.html|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="enalb">{{cite news|title=Kurdish woman leads fight against ISIS in Kobane|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/2014/10/14/Kurdish-woman-leads-fight-against-ISIS-in-Kobane-.html|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref>
=== 2013: Kurdish control of al-Yaarubiyah/Til Koçer ===
{{Main|Battle of al-Yaarubiyah}}
In October 2013, YPG fighters took control of [[al-Yaarubiyah]] (Til Koçer) following intense clashes with IS. The clashes lasted about three days, with the Til Koçer border gate to Iraq being taken in a major offensive launched on the night of 24 October.<ref name="til" /> PYD leader [[Salih Muslim]] told Stêrk TV that this success created an alternative against efforts to hold the territory under embargo,<ref name="til">{{cite news|url=http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm |title=YPG takes control of Til Koçer |date=27 October 2013 |agency=[[Firat News Agency]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209152741/http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm |archive-date=9 December 2013}}</ref> referring to the fact that the other border crossings with Iraq led to areas controlled by the [[Kurdistan Regional Government]], while al-Yaarubiyah led to areas controlled by the Iraqi central government.
=== 2014: Fight against IS ===
[[File:Rojava february 2014.png|250px|thumb|YPG-controlled territory, February 2014]]
In 2014, the [[Syriac Military Council]], a group of [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] units, was formally integrated into the YPG's command structure. The [[inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War]] led to open war between the [[Free Syrian Army]] and IS in January 2014. The YPG collaborated with FSA groups to fight IS in [[Raqqa Governorate|Raqqa]] province;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/|title=FSA and YPG cooperate against ISIL militants in Syria's Tel Abyad|date=12 May 2014|publisher=ARA News|access-date=9 October 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008154840/http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/|archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> the group also formed an operations room with multiple FSA factions, called [[Euphrates Volcano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/|title=YPG and FSA form a joint military chamber to combat ISIS in Syria|publisher=ARA News|date=12 September 2014|access-date=9 October 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063318/http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/|archive-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> However, the general outcome of this campaign was a massive advance by IS, which effectively separated the eastern part of Rojava from the main force of FSA rebels. IS followed up on its success by attacking the YPG and the FSA in Kobanî Canton in March and fighting its way to the gates of the city of Kobanî in September. The actual [[siege of Kobanî]] approximately coincided with an escalation in the [[American-led intervention in Syria]]. This intervention had started with aiding the FSA against the government, but when the FSA was getting defeated by IS in eastern Syria, it escalated to bombing IS on Syrian territory.
With the world fearing another massacre in Kobanî, American support increased substantially. The US gave intense [[close air support]] to the YPG, and in doing so, started military cooperation with one of the factions. While it expected that IS would quickly crush the YPG and the FSA, this alliance was not considered a problem for the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/08/world/meast/isis-threat/index.html |title=U.S. military: Airstrikes against ISIS won't save key city of Kobani|date=9 October 2014|publisher=CNN |access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> The YPG won the battle in early 2015.
Meanwhile, the situation had been stable in Afrin and Aleppo. The fight between the FSA and IS had led to a normalization in the relations between FSA and YPG since the end of 2013. In February 2015, the YPG signed a judicial agreement with the [[Levant Front]] in [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=KURDISH YPG AND JABHAT AL-SHAMIYA AGREEMENT ON JUDICIARY COOPERATION IN ALEPPO|url=https://www.facebook.com/SyrianRebellionObservatory/photos/a.1648239072069399.1073741828.1648217982071508/1699722200254419/?type=1 |date=5 February 2015|publisher=Syrian Rebellion Observatory}}</ref><!--allys-->
=== Spring 2015: Offensive operations with coalition support ===
[[File:Syrian civil war 01 11 2015.png|thumb|Military situation in the Syrian Civil War in November 2015]]
[[File:Rojava june 2015.png|250px|thumb|YPG-controlled territory, June 2015]]
The YPG was able and willing to offensively engage and put pressure on IS and had built up a track record as a reliable military partner of the US. In 2015, the YPG began its advance on [[Tell Abyad|Tel Abyad]], a move they have planned for since November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|title=Refworld {{!}} Kurdish Strategy Towards Ethnically-Mixed Areas in the Syrian Conflict|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/52aef0e34.html|access-date=2020-09-19|website=Refworld|publisher=Jamestown Foundation|language=en}}</ref> With American close air support, offensives near [[Eastern al-Hasakah offensive|Hasakah]] and from Hasakah [[Western al-Hasakah offensive|westward]] culminated in the [[Tell Abyad offensive|conquest of Tell Abyad]], linking up Kobanî with Hasakah in July 2015. With the capture of Tell Abyad, the YPG has also broken a major supply route of fighters and goods for the Islamic State.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-06-16|title=Is Tal Abyad a turning point for Syria's Kurds?|language=en-GB|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33146515|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref>
With these offensives, the YPG had begun to make advances into areas that did not always have a Kurdish majority. When the YPG and the FSA entered the border town of [[Tell Abyad]] in June 2015, parts of the population fled the intense fighting and the airstrikes.<ref name="pitarakis">{{cite news|last1=Pitarakis|first1=Lefteris|last2=Mroue|first2=Bassem|date=14 June 2015|title=Thousands of Syrians flee into Turkey amid intense fighting|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town|agency=AP|quote=Thousands of Syrians cut through a border fence and crossed over into Turkey … fleeing intense fighting … between Kurdish fighters and jihadis.|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617004746/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Autumn 2015: foundation of the SDF ===
The [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] was established in Hasakah on 11 October 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Abadi|first=Cameron|title=Why Is Turkey Fighting Syria's Kurds?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/turkey-claim-syrian-kurds-terrorists-not-isis-ypg-pkk-sdf/|access-date=2020-03-04|website=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=17 October 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="KQ1015">{{cite web|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|title=Declaration of establishment by Syrian Democratic Forces|date=15 October 2015|publisher=Kurdish Question|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224085811/http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html|archive-date=24 February 2016|access-date=15 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It has its origins in the YPG-FSA collaboration against IS, which had previously led to the establishment of the [[Euphrates Volcano]] joint operations room in 2014. Many of the partners are the same, and even the logo / flag with the Blue Euphrates symbol has common traits with that of Euphrates Volcano. The primary difference is that Euphrates Volcano was limited to coordinating the activities of independent Kurdish and Arab groups, while the SDF is a single organisation made up of Kurds, Arabs, and [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]].
The first success of the SDF was the capture of the strategic ethnically Arab town of al-Hawl from IS during the [[2015 Al-Hawl offensive|al-Hawl offensive]] in November 2015. This was followed in December by the [[Tishrin Dam offensive]]. The dam was captured on 26 December. Participating forces included the YPG, the FSA group [[Army of Revolutionaries]], the tribal group [[al-Sanadid Forces]] and the Assyrian [[Syriac Military Council]]. The coalition had some heavy weapons and was supported by intense US led airstrikes.<ref name="reuters-alliance">{{cite news |date=28 December 2015 |title=U.S.-backed alliance captures key dam from Islamic State – alliance spokesman |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-alliance-idUKKBN0U90DC20151228 |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=Colonel Talal Selo ... said the rapid advance overnight by thousands of troops from the Democratic Forces of Syria had brought the dam ... under their control on Saturday.... Selo said ... the latest round of fighting ... involved several thousand fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria with heavy armour. }}</ref> The capture of the hydroelectric dam also had positive effects on the [[economy of Rojava]].<ref name="Themedialine">{{cite news |date=1 February 2016 |title= Photos of Tishrin Dam, Liberated from ISIS |url=http://www.themedialine.org/views/blog/photos-of-tishrin-dam-liberated-from-isis/ |quote=Tishrin is an incredible dam, not least of all because it sits cradled in a beautiful lush valley, in an otherwise dry and arid land. But also because of what Tishrin implies for the people of Rojava who have survived for the past two years under incredible economic and political conditions, exacerbated significantly by lack of access to water and electricity which Tishrin provides.}}</ref>
=== 2016 ===
In February, the YPG-led SDF launched the [[Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)|al-Shaddadi offensive]], followed by the [[Manbij offensive]] in May, and [[Raqqa offensive (2016–present)|the Raqqa]] and [[Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)|Aleppo offensives]] in November. These operations extended SDF-controlled territory, usually at IS's expense.
On 7 April 2016, the Kurdish neighborhood of [[Sheikh Maqsood]] in Aleppo was shelled with [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] that may have contained [[List of chemical warfare agents|chemical agents]] (160 killed or wounded).<ref>{{cite web|title=MAPPING MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS: Jaish al-Islam|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/533|website=Stanford University|date=31 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/concerns-grow-about-abuses-war-crimes-in-syria/a-19277777 |title= Middle East Concerns grow about abuses, war crimes in Syria |work=Deutsche Welle|date=25 May 2016}}</ref> Spokesperson for the YPG said that [[Saudi Arabia]]-backed [[Jaysh al-Islam]] (Army of Islam) rebel group has attacked the Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo with "forbidden weapons" many times since the war's start.<ref>"[http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/7a0f6294-ab7f-4d15-b5af-3ff4b444ab3f/Syrian-rebels-admit-chemical-use-against-Kurds Syrian rebels admit chemical use against Kurds]". [[Kurdistan 24]]. 9 April 2016.</ref>
=== 2018: Turkish military intervention ===
{{See also|Turkish military intervention in Syria (January 2018–present)}}
[[File:Syrian civil war 01 11 2018.png|thumb|Military situation in January 2019]]
== Women's Protection Units ==
{{Main|Women's Protection Units}}
[[File:YPJ fighters shake hands with one another.jpg|thumb|Women's Protection Units in November 2014]]
The [[Women's Protection Units]] (YPJ), also known as the Women's Defense Units, is the YPG's female brigade, which was set up in 2012. Kurdish media have said that YPJ troops became vital during the [[siege of Kobanî]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Trieb|first1=Erin|title=Meet the Kurdish Women Fighting ISIS in Syria|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/meet-kurdish-women-fighting-isis-syria-n199821|access-date=19 March 2016|agency=NBC News|date=August 2014}}</ref> Consisting of approximately 20,000 fighters, they make up around 40% of the YPG.<ref name="profil">{{cite web|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/profil-rojda-felat-1.3239571|title=Profil – Rojda Felat. Kommandeurin der Offensive gegen den IS in Raqqa und Bismarck-Fan. [Profile – Rojda Felat. Commander of the offensive against the IS in Raqqa and Bismarck-Fan]|publisher=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]|language=de|author=Moritz Baumstieger|date=9 November 2016|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>
== Organization ==
=== Flags ===
{{multiple image
| align = center
| total_width = 600
| header = Flags of the People's Protection Units
| image1 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012, Vertical).svg
| caption1 = Vertical red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013
| image2 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012).svg
| caption2 = Horizontal red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013
| image3 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012) alternative.svg
| caption3 = Variant of the horizontal red flag, also used until early 2013
| image4 = People's Protection Units Flag.svg
| caption4 = Yellow flag of the YPG, first used since late 2012, widely adopted in 2013 and since then the official flag of the militia
}}
=== Units ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
In 2017, the YPG began to form units called [[regiment]]s in translation, though they are smaller than comparable units in standard militaries:
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Canton
! style="width:5%;"| Number
! style="width:40%;"| Name
! style="width:10%;"| Date Established
! style="width:10%;"| Strength
|-
| Afrin || 1 || Martyr Xebat Dêrik || 27 Feb 2017 || 236 in 4 battalions
|-
| Afrin || 2 || Martyr Afrin || 20 April 2017 || 235
|-
| Afrin || 3 || Martyr Rojhilet || Early June? 2017 || 236
|-
| Afrin || 4 || Martyr Mazloum || 2 July 2017 || 234
|-
| Afrin || 5 || Martyr Alişêr || 27 August 2017 || 303
|-
| Afrin || 7 || Martyr Jayan || 23 Oct 2017 || 250
|-
| Afrin || 8 || Martyr Bahoz Afrin || 18 Nov 2017 || 234
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Canton
! style="width:5%;"| Number
! style="width:40%;"| Name
! style="width:10%;"| Date Established
! style="width:10%;"| Strength
|-
| Kobane || 1 || ? || 13 Feb 2017 || 80
|-
| Kobane || 2 || Martyr Şevger Kobanî Regiment || 18 Feb 2017 || 90
|-
| Jazira – al-Hasakah || 1 || Jian Judy and Dogan Fadel || 20 July 2017 || 500
|-
| Jazira – Girkê Legê || 3 || Qereçox Martyrs || 12 July 2017 || 200
|-
| Aleppo || 1 || Martyr Shahid Baqour || 30 Sep 2017 || 55 (Martyr Abu Shayar battalion)
|-
| Tabqa (SDF) || 1 || Martyr Haboun Arab || 14 Nov 2017 || 250
|}
=== Tactics ===
According to a report in [[IHS Jane's]] regarding the YPG,
{{blockquote|Relying on speed, stealth, and surprise, it is the archetypal guerrilla army, able to deploy quickly to front lines and concentrate its forces before quickly redirecting the axis of its attack to outflank and ambush its enemy. The key to its success is autonomy. Although operating under an overarching tactical rubric, YPG brigades are inculcated with a high degree of freedom and can adapt to the changing battlefield.<ref name="YPG strategy">{{Cite web|url=https://janescom.sitefinity.cloud/error/404|title=404 error – This is not the page you requested|website=Janes.com}}</ref>}}
The YPG relies heavily on [[sniper]]s and backs them by suppressing enemy fire using mobile heavy machine guns. It also uses roadside bombs to prevent outflanking maneuvers, particularly at night. Its lines have generally held when attacked by [[Islamic State]] (IS) forces who have better equipment, including helmets and body armor.<ref name="stephens">{{cite news|last=Stephens|first=Michael|date=11 September 2014|title=Analysis: YPG – The Islamic State's worst enemy|newspaper=[[IHS Jane's 360]]|url=http://www.janes.com/article/43030/analysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
The YPG and [[People's Defence Forces|People's Defense Forces]] (HPG) have also trained and equipped more than 1,000 [[Yazidis]], who operate in the [[Sinjar Mountains|Mount Sinjar area]] as local defense units under their supervision.<ref name="stephens" />
The YPG calls itself a people's army, and therefore appoints officers by internal elections.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahmad|first=Rozh|title=A rare glimpse into Kurdish armed forces in Syrian Kurdistan|work=[[Ekurd.net]]|location=Erbil, Iraq|date=6 August 2012|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/8/syriakurd578.htm }}</ref>
A 20-year-old female YPJ fighter named Zlukh Hamo (Nom de guerre: Avesta Khabur) was reported to have carried out a [[suicide attack]] towards Turkish troops and a tank during the early phase of the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin|Afrin Offensive]], killing herself and several soldiers in the process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nordland |first=Rod |date=28 January 2018 |title=Female Kurdish Fighter Kills Turkish Troops in Likely Suicide Bombing in Syria |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/world/middleeast/kurds-female-suicide-bomber-syria.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 January 2018|title=Turkish troops targeted in Afrin suicide attack|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1235721/middle-east|access-date=18 June 2021|website=[[Arab News]]}}</ref> The attack was commended by pro-SDF sources as a courageous attack against a tank using explosives, which killed her in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kurdish female fighter detonates herself to destroy a Turkish tank in Afrin, statement|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/280120182|access-date=2021-06-18|website=[[Rudaw]]}}</ref>
=== Equipment ===
{{See also|List of military equipment used by Syrian Democratic Forces}}
[[File:YPG Tall Tamer 14 mai 2015.PNG|thumb|YPG [[Technical (vehicle)|technical]] near [[Tell Tamer]], 2015]]
In comparison to the other major factions involved in the Syrian Civil War, the YPG has the least armor.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Turkey's high stakes in post-ISIL Syria |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hao6jQpTs |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |date=5 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> To compensate for the resulting capability gap, the YPG became heavily involved in the production of DIY armoured vehicles, typically based on bulldozers or large trucks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Monsters Of Desperation: The YPG's Sturmpanzers |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/08/belly-of-beast-ypg-monsters.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Oryx}}</ref> The YPG has traditionally relied on vehicles captured from the Islamic State, AFVs left behind by the Syrian Arab Army (SyAA), equipment turned over by the SyAA in exchange for a safe passage (for example, after retreating from Mennagh airbase in 2014), and armoured vehicles donated by the US for light armoured vehicles and true armour.<ref name=":3" />
While other Syrian Civil War factions, such as the [[Islamic State]], amassed an arsenal of hundreds of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles captured from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG, which frequently avoided combat with government forces, had to make do with scraps.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Oryx}}</ref> The YPG was able to acquire several vehicle types, including the [[BTR-60]] and [[BRDM-2]], that had been abandoned in government bases by their previous owners.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2022-11-22 |title=All About the YPG, the Syrian Kurds Dividing Turkey and the US |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-22/all-about-the-ypg-the-syrian-kurds-vexing-turkey-quicktake |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref> With no other option, even these abandoned vehicles would be repaired and repurposed by the YPG.<ref name=":4" /> Even when the engine couldn't be repaired, the hulls of BTR-60s were strapped to the backs of trucks and used as improvised AFVs.<ref name=":5" />
With little armor and other heavy weaponry, the YPG relied almost entirely on Coalition airpower to destroy Islamic State vehicles and fighting positions.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=The Tweet of Damocles |url=http://newamerica.org/international-security/reports/tweet-damocles/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=New America |language=en}}</ref> While this meant that Islamic State-operated AFVs were frequently destroyed before they could inflict serious damage on YPG forces, it also meant that most AFVs were completely obliterated by Coalition aircraft, preventing their capture and further use with the YPG.<ref name=":6" />
In order to assist the [[SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo|SDF]] in its fight against Islamic State forces in northern Syria, the YPG received a large number of infantry mobility vehicles ([[Infantry mobility vehicle|IMVs]]) and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles ([[MRAP]]s) from the US, which appear to have replaced some of the YPG's more bizarre homemade armour designs.<ref name=":4" /> Surprisingly, the YPG was permitted to keep these vehicles even after IS was defeated as a conventional military force.<ref name=":4" /> Even so, there was little doubt that their most likely future application would be against a [[NATO]] member ([[Turkey]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-14 |title=Factbox: What is the Syrian Kurdish YPG? |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-syrian-kurdish-ypg-2022-11-14/ |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref> Aside from a large fleet of [[Humvee]]s, [[IAG Guardian]]s, and [[International MaxxPro|M1224 Maxxpros]], the US has reportedly transferred a number of [[M2 Bradley]] infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the YPG.<ref name=":7">{{Cite tweet |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=worldonalert |number=1183399659085144072 |url=https://twitter.com/worldonalert/status/1183399659085144072}}</ref> These reports appear to be based on the sighting of M2s with SDF flags and a video of YPG members training alongside M2s, and there is currently no evidence that such a transfer has occurred.<ref name=":7" />
The YPG's arsenal of ATGMs is without a doubt the most dangerous threat to the Turkish military.<ref name=":4" /> Despite capturing only a small number of these missiles from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG has managed to secure a steady supply of ATGMs obtained on the Syrian black market.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-12-04 |title='Border Eagles' protect Türkiye-Syria boundary with domestic equipment |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/border-eagles-protect-turkiye-syria-boundary-with-domestic-equipment |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref> These have included models like the [[9M113 Konkurs]] and [[9K115 Metis|9M115 Metis-M]], as well as more advanced models like the [[9M133 Kornet]] and even the US [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] ATGM.<ref name=":8" /> Despite frequently employing them against the [[Free Syrian Army]] and Turkish military, the YPG is likely to keep a significant stock of missiles on hand for future use against Turkish armour and troop concentrations.<ref name=":8" />
== International outreach ==
=== Foreign volunteers ===
{{Further|YPG International|International Freedom Battalion}}
[[File:German, French, and Spanish YPG fighters.png|250px|left|thumb|[[Germans|German]], [[French people|French]], and [[Spanish people|Spanish]] fighters of the YPG in northern Syria.]]
Ex–[[U.S. Army]] soldier [[Jordan Matson]] was among the first foreign volunteers of the YPG. Injured by an IS suicide bomb, he developed the "Lions of Rojava" recruitment campaign for foreign volunteers,<ref>{{cite web |author=Jennifer Percy |title=Meet the American Vigilantes Who Are Fighting ISIS |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/meet-the-american-vigilantes-who-are-fighting-isis.html |date=30 September 2015 |access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref> launched on 21 October 2014 on Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 November 2014 |title=Kobani Kurds Use Facebook To Recruit Foreign Fighters in Struggle Against IS |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/islamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters/26690432.html |access-date=15 November 2014 |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe]] Radio Liberty}}</ref> More than 400 volunteers from Europe, the Americas and Australia have joined the YPG {{As of|2015|6|11|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/more-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg|title=SOHR|date=11 June 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Syriahr.com}}</ref> including at least ten U.S. volunteers, three of which were U.S. Army veterans.<ref name=Shah>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/western-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563|title=Western "comrades" join Kurds, Arabs, secularists, Yezidis, and Syriac Christians against Islamic State|date=29 October 2014|access-date=13 February 2015|publisher=Your Middle East}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/06/jordan-matson-joins-kurds-against-islamic-state/16796487/|title=Exclusive: American explains why he's fighting ISIL|date=7 October 2014|access-date=23 October 2014|publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref name="bbc23oct">{{cite web |last=Muir |first=Jim |date=23 October 2014 |title=The US volunteers who fight with Syria's Kurds |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29705167 |access-date=23 October 2014 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Zurutuza |first=Karlos |date=23 October 2014 |title=A Divorced Father-of-Two from Ohio Is Fighting the Islamic State in Syria |url=https://news.vice.com/article/a-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria |access-date=13 February 2015 |publisher=[[Vice News]]}}</ref> People from both China and the Chinese diaspora have also joined.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35036879|title=The Chinese man fighting Islamic State with the YPG|work=BBC News|date=8 December 2015}}</ref>
Other prominent foreign volunteers have included [[Brace Belden]], [[Macer Gifford]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=British ex-trader who fought Isil describes escape from Syria|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ryan Lock,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/02/briton-ryan-lock-killed-while-fighting-against-isis-in-syria|title=Briton killed while fighting against Isis in Syria|last=Blake|first=Matt|date=2017-01-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Michael Israel,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/3/foreign-volunteers-fighting-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-killed-by-turkey|title=Foreign volunteers fighting with Syrian-Kurdish forces killed 'by Turkey'|last=Arab|first=The New|work=alaraby|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}</ref> Nazzarno Tassone,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3159893/canadian-man-killed-while-fighting-isis-in-syria/|title=Canadian man killed while fighting ISIS in Syria | Globalnews.ca|website=Global News}}</ref> Dean Evans,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/isis-wasnt-about-killing-people-what-drove-british-farmer-syrian-frontline|title='It wasn't about killing people': what drove a British farmer to the Syrian frontline?|last=Blake|first=Matt|date=2016-10-29|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Jac Holmes]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/240420166|title=Three foreign YPG volunteers released from jail, going home |website=rudaw|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref> [[Konstandinos Erik Scurfield]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Kurds pay tribute to 'hero' Erik Scurfield on anniversary of death |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-39172425 |access-date=17 April 2022 |work=BBC News |date=5 March 2017}}</ref> [[Anna Campbell]], [[Lorenzo Orsetti]] and [[Haukur Hilmarsson]].
Dozens of non-Kurdish Turks (from both Turkey and the European diaspora) have also joined.<ref name=Shah /> The Turkish [[Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (Turkey)|Marxist-Leninist Communist Party]] (MLKP) has been sending volunteers to fight in the YPG since 2012. At least four have been killed in battle as of February 2015—one during the Battle of Ras al-Ayn and three during the siege of Kobanî. The party released a video in late January 2015 showing several Spanish- and German-speaking volunteers from Europe among its ranks in [[Jazira Canton]]; they were reorganised into the [[International Freedom Battalion]] on 10 June 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|title=Enternasyonal devrimciler: Her dilden devrimi savunuyoruz|date=28 January 2015|publisher=Etkin Haber Ajansı|language=tr|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302131855/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|archive-date=2 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==== Deaths ====
{{Further|International Freedom Battalion#International Freedom Battalion fatalities}}
During the fight against IS and the defense of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] against the Turkish state, several of the international volunteers were wounded and killed. The [[Icelanders|Icelandic]] [[Haukur Hilmarsson]], aged 31, was killed on 24 February 2018 in an [[artillery]] attack by the [[Turkish army]] in the village of [[Maabatli|Mabeta]], Afrin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/news/internationalists-martyred-in-rojava-remembered-in-greece-33183|title=Internationalists martyred in Rojava remembered in Greece|website=ANF News}}</ref> As a [[YPJ]] fighter, the British woman [[Anna Campbell]], 26, from [[Lewes]] in [[East Sussex]], was killed in a Turkish airstrike in [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] on 15 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/briton-kurds-anna-campbell-dies-fighting-turkey-syria-afrin|title=British woman killed fighting Turkish forces in Afrin|first=Matt|last=Blake|newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 March 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In the battle of [[Al-Baghuz Fawqani]], an Italian man fighting for the YPG, [[Lorenzo Orsetti]], was killed on Sunday, 17 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47628209|title=Syrian fighters 'overrun IS encampment'|date=2019-03-19|agency=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-09|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==== Politics ====
While most countries do not object in principle to their citizens joining the ranks of the YPG, Turkey has been vocal against YPG's foreign recruits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html|title=Turkey increasingly vocal against YPG's foreign recruits|publisher=Al-Monitor|author=Metin Gurcan|date=28 June 2017|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929000711/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html|archive-date=29 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Several Australians, including former [[Australian labour movement|trade unionist]] and politician [[Matthew Gardiner (trade unionist)|Matthew Gardiner]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161|title=Matthew Gardiner confirmed to be fighting Islamic State with Kurds|publisher=NTNews|access-date=9 July 2015|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801084223/http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161|url-status=dead}}</ref> have been involved with the YPG despite threats by Australia to prosecute any citizens involved in the Syrian Civil War.<ref name="xinhua">{{cite news |date=11 June 2015 |title=Australian man defends his actions fighting against Islamic State |url=http://english.sina.com/2015/0610/818826.html |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua (Beijing)]] |quote=Former international junior bench press champion Ashley Dyball … wrote on Facebook, 'The s--- you see here is nothing like you see on the bias news reports, the Islamic state must be stopped and if it means I can't come home f--- it.' … Dyball faces prosecution if he returns.}}</ref> Under Australian law it is a criminal offence to fight with any side in a foreign conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/03/25/Awkward-contradictions-in-Australian-foreign-fighter-laws.aspx|title=Awkward contradictions in Australian foreign-fighter laws|author=Lauren Williams|work=lowyinterpreter.org|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>
In 2017, Turkish court sentenced two Czech nationals to more than six years in prison for their reported ties to the YPG.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkish Supreme Court upholds six-year verdict imposed on two Czechs |url=https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/turkish-supreme-court-upholds-six-year-verdict-imposed-on-two-czechs |agency=Radio Praha |date=24 July 2018}}</ref> In Germany, the YPG leads to controversies as it is up to the police to begin a prosecution for showing a YPG flag.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peter|first=Erik|url=https://taz.de/!5629632/|title=Kurdische Symbole in Deutschland: Rechtslage? Mal so, mal so|date=2019-10-16|work=Die Tageszeitung: taz|access-date=2020-03-01|language=de|issn=0931-9085}}</ref> In the state of Bavaria, fines for showing a YPG flag were issued, while the federal government declares that the YPG is not forbidden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfdeutsch.com/aktuelles/ist-das-zeigen-einer-ypg-fahne-strafbar-7797|title=Ist das Zeigen einer YPG-Fahne strafbar?|website=ANF News|language=de|access-date=2020-03-01}}</ref>
=== Foreign government support ===
{{See also|Syrian Democratic Forces}}
Because the YPG operates in a landlocked territory, rival opposition groups as well as the Turkish and Syrian government were able to physically prevent foreign aid from reaching it. The YPG's seizure of Til Koçer in October 2013 (cf. above) created an overland connection to more or less friendly groups in Iraq, but could not change the even more fundamental problem, that the YPG had no allies willing to provide equipment.
==== United States ====
[[File:US and YPG officers in northeastern Hasaka.png|thumb|A [[Delta Force]] officer and YPG and YPJ commanders tour an area hit by [[April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq|Turkish airstrikes]] in April 2017]]
[[File:YPG and US army Hassaka 1-5-2017.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army [[M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle|M1126 Stryker]] armored vehicle in [[Al-Hasakah]], May 2017]]
In August 2014 [[Mazlum Kobane|Mazlum Kobanî]] led negotiations with the US in [[Sulaymaniyah|Sulaymaniya]], which led to a military alliance against IS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/how-trump-betrayed-the-general-who-defeated-isis|title=How Trump Betrayed the General Who Defeated ISIS|last=Wright|first=Robin|magazine=The New Yorker|date=2019-04-04|access-date=2019-04-05|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> The United States provided the YPG with air support during the [[siege of Kobanî]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29526783|title=Kobane: Air strikes help Syria town curb IS|work=BBC News|date=8 October 2014|access-date=14 December 2016|agency=BBC News}}</ref> and during later campaigns, helping the YPG defend territory against attacks by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/01/syria-airstrikes-everything-you-need-to-know|title=Syria airstrikes: everything you need to know|first1=Matthew|last1=Weaver|first2=Julian|last2=Borger|date=1 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Turkey has criticised US support.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35541003|title=Turkey's Erdogan denounces US support for Syrian Kurds|work=BBC News|date=10 February 2016|access-date=14 December 2016|agency=BBC News}}</ref>
The YPG also received 27 bundles totalling 24 tons of small arms and ammunition and 10 tons of medical supplies from the United States and Iraqi Kurdistan during the siege of Kobanî.<ref name="pukmedia">{{cite web|url=http://pukmedia.com/KS_Direje.aspx?Jimare=69493|title=PUKmedia یەکێتیی نیشتمانیی کوردستان|work=pukmedia.com}}</ref>
On 11 October 2015, the US began an operation to airdrop 120 tons of military supplies to the YPG and its local Arab and Turkmen allies to fight IS north of [[Raqqa]]. The first airdrop consisted of 112 pallets of ammunition and "other items like hand grenades", totaling 50 tons.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. delivers 50 tons of ammunition to Syria rebel groups |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html|access-date=1 February 2016|date=12 October 2015}}</ref> However, statements from the US that the aid did not contain TOW's or anti-aircraft weapons made it clear that the U.S. continued to have serious regard for the interests of Turkey, which has warned against continued US support for the YPG. On the other hand, the US also supported Islamist rebel groups who fought the YPG. During the Battle of Aleppo, the US-backed [[Mountain Hawks Brigade]] battled the YPG and the [[Army of Revolutionaries]] for control of the village of [[Maryamin, Afrin|Maryamin]].<ref name=YPGallies>{{cite web |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086|title=YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo|date=29 November 2015|publisher=Middle East Eye}}</ref>
US aid to the YPG continued in late October with the deployment of up to 50 US special forces to assist the YPG, and an enhanced air campaign to support the YPG and local militia groups in their fight against IS.<ref name="steele">{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Jonathan |title=The Syrian Kurds are winning! |magazine=New York Review of Books |date=3 December 2015 |url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/ |quote=Turkey had told ... the US that YPG forces would not be permitted to proceed beyond the Euphrates. In an apparent rebuke ... Kerry [said]: "We're … enhancing our air campaign in order to help drive Da'esh, which once dominated the Syria–Turkey border, out of the last seventy-mile stretch...” }} Review of ''Out of Nowhere: The Kurds of Syria in Peace and War'', by Michael M. Gunter.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Obama orders US special forces to 'assist' fight against Isis in Syria ' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations|access-date=1 February 2016|date=30 October 2015}}</ref> Some of these special forces participated in the [[al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)]] and coordinated airstrikes against IS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftoBdrjm7Q|title=EXCLUSIVE: Interethnic coalition takes on the IS group in Syria|publisher=France 24 |via=YouTube|date=22 April 2016}}</ref>
During the [[Battle of Tabqa (2017)]], [[Anti-Terror Units|YPG special forces]] were equipped with US-supplied [[combat helmet]]s, [[AN/PVS-7]] [[night vision device]]s, [[flashlight]]s, and were armed with [[M4 carbine]]s equipped with [[AN/PEQ-2]] [[laser sight]]s, [[holographic weapon sight]]s, and [[STANAG magazine]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/syrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons|title=Syrian Kurds are now armed with sensitive US weaponry, and the Pentagon denies supplying it|work=Military Times|author=Shawn Snow|date=7 May 2017}}</ref>
On 9 May 2017, it was announced by the Pentagon that American President [[Donald Trump]] approved of a plan that would have the United States directly provide heavy armaments to the major SDF component group, the YPG; the plan comes before a planned final offensive to capture Raqqa from IS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/trump-kurds-syria-army.html|title=Trump to Arm Syrian Kurds, Even as Turkey Strongly Objects|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/09/in-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state/|title=In blow to U.S.-Turkey ties, Trump administration approves plan to arm Syrian Kurds against Islamic State|newspaper=Washington Post|date=9 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210|title=Trump OKs arms for Syrian Kurds, despite Turkish objections|work=ABC News|date=9 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509185346/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210|archive-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>
==== Russia ====
With Russia's entrance into the war in late 2015 backing the Syrian government, some reports<!-- It is worth noting the source of the reports and their political affiliations in the Syrian Civil War.<ref>--> have reported that the YPG coordinated with or received weapons from Russia, with rival opposition groups stating that the timing and targeting of Russian airstrikes were "suspiciously advantageous" to the Kurdish militias.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z|title=Britain says uneasy after evidence of Kurdish coordination with Syria and Russia|date=23 February 2016|agency=Reuters UK|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-19}}</ref>
Despite this, YPG officials have said they did not cooperate with Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/|title=Kurdish fighters in Aleppo deny receiving Russian military support |agency=ARA News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015034/http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/|archive-date=28 March 2016}}</ref> However, in July 2019, [[Rashid Abu Khawla]] the head of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces military councils#Deir ez-Zor|Syrian Democratic Forces' Deir ez-Zor Military Council]] stated that the Syrian Democratic Forces had cooperated with Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npasyria.com/en/blog.php?id_blog=454&sub_blog=10&name_blog=Abu%20Khawla:%20We%20coordinate%20with%20Russia%20and%20I%20brought%20thousands%20of%20opposition%20fighters%20to%20our%20areas|title=Abu Khawla: We coordinate with Russia and I brought thousands of opposition fighters to our areas|website=npasyria.com}}</ref>
=== Diplomatic relations ===
{{See also|Foreign relations of Rojava}}
Russia's position towards the YPG is not clear, and the US actively supports it, but their diplomatic relations with the PYD are the opposite. In January 2016 Russia pushed for the inclusion of the PYD in the Geneva talks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/260120161|title=Russia: Kurds should be included in Geneva talks |agency=Rudaw|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-20}}</ref> The YPG would like to open a representative branch in the US, but in March 2016 interview its leader implied that it was not allowed to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/|title=Salih Muslim: Time Has Proved Us Right |website=The Kurdistan Tribune|date=16 March 2016 |language=en-US |quote=The West is fully aware that the Syrian Democratic Forces are an important and reliable active on the ground, hence the military support. Unfortunately, they have not yet approached us at a political level while they keep their ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey ... However, we do hope political relations to materialize among us in the future.|access-date=2016-03-20}}</ref>
In February, 2018, USA's [[Director of National Intelligence]] in the [[Cabinet of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] described YPG as the Syrian wing of PKK in its new report.<ref name="DNI2018">[https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-dcoats-021318.PDF Director of National Intelligence, Worldwide threat assessment of the US intelligence community], 13 February 2018. Quote: "The Kurdish People's Protection Unit—the Syrian militia of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—probably will seek some form of autonomy but will face resistance from Russia, Iran, and Turkey."</ref>
=== International media outreach ===
The YPG's press office media operation has been a particular focus of its opponents, with Turkey bombing its premises in [[Cizire Canton]] in April 2017,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39708909|title=Turkey air strikes on Kurds in Syria and Iraq spark US concern|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2017|agency=BBC News}}</ref> and the [[Islamic State]] (IS) singling out its premises in [[Raqqa]] for a raid during the late stages of the [[Battle of Raqqa (2017)|Battle of Raqqa]] in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/27/british-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria|title=British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria|date=27 September 2017|work=The Guardian|author=Matt Blake}}</ref>
== Allegations concerning violations of international law and war crimes ==
{{Further|
Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria#DFNS-associated militias|Syrian Democratic Forces#Reported war crimes|Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War#Syrian Democratic Forces|Human rights in Syria#Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria}}
=== Accusations of ethnic cleansing and forced displacements ===
In June 2015 the Turkish government stated that the YPG was carrying out an ethnic cleansing as part of a plan to join the Jazira and [[Kobanî Canton|Kobanî]] cantons into a single territory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turkey accuses Kurdish forces of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria|url=https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html|date=16 June 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse|quote=President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said he was troubled by the advance of Kurdish forces, saying they could in the future create a structure to threaten Turkey.}}</ref>
The [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] reacted by starting an inquiry into the allegations.<ref name="Rudaw.net">{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty|title=US voices concern over allegations of rights violations by YPG|date=14 October 2015|access-date=20 October 2015 |last1=Saeed |first1=Yerevan |quote=We'll look closely at all these accusations to determine whether there's any veracity to the claims ... We call on those who actually are or will participate in administering these areas to do so inclusively and with respect for all groups regardless of ethnicity|agency=[[Rudaw Media Network|Rudaw]]}}</ref>
In October 2015, [[Amnesty International]] published a report<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|quote=In July and August 2015 Amnesty International investigated the forced displacement of residents from 10 villages and towns in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration}}</ref> with reports that the YPG had driven at least 100 families from northern Syria and that in the villages of Asaylem and Husseiniya it had demolished resident homes. The report was made by Amnesty visiting the area contained in the report. It made local observations of destruction, and collected testimonies from former and actual residents of [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|al-Hasakeh]] and [[Raqqa Governorate|Raqqa]] governorates. It found cases of YPG fighters forcibly displacing residents and using fire and bulldozers to raze homes and other structures.<ref name="amnesty.org">{{cite web|date=13 October 2015|title=Syria: US ally's razing of villages amounts to war crimes|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes|access-date=17 October 2015|work=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name="bbc.com">{{cite news|date=13 October 2015|title=Syria Kurds 'razing villages seized from IS' – Amnesty|agency=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34511134|quote=Of 225 buildings visible [in Husseiniya] in June 2014, only 14 were still standing by June 2015.}}</ref>
In a report published by the [[United Nations]]' [[Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic]] on 10 March 2017, the Commission refuted Amnesty International's reports of ethnic cleansing, stating that "'though allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' continued to be received during the period under review, the Commission found no evidence to substantiate reports that YPG or SDF forces ever targeted Arab communities on the basis of ethnicity."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/|title=Syria and Islamist groups guilty of war crimes, YPG cleared: UN report|work=Kom News|date=15 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054645/https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/|archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="UN report counters">{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/|title=UN report counters Amnesty International's claim that Kurds are ethnically cleansing in Syria|first=Paul|last=Antonopoulos|date=15 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033742/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="refutes">{{cite web|url=http://ekurd.net/ypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14|title=UN report refutes ethnic cleansing claims against Syrian Kurdish YPG, SDF|date=14 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref> Forced displacement of civilians and destruction of civilian property is not a war crime per se. These acts only become a war crime when there is no "imperative military necessity" for them. Amnesty International stated the report documents cases in which there was no such justification.<ref name=":0" />{{Dead link|date=October 2021}} It furthermore states that "the circumstances of some of these displacements suggested that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups",<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|date=October 2015|quote=The circumstances of some of the instances of forced displacement documented in this report suggest that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups. This would constitute collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.|access-date=27 March 2016|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051131/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> thus constituting "collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law".
In interviews, YPG spokespersons acknowledged that a number of families were in fact displaced. However, they placed the number at no more than 25, and stated military necessity.<ref name=":1" /> They stated that the family members of terrorists maintained communications with them, and therefore had to be removed from areas where they might pose a danger.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|access-date=20 October 2021|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=28|quote=In some dangerous areas there are some specific cases that are very small, resulting from the terrorist threat, where families were sent away from the area ... Only 25 families were forced to leave across Rojava ... (They are told) 'Folks, remove your things please, and if you leave from this area until the war ends it will be a good thing ...' You have terrorists in al-Raqqa and their families – the uncle, and brother, and sister – are here, and they are in communication, giving them information. We were forced to distance these families. Not detain them. Distance them. Take them outside of the area.}}</ref> They further stated that IS was using civilians in those areas to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|access-date=20 October 2021|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=29|quote=He added that IS was benefiting from the presence of civilians in these areas, and using them to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.}}</ref> By describing the events in Hammam al-Turkman before the village was evacuated, the Amnesty International report itself inadvertently supports these YPG reports of military necessity.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=17|quote=After the YPG took the village, on 15 June, a car bomb killed three YPG fighters 4 km from Hammam al-Turkman at a checkpoint in Damishli. The following day there were skirmishes between the YPG and IS in the village before IS was pushed back. A second car bomb went off at a YPG checkpoint at the health clinic in the village on 18 June killing a YPG fighter and injuring one civilian and three days later IS shot and killed a second YPG fighter near the clinic. It was after the death of this fighter that the residents were told by the YPG that they had to leave the village.}}</ref>
=== Recruitment of minors ===
In June 2014, [[Human Rights Watch]] criticized the YPG for accepting minors into their ranks, picking up on multiple earlier reports of teenage fighters serving in the YPG, with a report by the [[United Nations]] [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary General]] stating that 24 minors under age of 18 had been recruited by YPG, compared to 124 having been recruited by the Free Syrian Army and 5 by the Syrian Arab Army.<ref name="children">{{cite report |author=[[United Nations Security Council|U.N. Security Council]] |date=5 June 2015 |title=Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict |url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/926 |at=para. 191 |quote=Actual numbers are expected to be higher.... A number of pro-Government groups, including Hizbullah, also reportedly recruited children in small numbers.}}</ref> In response, the YPG and YPJ signed the [[Geneva Call]] ''Deed of Commitment'' protecting children in armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence and against gender discrimination in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and|title=Syria: 4 brigades of the Free Syrian Army commit to prohibit sexual violence and the use of child soldiers [EN/AR] – Syrian Arab Republic|website=ReliefWeb|date=3 July 2017 }}</ref> Kurdish security forces (YPG and [[Asayish (Syria)|Asayish]]) began receiving human rights training from Geneva Call and other international organizations with the YPG pledging to demobilize all fighters under 18 within a month and began to enact disciplinary measures against commanders of the units that had involved in corruption and accepting recruit under age of 18 to their ranks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: Kurdish Forces Violating Child Soldier Ban Despite Promises, Children Still Fight|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/10/syria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0|website=Human Rights Watch|date=15 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Tom |last2=Malla |first2=Naline |date=10 September 2015 |title=Western states train Kurdish force in Syria, force's leader says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910 |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=Amnesty International this month faulted the Kurdish administration for arbitrary detentions and unfair trials.... [Ciwan] Ibrahim said ... efforts were underway to improve its human rights record.... The Geneva Call ... promotes good treatment of civilians in war zones... }}</ref> In October 2015 the YPG demobilized 21 minors from the military service in its ranks.<ref name="Demobilized children">{{cite report |date=28 October 2015 |title=YPG demobilizes 21 children under the age of 18 from the military service in its ranks |url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/ |publisher=[[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121223140/http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-28-october-2015/ |archive-date=2015-11-21}}</ref>
According to the annual UN report of 2018,<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: Armed Group Recruiting Children in Camps|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/syria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps|website=Human Rights Watch|date=3 August 2018|access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=http://undocs.org/s/2018/465|author=[[United Nations Security Council|U.N. Security Council]] |date=16 May 2018 |title=Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict |access-date=23 October 2019 }}</ref> there were 224 cases of child recruitment by the YPG and its women's unit, the YPJ, in 2017, an almost fivefold increase from the previous year. This sparked immediate conversations with the anti-child-recruitment [[NGO]] Geneva Call which resulted in a broad new military directive strictly prohibiting all recruitment of persons under 18, ordering that any such persons within SDF be immediately removed from the payroll and transferred to the custody of the civilian Authority For Education, mandating the appointment of an [[ombudsman]] in each military service to receive and investigate reports of child recruitment, and ordering punitive measures by military police and by the SDF's Military Discipline Department against anyone found to be responsible for child recruitment. Geneva Call immediately praised the SDF's wide-ranging initiative to eliminate and prevent child recruitment throughout all of SDF's military organizations.<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=7 September 2018|title=SDF command issues order banning child recruitment|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>
In June 2020, United Nations reported the YPG/YPJ as the largest faction in the [[Syrian civil war]] by the number of recruited child soldiers with 283 child soldiers followed by [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] with 245 child soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Assembly Security Council Seventy-fourth session Seventy-fifth year Agenda item 66 (a) Promotion and protection of the rights of children |url=https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf |publisher=United Nations |access-date=16 June 2020}}</ref>
On 15 July 2020, SDF issued a new military order prohibiting child recruitment. The [[NGO]] ''Fight For Humanity'' conducted multiple training sessions with hundreds of SDF commanders about the UN-SDF Action Plan To Prevent Child Recruitment, and distributed informational posters and flyers about it written in both [[Arabic]] and [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]], as part of an ongoing educational process. Syria-based researcher Thomas McClure observed that “SDF are less likely to engage in such practices than any of the other forces in Syria, but seek to hold themselves to a higher standard of accountability and human rights.”<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=15 July 2020|title=SDF issues new directives to protect schools, children from military conflict|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22|access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>
On 29 August 2020, SDF announced the creation of a new system that anyone can use to confidentially report to specialized Child Protection offices any suspected case of child recruitment, in accordance with the action plan that the SDF signed with the [[United Nations]] in the summer of 2019.<ref>{{cite news|date=29 August 2020|title=SDF announce new measure to tackle recruitment of child soldiers|publisher=[[Rudaw]]|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/29082020|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=30 August 2020|title=New mechanism allows civilians to report child recruitment in northeast Syria|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664}}</ref>
On 23 April 2021, the UN released its third report on child recruitment in Syria, noting that the SDF's action plan had resulted in a significant decrease in child recruitment (from 216 cases in early 2019 to only 41 cases in early 2020), but that elsewhere in Syria, child recruitment continued to be systematic and widespread within Syrian government and non-government armed forces.<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=22 May 2021|title=Child recruitment by SDF down significantly since 2019, UN says|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019,-UN-says}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Asia}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[International Freedom Battalion]]
* [[Kurdish Front]]
* [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK)
* [[Party of Free Life of Kurdistan]] (PJAK)
* [[Peshmerga]]
* [[Sutoro]]
* [[YPG–FSA relations]]
* [[AANES–Syria relations]]
* [[List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War]]
}}
== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book
|last=Rashid
|first=Bedir Mulla
|translator=Obaida Hitto
|title= Military and Security Structures of the Autonomous Administration in Syria
|url=http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140230/http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2018-07-01
|orig-year=1st pub. 2017
|date=2018
|publisher=Omran for Strategic Studies
|location=[[Istanbul]]
}}
== External links ==
* {{Facebook|YPGinfo|name=YPG}}
{{Syrian Kurdistan topics}}
{{Kurdish nationalist organisations}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
{{Military of the Arab world}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:People's Protection Units| ]]
[[Category:Apoist organizations in Syria]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Syria]]
[[Category:Kurdistan Communities Union]]
[[Category:Syrian Kurdish organizations]]
[[Category:Irregular units and formations]]
[[Category:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2011]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Turkey]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | 'EŞŞEEEKm}}}}
| image = People's Protection Units Flag.svg
| caption = Flag of the YPG
| dates = 2011–present
| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kurdish Supreme Committee.svg}} [[Kurdish Supreme Committee]] (2011–2013)<ref name=casualties /><br />{{flagicon image|De facto SA-NES Flag.svg}} [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]] (2013–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13112013|title=PYD announces surprise interim government in Syria's Kurdish regions|publisher=[[Rudaw Media Network|Rudaw]]|access-date=9 October 2014|date=13 November 2013}}</ref><br />
| type = [[Light infantry]] militia with several [[Technical (vehicle)|motorised]] battalions
| size = 78,000 (Including YPJ, 2017 estimate){{sfnp|Rashid|2018|p=16}}
| command_structure = {{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]]<!-- affects the field "Part of"-->
| garrison_label = Garrison
| march =
| battles = [[Syrian Civil War]]/[[Rojava conflict]]
* [[Rojava conflict#YPG claims territory|2012 Rojava campaign]]
* [[Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)|Battle of Aleppo]]
** [[Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)]]
* [[Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–13)]]
** [[Battle of Ras al-Ayn]]
** [[Battle of al-Yaarubiyah]]
* [[Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)]]
* [[Siege of Kobanî]]
* [[Al-Hasakah offensive (February–March 2015)|Al-Hasakah offensive]]
* [[Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)|Battle of Sarrin]]
* [[Tell Abyad offensive]]
* [[Battle of Al-Hasakah (June–August 2015)|Battle of Al-Hasakah]]
* [[Al-Hawl offensive]]
* [[Tishrin Dam offensive]]
* [[Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)|Al-Shaddadi offensive]]
* [[Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)]]
* [[Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)|Northern Raqqa offensive]]
* [[Manbij offensive]]
* [[Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)]]
* [[Operation Euphrates Shield]]
* [[Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)]]
* [[Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)]]
* [[Operation Olive Branch]]
* [[Eastern Syria Insurgency]]
* [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]]
[[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)|Iraqi Civil War]]
* [[December 2014 Sinjar offensive|2014 Sinjar offensive]]
* [[November 2015 Sinjar offensive|2015 Sinjar offensive]]
<!--Commanders-->| website = {{Official website|https://www.ypgrojava.org/}}
| commander1 = Mahmoud Berkhadan
| commander1_label = General Commander
| commander2 = [[Nuri Mahmoud]]
| commander2_label = Spokesperson
| notable_commanders = Zainab Afrin
Nalîn Dêrik
Sozdar Dêrik
Serhildan Garisî
Rêdûr Khalil
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = Emblem
}}
{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}
{{Campaignbox Rojava Revolution}}
[[File:Claimed and de facto territory of Rojava.png|thumb|210px|SDF-controlled territory (green), claimed territory (orange), [[Turkish occupation of northern Syria|Turkish-occupied Afrin]] (red) in October 2018]]
The '''People's Defense Units''' ('''YPG'''),{{Efn|({{lang-ku|یەکینەیێن پاراستنا گەل|Yekîneyên Parastina Gel}} (YPG) {{IPA-ku|jɛkiːnɛjeːn pɑːɾɑːstɯnɑː ɡɛl|pron|Kmr-Yekîneyên Parastina Gel.oga}}; {{lang-ar|وحدات حماية الشعب|Waḥdāt Ḥimāyat aš-Šaʽb}})}} also called '''People's Protection Units''', is a mainly [[Kurds in Syria|Kurdish]] militant group in [[Syria]] and the primary component of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/ascent-of-the-pyd-and-the-sdf |title=Ascent of the PYD and the SDF |last1=Barfi |first1=Barak |date=April 2016 |publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/kurds-turkey-pkk-ypg/470991/|title=Who Exactly Are 'the Kurds'?|first=Steven A.|last=Cook|work=The Atlantic |access-date=16 February 2017|date=25 February 2016}}</ref> YPG provides updates about its activities through [https://t.me/YPGInfo YPG Press Office Telegram channel] and social media accounts.
The YPG mostly consists of [[Kurds]], but also includes Arabs and [[YPG International|foreign volunteers]]; it is closely allied to the [[Syriac Military Council]], an [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] militia. The YPG was formed in 2011. It expanded rapidly in the [[Syrian Civil War]] and came to predominate over other armed Syrian Kurdish groups. A sister militia, the [[Women's Protection Units]] (YPJ), fights alongside them. The YPG is active in the [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]] (Rojava), particularly in [[Syrian Kurdistan|its Kurdish regions]].
In early 2015, the group won a major victory over the so-called [[Islamic State]] (IS) during the [[siege of Kobanî]], where the YPG began to receive air and ground support from the United States and other [[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve]] militaries. Since then, the YPG has primarily fought against IS, as well as on occasion fighting other [[Syrian opposition|Syrian rebel groups]] and the [[Turkish Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/kurdish-forces-bolster-assad-in-aleppo|title=Kurdish Forces Bolster Assad in Aleppo|publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy|language=en|access-date=2017-03-17 |date=29 July 2016}}</ref> In late 2015, the YPG became part of the SDF, an umbrella group intended to better incorporate Arabs and [[Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War|minorities]] into the war effort. In 2016–2017, the SDF's [[Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)|Raqqa campaign]] led to the liberation of the city of [[Raqqa]], the Islamic State's ''de facto'' capital. Several western sources have described the YPG as the "most effective" force in fighting IS in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33690060|agency=BBC|date=23 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=US troops wearing YPG patches in Syria|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-ypg-patches-syria-2016-5|work=Business Insider|date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
According to Turkey<ref>{{Cite web |title=PKK / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/pkk.en.mfa |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=www.mfa.gov.tr}}</ref> and Qatar,<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2018 |title=Syrian terrorist list produces 163 names and no agreement |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-terrorist-idUSKCN0VQ25E |work=Reuters}}</ref> the YPG is a terrorist organization,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Christina |date=2015 |title=Turkey's Double Standard on Terrorism: Accuses BBC of supporting PKK, backs other groups from China, Russia and US |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/193475/370_Lin.pdf |website=Institute for Strategic, Political, Security and Economic Consultancy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turak |first=Natasha |date=2022-05-23 |title=Conflict, politics and history: Why Turkey is standing in the way of both Sweden and Finland's NATO bids |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/why-turkey-doesnt-want-sweden-finland-to-join-nato.html |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=2022-05-20 |title=Sweden blasts Turkish 'disinformation' as Erdoğan delays NATO accession |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-turkey-nato-erdogan-disinformation/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en-US}}</ref> closely associated with the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization. The flag of the YPG is also a banned symbol in [[Germany]] as per [[Strafgesetzbuch section 86a]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=German police raid leftist for posting Kurdish YPG flag {{!}} DW {{!}} 19.08.2017 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-raid-leftist-for-posting-kurdish-ypg-flag/a-40160377 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=German lawmaker sparks criticism after displaying banned YPG flag in parliament |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2017/11/21/german-lawmaker-sparks-criticism-after-displaying-banned-ypg-flag-in-parliament |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=[[Daily Sabah]] |language=en-US}}</ref> although the organization itself is not recognised as terrorist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yücel |first=Deniz |author-link=Deniz Yücel |date=24 February 2016 |title=Gute Kurden, böse Kurden. Wer ist Terrorist? |language=de |trans-title=Good Kurds, bad Kurds. Who is terrorist? |work=[[Die Welt]] |location=Berlin |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article152602725/Gute-Kurden-boese-Kurden-Wer-ist-Terrorist.html |access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref> Finland and Sweden's alleged support for the YPG, is one of the points which caused [[Turkey in NATO|Turkey]] to oppose Finland and Sweden's [[Enlargement of NATO|NATO accession bid]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerem |first=Schamberger |date=24 May 2022 |title=Der türkische NATO-Krieg gegen Kurdistan |url=https://jacobin.de/artikel/der-turkische-nato-krieg-gegen-kurdistan-nordirak-erdogan/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=[[Jacobin]] |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Richard |first=Milne |date=2022-05-20 |title=Sweden's Nato ambitions run into Kurdish row |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7defc9ce-d6d6-4485-94df-ca79eb37fa13 |access-date=2022-05-26}}</ref>
In June 2022, then–Finnish President [[Sauli Niinistö]] announced in [[Madrid]], after the agreement with Turkey, that Finland does not see the YPG as a terrorist organization and that Finland will continue to support the YPG.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Finlandiya: YPG’ye terör örgütü demedik, değişen bir şey yok |url=https://www.diken.com.tr/finlandiya-ypgye-teror-orgutu-demedik-degisen-bir-sey-yok/ |publisher=Diken |language=tr}}</ref> The Turkish terror classification is not shared by key international bodies in the fight against the Islamic State in which the YPG takes part.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Deewanee |first=Azad |date=March 2022 |title=The Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Turkish Official Discourse |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00438200211063520 |journal=World Affairs |language=en |volume=185 |issue=1 |pages=59–90 |doi=10.1177/00438200211063520 |s2cid=244947795 |issn=0043-8200 |via=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE]]}}</ref> Due to this Turkish view, [[United States Army Special Operations Command|US Army Special Operations Commander]] General [[Raymond A. Thomas|Raymond Thomas]] suggested the YPG to change their name, after which the name of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF) was found.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Sangar |date=22 July 2017 |title=We told YPG to change brand name in 2015: US General |work=[[Kurdistan 24]] |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/12098-We-told-YPG-to-change-brand-name-in-2015:-US-General}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-07-21 |title=U.S. general told Syria's YPG: 'You have got to change your brand' |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-ypg-idUSKBN1A62SS |access-date=2023-01-09}}</ref>According to the Turkish state-run [[Anadolu Agency]], the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and YPG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US fails to account for $715M in weapons for YPG/PKK |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fails-to-account-for-715m-in-weapons-for-ypg-pkk/1740082 |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> Among the heavy weaponry provided are [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] American anti-tank missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-06-09 |title=YPG deploys US-made TOW missiles in Syria amid possible operation |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref>
According to the Turkish state-run [[Anadolu Agency]], the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and YPG.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US fails to account for $715M in weapons for YPG/PKK |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fails-to-account-for-715m-in-weapons-for-ypg-pkk/1740082 |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> Among the heavy weaponry provided are [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] American anti-tank missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-06-09 |title=YPG deploys US-made TOW missiles in Syria amid possible operation |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early origins ==
Kurdish activists attempted to unify themselves following the [[2004 Qamishli riots]]. The riots began as clashes between rivaling football fans before taking a political turn, with Arab fans raising pictures of [[Saddam Hussein]] while the Kurdish fans reportedly proclaimed "We will sacrifice our lives for Bush". This resulted in clashes between the two groups who attacked each other with sticks, stones and knives. Government security forces entered the city to quell the riot, firing at the crowds. The riots resulted in around 36 dead, most of them Kurds.
They did not, however, emerge as a significant force until the [[Syrian civil war]] erupted in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=UA 15/05 Torture and ill-treatment/ possible unfair trial |date=19 January 2005 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/88000/mde240032005en.pdf |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name="Vice">{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-ypg|title=Meet the YPG, the Kurdish militia that doesn't want help from anyone|last=Gold|first=Danny|date=31 October 2012|quote=A member of YPG's central command … said that the YPG formed in 2004 shortly after the Qamishlo riots, when a number of Kurdish youth realized that they needed to be able to defend themselves more efficiently. They did not officially declare themselves until the revolution started in 2011.|magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|VICE]]|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>
=== Establishment ===
The self-defence committees that were to become the YPG were formed in July and August 2011 as the Self Protection units (YXG).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ayboga, Flach and Knapp|first=Ercan, Anja and Michael|title=Revolution in Rojava; Democratic Autonomy and Women's liberation in Syrian Kurdistan|publisher=Pluto Press|year=2016|isbn=9780745336596|location=London, United Kingdom|pages=51|language=English}}</ref>
Existing underground [[Kurds|Kurdish]] political parties, the [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|Democratic Union Party]] (PYD) and the [[Kurdish National Council]] (KNC), joined to form the [[Kurdish Supreme Committee]] (KSC) and established the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to defend Kurdish-inhabited areas in northern Syria, i.e. [[Syrian Kurdistan]] and the Kurdish enclave of [[Sheikh Maqsood]] in [[Aleppo]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=YPG |title=About Us |url=https://www.ypgrojava.org/About-Us |website=ypgrojava.org |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref><ref name=casualties>{{cite news|title=Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli |url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html |access-date=27 July 2012 |publisher=Rudaw |date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724224808/http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html |archive-date=24 July 2012 }}</ref> Originally a wholly Kurdish force, the YPG began to recruit [[Arabs]] from at least 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://merip.org/2020/07/arabs-across-syria-join-the-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces/|title=Arabs Across Syria Join the Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces|date=28 July 2020|publisher=MERIP}}</ref>
== Control of Kurdish areas ==
In July 2012, the YPG had a standoff with Syrian government forces in the Kurdish city of [[Kobanî]] and the surrounding areas. After negotiations, government forces withdrew and the YPG took control of [[Kobanî]], [[Amuda]], and [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]].<ref name=casualties /><ref>{{cite news|title=Kurds Give Ultimatum to Syrian Security Forces|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd541.htm |access-date=9 October 2014|publisher=Rudaw|date=21 July 2012}}</ref>
By December 2012, it had expanded to eight [[Brigade (military)|brigades]], which were formed in [[Qamishlo]], Kobanî, and [[Ras al-Ayn]] (Serê Kaniyê), and in the districts of [[Afrin District|Afrin]], [[Al-Malikiyah District|al-Malikiyah]], and [[Al-Bab District|al-Bab]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region |title=The Kurdish Protection Units have formed a new brigade in the Al–Bab region |work=Scientia Humana |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=18 December 2013 |quote=Kurdish Information Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025429/http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region |archive-date=8 January 2013 }}</ref>
=== Late 2012: Islamist attacks make YPG dominant ===
The YPG did not initially take an offensive posture in the Syrian Civil War. Aiming mostly to defend Kurdish-majority areas, it avoided engaging Syrian government forces, which still controlled several enclaves in Kurdish territory. The YPG changed this policy when Ras al-Ayn was taken by the [[al-Qaeda]]-affiliated [[al-Nusra Front]]. At first the YPG conquered the surrounding government-controlled areas: [[al-Darbasiyah]] (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), [[Tel Tamer]] and [[al-Malikiyah]] (Kurdish: Dêrika Hemko). The subsequent [[Battle of Ras al-Ayn]] started in earnest when on 19 November 2012, the al-Nusra Front and a second al-Qaeda affiliate, [[Ghuraba al-Sham]], attacked Kurdish positions in the town. The battle ended with a YPG victory in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/76750/World/Region/Kurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx |title=Kurds expel jihadists from flashpoint Syrian town: NGO|agency=AFP|work=Al-Ahram Weekly|date=17 July 2013|access-date=13 February 2015}}</ref>
While many rebel groups clashed with the YPG, [[jihadist]] and [[Salafist]] groups did so the most often.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote=While rebel groups from across the ideological spectrum have clashed with the PYD, jihadi and Salafi groups have done so most aggressively and consistently |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The YPG proved to be the only Kurdish militia able to effectively resist the fundamentalists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/interview/22072013 |title=YPG Commander: Kurds Are Bulwark Against Islamic Extremism in Syria|publisher=Rudaw|access-date=9 October 2014|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> While the YPG protected the Kurdish communities it was able to extract a price: it prevented the emergence of new, rival militias and forced existing ones to cooperate with or join the YPG forces on its terms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote=The PYD's growing influence largely has come at the expense of other Kurdishgroups. In particular, it has prevented emergence of new, rival militias while forcing existing ones to cooperate with or join PYD forces on their terms |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was how the Islamist attacks enabled the YPG to unite the Syrian Kurds under its banner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf|author=International Crisis Group|title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria|date=8 May 2014|quote=Crisis Group interview, Erbil, 4 July 2013: Intensified Islamist attacks in Kurdish areas shifted Kurdish public opinion toward the PYD. A resident of Tell Tamr, a partly Kurdish town targeted by armed Islamist groups, said, "in the aftermath of the battle of Ras al-Ayn, Islamists entered Tell Tamr. They began kidnapping and killing Kurds. I am not a YPG supporter, and I will never be. But if it weren't for the YPG, not a single Kurd would be left in the [al-] Jazeera region". Crisis Group interview, Erbil, July 2013. A journalist working for a pro-KDP channel commented: "I was the most critical person against the PYD. But at the moment, I have to admit that they are saving the people from the worst".|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and caused<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |author=International Crisis Group |title=Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria |date=8 May 2014 |quote="At the same time, Ankara turned a blind eye to the Islamist fighters crossing from Turkey into Syria, viewing them – in addition to helping bring down the Assad regime – as potential counterweights to the PYD. The strategy backfired; the PYD not only gained territory, but also bolstered its appeal among Kurds as their only protector from jihadis. In September 2013, a Turkish official acknowledged: 'We made the PYD stronger by trying to undermine it'" |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> it to become the de facto army of the Syrian Kurds.<ref name="bb">{{cite book|last1=N. Abboud|first1=Samer|title=Syria|date=12 November 2015|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-7456-9801-4|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BPbrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT116}}</ref><ref name="nn">{{cite news|date=2014|title=Kurdish Woman Leading Battle Against Islamic State in Kobane: Activists|work=[[NDTV]]|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kurdish-woman-leading-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-678354|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="aus">{{cite news|title=Woman leads Kurds in battle against Islamic State in Kobane: activists|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/woman-leads-kurds-in-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-20141013-1158kr.html|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="enalb">{{cite news|title=Kurdish woman leads fight against ISIS in Kobane|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/2014/10/14/Kurdish-woman-leads-fight-against-ISIS-in-Kobane-.html|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref>
=== 2013: Kurdish control of al-Yaarubiyah/Til Koçer ===
{{Main|Battle of al-Yaarubiyah}}
In October 2013, YPG fighters took control of [[al-Yaarubiyah]] (Til Koçer) following intense clashes with IS. The clashes lasted about three days, with the Til Koçer border gate to Iraq being taken in a major offensive launched on the night of 24 October.<ref name="til" /> PYD leader [[Salih Muslim]] told Stêrk TV that this success created an alternative against efforts to hold the territory under embargo,<ref name="til">{{cite news|url=http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm |title=YPG takes control of Til Koçer |date=27 October 2013 |agency=[[Firat News Agency]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209152741/http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm |archive-date=9 December 2013}}</ref> referring to the fact that the other border crossings with Iraq led to areas controlled by the [[Kurdistan Regional Government]], while al-Yaarubiyah led to areas controlled by the Iraqi central government.
=== 2014: Fight against IS ===
[[File:Rojava february 2014.png|250px|thumb|YPG-controlled territory, February 2014]]
In 2014, the [[Syriac Military Council]], a group of [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] units, was formally integrated into the YPG's command structure. The [[inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War]] led to open war between the [[Free Syrian Army]] and IS in January 2014. The YPG collaborated with FSA groups to fight IS in [[Raqqa Governorate|Raqqa]] province;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/|title=FSA and YPG cooperate against ISIL militants in Syria's Tel Abyad|date=12 May 2014|publisher=ARA News|access-date=9 October 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008154840/http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/|archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> the group also formed an operations room with multiple FSA factions, called [[Euphrates Volcano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/|title=YPG and FSA form a joint military chamber to combat ISIS in Syria|publisher=ARA News|date=12 September 2014|access-date=9 October 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063318/http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/|archive-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> However, the general outcome of this campaign was a massive advance by IS, which effectively separated the eastern part of Rojava from the main force of FSA rebels. IS followed up on its success by attacking the YPG and the FSA in Kobanî Canton in March and fighting its way to the gates of the city of Kobanî in September. The actual [[siege of Kobanî]] approximately coincided with an escalation in the [[American-led intervention in Syria]]. This intervention had started with aiding the FSA against the government, but when the FSA was getting defeated by IS in eastern Syria, it escalated to bombing IS on Syrian territory.
With the world fearing another massacre in Kobanî, American support increased substantially. The US gave intense [[close air support]] to the YPG, and in doing so, started military cooperation with one of the factions. While it expected that IS would quickly crush the YPG and the FSA, this alliance was not considered a problem for the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/08/world/meast/isis-threat/index.html |title=U.S. military: Airstrikes against ISIS won't save key city of Kobani|date=9 October 2014|publisher=CNN |access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> The YPG won the battle in early 2015.
Meanwhile, the situation had been stable in Afrin and Aleppo. The fight between the FSA and IS had led to a normalization in the relations between FSA and YPG since the end of 2013. In February 2015, the YPG signed a judicial agreement with the [[Levant Front]] in [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=KURDISH YPG AND JABHAT AL-SHAMIYA AGREEMENT ON JUDICIARY COOPERATION IN ALEPPO|url=https://www.facebook.com/SyrianRebellionObservatory/photos/a.1648239072069399.1073741828.1648217982071508/1699722200254419/?type=1 |date=5 February 2015|publisher=Syrian Rebellion Observatory}}</ref><!--allys-->
=== Spring 2015: Offensive operations with coalition support ===
[[File:Syrian civil war 01 11 2015.png|thumb|Military situation in the Syrian Civil War in November 2015]]
[[File:Rojava june 2015.png|250px|thumb|YPG-controlled territory, June 2015]]
The YPG was able and willing to offensively engage and put pressure on IS and had built up a track record as a reliable military partner of the US. In 2015, the YPG began its advance on [[Tell Abyad|Tel Abyad]], a move they have planned for since November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|title=Refworld {{!}} Kurdish Strategy Towards Ethnically-Mixed Areas in the Syrian Conflict|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/52aef0e34.html|access-date=2020-09-19|website=Refworld|publisher=Jamestown Foundation|language=en}}</ref> With American close air support, offensives near [[Eastern al-Hasakah offensive|Hasakah]] and from Hasakah [[Western al-Hasakah offensive|westward]] culminated in the [[Tell Abyad offensive|conquest of Tell Abyad]], linking up Kobanî with Hasakah in July 2015. With the capture of Tell Abyad, the YPG has also broken a major supply route of fighters and goods for the Islamic State.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-06-16|title=Is Tal Abyad a turning point for Syria's Kurds?|language=en-GB|agency=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33146515|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref>
With these offensives, the YPG had begun to make advances into areas that did not always have a Kurdish majority. When the YPG and the FSA entered the border town of [[Tell Abyad]] in June 2015, parts of the population fled the intense fighting and the airstrikes.<ref name="pitarakis">{{cite news|last1=Pitarakis|first1=Lefteris|last2=Mroue|first2=Bassem|date=14 June 2015|title=Thousands of Syrians flee into Turkey amid intense fighting|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town|agency=AP|quote=Thousands of Syrians cut through a border fence and crossed over into Turkey … fleeing intense fighting … between Kurdish fighters and jihadis.|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617004746/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Autumn 2015: foundation of the SDF ===
The [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] was established in Hasakah on 11 October 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Abadi|first=Cameron|title=Why Is Turkey Fighting Syria's Kurds?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/turkey-claim-syrian-kurds-terrorists-not-isis-ypg-pkk-sdf/|access-date=2020-03-04|website=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=17 October 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="KQ1015">{{cite web|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|title=Declaration of establishment by Syrian Democratic Forces|date=15 October 2015|publisher=Kurdish Question|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224085811/http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html|archive-date=24 February 2016|access-date=15 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It has its origins in the YPG-FSA collaboration against IS, which had previously led to the establishment of the [[Euphrates Volcano]] joint operations room in 2014. Many of the partners are the same, and even the logo / flag with the Blue Euphrates symbol has common traits with that of Euphrates Volcano. The primary difference is that Euphrates Volcano was limited to coordinating the activities of independent Kurdish and Arab groups, while the SDF is a single organisation made up of Kurds, Arabs, and [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]].
The first success of the SDF was the capture of the strategic ethnically Arab town of al-Hawl from IS during the [[2015 Al-Hawl offensive|al-Hawl offensive]] in November 2015. This was followed in December by the [[Tishrin Dam offensive]]. The dam was captured on 26 December. Participating forces included the YPG, the FSA group [[Army of Revolutionaries]], the tribal group [[al-Sanadid Forces]] and the Assyrian [[Syriac Military Council]]. The coalition had some heavy weapons and was supported by intense US led airstrikes.<ref name="reuters-alliance">{{cite news |date=28 December 2015 |title=U.S.-backed alliance captures key dam from Islamic State – alliance spokesman |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-alliance-idUKKBN0U90DC20151228 |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=Colonel Talal Selo ... said the rapid advance overnight by thousands of troops from the Democratic Forces of Syria had brought the dam ... under their control on Saturday.... Selo said ... the latest round of fighting ... involved several thousand fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria with heavy armour. }}</ref> The capture of the hydroelectric dam also had positive effects on the [[economy of Rojava]].<ref name="Themedialine">{{cite news |date=1 February 2016 |title= Photos of Tishrin Dam, Liberated from ISIS |url=http://www.themedialine.org/views/blog/photos-of-tishrin-dam-liberated-from-isis/ |quote=Tishrin is an incredible dam, not least of all because it sits cradled in a beautiful lush valley, in an otherwise dry and arid land. But also because of what Tishrin implies for the people of Rojava who have survived for the past two years under incredible economic and political conditions, exacerbated significantly by lack of access to water and electricity which Tishrin provides.}}</ref>
=== 2016 ===
In February, the YPG-led SDF launched the [[Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)|al-Shaddadi offensive]], followed by the [[Manbij offensive]] in May, and [[Raqqa offensive (2016–present)|the Raqqa]] and [[Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)|Aleppo offensives]] in November. These operations extended SDF-controlled territory, usually at IS's expense.
On 7 April 2016, the Kurdish neighborhood of [[Sheikh Maqsood]] in Aleppo was shelled with [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] that may have contained [[List of chemical warfare agents|chemical agents]] (160 killed or wounded).<ref>{{cite web|title=MAPPING MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS: Jaish al-Islam|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/533|website=Stanford University|date=31 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/concerns-grow-about-abuses-war-crimes-in-syria/a-19277777 |title= Middle East Concerns grow about abuses, war crimes in Syria |work=Deutsche Welle|date=25 May 2016}}</ref> Spokesperson for the YPG said that [[Saudi Arabia]]-backed [[Jaysh al-Islam]] (Army of Islam) rebel group has attacked the Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo with "forbidden weapons" many times since the war's start.<ref>"[http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/7a0f6294-ab7f-4d15-b5af-3ff4b444ab3f/Syrian-rebels-admit-chemical-use-against-Kurds Syrian rebels admit chemical use against Kurds]". [[Kurdistan 24]]. 9 April 2016.</ref>
=== 2018: Turkish military intervention ===
{{See also|Turkish military intervention in Syria (January 2018–present)}}
[[File:Syrian civil war 01 11 2018.png|thumb|Military situation in January 2019]]
== Women's Protection Units ==
{{Main|Women's Protection Units}}
[[File:YPJ fighters shake hands with one another.jpg|thumb|Women's Protection Units in November 2014]]
The [[Women's Protection Units]] (YPJ), also known as the Women's Defense Units, is the YPG's female brigade, which was set up in 2012. Kurdish media have said that YPJ troops became vital during the [[siege of Kobanî]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Trieb|first1=Erin|title=Meet the Kurdish Women Fighting ISIS in Syria|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/meet-kurdish-women-fighting-isis-syria-n199821|access-date=19 March 2016|agency=NBC News|date=August 2014}}</ref> Consisting of approximately 20,000 fighters, they make up around 40% of the YPG.<ref name="profil">{{cite web|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/profil-rojda-felat-1.3239571|title=Profil – Rojda Felat. Kommandeurin der Offensive gegen den IS in Raqqa und Bismarck-Fan. [Profile – Rojda Felat. Commander of the offensive against the IS in Raqqa and Bismarck-Fan]|publisher=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]|language=de|author=Moritz Baumstieger|date=9 November 2016|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>
== Organization ==
=== Flags ===
{{multiple image
| align = center
| total_width = 600
| header = Flags of the People's Protection Units
| image1 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012, Vertical).svg
| caption1 = Vertical red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013
| image2 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012).svg
| caption2 = Horizontal red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013
| image3 = People's Protection Units Flag (2011-2012) alternative.svg
| caption3 = Variant of the horizontal red flag, also used until early 2013
| image4 = People's Protection Units Flag.svg
| caption4 = Yellow flag of the YPG, first used since late 2012, widely adopted in 2013 and since then the official flag of the militia
}}
=== Units ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
In 2017, the YPG began to form units called [[regiment]]s in translation, though they are smaller than comparable units in standard militaries:
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Canton
! style="width:5%;"| Number
! style="width:40%;"| Name
! style="width:10%;"| Date Established
! style="width:10%;"| Strength
|-
| Afrin || 1 || Martyr Xebat Dêrik || 27 Feb 2017 || 236 in 4 battalions
|-
| Afrin || 2 || Martyr Afrin || 20 April 2017 || 235
|-
| Afrin || 3 || Martyr Rojhilet || Early June? 2017 || 236
|-
| Afrin || 4 || Martyr Mazloum || 2 July 2017 || 234
|-
| Afrin || 5 || Martyr Alişêr || 27 August 2017 || 303
|-
| Afrin || 7 || Martyr Jayan || 23 Oct 2017 || 250
|-
| Afrin || 8 || Martyr Bahoz Afrin || 18 Nov 2017 || 234
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"| Canton
! style="width:5%;"| Number
! style="width:40%;"| Name
! style="width:10%;"| Date Established
! style="width:10%;"| Strength
|-
| Kobane || 1 || ? || 13 Feb 2017 || 80
|-
| Kobane || 2 || Martyr Şevger Kobanî Regiment || 18 Feb 2017 || 90
|-
| Jazira – al-Hasakah || 1 || Jian Judy and Dogan Fadel || 20 July 2017 || 500
|-
| Jazira – Girkê Legê || 3 || Qereçox Martyrs || 12 July 2017 || 200
|-
| Aleppo || 1 || Martyr Shahid Baqour || 30 Sep 2017 || 55 (Martyr Abu Shayar battalion)
|-
| Tabqa (SDF) || 1 || Martyr Haboun Arab || 14 Nov 2017 || 250
|}
=== Tactics ===
According to a report in [[IHS Jane's]] regarding the YPG,
{{blockquote|Relying on speed, stealth, and surprise, it is the archetypal guerrilla army, able to deploy quickly to front lines and concentrate its forces before quickly redirecting the axis of its attack to outflank and ambush its enemy. The key to its success is autonomy. Although operating under an overarching tactical rubric, YPG brigades are inculcated with a high degree of freedom and can adapt to the changing battlefield.<ref name="YPG strategy">{{Cite web|url=https://janescom.sitefinity.cloud/error/404|title=404 error – This is not the page you requested|website=Janes.com}}</ref>}}
The YPG relies heavily on [[sniper]]s and backs them by suppressing enemy fire using mobile heavy machine guns. It also uses roadside bombs to prevent outflanking maneuvers, particularly at night. Its lines have generally held when attacked by [[Islamic State]] (IS) forces who have better equipment, including helmets and body armor.<ref name="stephens">{{cite news|last=Stephens|first=Michael|date=11 September 2014|title=Analysis: YPG – The Islamic State's worst enemy|newspaper=[[IHS Jane's 360]]|url=http://www.janes.com/article/43030/analysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy|access-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>
The YPG and [[People's Defence Forces|People's Defense Forces]] (HPG) have also trained and equipped more than 1,000 [[Yazidis]], who operate in the [[Sinjar Mountains|Mount Sinjar area]] as local defense units under their supervision.<ref name="stephens" />
The YPG calls itself a people's army, and therefore appoints officers by internal elections.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahmad|first=Rozh|title=A rare glimpse into Kurdish armed forces in Syrian Kurdistan|work=[[Ekurd.net]]|location=Erbil, Iraq|date=6 August 2012|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/8/syriakurd578.htm }}</ref>
A 20-year-old female YPJ fighter named Zlukh Hamo (Nom de guerre: Avesta Khabur) was reported to have carried out a [[suicide attack]] towards Turkish troops and a tank during the early phase of the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin|Afrin Offensive]], killing herself and several soldiers in the process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nordland |first=Rod |date=28 January 2018 |title=Female Kurdish Fighter Kills Turkish Troops in Likely Suicide Bombing in Syria |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/world/middleeast/kurds-female-suicide-bomber-syria.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 January 2018|title=Turkish troops targeted in Afrin suicide attack|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1235721/middle-east|access-date=18 June 2021|website=[[Arab News]]}}</ref> The attack was commended by pro-SDF sources as a courageous attack against a tank using explosives, which killed her in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kurdish female fighter detonates herself to destroy a Turkish tank in Afrin, statement|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/280120182|access-date=2021-06-18|website=[[Rudaw]]}}</ref>
=== Equipment ===
{{See also|List of military equipment used by Syrian Democratic Forces}}
[[File:YPG Tall Tamer 14 mai 2015.PNG|thumb|YPG [[Technical (vehicle)|technical]] near [[Tell Tamer]], 2015]]
In comparison to the other major factions involved in the Syrian Civil War, the YPG has the least armor.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Turkey's high stakes in post-ISIL Syria |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hao6jQpTs |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |date=5 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> To compensate for the resulting capability gap, the YPG became heavily involved in the production of DIY armoured vehicles, typically based on bulldozers or large trucks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Monsters Of Desperation: The YPG's Sturmpanzers |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/08/belly-of-beast-ypg-monsters.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Oryx}}</ref> The YPG has traditionally relied on vehicles captured from the Islamic State, AFVs left behind by the Syrian Arab Army (SyAA), equipment turned over by the SyAA in exchange for a safe passage (for example, after retreating from Mennagh airbase in 2014), and armoured vehicles donated by the US for light armoured vehicles and true armour.<ref name=":3" />
While other Syrian Civil War factions, such as the [[Islamic State]], amassed an arsenal of hundreds of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles captured from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG, which frequently avoided combat with government forces, had to make do with scraps.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Oryx}}</ref> The YPG was able to acquire several vehicle types, including the [[BTR-60]] and [[BRDM-2]], that had been abandoned in government bases by their previous owners.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2022-11-22 |title=All About the YPG, the Syrian Kurds Dividing Turkey and the US |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-22/all-about-the-ypg-the-syrian-kurds-vexing-turkey-quicktake |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref> With no other option, even these abandoned vehicles would be repaired and repurposed by the YPG.<ref name=":4" /> Even when the engine couldn't be repaired, the hulls of BTR-60s were strapped to the backs of trucks and used as improvised AFVs.<ref name=":5" />
With little armor and other heavy weaponry, the YPG relied almost entirely on Coalition airpower to destroy Islamic State vehicles and fighting positions.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=The Tweet of Damocles |url=http://newamerica.org/international-security/reports/tweet-damocles/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=New America |language=en}}</ref> While this meant that Islamic State-operated AFVs were frequently destroyed before they could inflict serious damage on YPG forces, it also meant that most AFVs were completely obliterated by Coalition aircraft, preventing their capture and further use with the YPG.<ref name=":6" />
In order to assist the [[SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo|SDF]] in its fight against Islamic State forces in northern Syria, the YPG received a large number of infantry mobility vehicles ([[Infantry mobility vehicle|IMVs]]) and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles ([[MRAP]]s) from the US, which appear to have replaced some of the YPG's more bizarre homemade armour designs.<ref name=":4" /> Surprisingly, the YPG was permitted to keep these vehicles even after IS was defeated as a conventional military force.<ref name=":4" /> Even so, there was little doubt that their most likely future application would be against a [[NATO]] member ([[Turkey]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-14 |title=Factbox: What is the Syrian Kurdish YPG? |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-syrian-kurdish-ypg-2022-11-14/ |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref> Aside from a large fleet of [[Humvee]]s, [[IAG Guardian]]s, and [[International MaxxPro|M1224 Maxxpros]], the US has reportedly transferred a number of [[M2 Bradley]] infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the YPG.<ref name=":7">{{Cite tweet |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=worldonalert |number=1183399659085144072 |url=https://twitter.com/worldonalert/status/1183399659085144072}}</ref> These reports appear to be based on the sighting of M2s with SDF flags and a video of YPG members training alongside M2s, and there is currently no evidence that such a transfer has occurred.<ref name=":7" />
The YPG's arsenal of ATGMs is without a doubt the most dangerous threat to the Turkish military.<ref name=":4" /> Despite capturing only a small number of these missiles from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG has managed to secure a steady supply of ATGMs obtained on the Syrian black market.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=AA |first=Daily Sabah with |date=2022-12-04 |title='Border Eagles' protect Türkiye-Syria boundary with domestic equipment |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/border-eagles-protect-turkiye-syria-boundary-with-domestic-equipment |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref> These have included models like the [[9M113 Konkurs]] and [[9K115 Metis|9M115 Metis-M]], as well as more advanced models like the [[9M133 Kornet]] and even the US [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] ATGM.<ref name=":8" /> Despite frequently employing them against the [[Free Syrian Army]] and Turkish military, the YPG is likely to keep a significant stock of missiles on hand for future use against Turkish armour and troop concentrations.<ref name=":8" />
== International outreach ==
=== Foreign volunteers ===
{{Further|YPG International|International Freedom Battalion}}
[[File:German, French, and Spanish YPG fighters.png|250px|left|thumb|[[Germans|German]], [[French people|French]], and [[Spanish people|Spanish]] fighters of the YPG in northern Syria.]]
Ex–[[U.S. Army]] soldier [[Jordan Matson]] was among the first foreign volunteers of the YPG. Injured by an IS suicide bomb, he developed the "Lions of Rojava" recruitment campaign for foreign volunteers,<ref>{{cite web |author=Jennifer Percy |title=Meet the American Vigilantes Who Are Fighting ISIS |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/meet-the-american-vigilantes-who-are-fighting-isis.html |date=30 September 2015 |access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref> launched on 21 October 2014 on Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 November 2014 |title=Kobani Kurds Use Facebook To Recruit Foreign Fighters in Struggle Against IS |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/islamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters/26690432.html |access-date=15 November 2014 |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe]] Radio Liberty}}</ref> More than 400 volunteers from Europe, the Americas and Australia have joined the YPG {{As of|2015|6|11|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/more-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg|title=SOHR|date=11 June 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Syriahr.com}}</ref> including at least ten U.S. volunteers, three of which were U.S. Army veterans.<ref name=Shah>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/western-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563|title=Western "comrades" join Kurds, Arabs, secularists, Yezidis, and Syriac Christians against Islamic State|date=29 October 2014|access-date=13 February 2015|publisher=Your Middle East}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/06/jordan-matson-joins-kurds-against-islamic-state/16796487/|title=Exclusive: American explains why he's fighting ISIL|date=7 October 2014|access-date=23 October 2014|publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref name="bbc23oct">{{cite web |last=Muir |first=Jim |date=23 October 2014 |title=The US volunteers who fight with Syria's Kurds |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29705167 |access-date=23 October 2014 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Zurutuza |first=Karlos |date=23 October 2014 |title=A Divorced Father-of-Two from Ohio Is Fighting the Islamic State in Syria |url=https://news.vice.com/article/a-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria |access-date=13 February 2015 |publisher=[[Vice News]]}}</ref> People from both China and the Chinese diaspora have also joined.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35036879|title=The Chinese man fighting Islamic State with the YPG|work=BBC News|date=8 December 2015}}</ref>
Other prominent foreign volunteers have included [[Brace Belden]], [[Macer Gifford]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=British ex-trader who fought Isil describes escape from Syria|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ryan Lock,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/02/briton-ryan-lock-killed-while-fighting-against-isis-in-syria|title=Briton killed while fighting against Isis in Syria|last=Blake|first=Matt|date=2017-01-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Michael Israel,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/3/foreign-volunteers-fighting-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-killed-by-turkey|title=Foreign volunteers fighting with Syrian-Kurdish forces killed 'by Turkey'|last=Arab|first=The New|work=alaraby|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}</ref> Nazzarno Tassone,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3159893/canadian-man-killed-while-fighting-isis-in-syria/|title=Canadian man killed while fighting ISIS in Syria | Globalnews.ca|website=Global News}}</ref> Dean Evans,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/isis-wasnt-about-killing-people-what-drove-british-farmer-syrian-frontline|title='It wasn't about killing people': what drove a British farmer to the Syrian frontline?|last=Blake|first=Matt|date=2016-10-29|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Jac Holmes]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/240420166|title=Three foreign YPG volunteers released from jail, going home |website=rudaw|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref> [[Konstandinos Erik Scurfield]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Kurds pay tribute to 'hero' Erik Scurfield on anniversary of death |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-39172425 |access-date=17 April 2022 |work=BBC News |date=5 March 2017}}</ref> [[Anna Campbell]], [[Lorenzo Orsetti]] and [[Haukur Hilmarsson]].
Dozens of non-Kurdish Turks (from both Turkey and the European diaspora) have also joined.<ref name=Shah /> The Turkish [[Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (Turkey)|Marxist-Leninist Communist Party]] (MLKP) has been sending volunteers to fight in the YPG since 2012. At least four have been killed in battle as of February 2015—one during the Battle of Ras al-Ayn and three during the siege of Kobanî. The party released a video in late January 2015 showing several Spanish- and German-speaking volunteers from Europe among its ranks in [[Jazira Canton]]; they were reorganised into the [[International Freedom Battalion]] on 10 June 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|title=Enternasyonal devrimciler: Her dilden devrimi savunuyoruz|date=28 January 2015|publisher=Etkin Haber Ajansı|language=tr|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302131855/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|archive-date=2 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==== Deaths ====
{{Further|International Freedom Battalion#International Freedom Battalion fatalities}}
During the fight against IS and the defense of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] against the Turkish state, several of the international volunteers were wounded and killed. The [[Icelanders|Icelandic]] [[Haukur Hilmarsson]], aged 31, was killed on 24 February 2018 in an [[artillery]] attack by the [[Turkish army]] in the village of [[Maabatli|Mabeta]], Afrin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/news/internationalists-martyred-in-rojava-remembered-in-greece-33183|title=Internationalists martyred in Rojava remembered in Greece|website=ANF News}}</ref> As a [[YPJ]] fighter, the British woman [[Anna Campbell]], 26, from [[Lewes]] in [[East Sussex]], was killed in a Turkish airstrike in [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]] on 15 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/briton-kurds-anna-campbell-dies-fighting-turkey-syria-afrin|title=British woman killed fighting Turkish forces in Afrin|first=Matt|last=Blake|newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 March 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In the battle of [[Al-Baghuz Fawqani]], an Italian man fighting for the YPG, [[Lorenzo Orsetti]], was killed on Sunday, 17 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47628209|title=Syrian fighters 'overrun IS encampment'|date=2019-03-19|agency=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-09|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==== Politics ====
While most countries do not object in principle to their citizens joining the ranks of the YPG, Turkey has been vocal against YPG's foreign recruits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html|title=Turkey increasingly vocal against YPG's foreign recruits|publisher=Al-Monitor|author=Metin Gurcan|date=28 June 2017|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929000711/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html|archive-date=29 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Several Australians, including former [[Australian labour movement|trade unionist]] and politician [[Matthew Gardiner (trade unionist)|Matthew Gardiner]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161|title=Matthew Gardiner confirmed to be fighting Islamic State with Kurds|publisher=NTNews|access-date=9 July 2015|archive-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801084223/http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161|url-status=dead}}</ref> have been involved with the YPG despite threats by Australia to prosecute any citizens involved in the Syrian Civil War.<ref name="xinhua">{{cite news |date=11 June 2015 |title=Australian man defends his actions fighting against Islamic State |url=http://english.sina.com/2015/0610/818826.html |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua (Beijing)]] |quote=Former international junior bench press champion Ashley Dyball … wrote on Facebook, 'The s--- you see here is nothing like you see on the bias news reports, the Islamic state must be stopped and if it means I can't come home f--- it.' … Dyball faces prosecution if he returns.}}</ref> Under Australian law it is a criminal offence to fight with any side in a foreign conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/03/25/Awkward-contradictions-in-Australian-foreign-fighter-laws.aspx|title=Awkward contradictions in Australian foreign-fighter laws|author=Lauren Williams|work=lowyinterpreter.org|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>
In 2017, Turkish court sentenced two Czech nationals to more than six years in prison for their reported ties to the YPG.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkish Supreme Court upholds six-year verdict imposed on two Czechs |url=https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/turkish-supreme-court-upholds-six-year-verdict-imposed-on-two-czechs |agency=Radio Praha |date=24 July 2018}}</ref> In Germany, the YPG leads to controversies as it is up to the police to begin a prosecution for showing a YPG flag.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peter|first=Erik|url=https://taz.de/!5629632/|title=Kurdische Symbole in Deutschland: Rechtslage? Mal so, mal so|date=2019-10-16|work=Die Tageszeitung: taz|access-date=2020-03-01|language=de|issn=0931-9085}}</ref> In the state of Bavaria, fines for showing a YPG flag were issued, while the federal government declares that the YPG is not forbidden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfdeutsch.com/aktuelles/ist-das-zeigen-einer-ypg-fahne-strafbar-7797|title=Ist das Zeigen einer YPG-Fahne strafbar?|website=ANF News|language=de|access-date=2020-03-01}}</ref>
=== Foreign government support ===
{{See also|Syrian Democratic Forces}}
Because the YPG operates in a landlocked territory, rival opposition groups as well as the Turkish and Syrian government were able to physically prevent foreign aid from reaching it. The YPG's seizure of Til Koçer in October 2013 (cf. above) created an overland connection to more or less friendly groups in Iraq, but could not change the even more fundamental problem, that the YPG had no allies willing to provide equipment.
==== United States ====
[[File:US and YPG officers in northeastern Hasaka.png|thumb|A [[Delta Force]] officer and YPG and YPJ commanders tour an area hit by [[April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq|Turkish airstrikes]] in April 2017]]
[[File:YPG and US army Hassaka 1-5-2017.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army [[M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle|M1126 Stryker]] armored vehicle in [[Al-Hasakah]], May 2017]]
In August 2014 [[Mazlum Kobane|Mazlum Kobanî]] led negotiations with the US in [[Sulaymaniyah|Sulaymaniya]], which led to a military alliance against IS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/how-trump-betrayed-the-general-who-defeated-isis|title=How Trump Betrayed the General Who Defeated ISIS|last=Wright|first=Robin|magazine=The New Yorker|date=2019-04-04|access-date=2019-04-05|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> The United States provided the YPG with air support during the [[siege of Kobanî]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29526783|title=Kobane: Air strikes help Syria town curb IS|work=BBC News|date=8 October 2014|access-date=14 December 2016|agency=BBC News}}</ref> and during later campaigns, helping the YPG defend territory against attacks by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/01/syria-airstrikes-everything-you-need-to-know|title=Syria airstrikes: everything you need to know|first1=Matthew|last1=Weaver|first2=Julian|last2=Borger|date=1 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Turkey has criticised US support.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35541003|title=Turkey's Erdogan denounces US support for Syrian Kurds|work=BBC News|date=10 February 2016|access-date=14 December 2016|agency=BBC News}}</ref>
The YPG also received 27 bundles totalling 24 tons of small arms and ammunition and 10 tons of medical supplies from the United States and Iraqi Kurdistan during the siege of Kobanî.<ref name="pukmedia">{{cite web|url=http://pukmedia.com/KS_Direje.aspx?Jimare=69493|title=PUKmedia یەکێتیی نیشتمانیی کوردستان|work=pukmedia.com}}</ref>
On 11 October 2015, the US began an operation to airdrop 120 tons of military supplies to the YPG and its local Arab and Turkmen allies to fight IS north of [[Raqqa]]. The first airdrop consisted of 112 pallets of ammunition and "other items like hand grenades", totaling 50 tons.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. delivers 50 tons of ammunition to Syria rebel groups |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html|access-date=1 February 2016|date=12 October 2015}}</ref> However, statements from the US that the aid did not contain TOW's or anti-aircraft weapons made it clear that the U.S. continued to have serious regard for the interests of Turkey, which has warned against continued US support for the YPG. On the other hand, the US also supported Islamist rebel groups who fought the YPG. During the Battle of Aleppo, the US-backed [[Mountain Hawks Brigade]] battled the YPG and the [[Army of Revolutionaries]] for control of the village of [[Maryamin, Afrin|Maryamin]].<ref name=YPGallies>{{cite web |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086|title=YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo|date=29 November 2015|publisher=Middle East Eye}}</ref>
US aid to the YPG continued in late October with the deployment of up to 50 US special forces to assist the YPG, and an enhanced air campaign to support the YPG and local militia groups in their fight against IS.<ref name="steele">{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Jonathan |title=The Syrian Kurds are winning! |magazine=New York Review of Books |date=3 December 2015 |url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/ |quote=Turkey had told ... the US that YPG forces would not be permitted to proceed beyond the Euphrates. In an apparent rebuke ... Kerry [said]: "We're … enhancing our air campaign in order to help drive Da'esh, which once dominated the Syria–Turkey border, out of the last seventy-mile stretch...” }} Review of ''Out of Nowhere: The Kurds of Syria in Peace and War'', by Michael M. Gunter.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Obama orders US special forces to 'assist' fight against Isis in Syria ' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations|access-date=1 February 2016|date=30 October 2015}}</ref> Some of these special forces participated in the [[al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)]] and coordinated airstrikes against IS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftoBdrjm7Q|title=EXCLUSIVE: Interethnic coalition takes on the IS group in Syria|publisher=France 24 |via=YouTube|date=22 April 2016}}</ref>
During the [[Battle of Tabqa (2017)]], [[Anti-Terror Units|YPG special forces]] were equipped with US-supplied [[combat helmet]]s, [[AN/PVS-7]] [[night vision device]]s, [[flashlight]]s, and were armed with [[M4 carbine]]s equipped with [[AN/PEQ-2]] [[laser sight]]s, [[holographic weapon sight]]s, and [[STANAG magazine]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/syrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons|title=Syrian Kurds are now armed with sensitive US weaponry, and the Pentagon denies supplying it|work=Military Times|author=Shawn Snow|date=7 May 2017}}</ref>
On 9 May 2017, it was announced by the Pentagon that American President [[Donald Trump]] approved of a plan that would have the United States directly provide heavy armaments to the major SDF component group, the YPG; the plan comes before a planned final offensive to capture Raqqa from IS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/trump-kurds-syria-army.html|title=Trump to Arm Syrian Kurds, Even as Turkey Strongly Objects|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/09/in-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state/|title=In blow to U.S.-Turkey ties, Trump administration approves plan to arm Syrian Kurds against Islamic State|newspaper=Washington Post|date=9 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210|title=Trump OKs arms for Syrian Kurds, despite Turkish objections|work=ABC News|date=9 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509185346/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210|archive-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>
==== Russia ====
With Russia's entrance into the war in late 2015 backing the Syrian government, some reports<!-- It is worth noting the source of the reports and their political affiliations in the Syrian Civil War.<ref>--> have reported that the YPG coordinated with or received weapons from Russia, with rival opposition groups stating that the timing and targeting of Russian airstrikes were "suspiciously advantageous" to the Kurdish militias.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z|title=Britain says uneasy after evidence of Kurdish coordination with Syria and Russia|date=23 February 2016|agency=Reuters UK|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-19}}</ref>
Despite this, YPG officials have said they did not cooperate with Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/|title=Kurdish fighters in Aleppo deny receiving Russian military support |agency=ARA News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015034/http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/|archive-date=28 March 2016}}</ref> However, in July 2019, [[Rashid Abu Khawla]] the head of the [[Syrian Democratic Forces military councils#Deir ez-Zor|Syrian Democratic Forces' Deir ez-Zor Military Council]] stated that the Syrian Democratic Forces had cooperated with Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npasyria.com/en/blog.php?id_blog=454&sub_blog=10&name_blog=Abu%20Khawla:%20We%20coordinate%20with%20Russia%20and%20I%20brought%20thousands%20of%20opposition%20fighters%20to%20our%20areas|title=Abu Khawla: We coordinate with Russia and I brought thousands of opposition fighters to our areas|website=npasyria.com}}</ref>
=== Diplomatic relations ===
{{See also|Foreign relations of Rojava}}
Russia's position towards the YPG is not clear, and the US actively supports it, but their diplomatic relations with the PYD are the opposite. In January 2016 Russia pushed for the inclusion of the PYD in the Geneva talks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/260120161|title=Russia: Kurds should be included in Geneva talks |agency=Rudaw|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-20}}</ref> The YPG would like to open a representative branch in the US, but in March 2016 interview its leader implied that it was not allowed to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/|title=Salih Muslim: Time Has Proved Us Right |website=The Kurdistan Tribune|date=16 March 2016 |language=en-US |quote=The West is fully aware that the Syrian Democratic Forces are an important and reliable active on the ground, hence the military support. Unfortunately, they have not yet approached us at a political level while they keep their ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey ... However, we do hope political relations to materialize among us in the future.|access-date=2016-03-20}}</ref>
In February, 2018, USA's [[Director of National Intelligence]] in the [[Cabinet of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] described YPG as the Syrian wing of PKK in its new report.<ref name="DNI2018">[https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-dcoats-021318.PDF Director of National Intelligence, Worldwide threat assessment of the US intelligence community], 13 February 2018. Quote: "The Kurdish People's Protection Unit—the Syrian militia of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—probably will seek some form of autonomy but will face resistance from Russia, Iran, and Turkey."</ref>
=== International media outreach ===
The YPG's press office media operation has been a particular focus of its opponents, with Turkey bombing its premises in [[Cizire Canton]] in April 2017,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39708909|title=Turkey air strikes on Kurds in Syria and Iraq spark US concern|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2017|agency=BBC News}}</ref> and the [[Islamic State]] (IS) singling out its premises in [[Raqqa]] for a raid during the late stages of the [[Battle of Raqqa (2017)|Battle of Raqqa]] in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/27/british-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria|title=British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria|date=27 September 2017|work=The Guardian|author=Matt Blake}}</ref>
== Allegations concerning violations of international law and war crimes ==
{{Further|
Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria#DFNS-associated militias|Syrian Democratic Forces#Reported war crimes|Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War#Syrian Democratic Forces|Human rights in Syria#Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria}}
=== Accusations of ethnic cleansing and forced displacements ===
In June 2015 the Turkish government stated that the YPG was carrying out an ethnic cleansing as part of a plan to join the Jazira and [[Kobanî Canton|Kobanî]] cantons into a single territory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turkey accuses Kurdish forces of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria|url=https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html|date=16 June 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse|quote=President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said he was troubled by the advance of Kurdish forces, saying they could in the future create a structure to threaten Turkey.}}</ref>
The [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] reacted by starting an inquiry into the allegations.<ref name="Rudaw.net">{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty|title=US voices concern over allegations of rights violations by YPG|date=14 October 2015|access-date=20 October 2015 |last1=Saeed |first1=Yerevan |quote=We'll look closely at all these accusations to determine whether there's any veracity to the claims ... We call on those who actually are or will participate in administering these areas to do so inclusively and with respect for all groups regardless of ethnicity|agency=[[Rudaw Media Network|Rudaw]]}}</ref>
In October 2015, [[Amnesty International]] published a report<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|quote=In July and August 2015 Amnesty International investigated the forced displacement of residents from 10 villages and towns in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration}}</ref> with reports that the YPG had driven at least 100 families from northern Syria and that in the villages of Asaylem and Husseiniya it had demolished resident homes. The report was made by Amnesty visiting the area contained in the report. It made local observations of destruction, and collected testimonies from former and actual residents of [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|al-Hasakeh]] and [[Raqqa Governorate|Raqqa]] governorates. It found cases of YPG fighters forcibly displacing residents and using fire and bulldozers to raze homes and other structures.<ref name="amnesty.org">{{cite web|date=13 October 2015|title=Syria: US ally's razing of villages amounts to war crimes|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes|access-date=17 October 2015|work=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name="bbc.com">{{cite news|date=13 October 2015|title=Syria Kurds 'razing villages seized from IS' – Amnesty|agency=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34511134|quote=Of 225 buildings visible [in Husseiniya] in June 2014, only 14 were still standing by June 2015.}}</ref>
In a report published by the [[United Nations]]' [[Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic]] on 10 March 2017, the Commission refuted Amnesty International's reports of ethnic cleansing, stating that "'though allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' continued to be received during the period under review, the Commission found no evidence to substantiate reports that YPG or SDF forces ever targeted Arab communities on the basis of ethnicity."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/|title=Syria and Islamist groups guilty of war crimes, YPG cleared: UN report|work=Kom News|date=15 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054645/https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/|archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="UN report counters">{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/|title=UN report counters Amnesty International's claim that Kurds are ethnically cleansing in Syria|first=Paul|last=Antonopoulos|date=15 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033742/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="refutes">{{cite web|url=http://ekurd.net/ypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14|title=UN report refutes ethnic cleansing claims against Syrian Kurdish YPG, SDF|date=14 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref> Forced displacement of civilians and destruction of civilian property is not a war crime per se. These acts only become a war crime when there is no "imperative military necessity" for them. Amnesty International stated the report documents cases in which there was no such justification.<ref name=":0" />{{Dead link|date=October 2021}} It furthermore states that "the circumstances of some of these displacements suggested that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups",<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|date=October 2015|quote=The circumstances of some of the instances of forced displacement documented in this report suggest that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups. This would constitute collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.|access-date=27 March 2016|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051131/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> thus constituting "collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law".
In interviews, YPG spokespersons acknowledged that a number of families were in fact displaced. However, they placed the number at no more than 25, and stated military necessity.<ref name=":1" /> They stated that the family members of terrorists maintained communications with them, and therefore had to be removed from areas where they might pose a danger.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|access-date=20 October 2021|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=28|quote=In some dangerous areas there are some specific cases that are very small, resulting from the terrorist threat, where families were sent away from the area ... Only 25 families were forced to leave across Rojava ... (They are told) 'Folks, remove your things please, and if you leave from this area until the war ends it will be a good thing ...' You have terrorists in al-Raqqa and their families – the uncle, and brother, and sister – are here, and they are in communication, giving them information. We were forced to distance these families. Not detain them. Distance them. Take them outside of the area.}}</ref> They further stated that IS was using civilians in those areas to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|access-date=20 October 2021|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=29|quote=He added that IS was benefiting from the presence of civilians in these areas, and using them to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.}}</ref> By describing the events in Hammam al-Turkman before the village was evacuated, the Amnesty International report itself inadvertently supports these YPG reports of military necessity.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 2015|title=We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf|website=[[Amnesty International]]|page=17|quote=After the YPG took the village, on 15 June, a car bomb killed three YPG fighters 4 km from Hammam al-Turkman at a checkpoint in Damishli. The following day there were skirmishes between the YPG and IS in the village before IS was pushed back. A second car bomb went off at a YPG checkpoint at the health clinic in the village on 18 June killing a YPG fighter and injuring one civilian and three days later IS shot and killed a second YPG fighter near the clinic. It was after the death of this fighter that the residents were told by the YPG that they had to leave the village.}}</ref>
=== Recruitment of minors ===
In June 2014, [[Human Rights Watch]] criticized the YPG for accepting minors into their ranks, picking up on multiple earlier reports of teenage fighters serving in the YPG, with a report by the [[United Nations]] [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary General]] stating that 24 minors under age of 18 had been recruited by YPG, compared to 124 having been recruited by the Free Syrian Army and 5 by the Syrian Arab Army.<ref name="children">{{cite report |author=[[United Nations Security Council|U.N. Security Council]] |date=5 June 2015 |title=Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict |url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/926 |at=para. 191 |quote=Actual numbers are expected to be higher.... A number of pro-Government groups, including Hizbullah, also reportedly recruited children in small numbers.}}</ref> In response, the YPG and YPJ signed the [[Geneva Call]] ''Deed of Commitment'' protecting children in armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence and against gender discrimination in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and|title=Syria: 4 brigades of the Free Syrian Army commit to prohibit sexual violence and the use of child soldiers [EN/AR] – Syrian Arab Republic|website=ReliefWeb|date=3 July 2017 }}</ref> Kurdish security forces (YPG and [[Asayish (Syria)|Asayish]]) began receiving human rights training from Geneva Call and other international organizations with the YPG pledging to demobilize all fighters under 18 within a month and began to enact disciplinary measures against commanders of the units that had involved in corruption and accepting recruit under age of 18 to their ranks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: Kurdish Forces Violating Child Soldier Ban Despite Promises, Children Still Fight|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/10/syria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0|website=Human Rights Watch|date=15 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Tom |last2=Malla |first2=Naline |date=10 September 2015 |title=Western states train Kurdish force in Syria, force's leader says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910 |work=[[Reuters]] |quote=Amnesty International this month faulted the Kurdish administration for arbitrary detentions and unfair trials.... [Ciwan] Ibrahim said ... efforts were underway to improve its human rights record.... The Geneva Call ... promotes good treatment of civilians in war zones... }}</ref> In October 2015 the YPG demobilized 21 minors from the military service in its ranks.<ref name="Demobilized children">{{cite report |date=28 October 2015 |title=YPG demobilizes 21 children under the age of 18 from the military service in its ranks |url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/ |publisher=[[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121223140/http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-28-october-2015/ |archive-date=2015-11-21}}</ref>
According to the annual UN report of 2018,<ref>{{cite web|title=Syria: Armed Group Recruiting Children in Camps|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/syria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps|website=Human Rights Watch|date=3 August 2018|access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=http://undocs.org/s/2018/465|author=[[United Nations Security Council|U.N. Security Council]] |date=16 May 2018 |title=Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict |access-date=23 October 2019 }}</ref> there were 224 cases of child recruitment by the YPG and its women's unit, the YPJ, in 2017, an almost fivefold increase from the previous year. This sparked immediate conversations with the anti-child-recruitment [[NGO]] Geneva Call which resulted in a broad new military directive strictly prohibiting all recruitment of persons under 18, ordering that any such persons within SDF be immediately removed from the payroll and transferred to the custody of the civilian Authority For Education, mandating the appointment of an [[ombudsman]] in each military service to receive and investigate reports of child recruitment, and ordering punitive measures by military police and by the SDF's Military Discipline Department against anyone found to be responsible for child recruitment. Geneva Call immediately praised the SDF's wide-ranging initiative to eliminate and prevent child recruitment throughout all of SDF's military organizations.<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=7 September 2018|title=SDF command issues order banning child recruitment|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>
In June 2020, United Nations reported the YPG/YPJ as the largest faction in the [[Syrian civil war]] by the number of recruited child soldiers with 283 child soldiers followed by [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]] with 245 child soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Assembly Security Council Seventy-fourth session Seventy-fifth year Agenda item 66 (a) Promotion and protection of the rights of children |url=https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf |publisher=United Nations |access-date=16 June 2020}}</ref>
On 15 July 2020, SDF issued a new military order prohibiting child recruitment. The [[NGO]] ''Fight For Humanity'' conducted multiple training sessions with hundreds of SDF commanders about the UN-SDF Action Plan To Prevent Child Recruitment, and distributed informational posters and flyers about it written in both [[Arabic]] and [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]], as part of an ongoing educational process. Syria-based researcher Thomas McClure observed that “SDF are less likely to engage in such practices than any of the other forces in Syria, but seek to hold themselves to a higher standard of accountability and human rights.”<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=15 July 2020|title=SDF issues new directives to protect schools, children from military conflict|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22|access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>
On 29 August 2020, SDF announced the creation of a new system that anyone can use to confidentially report to specialized Child Protection offices any suspected case of child recruitment, in accordance with the action plan that the SDF signed with the [[United Nations]] in the summer of 2019.<ref>{{cite news|date=29 August 2020|title=SDF announce new measure to tackle recruitment of child soldiers|publisher=[[Rudaw]]|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/29082020|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=30 August 2020|title=New mechanism allows civilians to report child recruitment in northeast Syria|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664}}</ref>
On 23 April 2021, the UN released its third report on child recruitment in Syria, noting that the SDF's action plan had resulted in a significant decrease in child recruitment (from 216 cases in early 2019 to only 41 cases in early 2020), but that elsewhere in Syria, child recruitment continued to be systematic and widespread within Syrian government and non-government armed forces.<ref>{{cite news|last=van Wilgenburg|first=Wladimir|author-link=Wladimir van Wilgenburg|date=22 May 2021|title=Child recruitment by SDF down significantly since 2019, UN says|publisher=[[Kurdistan24]]|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019,-UN-says}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Asia}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[International Freedom Battalion]]
* [[Kurdish Front]]
* [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK)
* [[Party of Free Life of Kurdistan]] (PJAK)
* [[Peshmerga]]
* [[Sutoro]]
* [[YPG–FSA relations]]
* [[AANES–Syria relations]]
* [[List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War]]
}}
== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book
|last=Rashid
|first=Bedir Mulla
|translator=Obaida Hitto
|title= Military and Security Structures of the Autonomous Administration in Syria
|url=http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140230/http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2018-07-01
|orig-year=1st pub. 2017
|date=2018
|publisher=Omran for Strategic Studies
|location=[[Istanbul]]
}}
== External links ==
* {{Facebook|YPGinfo|name=YPG}}
{{Syrian Kurdistan topics}}
{{Kurdish nationalist organisations}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
{{Military of the Arab world}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:People's Protection Units| ]]
[[Category:Apoist organizations in Syria]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Syria]]
[[Category:Kurdistan Communities Union]]
[[Category:Syrian Kurdish organizations]]
[[Category:Irregular units and formations]]
[[Category:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2011]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Turkey]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]' |
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116 => 'http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html',
117 => 'http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086',
118 => 'http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/',
119 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations',
120 => 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftoBdrjm7Q',
121 => 'http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/syrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons',
122 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/trump-kurds-syria-army.html',
123 => 'https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/09/in-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state/',
124 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170509185346/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210',
125 => 'https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210',
126 => 'http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z',
127 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015034/http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/',
128 => 'http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/',
129 => 'https://npasyria.com/en/blog.php?id_blog=454&sub_blog=10&name_blog=Abu%20Khawla:%20We%20coordinate%20with%20Russia%20and%20I%20brought%20thousands%20of%20opposition%20fighters%20to%20our%20areas',
130 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/260120161',
131 => 'http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/',
132 => 'https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-dcoats-021318.PDF',
133 => 'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39708909',
134 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/27/british-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria',
135 => 'https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html',
136 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty',
137 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF',
138 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes',
139 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34511134',
140 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054645/https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/',
141 => 'https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/',
142 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033742/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/',
143 => 'https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/',
144 => 'http://ekurd.net/ypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14',
145 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051131/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF',
146 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf',
147 => 'https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/926',
148 => 'https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and',
149 => 'https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/10/syria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0',
150 => 'https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910',
151 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20151121223140/http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-28-october-2015/',
152 => 'http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/',
153 => 'https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/syria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps',
154 => 'http://undocs.org/s/2018/465',
155 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977',
156 => 'https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf',
157 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22',
158 => 'https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/29082020',
159 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664',
160 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019,-UN-says',
161 => 'https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q277036#identifiers',
162 => 'https://www.ypgrojava.org/',
163 => 'https://t.me/YPGInfo',
164 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140230/http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html',
165 => 'http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html',
166 => 'https://www.facebook.com/YPGinfo',
167 => 'https://viaf.org/viaf/3694150869800922190001',
168 => 'https://d-nb.info/gnd/1158633351',
169 => 'https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=olak2016934723&CON_LNG=ENG'
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0 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13112013',
1 => 'http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/8/syriakurd578.htm',
2 => 'http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd541.htm',
3 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025429/http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region',
4 => 'http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/76750/World/Region/Kurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx',
5 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20131209152741/http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm',
6 => 'http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/',
7 => 'http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/',
8 => 'https://www.facebook.com/SyrianRebellionObservatory/photos/a.1648239072069399.1073741828.1648217982071508/1699722200254419/?type=1',
9 => 'http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town',
10 => 'http://www.rferl.org/content/islamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters/26690432.html',
11 => 'http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/more-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg',
12 => 'http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/western-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563',
13 => 'https://news.vice.com/article/a-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria',
14 => 'http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/',
15 => 'http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161',
16 => 'http://english.sina.com/2015/0610/818826.html',
17 => 'http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/03/25/Awkward-contradictions-in-Australian-foreign-fighter-laws.aspx',
18 => 'http://pukmedia.com/KS_Direje.aspx?Jimare=69493',
19 => 'http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html',
20 => 'http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/',
21 => 'http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/',
22 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes',
23 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty',
24 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13112013',
25 => 'http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/8/syriakurd578.htm',
26 => 'http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd541.htm',
27 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025429/http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region',
28 => 'http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/76750/World/Region/Kurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx',
29 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20131209152741/http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm',
30 => 'http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/',
31 => 'http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/',
32 => 'https://www.facebook.com/SyrianRebellionObservatory/photos/a.1648239072069399.1073741828.1648217982071508/1699722200254419/?type=1',
33 => 'http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town',
34 => 'http://www.rferl.org/content/islamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters/26690432.html',
35 => 'http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/more-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg',
36 => 'http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/western-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563',
37 => 'https://news.vice.com/article/a-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria',
38 => 'http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/',
39 => 'http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161',
40 => 'http://english.sina.com/2015/0610/818826.html',
41 => 'http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/03/25/Awkward-contradictions-in-Australian-foreign-fighter-laws.aspx',
42 => 'http://pukmedia.com/KS_Direje.aspx?Jimare=69493',
43 => 'http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html',
44 => 'http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/',
45 => 'http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/',
46 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes',
47 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty',
48 => 'http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-alliance-idUKKBN0U90DC20151228',
49 => 'http://www.janes.com/article/43030/analysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy',
50 => 'http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z',
51 => 'http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/',
52 => 'http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/meet-kurdish-women-fighting-isis-syria-n199821',
53 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/260120161',
54 => 'http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/',
55 => 'http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf',
56 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF',
57 => 'http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region',
58 => 'http://en.firatajans.com/news/news/ypg-takes-control-of-til-kocer.htm',
59 => 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftoBdrjm7Q',
60 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20151121223140/http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-28-october-2015/',
61 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/01/syria-airstrikes-everything-you-need-to-know',
62 => 'http://www.themedialine.org/views/blog/photos-of-tishrin-dam-liberated-from-isis/',
63 => 'https://www.ypgrojava.org/',
64 => 'http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/08/world/meast/isis-threat/index.html',
65 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations',
66 => 'https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html',
67 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/02/briton-ryan-lock-killed-while-fighting-against-isis-in-syria',
68 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/meet-the-american-vigilantes-who-are-fighting-isis.html',
69 => 'http://rudaw.net/english/interview/22072013',
70 => 'http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kurdish-woman-leading-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-678354',
71 => 'http://www.smh.com.au/world/woman-leads-kurds-in-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-20141013-1158kr.html',
72 => 'http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/2014/10/14/Kurdish-woman-leads-fight-against-ISIS-in-Kobane-.html',
73 => 'http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/profil-rojda-felat-1.3239571',
74 => 'https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/',
75 => 'https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/',
76 => 'http://ekurd.net/ypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14',
77 => 'http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/kurdish-forces-bolster-assad-in-aleppo',
78 => 'https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/3/foreign-volunteers-fighting-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-killed-by-turkey',
79 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/29/isis-wasnt-about-killing-people-what-drove-british-farmer-syrian-frontline',
80 => 'http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/240420166',
81 => 'http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086',
82 => 'http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/syrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons',
83 => 'https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/09/in-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state/',
84 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/trump-kurds-syria-army.html',
85 => 'http://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-ypg-patches-syria-2016-5',
86 => 'https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/926',
87 => 'https://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-ypg',
88 => 'https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/06/jordan-matson-joins-kurds-against-islamic-state/16796487/',
89 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/27/british-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria',
90 => 'http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html',
91 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20141008154840/http://aranews.net/2014/05/fsa-and-ypg-cooperate-against-isil-militants-in-syrias-tel-abyad/',
92 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063318/http://aranews.net/2014/09/ypg-fsa-form-joint-military-chamber-combat-isis-syria/',
93 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015034/http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/',
94 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054645/https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/',
95 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20120724224808/http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html',
96 => 'http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html',
97 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/88000/mde240032005en.pdf',
98 => 'https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html',
99 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33690060',
100 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29705167',
101 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35036879',
102 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29526783',
103 => 'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35541003',
104 => 'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39708909',
105 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34511134',
106 => 'https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/533',
107 => 'http://www.dw.com/en/concerns-grow-about-abuses-war-crimes-in-syria/a-19277777',
108 => 'http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/7a0f6294-ab7f-4d15-b5af-3ff4b444ab3f/Syrian-rebels-admit-chemical-use-against-Kurds',
109 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/world/middleeast/kurds-female-suicide-bomber-syria.html',
110 => 'https://www.arabnews.com/node/1235721/middle-east',
111 => 'https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/10/syria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0',
112 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf',
113 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170929000711/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/06/turkey-syria-kurds-ypg-foreign-militants.html',
114 => 'https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/syria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps',
115 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150302131855/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/',
116 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140230/http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html',
117 => 'http://undocs.org/s/2018/465',
118 => 'http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html',
119 => 'https://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/turkish-supreme-court-upholds-six-year-verdict-imposed-on-two-czechs',
120 => 'https://anfenglish.com/news/internationalists-martyred-in-rojava-remembered-in-greece-33183',
121 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47628209',
122 => 'https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/how-trump-betrayed-the-general-who-defeated-isis',
123 => 'https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/briton-kurds-anna-campbell-dies-fighting-turkey-syria-afrin',
124 => 'https://www.ypgrojava.org/About-Us',
125 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977',
126 => 'https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-dcoats-021318.PDF',
127 => 'https://books.google.com/books?id=BPbrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT116',
128 => 'https://taz.de/!5629632/',
129 => 'https://anfdeutsch.com/aktuelles/ist-das-zeigen-einer-ypg-fahne-strafbar-7797',
130 => 'https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/turkey-claim-syrian-kurds-terrorists-not-isis-ypg-pkk-sdf/',
131 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20160224085811/http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html',
132 => 'http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces/1179-declaration-of-establishment-by-democratic-syria-forces.html',
133 => 'https://npasyria.com/en/blog.php?id_blog=454&sub_blog=10&name_blog=Abu%20Khawla:%20We%20coordinate%20with%20Russia%20and%20I%20brought%20thousands%20of%20opposition%20fighters%20to%20our%20areas',
134 => 'https://janescom.sitefinity.cloud/error/404',
135 => 'https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and',
136 => 'https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf',
137 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170509185346/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210',
138 => 'https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210',
139 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22',
140 => 'https://merip.org/2020/07/arabs-across-syria-join-the-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces/',
141 => 'https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-terrorist-idUSKCN0VQ25E',
142 => 'https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/280120182',
143 => 'https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/29082020',
144 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664',
145 => 'https://www.refworld.org/docid/52aef0e34.html',
146 => 'https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33146515',
147 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019,-UN-says',
148 => 'https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910',
149 => 'https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf',
150 => 'https://globalnews.ca/news/3159893/canadian-man-killed-while-fighting-isis-in-syria/',
151 => 'https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q277036#identifiers',
152 => 'https://d-nb.info/gnd/1158633351',
153 => 'https://viaf.org/viaf/3694150869800922190001',
154 => 'https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=olak2016934723&CON_LNG=ENG',
155 => 'https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html',
156 => 'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-39172425',
157 => 'https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-turkey-nato-erdogan-disinformation/',
158 => 'https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/193475/370_Lin.pdf',
159 => 'https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/why-turkey-doesnt-want-sweden-finland-to-join-nato.html',
160 => 'https://www.ft.com/content/7defc9ce-d6d6-4485-94df-ca79eb37fa13',
161 => 'https://jacobin.de/artikel/der-turkische-nato-krieg-gegen-kurdistan-nordirak-erdogan/',
162 => 'https://www.mfa.gov.tr/pkk.en.mfa',
163 => 'https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/12098-We-told-YPG-to-change-brand-name-in-2015:-US-General',
164 => 'https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-raid-leftist-for-posting-kurdish-ypg-flag/a-40160377',
165 => 'https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2017/11/21/german-lawmaker-sparks-criticism-after-displaying-banned-ypg-flag-in-parliament',
166 => 'https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article152602725/Gute-Kurden-boese-Kurden-Wer-ist-Terrorist.html',
167 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051131/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF',
168 => 'http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00438200211063520',
169 => 'http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/ascent-of-the-pyd-and-the-sdf',
170 => 'https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/kurds-turkey-pkk-ypg/470991/',
171 => 'https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-fails-to-account-for-715m-in-weapons-for-ypg-pkk/1740082',
172 => 'https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation',
173 => 'https://www.facebook.com/YPGinfo',
174 => 'https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/08/belly-of-beast-ypg-monsters.html',
175 => 'https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html',
176 => 'https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-22/all-about-the-ypg-the-syrian-kurds-vexing-turkey-quicktake',
177 => 'http://newamerica.org/international-security/reports/tweet-damocles/',
178 => 'https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-syrian-kurdish-ypg-2022-11-14/',
179 => 'https://twitter.com/worldonalert/status/1183399659085144072',
180 => 'https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/border-eagles-protect-turkiye-syria-boundary-with-domestic-equipment',
181 => 'https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:244947795',
182 => 'https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-ypg-idUSKBN1A62SS',
183 => 'https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00438200211063520',
184 => 'https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0043-8200',
185 => 'https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077',
186 => 'https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0931-9085',
187 => 'https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-792X',
188 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150617004746/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7f62663318e94589bf6097825914a088/kurds-nearing-key-islamic-state-held-syrian-border-town',
189 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150801084223/http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/matthew-gardiner-confirmed-to-be-fighting-islamic-state-with-kurds/story-fnk0b1zt-1227203073161',
190 => 'https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033742/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/',
191 => 'https://www.diken.com.tr/finlandiya-ypgye-teror-orgutu-demedik-degisen-bir-sey-yok/',
192 => 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hao6jQpTs',
193 => 'https://t.me/YPGInfo'
] |
Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p>EŞŞEEEKm}}}}
| image = People's Protection Units Flag.svg
| caption = Flag of the YPG
| dates = 2011–present
| allegiance = <span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg/21px-Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg.png" decoding="async" width="21" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg/32px-Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg/42px-Flag_of_the_Kurdish_Supreme_Committee.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="640" data-file-height="456" /></span></span></span> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Supreme_Committee" title="Kurdish Supreme Committee">Kurdish Supreme Committee</a> (2011–2013)<sup id="cite_ref-casualties_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-casualties-1">[1]</a></sup><br /><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/23px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/35px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/45px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span></span> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria</a> (2013–present)<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup><br />
| type = <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Light_infantry" title="Light infantry">Light infantry</a> militia with several <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Technical_(vehicle)" title="Technical (vehicle)">motorised</a> battalions
| size = 78,000 (Including YPJ, 2017 estimate)<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERashid201816_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTERashid201816-3">[3]</a></sup>
| command_structure = <span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg/23px-Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg/35px-Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg/45px-Flag_of_Syrian_Democratic_Forces.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span></span> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a>
| garrison_label = Garrison
| march =
| battles = <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian Civil War">Syrian Civil War</a>/<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava_conflict" title="Rojava conflict">Rojava conflict</a>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava_conflict#YPG_claims_territory" title="Rojava conflict">2012 Rojava campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Aleppo_(2012%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)">Battle of Aleppo</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)">Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_Governorate_campaign_(2012%E2%80%9313)" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–13)">Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–13)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn">Battle of Ras al-Ayn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Yaarubiyah" title="Battle of al-Yaarubiyah">Battle of al-Yaarubiyah</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2013)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)">Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">Siege of Kobanî</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_offensive_(February%E2%80%93March_2015)" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Hasakah offensive (February–March 2015)">Al-Hasakah offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(June%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)">Battle of Sarrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad_offensive" title="Tell Abyad offensive">Tell Abyad offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Hasakah_(June%E2%80%93August_2015)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Al-Hasakah (June–August 2015)">Battle of Al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hawl_offensive" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Hawl offensive">Al-Hawl offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive" title="Tishrin Dam offensive">Tishrin Dam offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">Al-Shaddadi offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2016)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)">Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Raqqa_offensive_(May_2016)" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Raqqa offensive (May 2016)">Northern Raqqa offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Manbij_offensive" title="Manbij offensive">Manbij offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2016)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)">Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield">Operation Euphrates Shield</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)">Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)">Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch">Operation Olive Branch</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Syria_Insurgency" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern Syria Insurgency">Eastern Syria Insurgency</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria">2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria</a></li></ul>
<p><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iraqi_Civil_War_(2014%E2%80%932017)" class="mw-redirect" title="Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)">Iraqi Civil War</a>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2014_Sinjar_offensive" title="December 2014 Sinjar offensive">2014 Sinjar offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/November_2015_Sinjar_offensive" title="November 2015 Sinjar offensive">2015 Sinjar offensive</a></li></ul>
<p>| website = <span class="official-website"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ypgrojava.org/">Official website</a></span></span>
| commander1 = Mahmoud Berkhadan
| commander1_label = General Commander
| commander2 = <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Nuri_Mahmoud" title="Nuri Mahmoud">Nuri Mahmoud</a>
| commander2_label = Spokesperson
| notable_commanders = Zainab Afrin
Nalîn Dêrik
Sozdar Dêrik
Serhildan Garisî
Rêdûr Khalil
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = Emblem
}}
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href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Syrian_civil_war" style="margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-left:1em;;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Syrian_civil_war" title="Template:Campaignbox Syrian civil war"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Syrian_civil_war" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Syrian civil war"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Syrian_civil_war" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Syrian civil war"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Syrian_civil_war" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Syrian civil war</span></a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<dl><dt><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war">Timeline</a></dt></dl>
<ul><li><ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2011)">January–April 2011</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2011)">May–August 2011</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2011)">September–December 2011</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2012)">January–April 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2012)">May–August 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2012)">September–December 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2013)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2013)">January–April 2013</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93December_2013)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–December 2013)">May–December 2013</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–July 2014)">January–July 2014</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(August%E2%80%93December_2014)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (August–December 2014)">August–December 2014</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–July 2015)">January–July 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(August%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (August–December 2015)">August–December 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2016)">January–April 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2016)">May–August 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2016)">September–December 2016</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2017)">January–April 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2017)">May–August 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2017)">September–December 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2018)">January–April 2018</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2018)">May–August 2018</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2018)">September–December 2018</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2019)">January–April 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2019)">May–August 2019</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2019)">September–December 2019</a><br /></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2020)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2020)">2020</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2021)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2021)">2021</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2022)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2022)">2022</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2023)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2023)">2023</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2024)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2024)">2024</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Background_and_causes_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Background and causes of the Syrian civil war">Background and causes</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Casualties of the Syrian civil war">Casualties</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Control_of_cities_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Control of cities during the Syrian civil war">Cities</a></i>
<ul><li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Syrian_Civil_War_detailed_map" title="Template:Syrian Civil War detailed map">map</a></i></li></ul></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_Syria" title="List of terrorist incidents in Syria">Terrorism</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_massacres_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="List of massacres during the Syrian civil war">Massacres</a></i></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin: 0; float: right; clear: right; width: 25em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;;float:right; clear:right; margin:0.2em 0 0.2em 0.5em; width:300px; display:table;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color: #CEE0F2"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_civil_uprising_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color: #CEE0F2;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_civil_uprising_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color: #CEE0F2;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_civil_uprising_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color: #CEE0F2;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Civil_uprising_in_Syria_(March–August_2011)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Civil_uprising_phase_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war">Civil uprising in Syria</a> (March–August 2011)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Daraa" title="Siege of Daraa">Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Baniyas" title="Siege of Baniyas">Baniyas</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Homs" title="Siege of Homs">Homs (May–August 2011)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Talkalakh_(May_2011)" title="Siege of Talkalakh (May 2011)">Talkalakh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Rastan_and_Talbiseh" title="Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh">Rastan and Talbiseh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2011_Jisr_ash-Shughur_clashes" title="June 2011 Jisr ash-Shughur clashes">1st Jisr ash-Shughur</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Summer_2011_Jabal_al-Zawiya_operation" title="Summer 2011 Jabal al-Zawiya operation">1st Jabal al-Zawiya</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Hama_(2011)" title="Siege of Hama (2011)">Hama</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Latakia" title="Siege of Latakia">Latakia</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_early_insurgency_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_early_insurgency_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_early_insurgency_phase_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Start_of_insurgency_(Sept._2011_–_April_2012)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Early_insurgency_phase_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Start of insurgency</span></a> (Sept. 2011 – April 2012)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Homs" title="Siege of Homs">Homs (2011–14)</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Homs_offensive" title="2012 Homs offensive">Homs offensive</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(September_2011_%E2%80%93_March_2012)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011 – March 2012)">1st Idlib Gov.</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2011_Syrian%E2%80%93Turkish_border_clash" title="December 2011 Syrian–Turkish border clash">Syrian–Turkish border</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2011_Jabal_al-Zawiya_massacres" title="December 2011 Jabal al-Zawiya massacres">Jabal al-Zawiya</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Idlib_(2012)" title="Battle of Idlib (2012)">1st Idlib City</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Saraqib" title="Battle of Saraqib">Saraqeb</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(2011)" title="Battle of Rastan (2011)">1st Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_Governorate_clashes_(2011%E2%80%932012)" title="Hama Governorate clashes (2011–2012)">Hama Gov.</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Shayrat_and_Tiyas_airbase_ambush" title="Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush">Shayrat & Tiyas ambush</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_Governorate_clashes_(2011%E2%80%932013)" title="Daraa Governorate clashes (2011–2013)">Daraa Gov.</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_clashes_(November_2011%E2%80%93March_2012)" title="Rif Dimashq clashes (November 2011–March 2012)">1st Rif Dimashq</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Zabadani_(2012)" title="Battle of Zabadani (2012)">1st Zabadani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Douma" title="Battle of Douma">Douma</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_clashes_(2011%E2%80%932014)" title="Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–2014)">Deir ez-Zor (2011–2014)</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hatla_massacre" title="Hatla massacre">Hatla</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Aleppo_Governorate_clashes" title="2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes">Aleppo Gov.</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Azaz_(2012)" title="Battle of Azaz (2012)">Azaz</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(January%E2%80%93February_2012)" title="Battle of Rastan (January–February 2012)">2nd Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qusayr_(2012)" title="Battle of al-Qusayr (2012)">1st al-Qusayr</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2012_Idlib_Governorate_Operation" title="April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation">2nd Idlib Gov.</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Taftanaz" title="Battle of Taftanaz">Taftanaz</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_cease-fire_period_and_start_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox cease-fire period and start of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_cease-fire_period_and_start_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox cease-fire period and start of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_cease-fire_period_and_start_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox cease-fire period and start of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="UN_ceasefire;_Rebel_advances_(May_2012_–_Dec._2013)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kofi_Annan_Syrian_peace_plan" title="Kofi Annan Syrian peace plan">UN ceasefire</a>; <a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012%E2%80%932013_escalation_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="2012–2013 escalation of the Syrian civil war">Rebel advances</a> (May 2012 – Dec. 2013)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(May_2012)" title="Battle of Rastan (May 2012)">3rd Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Houla_massacre" title="Houla massacre">Houla</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Northern_Homs" title="Siege of Northern Homs">Northern Homs</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Haffah" title="Battle of al-Haffah">Al-Haffah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qubeir_massacre" title="Al-Qubeir massacre">Al-Qubeir</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tremseh" title="Battle of Tremseh">Al-Tremseh</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(June_2012%E2%80%93April_2013)" class="mw-redirect" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2012–April 2013)">3rd Idlib Gov.</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Damascus_(2012)" title="Battle of Damascus (2012)">1st Damascus</a>
<ul><li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/18_July_2012_Damascus_bombing" title="18 July 2012 Damascus bombing">Bombing</a></b></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Aleppo_(2012%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)">Aleppo</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Anadan" title="Battle of Anadan">Anadan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Menagh_Air_Base" title="Siege of Menagh Air Base">Menagh Air Base</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Base_46" title="Siege of Base 46">Base 46</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_al-Assal_massacre" title="Khan al-Assal massacre">Khan al-Assal</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(October%E2%80%93December_2013)" title="Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013)">1st Aleppo offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Canopus_Star" title="Operation Canopus Star">2nd Aleppo offensive</a></li></ul></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava_conflict" title="Rojava conflict">Syrian Kurdistan</a></i> and <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava%E2%80%93Islamist_conflict" title="Rojava–Islamist conflict">Kurdish–Islamist conflict</a></i>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_Governorate_campaign_(2012%E2%80%932014)" title="Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2014)">Hasaka campaign</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn_(2012%E2%80%9313)" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2012–13)">Ras al-Ayn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Yaarubiyah" title="Battle of al-Yaarubiyah">al-Yaarubiyah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Hamis_and_Tell_Brak_(2013%E2%80%932014)" title="Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (2013–2014)">Tell Hamis and Tell Brak</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2013)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)">Tell Abyad</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Nubl_and_al-Zahraa" title="Siege of Nubl and al-Zahraa">Nubl & Al-Zahraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(August%E2%80%93October_2012)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012)">2nd Rif Dimashq</a> (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Darayya_massacre" title="Darayya massacre">1st Darayya</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Abu_al-Duhur_Airbase" title="Siege of Abu al-Duhur Airbase">Abu al-Duhur Airbase</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_Governorate_clashes_(2012%E2%80%932014)" title="Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–2014)">Quneitra Gov.</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(November_2012%E2%80%93February_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–February 2013)">3rd Rif Dimashq</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Yarmouk_Camp_(December_2012)" title="Battle of Yarmouk Camp (December 2012)">1st Yarmouk camp</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Darayya_(November_2012%E2%80%93February_2013)" title="Battle of Darayya (November 2012–February 2013)">2nd Darayya</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Darayya_and_Muadamiyat" title="Siege of Darayya and Muadamiyat">Darayya & Muadamiyat</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aqrab_massacre" title="Aqrab massacre">Aqrab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Hama_offensive" title="2012 Hama offensive">1st Hama offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Halfaya_massacre_(2012)" title="Halfaya massacre (2012)">Halfaya</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Safira" title="Battle of Safira">1st Safira</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Shaddadi_(2013)" title="Battle of Shaddadi (2013)">Shadadeh</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Damascus_offensive_(2013)" title="Damascus offensive (2013)">2nd Damascus</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2012%E2%80%932013)" title="Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)">1st Raqqa campaign</a> (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2013)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2013)">1st Raqqa</a>)</b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Daraa_offensive" title="2013 Daraa offensive">1st Daraa offensive</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(March%E2%80%93August_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (March–August 2013)">4th Rif Dimashq</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Jdaidet_al-Fadl" title="Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl">Jdaidet al-Fadl</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tadamon_massacre" title="Tadamon massacre">Tadamon</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ghouta_chemical_attack" title="Ghouta chemical attack">Ghouta</a></b></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qusayr_offensive" title="Al-Qusayr offensive">Al-Qusayr offensive</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qusayr_(2013)" title="Battle of al-Qusayr (2013)">2nd al-Qusayr</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Eastern_Ghouta" title="Siege of Eastern Ghouta">Eastern Ghouta</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Hama_offensive" title="2013 Hama offensive">2nd Hama offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bayda_and_Baniyas_massacres" title="Bayda and Baniyas massacres">Bayda and Baniyas</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Latakia_offensive" title="2013 Latakia offensive">1st Latakia offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Maaloula" title="Battle of Maaloula">Ma'loula</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sadad" title="Battle of Sadad">Sadad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(September%E2%80%93November_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (September–November 2013)">5th Rif Dimashq</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qalamoun_(2013%E2%80%932014)" title="Battle of Qalamoun (2013–2014)">1st Qalamoun</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Adra_massacre" title="Adra massacre">Adra</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_rise_of_the_Islamists_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox rise of the Islamists in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_rise_of_the_Islamists_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox rise of the Islamists in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_rise_of_the_Islamists_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox rise of the Islamists in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Rise_of_the_Islamic_State_(Jan._–_Sept._2014)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Inter-rebel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Rise of the Islamic State</span></a> (Jan. – Sept. 2014)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Inter-rebel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war">Inter-rebel conflict</a></i>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014)">Northern Aleppo</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Markada" title="Battle of Markada">Markada</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(April%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (April–July 2014)">1st Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></b></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Otaiba_ambush" title="Al-Otaiba ambush">al-Otaiba ambush</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maan_massacre" title="Maan massacre">Maan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Hosn" title="Battle of Hosn">Hosn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Morek" title="Battle of Morek">Morek</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93May_2014)" title="Daraa offensive (February–May 2014)">2nd Daraa offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Latakia_offensive" title="2014 Latakia offensive">2nd Latakia offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Idlib_offensive" title="2014 Idlib offensive">4th Idlib Gov.</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Malihah" title="Battle of Al-Malihah">Al-Malihah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Wadi_Deif_(2014)" title="Siege of Wadi Deif (2014)">2nd Wadi Deif</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(2014)" title="Qalamoun offensive (2014)">2nd Qalamoun</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Arsal_(2014)" title="Battle of Arsal (2014)">Arsal</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Deir_ez-Zor_(2014%E2%80%932017)" title="Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)">Deir ez-Zor (2014–2017)</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_the_Shaer_gas_field_(July_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of the Shaer gas field (July 2014)">1st Shaer gas field</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Eastern_Syria_offensive" title="2014 Eastern Syria offensive">1st Eastern Syria</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa_Airbase" title="Battle of Tabqa Airbase">Tabqa Airbase</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Hama_offensive" title="2014 Hama offensive">3rd Hama offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(August%E2%80%93November_2014)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014)">6th Rif Dimashq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Quneitra_offensive" title="2014 Quneitra offensive">1st Quneitra</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">Kobanî</a></b></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_intervention_against_ISIL_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox intervention against ISIL in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_intervention_against_ISIL_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox intervention against ISIL in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_intervention_against_ISIL_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox intervention against ISIL in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="U.S.-led_intervention,_Rebel_&amp;_ISIL_advances_(Sept._2014_–_Sept._2015)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">U.S.-led intervention</span></a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(April%E2%80%93June_2015)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (April–June 2015)">Rebel</a> & <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(May_2015)" title="Palmyra offensive (May 2015)">ISIL advances</a> (Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2015)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war">U.S.-led intervention</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Homs_school_bombing" title="Homs school bombing">Homs school bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(October_2014)" title="Daraa offensive (October 2014)">3rd Daraa offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Al-Safira_offensive" title="2014 Al-Safira offensive">2nd Safira</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_raid_on_Idlib_city" title="2014 raid on Idlib city">2014 Idlib city raid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front%E2%80%93SRF/Hazzm_Movement_conflict" title="Al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict">Nusra–FSA conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_the_Shaer_gas_field_(October%E2%80%93November_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of the Shaer gas field (October–November 2014)">2nd Shaer gas field</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Shaykh_Maskin_(2014)" title="Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2014)">1st Al-Shaykh Maskin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(December_2014)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (December 2014)">2nd Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Rainbow_(Syrian_civil_war)" title="Operation Rainbow (Syrian civil war)">3rd Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Syrian_Air_Force_An-26_crash" title="2015 Syrian Air Force An-26 crash">An-26 crash</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(January_2015)" title="Daraa offensive (January 2015)">4th Daraa offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Southern_Syria_offensive" title="2015 Southern Syria offensive">Southern Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Eastern al-Hasakah offensive">Eastern al-Hasakah offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(March%E2%80%93April_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015)">1st Sarrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_and_Homs_offensive_(March%E2%80%93April_2015)" title="Hama and Homs offensive (March–April 2015)">Hama/Homs offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Bosra_(2015)" title="Battle of Bosra (2015)">Bosra</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Idlib_offensive" title="2015 Idlib offensive">5th Idlib Gov</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Idlib_(2015)" title="Battle of Idlib (2015)">2nd Idlib city</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_al-Fu%27ah_and_Kafriya" title="Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya">Al-Fu'ah-Kafriya</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Nasib_Border_Crossing" title="Battle of Nasib Border Crossing">Nasib</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Yarmouk_Camp_(2015)" title="Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015)">2nd Yarmouk camp</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(April%E2%80%93June_2015)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (April–June 2015)">1st Northwestern Syria</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(May%E2%80%93June_2015)" title="Qalamoun offensive (May–June 2015)">3rd Qalamoun</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(May_2015)" title="Palmyra offensive (May 2015)">1st Palmyra</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Western al-Hasakah offensive">Western al-Hasakah offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_city_offensive" title="Al-Hasakah city offensive">1st Al-Hasakah city</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad_offensive" title="Tell Abyad offensive">Tell Abyad</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_and_As-Suwayda_offensive_(June_2015)" title="Daraa and As-Suwayda offensive (June 2015)">Daraa/As-Suwayda</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(June_2015)" title="Quneitra offensive (June 2015)">2nd Quneitra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(June%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)">2nd Sarrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(June%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Daraa offensive (June–July 2015)">5th Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2015)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2015)">2nd Al-Hasakah city</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE_massacre" title="Kobanî massacre">2nd Kobanî</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(July_2015)" title="Aleppo offensive (July 2015)">4th Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Zabadani_(2015)" title="Battle of Zabadani (2015)">2nd Zabadani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(July%E2%80%93August_2015)" title="Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015)">2nd Palmyra</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Ghab_offensive_(July%E2%80%93August_2015)" title="Al-Ghab offensive (July–August 2015)">Al-Ghab</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qaryatayn_(2015)" title="Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2015)">1st al-Qaryatayn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Douma_massacre_(2015)" title="Douma massacre (2015)">Douma market</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(September_2015)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015)">7th Rif Dimashq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kuweires_offensive" title="Kuweires offensive">Kuweires offensive</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Russian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Russian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Russian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Russian_intervention_(Sept._2015_–_March_2016)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Russian intervention</span></a> (Sept. 2015 – March 2016)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war">Russian intervention</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(October_2015)" title="Quneitra offensive (October 2015)">3rd Quneitra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2015)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (October–November 2015)">2nd Northwestern Syria</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015%E2%80%932016_Latakia_offensive" title="2015–2016 Latakia offensive">3rd Latakia offensive</a></b>
<ul><li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Russian_Sukhoi_Su-24_shootdown" title="2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown">Su-24 shootdown</a></b></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(October%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015)">5th Aleppo offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_al-Hawl_offensive" title="2015 al-Hawl offensive">al-Hawl</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Homs_offensive_(November%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Homs offensive (November–December 2015)">Homs offensive</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Aleppo_offensive_(2015%E2%80%932016)" title="East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016)">6th Aleppo offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Hama_offensive" title="2015 Hama offensive">4th Hama offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Tamer_bombings" title="Tell Tamer bombings">Tell Tamer</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive" title="Tishrin Dam offensive">Tishrin Dam</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Shaykh_Maskin_(2015%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2015–2016)">2nd Al-Shaykh Maskin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Qamishli_bombings" title="2015 Qamishli bombings">al-Qamishli bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Orontes_River_offensive" title="Orontes River offensive">Orontes River</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(2016)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (2016)">3rd Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Sayyidah_Zaynab_attacks" title="2016 Sayyidah Zaynab attacks">1st Sayyidah Zaynab</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)">7th Aleppo offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ithriyah-Raqqa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93March_2016)" title="Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (February–March 2016)">1st Ithriyah-Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">Al-Shaddadi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2016_Homs_bombings" title="February 2016 Homs bombings">Homs bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Sayyidah_Zaynab_attacks" title="2016 Sayyidah Zaynab attacks">2nd Sayyidah Zaynab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Khanasir_offensive" title="2016 Khanasir offensive">Khanasir</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2016)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)">2nd Tel Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Tanf_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Tanf offensive (2016)">Al-Tanf</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qaryatayn_(2016)" title="Battle of al-Qaryatayn (2016)">2nd Al-Qaryatayn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(March_2016)" title="Palmyra offensive (March 2016)">3rd Palmyra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Maarat_al-Numan_(2016)" title="Battle of Maarat al-Numan (2016)">2nd Maarat al-Nu'man</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Aleppo_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox Aleppo escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Aleppo_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Aleppo escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Aleppo_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Aleppo escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Aleppo_escalation_and_Euphrates_Shield_(March_2016_–_February_2017)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Aleppo_(2012%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)"><span class="wrap">Aleppo escalation</span></a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield"><span class="wrap"><i>Euphrates Shield</i></span></a> (March 2016 – February 2017)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(March%E2%80%93June_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016)">8th Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(March%E2%80%93April_2016)" title="Daraa offensive (March–April 2016)">6th Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Southern_Aleppo_campaign" title="2016 Southern Aleppo campaign">9th–11th Aleppo offensives</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Dumayr_offensive_(April_2016)" title="Al-Dumayr offensive (April 2016)">Al-Dumayr</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Ghouta_inter-rebel_conflict_(April%E2%80%93May_2016)" title="East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016)">1st East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2016)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2016)">1st Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_bombings_(April%E2%80%93July_2016)" title="Aleppo bombings (April–July 2016)">Aleppo bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2016)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016)">8th Rif Dimashq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_the_Shaer_gas_field_(2016)" title="Battle of the Shaer gas field (2016)">3rd Shaer gas field</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Raqqa_offensive" title="Northern Raqqa offensive">Northern Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/May_2016_Jableh_and_Tartus_bombings" title="May 2016 Jableh and Tartus bombings">Jableh & Tartus</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Manbij_offensive" title="Manbij offensive">Manbij</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tokhar_airstrike" title="Tokhar airstrike">Tokhar</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ithriyah-Raqqa_offensive_(June_2016)" title="Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016)">2nd Ithriyah-Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(June%E2%80%93October_2016)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016)">9th Rif Dimashq</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Aleppo_summer_campaign" title="2016 Aleppo summer campaign">12th–14th Aleppo offensives</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(June%E2%80%93July_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (June–July 2016)">12th</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(July%E2%80%93August_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (July–August 2016)">13th</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(August%E2%80%93September_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (August–September 2016)">14th</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Latakia_offensive" title="2016 Latakia offensive">4th Latakia offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Abu_Kamal_offensive" title="2016 Abu Kamal offensive">1st Abu Kamal</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/July_2016_Qamishli_bombings" title="July 2016 Qamishli bombings">3rd Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Atmeh_attack" title="2016 Atmeh attack">Atmeh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Rai_(August_2016)" title="Battle of al-Rai (August 2016)">al-Rai</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2016)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)">3rd Al-Hasakah City</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield">Operation Euphrates Shield</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_al-Bab_offensive_(September_2016)" title="Northern al-Bab offensive (September 2016)">Northern al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Dabiq_offensive" title="2016 Dabiq offensive">Dabiq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Bab" title="Battle of al-Bab">al-Bab</a></li></ul></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Hama_offensive" title="2016 Hama offensive">5th Hama offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(September_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (September 2016)">1st Western al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Qalamoun_offensive_(September%E2%80%93October_2016)" title="Eastern Qalamoun offensive (September–October 2016)">1st Eastern Qalamoun</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/5_September_2016_Syria_bombings" title="5 September 2016 Syria bombings">September bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(September_2016)" title="Quneitra offensive (September 2016)">4th Quneitra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/September_2016_Deir_ez-Zor_air_raid" title="September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid">Deir ez-Zor airstrike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/September_2016_Urum_al-Kubra_aid_convoy_attack" title="September 2016 Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack">Aleppo aid convoy attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(September%E2%80%93October_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016)">15th Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_al-Shih_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Khan al-Shih offensive (October–November 2016)">Khan al-Shih</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/October_2016_Idlib_Governorate_clashes" title="October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes">1st Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)">2nd Western al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (October–November 2016)">16th Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)">2nd Raqqa campaign</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(November%E2%80%93December_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)">17th Aleppo offensive</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(December_2016)" title="Palmyra offensive (December 2016)">4th Palmyra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wadi_Barada_offensive_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Wadi Barada offensive (2016–2017)">Wadi Barada</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(December_2016%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)">1st Syrian Desert</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/January_2017_Azaz_bombing" title="January 2017 Azaz bombing">Azaz bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(2017)" title="Palmyra offensive (2017)">5th Palmyra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(January%E2%80%93February_2017)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (January–February 2017)">4th Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Aleppo_offensive_(2017)" title="East Aleppo offensive (2017)">18th Aleppo offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(January%E2%80%93March_2017)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017)">2nd Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93June_2017)" title="Daraa offensive (February–June 2017)">7th Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qaboun_offensive_(2017)" title="Qaboun offensive (2017)">Qaboun</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southwestern_Daraa_offensive_(February_2017)" title="Southwestern Daraa offensive (February 2017)">8th Daraa</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Collapse_of_Islamic_State_in_Syria" title="Template:Campaignbox Collapse of Islamic State in Syria"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Collapse_of_Islamic_State_in_Syria" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Collapse of Islamic State in Syria"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Collapse_of_Islamic_State_in_Syria" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Collapse of Islamic State in Syria"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Collapse_of_the_Islamic_State_in_Syria_(Feb._–_Nov._2017)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em">Collapse of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a> in Syria (Feb. – Nov. 2017)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Homs_offensive_(2017)" title="Eastern Homs offensive (2017)">Eastern Homs offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_al-Jinah_airstrike" title="2017 al-Jinah airstrike">al-Jina mosque</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_offensive_(March%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Hama offensive (March–April 2017)">6th Hama offensive</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa" title="Battle of Tabqa">Tabqa</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_Shaykhun_chemical_attack" title="Khan Shaykhun chemical attack">Khan Shaykhun</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Shayrat_missile_strike" title="2017 Shayrat missile strike">US Shayrat strike</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Aleppo_suicide_car_bombing" title="2017 Aleppo suicide car bombing">Aleppo bus bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2017_Turkish_airstrikes_in_Syria_and_Iraq" title="April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq">April 2017 Turkish airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Ghouta_inter-rebel_conflict_(April%E2%80%93May_2017)" title="East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2017)">2nd East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(May%E2%80%93July_2017)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)">2nd Syrian Desert</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maskanah_Plains_offensive" title="Maskanah Plains offensive">Maskanah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Hama_offensive_(2017)" title="East Hama offensive (2017)">East Hama</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2017)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2017)">2nd Raqqa</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(June_2017)" title="Daraa offensive (June 2017)">9th Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Southern_Raqqa_offensive" title="2017 Southern Raqqa offensive">Southern Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Laylat_al-Qadr" title="Operation Laylat al-Qadr">Iranian Deir ez-Zor strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ja%27Din_shootdown_incident" title="Ja'Din shootdown incident">Ja'din</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Jobar_offensive" title="2017 Jobar offensive">Jobar</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(June_2017)" title="Quneitra offensive (June 2017)">5th Quneitra</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Central_Syria_campaign" title="Central Syria campaign">Central Syria</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(July_2017)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017)">3rd Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(2017)" title="Qalamoun offensive (2017)">4th Qalamoun</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_campaign_(2017%E2%80%932019)" title="Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)">Deir ez-Zor (2017–2019)</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Syria_campaign_(September%E2%80%93December_2017)" title="Eastern Syria campaign (September–December 2017)">2nd Eastern Syria</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(September%E2%80%93November_2017)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (September–November 2017)">Deir ez-Zor city</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Euphrates_Crossing_offensive_(2017)" title="Euphrates Crossing offensive (2017)">Euphrates Crossing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Mayadin_offensive" title="2017 Mayadin offensive">Mayadin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Abu_Kamal_offensive" title="2017 Abu Kamal offensive">2nd Abu Kamal</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_offensive_(September_2017)" title="Hama offensive (September 2017)">7th Hama offensive</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox Idlib escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Idlib_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Idlib escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_escalation_period_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Idlib escalation period in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Rebels_in_retreat_and_Operation_Olive_Branch(Nov._2017_–_Sep._2018)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em">Rebels in retreat and <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch"><span class="wrap">Operation Olive Branch</span></a></i><br />(Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2018)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_campaign_(October_2017%E2%80%93February_2018)" title="Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)">3rd Northwestern Syria</a></b></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Syria_insurgency" title="Eastern Syria insurgency">Eastern Syria insurgency</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Atarib_market_massacre" title="Atarib market massacre">Atarib</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Harasta_(2017%E2%80%932018)" title="Battle of Harasta (2017–2018)">Harasta</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Beit_Jinn_offensive" title="Beit Jinn offensive">Beit Jinn</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(December_2017%E2%80%93present)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)">3rd Syrian Desert</a></i>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(2018)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (2018)">5th Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(January%E2%80%93February_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (January–February 2018)">1st Southern Damascus</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch">Olive Branch</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin_offensive_(January%E2%80%93March_2018)" title="Afrin offensive (January–March 2018)">Afrin</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/SDF_insurgency_in_Northern_Aleppo" class="mw-redirect" title="SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo">SDF insurgency</a></i></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Khasham" title="Battle of Khasham">Khasham</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2018_Israel%E2%80%93Syria_incident" title="February 2018 Israel–Syria incident">Feb 2018 Israel–Syria incident</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(February%E2%80%93April_2018)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)">10th Rif Dimashq</a></b> (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Douma_chemical_attack" title="Douma chemical attack">Douma</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Liberation_Front%E2%80%93Tahrir_al-Sham_conflict" title="Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict">4th Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(March_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (March 2018)">2nd Southern Damascus</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2018_missile_strikes_against_Syria" title="April 2018 missile strikes against Syria">U.S.-led missile strikes</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Homs_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2018)" title="Northern Homs offensive (April–May 2018)">Northern Homs</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Qalamoun_offensive_(April_2018)" title="Eastern Qalamoun offensive (April 2018)">2nd Eastern Qalamoun</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)">3rd Southern Damascus</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_Governorate_clashes" title="Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes">Deir ez-Zor SAA-SDF clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_House_of_Cards" title="Operation House of Cards">House of Cards</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/As-Suwayda_offensive_(June_2018)" title="As-Suwayda offensive (June 2018)">1st As-Suwayda</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Southern_Syria_offensive" title="2018 Southern Syria offensive">2nd Southern Syria</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_As-Suwayda_attacks" title="2018 As-Suwayda attacks">2nd As-Suwayda</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/As-Suwayda_offensive_(August%E2%80%93November_2018)" title="As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018)">3rd As-Suwayda</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qamishli_clashes_(2018)" title="Qamishli clashes (2018)">2nd Qamishli</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_demilitarization_and_frozen_conflict" title="Template:Campaignbox Idlib demilitarization and frozen conflict"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Idlib_demilitarization_and_frozen_conflict" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Idlib demilitarization and frozen conflict"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_demilitarization_and_frozen_conflict" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Idlib demilitarization and frozen conflict"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Idlib_demilitarization(Sep._2018_–_April_2019)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_demilitarization_(2018%E2%80%932019)" title="Idlib demilitarization (2018–2019)"><span class="wrap">Idlib demilitarization</span></a><br />(Sep. 2018 – April 2019)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_demilitarization_(2018%E2%80%932019)" title="Idlib demilitarization (2018–2019)">Idlib demilitarization</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/National_Front_for_Liberation%E2%80%93Tahrir_al-Sham_conflict" title="National Front for Liberation–Tahrir al-Sham conflict">5th Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(September_2018)" title="Syria missile strikes (September 2018)">Sep. 2018 missile strikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ahvaz_military_parade_attack#Retaliatory_missile_and_drone_strikes" title="Ahvaz military parade attack">Iranian Eastern Euphrates strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Syrian-Turkish_border_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes">Northern border clashes</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_insurgency" title="Daraa insurgency">Daraa insurgency</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Manbij_bombing" title="2019 Manbij bombing">Manbij bombing</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Baghuz_Fawqani" title="Battle of Baghuz Fawqani">Baghuz Fawqani</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_U.S._airstrike_in_Baghuz" title="2019 U.S. airstrike in Baghuz">U.S. airstrike</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Failure_of_the_demilitarization_and_renewed_fighting" title="Template:Campaignbox Failure of the demilitarization and renewed fighting"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Failure_of_the_demilitarization_and_renewed_fighting" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Failure of the demilitarization and renewed fighting"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Failure_of_the_demilitarization_and_renewed_fighting" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Failure of the demilitarization and renewed fighting"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="First_Idlib_offensive,_Operation_Peace_Spring,_&amp;_Second_Idlib_offensive_(April_2019_–_March_2020)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(April%E2%80%93August_2019)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)"><span class="wrap">First Idlib offensive</span></a>, <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria"><span class="wrap">Operation Peace Spring</span></a></i>, & <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(December_2019%E2%80%93March_2020)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)"><span class="wrap">Second Idlib offensive</span></a> (April 2019 – March 2020)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(April%E2%80%93August_2019)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)">4th Northwestern</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Tell_Rifaat_clashes" title="2019 Tell Rifaat clashes">Tell Rifaat</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2019_Syria_bombings" title="June 2019 Syria bombings">Raqqa & Azaz</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hass_refugee_camp_bombing" title="Hass refugee camp bombing">Hass</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(August_2019)" title="Syria missile strikes (August 2019)">2nd Israeli missile strikes</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria">Peace Spring</a></b> (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn_(2019)" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2019)">2nd Ras al-Ayn</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Death_of_Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi" title="Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi">Kayla Mueller</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/November_2019_Syria_bombings" title="November 2019 Syria bombings">Northern bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/November_2019_Israeli_missile_strikes_in_Syria" title="November 2019 Israeli missile strikes in Syria">3rd Israeli missile strikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qah_missile_strike" title="Qah missile strike">Qah</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(December_2019%E2%80%93March_2020)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)">5th Northwestern</a></b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Balyun_airstrikes" title="2020 Balyun airstrikes">Balyun</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Spring_Shield" title="Operation Spring Shield">Spring Shield</a></b></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2019_United_States_airstrikes_in_Iraq_and_Syria" title="December 2019 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria">2nd U.S. missile strikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/March_2020_Daraa_clashes" title="March 2020 Daraa clashes">10th Daraa</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_ceasefire" title="Template:Campaignbox Idlib ceasefire"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Idlib_ceasefire" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Idlib ceasefire"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Idlib_ceasefire" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Idlib ceasefire"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Idlib_ceasefire_(March_2020_–_present)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em">Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – present)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(June_2020)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2020)">6th Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Ayn_Issa_clashes" title="2020–2021 Ayn Issa clashes">Ayn Issa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Qamishli_and_Al-Hasakah" title="Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah">Qamishli & Al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(January_2021)" title="Syria missile strikes (January 2021)">4th Israeli missile strikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2021)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2021)">3rd Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2021_Daraa_offensive" title="2021 Daraa offensive">11th Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tahrir_al-Sham%E2%80%93Junud_al-Sham_conflict" title="Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict">7th Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2022)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2022)">3rd Al-Hasakah city</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2022_Ahrar_al-Sham%E2%80%93Levant_Front_clashes" title="2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes">1st Aleppo inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2022_Jabal_al-Bishr%C4%AB_clashes" title="2022 Jabal al-Bishrī clashes">Jabal al-Bishrī</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_clashes_(October_2022)" title="Northern Aleppo clashes (October 2022)">2nd Aleppo inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Claw-Sword" title="Operation Claw-Sword">Claw-Sword</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_clashes_(December_2022%E2%80%93present)" title="Northwestern Syria clashes (December 2022–present)">Northwestern clashes</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/March_2023_northeastern_Syria_clashes" title="March 2023 northeastern Syria clashes">3rd U.S. missile strikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2023_Northeastern_Syria_clashes" title="June 2023 Northeastern Syria clashes">2nd Northern clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_clashes_(2023)" title="Deir ez-Zor clashes (2023)">Deir ez-Zor (2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/October_2023_Northern_Syria_clashes" title="October 2023 Northern Syria clashes">3rd Northern clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_Homs_drone_strike" title="2023 Homs drone strike">Homs drone strike</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Israel-Hezbollah_conflict_(2023%E2%80%93present)" class="mw-redirect" title="Israel-Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)">Israel–Hezbollah conflict</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2024_United_States_airstrikes_in_Iraq_and_Syria" title="February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria">February 2024 airstrikes</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Spillover_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox Spillover of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Spillover_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Spillover of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Spillover_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Spillover of the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Syrian_War_spillover_and_international_incidents" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Spillover_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Spillover of the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Syrian War spillover and international incidents</span></a></span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war_spillover_in_Lebanon" title="Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon">Lebanon spillover</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lebanon%E2%80%93Syria_border_clashes" title="Lebanon–Syria border clashes">Lebanese–Syrian border</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Sidon_clash" title="2013 Sidon clash">Sidon</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Iranian_embassy_bombing_in_Beirut" title="2013 Iranian embassy bombing in Beirut">Iranian embassy bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/North_Lebanon_clashes_(2014)" title="North Lebanon clashes (2014)">North Lebanon clashes</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian%E2%80%93Turkish_border_clashes_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian civil war">Syrian–Turkish border incidents</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Turkish_F-4_Phantom_shootdown" title="2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown">Turkish F4 shootdown</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Reyhanl%C4%B1_car_bombings" title="2013 Reyhanlı car bombings">Reyhanlı bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_occupation_of_northern_Syria" title="Turkish occupation of northern Syria">Turkish occupation of northern Syria</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Koban%C3%AE_protests" title="2014 Kobanî protests">Kurdish riots</a></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian%E2%80%93Syrian_border_incidents_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Jordanian–Syrian border incidents during the Syrian civil war">Jordanian–Syrian border incidents</a></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Syrian_ceasefire_line_incidents_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war">Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2018_Israel%E2%80%93Syria_incident" title="February 2018 Israel–Syria incident">February 2018 incident</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_House_of_Cards" title="Operation House of Cards">May 2018 incident</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/War_in_Iraq_(2013%E2%80%932017)" title="War in Iraq (2013–2017)">Iraqi–Syrian border incidents</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Akashat_ambush" title="Akashat ambush">Akashat</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_al-Shabah" title="Operation al-Shabah">al-Shabah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_Nineveh_offensive_(2017)" title="Western Nineveh offensive (2017)">Western Nineveh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Western_Iraq_campaign" title="2017 Western Iraq campaign">Western Iraq</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li>Spillover in Iran
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Tehran_attacks" title="2017 Tehran attacks">2017 Tehran attacks</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Laylat_al-Qadr" title="Operation Laylat al-Qadr">2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2024_Erbil_attack" class="mw-redirect" title="2024 Erbil attack">2024 Iranian airstrikes in Syria</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkey%E2%80%93Islamic_State_conflict" title="Turkey–Islamic State conflict">Spillover in Turkey</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Russian_Sukhoi_Su-24_shootdown" title="2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown">Russian Su-24 shootdown</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assassination_of_Andrei_Karlov" title="Assassination of Andrei Karlov">Andrei Karlov</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Balyun_airstrikes" title="2020 Balyun airstrikes">Balyun airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Kafr_Takharim_airstrike" title="2020 Kafr Takharim airstrike">Kafr Takharim airstrikes</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Saudi_Arabia_proxy_conflict" title="Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict">Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict</a></li></ul>
<hr />
<hr />
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_terrorism_in_Europe" title="Islamic terrorism in Europe">Spillover in Europe</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0;margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25em;margin-bottom:0.5em;"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Campaignbox Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war</span></a></span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b>Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic</b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war">Russian involvement</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war">2015 military intervention</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iranian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war">Iranian intervention</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Laylat_al-Qadr" title="Operation Laylat al-Qadr">2017 missile strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Israel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war">Iran–Israel conflict</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hezbollah_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian civil war">2012 Hezbollah involvement</a></li></ul>
<p><b>Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_fighters_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign fighters in the Syrian civil war">Foreign rebel fighters</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war">Turkish involvement</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkey%E2%80%93Islamic_State_conflict" title="Turkey–Islamic State conflict">Turkey–Islamic State conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tomb_of_Suleyman_Shah#Events_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Tomb of Suleyman Shah">Tomb of Suleyman Shah relocation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield">Euphrates Shield</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2017_Turkish_airstrikes_in_Syria_and_Iraq" title="April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq">2017 airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_military_operation_in_Idlib_Governorate" title="Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate">Idlib Governorate operation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch">Afrin operation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria">2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Israel%27s_role_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Israel's role in the Syrian civil war">Israel's role</a></li></ul>
<p><b>U.S.-led intervention against ISIL</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war">U.S.-led Intervention</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Timeline of the American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war">Timeline</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_United_States_attacks_on_Syria_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="List of United States attacks on Syria during the Syrian civil war">List of attacks</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_American_rescue_mission_in_Syria" title="2014 American rescue mission in Syria">2014 rescue operation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/May_2015_U.S._special_forces_raid_in_Syria" title="May 2015 U.S. special forces raid in Syria">May 2015 raid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Shayrat_missile_strike" title="2017 Shayrat missile strike">2017 missile strikes</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qatari_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Qatari involvement in the Syrian civil war">Qatari involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Jordanian intervention in the Syrian civil war">Jordanian intervention</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Martyr_Muath" title="Operation Martyr Muath">Operation Martyr Muath</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lebanon%27s_role_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Lebanon's role in the Syrian civil war">Lebanon's role</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Saudi_Arabian_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Saudi Arabian involvement in the Syrian civil war">Saudi involvement</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2018_missile_strikes_against_Syria" title="April 2018 missile strikes against Syria">April 2018 missile strikes</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Dutch_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Dutch involvement in the Syrian civil war">Dutch involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/German_intervention_against_the_Islamic_State" title="German intervention against the Islamic State">German intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Op%C3%A9ration_Chammal" title="Opération Chammal">French intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Okra" title="Operation Okra">Australian intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Shader" title="Operation Shader">UK intervention</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Rojava_conflict(Syrian_civil_war)" style="margin:0;float:right;clear:right;width:25.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-left:1em;;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks navbox-vertical mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Campaignbox_Rojava_Revolution" title="Template:Campaignbox Rojava Revolution"><abbr title="View this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Campaignbox_Rojava_Revolution" title="Template talk:Campaignbox Rojava Revolution"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox_Rojava_Revolution" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Campaignbox Rojava Revolution"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";background-color:#C3D6EF;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Rojava_conflict(Syrian_civil_war)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span style="line-height:1.6em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava_conflict" title="Rojava conflict"><span class="wrap">Rojava conflict</span></a><br />(<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war"><span class="wrap">Syrian civil war</span></a>)</span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b>2012</b>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Aleppo_Governorate_clashes" title="2012 Aleppo Governorate clashes">1st Aleppo</a></li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn_(2012%E2%80%9313)" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2012–13)">1st Ras al-Ayn</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2013</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava%E2%80%93Islamist_conflict" title="Rojava–Islamist conflict">Kurdish–Islamist conflict</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2013)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)">1st Tell Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Yaarubiyah" title="Battle of al-Yaarubiyah">al-Yaarubiyah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Hamis_and_Tell_Brak_(December_2013%E2%80%93January_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (December 2013–January 2014)">1st Tell Hamis and Tell Brak</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<p><b>2014</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">1st Kobanî</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war">American-led intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Koban%C3%AE_protests" title="2014 Kobanî protests">Kurdish riots</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2015</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Eastern al-Hasakah offensive">Eastern al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(March%E2%80%93April_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015)">1st Sarrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Western al-Hasakah offensive">Western al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_city_offensive" title="Al-Hasakah city offensive">1st al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad_offensive" title="Tell Abyad offensive">2nd Tell Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(June%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)">2nd Sarrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2015)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2015)">2nd al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE_massacre" title="Kobanî massacre">2nd Kobani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_al-Hawl_offensive" title="2015 al-Hawl offensive">Al-Hawl</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces#Reported_internal_conflict_between_SDF_factions" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Inner-SDF</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive" title="Tishrin Dam offensive">Tishrin Dam</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Qamishli_bombings" title="2015 Qamishli bombings">1st al-Qamishli</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2016</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Qamishli_bombings" title="2015 Qamishli bombings">Wusta</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">Al-Shaddadi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)">7th Aleppo</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2016)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)">3rd Tell Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2016)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2016)">2nd al-Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Raqqa_offensive" title="Northern Raqqa offensive">Northern Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Manbij_offensive" title="Manbij offensive">Manbij</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/July_2016_Qamishli_bombings" title="July 2016 Qamishli bombings">3rd al-Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2016)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2016)">3rd al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield"><i>Euphrates Shield</i></a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(September_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (September 2016)">1st Western al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)">2nd Western al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Bab" title="Battle of al-Bab">al-Bab</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)"><b>Raqqa</b></a></li></ul>
<p><b>2017</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa" title="Battle of Tabqa">Tabqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2017_Turkish_airstrikes_in_Syria_and_Iraq" title="April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq">Turkish airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2017)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2017)">Raqqa City</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ja%27Din_shootdown_incident" title="Ja'Din shootdown incident">Ja'Din</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_campaign_(2017%E2%80%932019)" title="Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)">1st Deir ez-Zor</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Syria_insurgency" title="Eastern Syria insurgency">Eastern insurgency</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2018</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch"><i>Olive Branch</i></a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin_offensive_(January%E2%80%93March_2018)" title="Afrin offensive (January–March 2018)">Afrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/SDF_insurgency_in_Northern_Aleppo" class="mw-redirect" title="SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo">Northern Aleppo insurgency</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qamishli_clashes_(2018)" title="Qamishli clashes (2018)">4th al-Qamishli</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Syrian-Turkish_border_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes">Northern border clashes</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2019</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Manbij_bombing" title="2019 Manbij bombing">2nd Manbij</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Baghuz_Fawqani" title="Battle of Baghuz Fawqani">Baghuz Fawqani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Tell_Rifaat_clashes" title="2019 Tell Rifaat clashes">Tell Rifaat</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria">Rojava offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn_(2019)" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2019)">2nd Ras al-Ayn</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<p><b>2020</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Ayn_Issa_clashes" title="2020–2021 Ayn Issa clashes">2020–2021 Ayn Issa clashes</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2021</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Qamishli_and_Al-Hasakah" title="Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah">5th al-Qamishli & 4th al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2021)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2021)">6th al-Qamishli</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2022</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2022)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2022)">5th al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Claw-Sword" title="Operation Claw-Sword">Claw-Sword</a></li></ul>
<p><b>2023</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2023_Northeastern_Syria_clashes" title="June 2023 Northeastern Syria clashes">Turkish Airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_clashes_(2023)" title="Deir ez-Zor clashes (2023)">2nd Deir ez-Zor</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png/210px-Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png" decoding="async" width="210" height="174" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png/315px-Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png/420px-Claimed_and_de_facto_territory_of_Rojava.png 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="1653" /></a><figcaption>SDF-controlled territory (green), claimed territory (orange), <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_occupation_of_northern_Syria" title="Turkish occupation of northern Syria">Turkish-occupied Afrin</a> (red) in October 2018</figcaption></figure>
<p>The <b>People's Defense Units</b> (<b>YPG</b>),<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[a]</a></sup> also called <b>People's Protection Units</b>, is a mainly <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurds_in_Syria" title="Kurds in Syria">Kurdish</a> militant group in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a> and the primary component of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a> (SDF).<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5">[4]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[5]</a></sup> YPG provides updates about its activities through <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://t.me/YPGInfo">YPG Press Office Telegram channel</a> and social media accounts.
</p><p>The YPG mostly consists of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurds" title="Kurds">Kurds</a>, but also includes Arabs and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/YPG_International" title="YPG International">foreign volunteers</a>; it is closely allied to the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syriac_Military_Council" title="Syriac Military Council">Syriac Military Council</a>, an <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assyrian_people" title="Assyrian people">Assyrian</a> militia. The YPG was formed in 2011. It expanded rapidly in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian Civil War">Syrian Civil War</a> and came to predominate over other armed Syrian Kurdish groups. A sister militia, the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a> (YPJ), fights alongside them. The YPG is active in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria</a> (Rojava), particularly in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Kurdistan" title="Syrian Kurdistan">its Kurdish regions</a>.
</p><p>In early 2015, the group won a major victory over the so-called <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a> (IS) during the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">siege of Kobanî</a>, where the YPG began to receive air and ground support from the United States and other <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Combined_Joint_Task_Force_%E2%80%93_Operation_Inherent_Resolve" title="Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve">Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve</a> militaries. Since then, the YPG has primarily fought against IS, as well as on occasion fighting other <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_opposition" title="Syrian opposition">Syrian rebel groups</a> and the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_Armed_Forces" title="Turkish Armed Forces">Turkish Armed Forces</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[6]</a></sup> In late 2015, the YPG became part of the SDF, an umbrella group intended to better incorporate Arabs and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sectarianism_and_minorities_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian Civil War">minorities</a> into the war effort. In 2016–2017, the SDF's <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)">Raqqa campaign</a> led to the liberation of the city of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa" title="Raqqa">Raqqa</a>, the Islamic State's <i>de facto</i> capital. Several western sources have described the YPG as the "most effective" force in fighting IS in Syria.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[8]</a></sup>
</p><p>According to Turkey<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[9]</a></sup> and Qatar,<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[10]</a></sup> the YPG is a terrorist organization,<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[12]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[13]</a></sup> closely associated with the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers%27_Party" title="Kurdistan Workers' Party">Kurdistan Workers' Party</a> (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization. The flag of the YPG is also a banned symbol in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> as per <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a" title="Strafgesetzbuch section 86a">Strafgesetzbuch section 86a</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[14]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[15]</a></sup> although the organization itself is not recognised as terrorist.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[16]</a></sup> Finland and Sweden's alleged support for the YPG, is one of the points which caused <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkey_in_NATO" title="Turkey in NATO">Turkey</a> to oppose Finland and Sweden's <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Enlargement_of_NATO" title="Enlargement of NATO">NATO accession bid</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[17]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:2_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-19">[18]</a></sup>
In June 2022, then–Finnish President <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sauli_Niinist%C3%B6" title="Sauli Niinistö">Sauli Niinistö</a> announced in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Madrid" title="Madrid">Madrid</a>, after the agreement with Turkey, that Finland does not see the YPG as a terrorist organization and that Finland will continue to support the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[19]</a></sup> The Turkish terror classification is not shared by key international bodies in the fight against the Islamic State in which the YPG takes part.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[20]</a></sup> Due to this Turkish view, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_States_Army_Special_Operations_Command" title="United States Army Special Operations Command">US Army Special Operations Commander</a> General <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raymond_A._Thomas" title="Raymond A. Thomas">Raymond Thomas</a> suggested the YPG to change their name, after which the name of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a> (SDF) was found.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[21]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[22]</a></sup>According to the Turkish state-run <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anadolu_Agency" title="Anadolu Agency">Anadolu Agency</a>, the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Union_Party_(Syria)" title="Democratic Union Party (Syria)">Democratic Union Party</a> (PYD) and YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[23]</a></sup> Among the heavy weaponry provided are <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BGM-71_TOW" title="BGM-71 TOW">TOW</a> American anti-tank missiles.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[24]</a></sup>
</p><p>According to the Turkish state-run <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anadolu_Agency" title="Anadolu Agency">Anadolu Agency</a>, the US military provided US$715 millions in weapons and equipment aid to the political party <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Union_Party_(Syria)" title="Democratic Union Party (Syria)">Democratic Union Party</a> (PYD) and YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[25]</a></sup> Among the heavy weaponry provided are <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BGM-71_TOW" title="BGM-71 TOW">TOW</a> American anti-tank missiles.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[26]</a></sup>
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Early_origins"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Early origins</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="#Establishment"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Establishment</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Control_of_Kurdish_areas"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Control of Kurdish areas</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Late_2012:_Islamist_attacks_make_YPG_dominant"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Late 2012: Islamist attacks make YPG dominant</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#2013:_Kurdish_control_of_al-Yaarubiyah/Til_Koçer"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">2013: Kurdish control of al-Yaarubiyah/Til Koçer</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#2014:_Fight_against_IS"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">2014: Fight against IS</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#Spring_2015:_Offensive_operations_with_coalition_support"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Spring 2015: Offensive operations with coalition support</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="#Autumn_2015:_foundation_of_the_SDF"><span class="tocnumber">2.5</span> <span class="toctext">Autumn 2015: foundation of the SDF</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="#2016"><span class="tocnumber">2.6</span> <span class="toctext">2016</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="#2018:_Turkish_military_intervention"><span class="tocnumber">2.7</span> <span class="toctext">2018: Turkish military intervention</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="#Women's_Protection_Units"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Women's Protection Units</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Organization"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Organization</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="#Flags"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Flags</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="#Units"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Units</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="#Tactics"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Tactics</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="#Equipment"><span class="tocnumber">4.4</span> <span class="toctext">Equipment</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-17"><a href="#International_outreach"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">International outreach</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="#Foreign_volunteers"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Foreign volunteers</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19"><a href="#Deaths"><span class="tocnumber">5.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Deaths</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-20"><a href="#Politics"><span class="tocnumber">5.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Politics</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21"><a href="#Foreign_government_support"><span class="tocnumber">5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Foreign government support</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-22"><a href="#United_States"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">United States</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-23"><a href="#Russia"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Russia</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-24"><a href="#Diplomatic_relations"><span class="tocnumber">5.3</span> <span class="toctext">Diplomatic relations</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="#International_media_outreach"><span class="tocnumber">5.4</span> <span class="toctext">International media outreach</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-26"><a href="#Allegations_concerning_violations_of_international_law_and_war_crimes"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Allegations concerning violations of international law and war crimes</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27"><a href="#Accusations_of_ethnic_cleansing_and_forced_displacements"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Accusations of ethnic cleansing and forced displacements</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28"><a href="#Recruitment_of_minors"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">Recruitment of minors</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="#Bibliography"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Bibliography</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-32"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Early_origins">Early origins</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>Kurdish activists attempted to unify themselves following the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/2004_Qamishli_riots" title="2004 Qamishli riots">2004 Qamishli riots</a>. The riots began as clashes between rivaling football fans before taking a political turn, with Arab fans raising pictures of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Saddam_Hussein" title="Saddam Hussein">Saddam Hussein</a> while the Kurdish fans reportedly proclaimed "We will sacrifice our lives for Bush". This resulted in clashes between the two groups who attacked each other with sticks, stones and knives. Government security forces entered the city to quell the riot, firing at the crowds. The riots resulted in around 36 dead, most of them Kurds.
</p><p>They did not, however, emerge as a significant force until the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war">Syrian civil war</a> erupted in 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[27]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Vice_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Vice-29">[28]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Establishment">Establishment</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>The self-defence committees that were to become the YPG were formed in July and August 2011 as the Self Protection units (YXG).<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[29]</a></sup>
</p><p>Existing underground <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurds" title="Kurds">Kurdish</a> political parties, the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Union_Party_(Syria)" title="Democratic Union Party (Syria)">Democratic Union Party</a> (PYD) and the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_National_Council" title="Kurdish National Council">Kurdish National Council</a> (KNC), joined to form the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Supreme_Committee" title="Kurdish Supreme Committee">Kurdish Supreme Committee</a> (KSC) and established the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to defend Kurdish-inhabited areas in northern Syria, i.e. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Kurdistan" title="Syrian Kurdistan">Syrian Kurdistan</a> and the Kurdish enclave of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sheikh_Maqsood" title="Sheikh Maqsood">Sheikh Maqsood</a> in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo" title="Aleppo">Aleppo</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[30]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-casualties_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-casualties-1">[1]</a></sup> Originally a wholly Kurdish force, the YPG began to recruit <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arabs" title="Arabs">Arabs</a> from at least 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[31]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Control_of_Kurdish_areas">Control of Kurdish areas</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>In July 2012, the YPG had a standoff with Syrian government forces in the Kurdish city of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE" class="mw-redirect" title="Kobanî">Kobanî</a> and the surrounding areas. After negotiations, government forces withdrew and the YPG took control of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE" class="mw-redirect" title="Kobanî">Kobanî</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Amuda" title="Amuda">Amuda</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin,_Syria" title="Afrin, Syria">Afrin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-casualties_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-casualties-1">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[32]</a></sup>
</p><p>By December 2012, it had expanded to eight <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Brigade_(military)" class="mw-redirect" title="Brigade (military)">brigades</a>, which were formed in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qamishlo" class="mw-redirect" title="Qamishlo">Qamishlo</a>, Kobanî, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ras_al-Ayn" title="Ras al-Ayn">Ras al-Ayn</a> (Serê Kaniyê), and in the districts of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin_District" title="Afrin District">Afrin</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Malikiyah_District" title="Al-Malikiyah District">al-Malikiyah</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Bab_District" title="Al-Bab District">al-Bab</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[33]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Late_2012:_Islamist_attacks_make_YPG_dominant">Late 2012: Islamist attacks make YPG dominant</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>The YPG did not initially take an offensive posture in the Syrian Civil War. Aiming mostly to defend Kurdish-majority areas, it avoided engaging Syrian government forces, which still controlled several enclaves in Kurdish territory. The YPG changed this policy when Ras al-Ayn was taken by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qaeda" title="Al-Qaeda">al-Qaeda</a>-affiliated <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front" title="Al-Nusra Front">al-Nusra Front</a>. At first the YPG conquered the surrounding government-controlled areas: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Darbasiyah" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Darbasiyah">al-Darbasiyah</a> (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tel_Tamer" class="mw-redirect" title="Tel Tamer">Tel Tamer</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Malikiyah" title="Al-Malikiyah">al-Malikiyah</a> (Kurdish: Dêrika Hemko). The subsequent <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn">Battle of Ras al-Ayn</a> started in earnest when on 19 November 2012, the al-Nusra Front and a second al-Qaeda affiliate, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ghuraba_al-Sham" title="Ghuraba al-Sham">Ghuraba al-Sham</a>, attacked Kurdish positions in the town. The battle ended with a YPG victory in July 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[34]</a></sup>
</p><p>While many rebel groups clashed with the YPG, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jihadist" class="mw-redirect" title="Jihadist">jihadist</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Salafist" class="mw-redirect" title="Salafist">Salafist</a> groups did so the most often.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[35]</a></sup> The YPG proved to be the only Kurdish militia able to effectively resist the fundamentalists.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[36]</a></sup> While the YPG protected the Kurdish communities it was able to extract a price: it prevented the emergence of new, rival militias and forced existing ones to cooperate with or join the YPG forces on its terms.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[37]</a></sup> This was how the Islamist attacks enabled the YPG to unite the Syrian Kurds under its banner<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[38]</a></sup> and caused<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[39]</a></sup> it to become the de facto army of the Syrian Kurds.<sup id="cite_ref-bb_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bb-41">[40]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-nn_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nn-42">[41]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-aus_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-aus-43">[42]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-enalb_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-enalb-44">[43]</a></sup>
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<h3><span id="2013:_Kurdish_control_of_al-Yaarubiyah.2FTil_Ko.C3.A7er"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="2013:_Kurdish_control_of_al-Yaarubiyah/Til_Koçer">2013: Kurdish control of al-Yaarubiyah/Til Koçer</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1033289096">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Yaarubiyah" title="Battle of al-Yaarubiyah">Battle of al-Yaarubiyah</a></div>
<p>In October 2013, YPG fighters took control of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Yaarubiyah" title="Al-Yaarubiyah">al-Yaarubiyah</a> (Til Koçer) following intense clashes with IS. The clashes lasted about three days, with the Til Koçer border gate to Iraq being taken in a major offensive launched on the night of 24 October.<sup id="cite_ref-til_45-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-til-45">[44]</a></sup> PYD leader <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Salih_Muslim" title="Salih Muslim">Salih Muslim</a> told Stêrk TV that this success created an alternative against efforts to hold the territory under embargo,<sup id="cite_ref-til_45-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-til-45">[44]</a></sup> referring to the fact that the other border crossings with Iraq led to areas controlled by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Regional_Government" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan Regional Government">Kurdistan Regional Government</a>, while al-Yaarubiyah led to areas controlled by the Iraqi central government.
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2014:_Fight_against_IS">2014: Fight against IS</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Rojava_february_2014.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Rojava_february_2014.png/250px-Rojava_february_2014.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="115" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Rojava_february_2014.png/375px-Rojava_february_2014.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Rojava_february_2014.png/500px-Rojava_february_2014.png 2x" data-file-width="1124" data-file-height="519" /></a><figcaption>YPG-controlled territory, February 2014</figcaption></figure>
<p>In 2014, the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syriac_Military_Council" title="Syriac Military Council">Syriac Military Council</a>, a group of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assyrian_people" title="Assyrian people">Assyrian</a> units, was formally integrated into the YPG's command structure. The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Inter-rebel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War">inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War</a> led to open war between the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Free_Syrian_Army" title="Free Syrian Army">Free Syrian Army</a> and IS in January 2014. The YPG collaborated with FSA groups to fight IS in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_Governorate" title="Raqqa Governorate">Raqqa</a> province;<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[45]</a></sup> the group also formed an operations room with multiple FSA factions, called <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Euphrates_Volcano" title="Euphrates Volcano">Euphrates Volcano</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[46]</a></sup> However, the general outcome of this campaign was a massive advance by IS, which effectively separated the eastern part of Rojava from the main force of FSA rebels. IS followed up on its success by attacking the YPG and the FSA in Kobanî Canton in March and fighting its way to the gates of the city of Kobanî in September. The actual <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">siege of Kobanî</a> approximately coincided with an escalation in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in Syria">American-led intervention in Syria</a>. This intervention had started with aiding the FSA against the government, but when the FSA was getting defeated by IS in eastern Syria, it escalated to bombing IS on Syrian territory.
</p><p>With the world fearing another massacre in Kobanî, American support increased substantially. The US gave intense <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Close_air_support" title="Close air support">close air support</a> to the YPG, and in doing so, started military cooperation with one of the factions. While it expected that IS would quickly crush the YPG and the FSA, this alliance was not considered a problem for the US.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[47]</a></sup> The YPG won the battle in early 2015.
</p><p>Meanwhile, the situation had been stable in Afrin and Aleppo. The fight between the FSA and IS had led to a normalization in the relations between FSA and YPG since the end of 2013. In February 2015, the YPG signed a judicial agreement with the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Levant_Front" title="Levant Front">Levant Front</a> in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_Governorate" title="Aleppo Governorate">Aleppo</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[48]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Spring_2015:_Offensive_operations_with_coalition_support">Spring 2015: Offensive operations with coalition support</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png/220px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="185" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png/330px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png/440px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2015.png 2x" data-file-width="2502" data-file-height="2107" /></a><figcaption>Military situation in the Syrian Civil War in November 2015</figcaption></figure>
<figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Rojava_june_2015.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Rojava_june_2015.png/250px-Rojava_june_2015.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="115" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Rojava_june_2015.png/375px-Rojava_june_2015.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Rojava_june_2015.png/500px-Rojava_june_2015.png 2x" data-file-width="1124" data-file-height="519" /></a><figcaption>YPG-controlled territory, June 2015</figcaption></figure>
<p>The YPG was able and willing to offensively engage and put pressure on IS and had built up a track record as a reliable military partner of the US. In 2015, the YPG began its advance on <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad" title="Tell Abyad">Tel Abyad</a>, a move they have planned for since November 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[49]</a></sup> With American close air support, offensives near <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Eastern al-Hasakah offensive">Hasakah</a> and from Hasakah <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Western al-Hasakah offensive">westward</a> culminated in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad_offensive" title="Tell Abyad offensive">conquest of Tell Abyad</a>, linking up Kobanî with Hasakah in July 2015. With the capture of Tell Abyad, the YPG has also broken a major supply route of fighters and goods for the Islamic State.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[50]</a></sup>
</p><p>With these offensives, the YPG had begun to make advances into areas that did not always have a Kurdish majority. When the YPG and the FSA entered the border town of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad" title="Tell Abyad">Tell Abyad</a> in June 2015, parts of the population fled the intense fighting and the airstrikes.<sup id="cite_ref-pitarakis_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pitarakis-52">[51]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Autumn_2015:_foundation_of_the_SDF">Autumn 2015: foundation of the SDF</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a> was established in Hasakah on 11 October 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53">[52]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-KQ1015_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-KQ1015-54">[53]</a></sup> It has its origins in the YPG-FSA collaboration against IS, which had previously led to the establishment of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Euphrates_Volcano" title="Euphrates Volcano">Euphrates Volcano</a> joint operations room in 2014. Many of the partners are the same, and even the logo / flag with the Blue Euphrates symbol has common traits with that of Euphrates Volcano. The primary difference is that Euphrates Volcano was limited to coordinating the activities of independent Kurdish and Arab groups, while the SDF is a single organisation made up of Kurds, Arabs, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assyrian_people" title="Assyrian people">Assyrians</a>.
</p><p>The first success of the SDF was the capture of the strategic ethnically Arab town of al-Hawl from IS during the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Al-Hawl_offensive" class="mw-redirect" title="2015 Al-Hawl offensive">al-Hawl offensive</a> in November 2015. This was followed in December by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive" title="Tishrin Dam offensive">Tishrin Dam offensive</a>. The dam was captured on 26 December. Participating forces included the YPG, the FSA group <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Army_of_Revolutionaries" title="Army of Revolutionaries">Army of Revolutionaries</a>, the tribal group <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Sanadid_Forces" title="Al-Sanadid Forces">al-Sanadid Forces</a> and the Assyrian <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syriac_Military_Council" title="Syriac Military Council">Syriac Military Council</a>. The coalition had some heavy weapons and was supported by intense US led airstrikes.<sup id="cite_ref-reuters-alliance_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reuters-alliance-55">[54]</a></sup> The capture of the hydroelectric dam also had positive effects on the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Economy_of_Rojava" class="mw-redirect" title="Economy of Rojava">economy of Rojava</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Themedialine_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Themedialine-56">[55]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2016">2016</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>In February, the YPG-led SDF launched the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">al-Shaddadi offensive</a>, followed by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Manbij_offensive" title="Manbij offensive">Manbij offensive</a> in May, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_offensive_(2016%E2%80%93present)" class="mw-redirect" title="Raqqa offensive (2016–present)">the Raqqa</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(November%E2%80%93December_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)">Aleppo offensives</a> in November. These operations extended SDF-controlled territory, usually at IS's expense.
</p><p>On 7 April 2016, the Kurdish neighborhood of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sheikh_Maqsood" title="Sheikh Maqsood">Sheikh Maqsood</a> in Aleppo was shelled with <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)" title="Mortar (weapon)">mortars</a> that may have contained <a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_chemical_warfare_agents" title="List of chemical warfare agents">chemical agents</a> (160 killed or wounded).<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57">[56]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[57]</a></sup> Spokesperson for the YPG said that <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>-backed <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jaysh_al-Islam" title="Jaysh al-Islam">Jaysh al-Islam</a> (Army of Islam) rebel group has attacked the Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo with "forbidden weapons" many times since the war's start.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[58]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2018:_Turkish_military_intervention">2018: Turkish military intervention</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_military_intervention_in_Syria_(January_2018%E2%80%93present)" class="mw-redirect" title="Turkish military intervention in Syria (January 2018–present)">Turkish military intervention in Syria (January 2018–present)</a></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png/220px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="182" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png/330px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png/440px-Syrian_civil_war_01_11_2018.png 2x" data-file-width="1088" data-file-height="900" /></a><figcaption>Military situation in January 2019</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span id="Women.27s_Protection_Units"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Women's_Protection_Units">Women's Protection Units</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg/220px-YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="134" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg/330px-YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg/440px-YPJ_fighters_shake_hands_with_one_another.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1956" data-file-height="1190" /></a><figcaption>Women's Protection Units in November 2014</figcaption></figure>
<p>The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a> (YPJ), also known as the Women's Defense Units, is the YPG's female brigade, which was set up in 2012. Kurdish media have said that YPJ troops became vital during the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">siege of Kobanî</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[59]</a></sup> Consisting of approximately 20,000 fighters, they make up around 40% of the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-profil_61-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-profil-61">[60]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Organization">Organization</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Flags">Flags</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1096954695/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}</style><div class="thumb tmulti tnone center"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:592px;max-width:592px"><div class="trow"><div class="theader">Flags of the People's Protection Units</div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:69px;max-width:69px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:100px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_(2011-2012,_Vertical).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg/67px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="67" height="101" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg/101px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg/134px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%2C_Vertical%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="900" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption">Vertical red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:171px;max-width:171px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:100px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_(2011-2012).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg/169px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="169" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg/254px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg/338px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="290" data-file-height="172" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption">Horizontal red flag of the YPG, used since 2011 until early 2013</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:171px;max-width:171px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:100px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_(2011-2012)_alternative.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg/169px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg.png" decoding="async" width="169" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg/254px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg/338px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag_%282011-2012%29_alternative.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="290" data-file-height="172" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption">Variant of the horizontal red flag, also used until early 2013</div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:173px;max-width:173px"><div class="thumbimage" style="height:100px;overflow:hidden"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg/171px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg.png" decoding="async" width="171" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg/257px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg/342px-People%27s_Protection_Units_Flag.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption">Yellow flag of the YPG, first used since late 2012, widely adopted in 2013 and since then the official flag of the militia</div></div></div></div></div>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Units">Units</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1097763485">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}html.client-js body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .mbox-text-span{margin-left:23px!important}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}</style><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/People%27s_Defense_Units" title="Special:EditPage/People's Defense Units">improve this section</a> by <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">September 2022</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>In 2017, the YPG began to form units called <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Regiment" title="Regiment">regiments</a> in translation, though they are smaller than comparable units in standard militaries:
</p>
<table class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;">
<tbody><tr>
<th style="width:15%;">Canton
</th>
<th style="width:5%;">Number
</th>
<th style="width:40%;">Name
</th>
<th style="width:10%;">Date Established
</th>
<th style="width:10%;">Strength
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Martyr Xebat Dêrik</td>
<td>27 Feb 2017</td>
<td>236 in 4 battalions
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Martyr Afrin</td>
<td>20 April 2017</td>
<td>235
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>Martyr Rojhilet</td>
<td>Early June? 2017</td>
<td>236
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>Martyr Mazloum</td>
<td>2 July 2017</td>
<td>234
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>Martyr Alişêr</td>
<td>27 August 2017</td>
<td>303
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>Martyr Jayan</td>
<td>23 Oct 2017</td>
<td>250
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Afrin</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>Martyr Bahoz Afrin</td>
<td>18 Nov 2017</td>
<td>234
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="wikitable sortable" style="width:80%;">
<tbody><tr>
<th style="width:15%;">Canton
</th>
<th style="width:5%;">Number
</th>
<th style="width:40%;">Name
</th>
<th style="width:10%;">Date Established
</th>
<th style="width:10%;">Strength
</th></tr>
<tr>
<td>Kobane</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>?</td>
<td>13 Feb 2017</td>
<td>80
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Kobane</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Martyr Şevger Kobanî Regiment</td>
<td>18 Feb 2017</td>
<td>90
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Jazira – al-Hasakah</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Jian Judy and Dogan Fadel</td>
<td>20 July 2017</td>
<td>500
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Jazira – Girkê Legê</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>Qereçox Martyrs</td>
<td>12 July 2017</td>
<td>200
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Aleppo</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Martyr Shahid Baqour</td>
<td>30 Sep 2017</td>
<td>55 (Martyr Abu Shayar battalion)
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Tabqa (SDF)</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Martyr Haboun Arab</td>
<td>14 Nov 2017</td>
<td>250
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Tactics">Tactics</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>According to a report in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/IHS_Jane%27s" class="mw-redirect" title="IHS Jane's">IHS Jane's</a> regarding the YPG,
</p>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1211633275">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Relying on speed, stealth, and surprise, it is the archetypal guerrilla army, able to deploy quickly to front lines and concentrate its forces before quickly redirecting the axis of its attack to outflank and ambush its enemy. The key to its success is autonomy. Although operating under an overarching tactical rubric, YPG brigades are inculcated with a high degree of freedom and can adapt to the changing battlefield.<sup id="cite_ref-YPG_strategy_62-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-YPG_strategy-62">[61]</a></sup></p></blockquote>
<p>The YPG relies heavily on <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sniper" title="Sniper">snipers</a> and backs them by suppressing enemy fire using mobile heavy machine guns. It also uses roadside bombs to prevent outflanking maneuvers, particularly at night. Its lines have generally held when attacked by <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a> (IS) forces who have better equipment, including helmets and body armor.<sup id="cite_ref-stephens_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stephens-63">[62]</a></sup>
</p><p>The YPG and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Defence_Forces" title="People's Defence Forces">People's Defense Forces</a> (HPG) have also trained and equipped more than 1,000 <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Yazidis" title="Yazidis">Yazidis</a>, who operate in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sinjar_Mountains" title="Sinjar Mountains">Mount Sinjar area</a> as local defense units under their supervision.<sup id="cite_ref-stephens_63-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stephens-63">[62]</a></sup>
</p><p>The YPG calls itself a people's army, and therefore appoints officers by internal elections.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64">[63]</a></sup>
</p><p>A 20-year-old female YPJ fighter named Zlukh Hamo (Nom de guerre: Avesta Khabur) was reported to have carried out a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Suicide_attack" title="Suicide attack">suicide attack</a> towards Turkish troops and a tank during the early phase of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_military_operation_in_Afrin" class="mw-redirect" title="Turkish military operation in Afrin">Afrin Offensive</a>, killing herself and several soldiers in the process.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65">[64]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66">[65]</a></sup> The attack was commended by pro-SDF sources as a courageous attack against a tank using explosives, which killed her in the process.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67">[66]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Equipment">Equipment</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_military_equipment_used_by_Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="List of military equipment used by Syrian Democratic Forces">List of military equipment used by Syrian Democratic Forces</a></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG/220px-YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG" decoding="async" width="220" height="123" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG/330px-YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG/440px-YPG_Tall_Tamer_14_mai_2015.PNG 2x" data-file-width="1104" data-file-height="619" /></a><figcaption>YPG <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Technical_(vehicle)" title="Technical (vehicle)">technical</a> near <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Tamer" title="Tell Tamer">Tell Tamer</a>, 2015</figcaption></figure>
<p>In comparison to the other major factions involved in the Syrian Civil War, the YPG has the least armor.<sup id="cite_ref-:3_68-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:3-68">[67]</a></sup> To compensate for the resulting capability gap, the YPG became heavily involved in the production of DIY armoured vehicles, typically based on bulldozers or large trucks.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69">[68]</a></sup> The YPG has traditionally relied on vehicles captured from the Islamic State, AFVs left behind by the Syrian Arab Army (SyAA), equipment turned over by the SyAA in exchange for a safe passage (for example, after retreating from Mennagh airbase in 2014), and armoured vehicles donated by the US for light armoured vehicles and true armour.<sup id="cite_ref-:3_68-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:3-68">[67]</a></sup>
</p><p>While other Syrian Civil War factions, such as the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a>, amassed an arsenal of hundreds of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles captured from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG, which frequently avoided combat with government forces, had to make do with scraps.<sup id="cite_ref-:4_70-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:4-70">[69]</a></sup> The YPG was able to acquire several vehicle types, including the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BTR-60" title="BTR-60">BTR-60</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BRDM-2" title="BRDM-2">BRDM-2</a>, that had been abandoned in government bases by their previous owners.<sup id="cite_ref-:5_71-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:5-71">[70]</a></sup> With no other option, even these abandoned vehicles would be repaired and repurposed by the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-:4_70-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:4-70">[69]</a></sup> Even when the engine couldn't be repaired, the hulls of BTR-60s were strapped to the backs of trucks and used as improvised AFVs.<sup id="cite_ref-:5_71-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:5-71">[70]</a></sup>
</p><p>With little armor and other heavy weaponry, the YPG relied almost entirely on Coalition airpower to destroy Islamic State vehicles and fighting positions.<sup id="cite_ref-:6_72-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:6-72">[71]</a></sup> While this meant that Islamic State-operated AFVs were frequently destroyed before they could inflict serious damage on YPG forces, it also meant that most AFVs were completely obliterated by Coalition aircraft, preventing their capture and further use with the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-:6_72-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:6-72">[71]</a></sup>
</p><p>In order to assist the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/SDF_insurgency_in_Northern_Aleppo" class="mw-redirect" title="SDF insurgency in Northern Aleppo">SDF</a> in its fight against Islamic State forces in northern Syria, the YPG received a large number of infantry mobility vehicles (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Infantry_mobility_vehicle" title="Infantry mobility vehicle">IMVs</a>) and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/MRAP" title="MRAP">MRAPs</a>) from the US, which appear to have replaced some of the YPG's more bizarre homemade armour designs.<sup id="cite_ref-:4_70-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:4-70">[69]</a></sup> Surprisingly, the YPG was permitted to keep these vehicles even after IS was defeated as a conventional military force.<sup id="cite_ref-:4_70-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:4-70">[69]</a></sup> Even so, there was little doubt that their most likely future application would be against a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> member (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73">[72]</a></sup> Aside from a large fleet of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Humvee" title="Humvee">Humvees</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/IAG_Guardian" title="IAG Guardian">IAG Guardians</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_MaxxPro" title="International MaxxPro">M1224 Maxxpros</a>, the US has reportedly transferred a number of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/M2_Bradley" title="M2 Bradley">M2 Bradley</a> infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-:7_74-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:7-74">[73]</a></sup> These reports appear to be based on the sighting of M2s with SDF flags and a video of YPG members training alongside M2s, and there is currently no evidence that such a transfer has occurred.<sup id="cite_ref-:7_74-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:7-74">[73]</a></sup>
</p><p>The YPG's arsenal of ATGMs is without a doubt the most dangerous threat to the Turkish military.<sup id="cite_ref-:4_70-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:4-70">[69]</a></sup> Despite capturing only a small number of these missiles from the Syrian Arab Army, the YPG has managed to secure a steady supply of ATGMs obtained on the Syrian black market.<sup id="cite_ref-:8_75-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:8-75">[74]</a></sup> These have included models like the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/9M113_Konkurs" title="9M113 Konkurs">9M113 Konkurs</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/9K115_Metis" title="9K115 Metis">9M115 Metis-M</a>, as well as more advanced models like the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/9M133_Kornet" title="9M133 Kornet">9M133 Kornet</a> and even the US <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BGM-71_TOW" title="BGM-71 TOW">TOW</a> ATGM.<sup id="cite_ref-:8_75-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:8-75">[74]</a></sup> Despite frequently employing them against the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Free_Syrian_Army" title="Free Syrian Army">Free Syrian Army</a> and Turkish military, the YPG is likely to keep a significant stock of missiles on hand for future use against Turkish armour and troop concentrations.<sup id="cite_ref-:8_75-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:8-75">[74]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="International_outreach">International outreach</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Foreign_volunteers">Foreign volunteers</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/YPG_International" title="YPG International">YPG International</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_Freedom_Battalion" title="International Freedom Battalion">International Freedom Battalion</a></div>
<figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:German,_French,_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png/250px-German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png/375px-German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png/500px-German%2C_French%2C_and_Spanish_YPG_fighters.png 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="720" /></a><figcaption><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Germans" title="Germans">German</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/French_people" title="French people">French</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Spanish_people" class="mw-redirect" title="Spanish people">Spanish</a> fighters of the YPG in northern Syria.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ex–<a href="/enwiki/wiki/U.S._Army" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Army">U.S. Army</a> soldier <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordan_Matson" title="Jordan Matson">Jordan Matson</a> was among the first foreign volunteers of the YPG. Injured by an IS suicide bomb, he developed the "Lions of Rojava" recruitment campaign for foreign volunteers,<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76">[75]</a></sup> launched on 21 October 2014 on Facebook.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77">[76]</a></sup> More than 400 volunteers from Europe, the Americas and Australia have joined the YPG as of 11 June 2015<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=People%27s_Defense_Units&action=edit">[update]</a></sup>,<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78">[77]</a></sup> including at least ten U.S. volunteers, three of which were U.S. Army veterans.<sup id="cite_ref-Shah_79-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shah-79">[78]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80">[79]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bbc23oct_81-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc23oct-81">[80]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-82">[81]</a></sup> People from both China and the Chinese diaspora have also joined.<sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-83">[82]</a></sup>
</p><p>Other prominent foreign volunteers have included <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Brace_Belden" title="Brace Belden">Brace Belden</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Macer_Gifford" title="Macer Gifford">Macer Gifford</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-84">[83]</a></sup> Ryan Lock,<sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-85">[84]</a></sup> Michael Israel,<sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-86">[85]</a></sup> Nazzarno Tassone,<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87">[86]</a></sup> Dean Evans,<sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-88">[87]</a></sup> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jac_Holmes" title="Jac Holmes">Jac Holmes</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-89">[88]</a></sup> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Konstandinos_Erik_Scurfield" title="Konstandinos Erik Scurfield">Konstandinos Erik Scurfield</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90">[89]</a></sup> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anna_Campbell" title="Anna Campbell">Anna Campbell</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lorenzo_Orsetti" title="Lorenzo Orsetti">Lorenzo Orsetti</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Haukur_Hilmarsson" title="Haukur Hilmarsson">Haukur Hilmarsson</a>.
</p><p>Dozens of non-Kurdish Turks (from both Turkey and the European diaspora) have also joined.<sup id="cite_ref-Shah_79-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shah-79">[78]</a></sup> The Turkish <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Marxist-Leninist_Communist_Party_(Turkey)" class="mw-redirect" title="Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (Turkey)">Marxist-Leninist Communist Party</a> (MLKP) has been sending volunteers to fight in the YPG since 2012. At least four have been killed in battle as of February 2015—one during the Battle of Ras al-Ayn and three during the siege of Kobanî. The party released a video in late January 2015 showing several Spanish- and German-speaking volunteers from Europe among its ranks in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jazira_Canton" class="mw-redirect" title="Jazira Canton">Jazira Canton</a>; they were reorganised into the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_Freedom_Battalion" title="International Freedom Battalion">International Freedom Battalion</a> on 10 June 2015.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91">[90]</a></sup>
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<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths">Deaths</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_Freedom_Battalion#International_Freedom_Battalion_fatalities" title="International Freedom Battalion">International Freedom Battalion § International Freedom Battalion fatalities</a></div>
<p>During the fight against IS and the defense of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin,_Syria" title="Afrin, Syria">Afrin</a> against the Turkish state, several of the international volunteers were wounded and killed. The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Icelanders" title="Icelanders">Icelandic</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Haukur_Hilmarsson" title="Haukur Hilmarsson">Haukur Hilmarsson</a>, aged 31, was killed on 24 February 2018 in an <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Artillery" title="Artillery">artillery</a> attack by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_army" class="mw-redirect" title="Turkish army">Turkish army</a> in the village of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maabatli" title="Maabatli">Mabeta</a>, Afrin.<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92">[91]</a></sup> As a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/YPJ" class="mw-redirect" title="YPJ">YPJ</a> fighter, the British woman <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anna_Campbell" title="Anna Campbell">Anna Campbell</a>, 26, from <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lewes" title="Lewes">Lewes</a> in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Sussex" title="East Sussex">East Sussex</a>, was killed in a Turkish airstrike in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin,_Syria" title="Afrin, Syria">Afrin</a> on 15 March 2018.<sup id="cite_ref-93" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-93">[92]</a></sup> In the battle of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Baghuz_Fawqani" title="Al-Baghuz Fawqani">Al-Baghuz Fawqani</a>, an Italian man fighting for the YPG, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lorenzo_Orsetti" title="Lorenzo Orsetti">Lorenzo Orsetti</a>, was killed on Sunday, 17 March 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-94">[93]</a></sup>
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<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Politics">Politics</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>While most countries do not object in principle to their citizens joining the ranks of the YPG, Turkey has been vocal against YPG's foreign recruits.<sup id="cite_ref-95" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-95">[94]</a></sup>
</p><p>Several Australians, including former <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Australian_labour_movement" title="Australian labour movement">trade unionist</a> and politician <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Matthew_Gardiner_(trade_unionist)" title="Matthew Gardiner (trade unionist)">Matthew Gardiner</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-96" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-96">[95]</a></sup> have been involved with the YPG despite threats by Australia to prosecute any citizens involved in the Syrian Civil War.<sup id="cite_ref-xinhua_97-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-xinhua-97">[96]</a></sup> Under Australian law it is a criminal offence to fight with any side in a foreign conflict.<sup id="cite_ref-98" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-98">[97]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 2017, Turkish court sentenced two Czech nationals to more than six years in prison for their reported ties to the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-99">[98]</a></sup> In Germany, the YPG leads to controversies as it is up to the police to begin a prosecution for showing a YPG flag.<sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-100">[99]</a></sup> In the state of Bavaria, fines for showing a YPG flag were issued, while the federal government declares that the YPG is not forbidden.<sup id="cite_ref-101" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-101">[100]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Foreign_government_support">Foreign government support</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a></div>
<p>Because the YPG operates in a landlocked territory, rival opposition groups as well as the Turkish and Syrian government were able to physically prevent foreign aid from reaching it. The YPG's seizure of Til Koçer in October 2013 (cf. above) created an overland connection to more or less friendly groups in Iraq, but could not change the even more fundamental problem, that the YPG had no allies willing to provide equipment.
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<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States">United States</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png/220px-US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png/330px-US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png/440px-US_and_YPG_officers_in_northeastern_Hasaka.png 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="720" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Delta_Force" title="Delta Force">Delta Force</a> officer and YPG and YPJ commanders tour an area hit by <a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2017_Turkish_airstrikes_in_Syria_and_Iraq" title="April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq">Turkish airstrikes</a> in April 2017</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg/220px-YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="123" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg/330px-YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg/440px-YPG_and_US_army_Hassaka_1-5-2017.jpg 2x" data-file-width="766" data-file-height="428" /></a><figcaption>U.S. Army <a href="/enwiki/wiki/M1126_Infantry_Carrier_Vehicle" title="M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle">M1126 Stryker</a> armored vehicle in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah" title="Al-Hasakah">Al-Hasakah</a>, May 2017</figcaption></figure>
<p>In August 2014 <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mazlum_Kobane" class="mw-redirect" title="Mazlum Kobane">Mazlum Kobanî</a> led negotiations with the US in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sulaymaniyah" title="Sulaymaniyah">Sulaymaniya</a>, which led to a military alliance against IS.<sup id="cite_ref-102" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-102">[101]</a></sup> The United States provided the YPG with air support during the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">siege of Kobanî</a><sup id="cite_ref-103" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-103">[102]</a></sup> and during later campaigns, helping the YPG defend territory against attacks by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant" class="mw-redirect" title="Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant">Islamic State</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-104" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-104">[103]</a></sup> Turkey has criticised US support.<sup id="cite_ref-105" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-105">[104]</a></sup>
</p><p>The YPG also received 27 bundles totalling 24 tons of small arms and ammunition and 10 tons of medical supplies from the United States and Iraqi Kurdistan during the siege of Kobanî.<sup id="cite_ref-pukmedia_106-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pukmedia-106">[105]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 11 October 2015, the US began an operation to airdrop 120 tons of military supplies to the YPG and its local Arab and Turkmen allies to fight IS north of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa" title="Raqqa">Raqqa</a>. The first airdrop consisted of 112 pallets of ammunition and "other items like hand grenades", totaling 50 tons.<sup id="cite_ref-107" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-107">[106]</a></sup> However, statements from the US that the aid did not contain TOW's or anti-aircraft weapons made it clear that the U.S. continued to have serious regard for the interests of Turkey, which has warned against continued US support for the YPG. On the other hand, the US also supported Islamist rebel groups who fought the YPG. During the Battle of Aleppo, the US-backed <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mountain_Hawks_Brigade" title="Mountain Hawks Brigade">Mountain Hawks Brigade</a> battled the YPG and the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Army_of_Revolutionaries" title="Army of Revolutionaries">Army of Revolutionaries</a> for control of the village of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maryamin,_Afrin" title="Maryamin, Afrin">Maryamin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-YPGallies_108-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-YPGallies-108">[107]</a></sup>
</p><p>US aid to the YPG continued in late October with the deployment of up to 50 US special forces to assist the YPG, and an enhanced air campaign to support the YPG and local militia groups in their fight against IS.<sup id="cite_ref-steele_109-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-steele-109">[108]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-110" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-110">[109]</a></sup> Some of these special forces participated in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)</a> and coordinated airstrikes against IS.<sup id="cite_ref-111" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-111">[110]</a></sup>
</p><p>During the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa_(2017)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Tabqa (2017)">Battle of Tabqa (2017)</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anti-Terror_Units" title="Anti-Terror Units">YPG special forces</a> were equipped with US-supplied <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Combat_helmet" title="Combat helmet">combat helmets</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/AN/PVS-7" title="AN/PVS-7">AN/PVS-7</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Night_vision_device" class="mw-redirect" title="Night vision device">night vision devices</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Flashlight" title="Flashlight">flashlights</a>, and were armed with <a href="/enwiki/wiki/M4_carbine" title="M4 carbine">M4 carbines</a> equipped with <a href="/enwiki/wiki/AN/PEQ-2" title="AN/PEQ-2">AN/PEQ-2</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Laser_sight" class="mw-redirect" title="Laser sight">laser sights</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Holographic_weapon_sight" title="Holographic weapon sight">holographic weapon sights</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/STANAG_magazine" title="STANAG magazine">STANAG magazines</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-112" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-112">[111]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 9 May 2017, it was announced by the Pentagon that American President <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a> approved of a plan that would have the United States directly provide heavy armaments to the major SDF component group, the YPG; the plan comes before a planned final offensive to capture Raqqa from IS.<sup id="cite_ref-113" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-113">[112]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-114" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-114">[113]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-115" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-115">[114]</a></sup>
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<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Russia">Russia</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>With Russia's entrance into the war in late 2015 backing the Syrian government, some reports have reported that the YPG coordinated with or received weapons from Russia, with rival opposition groups stating that the timing and targeting of Russian airstrikes were "suspiciously advantageous" to the Kurdish militias.<sup id="cite_ref-116" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-116">[115]</a></sup>
</p><p>Despite this, YPG officials have said they did not cooperate with Russia.<sup id="cite_ref-117" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-117">[116]</a></sup> However, in July 2019, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rashid_Abu_Khawla" title="Rashid Abu Khawla">Rashid Abu Khawla</a> the head of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces_military_councils#Deir_ez-Zor" title="Syrian Democratic Forces military councils">Syrian Democratic Forces' Deir ez-Zor Military Council</a> stated that the Syrian Democratic Forces had cooperated with Russia.<sup id="cite_ref-118" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-118">[117]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Diplomatic_relations">Diplomatic relations</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Rojava" title="Foreign relations of Rojava">Foreign relations of Rojava</a></div>
<p>Russia's position towards the YPG is not clear, and the US actively supports it, but their diplomatic relations with the PYD are the opposite. In January 2016 Russia pushed for the inclusion of the PYD in the Geneva talks.<sup id="cite_ref-119" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-119">[118]</a></sup> The YPG would like to open a representative branch in the US, but in March 2016 interview its leader implied that it was not allowed to do so.<sup id="cite_ref-120" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-120">[119]</a></sup>
</p><p>In February, 2018, USA's <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Director_of_National_Intelligence" title="Director of National Intelligence">Director of National Intelligence</a> in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Cabinet_of_Donald_Trump" title="Cabinet of Donald Trump">Trump administration</a> described YPG as the Syrian wing of PKK in its new report.<sup id="cite_ref-DNI2018_121-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DNI2018-121">[120]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="International_media_outreach">International media outreach</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>The YPG's press office media operation has been a particular focus of its opponents, with Turkey bombing its premises in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Cizire_Canton" class="mw-redirect" title="Cizire Canton">Cizire Canton</a> in April 2017,<sup id="cite_ref-122" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-122">[121]</a></sup> and the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a> (IS) singling out its premises in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa" title="Raqqa">Raqqa</a> for a raid during the late stages of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2017)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2017)">Battle of Raqqa</a> in September 2017.<sup id="cite_ref-123" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-123">[122]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Allegations_concerning_violations_of_international_law_and_war_crimes">Allegations concerning violations of international law and war crimes</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_Democratic_Federation_of_Northern_Syria#DFNS-associated_militias" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria">Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria § DFNS-associated militias</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces#Reported_war_crimes" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces § Reported war crimes</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Syrian_Civil_War#Syrian_Democratic_Forces" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War">Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War § Syrian Democratic Forces</a>, and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_in_Syria#Human_rights_in_the_Democratic_Federation_of_Northern_Syria" title="Human rights in Syria">Human rights in Syria § Human rights in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria</a></div>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Accusations_of_ethnic_cleansing_and_forced_displacements">Accusations of ethnic cleansing and forced displacements</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>In June 2015 the Turkish government stated that the YPG was carrying out an ethnic cleansing as part of a plan to join the Jazira and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE_Canton" class="mw-redirect" title="Kobanî Canton">Kobanî</a> cantons into a single territory.<sup id="cite_ref-124" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-124">[123]</a></sup>
</p><p>The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_States_Department_of_State" title="United States Department of State">U.S. State Department</a> reacted by starting an inquiry into the allegations.<sup id="cite_ref-Rudaw.net_125-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rudaw.net-125">[124]</a></sup>
</p><p>In October 2015, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a> published a report<sup id="cite_ref-126" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-126">[125]</a></sup> with reports that the YPG had driven at least 100 families from northern Syria and that in the villages of Asaylem and Husseiniya it had demolished resident homes. The report was made by Amnesty visiting the area contained in the report. It made local observations of destruction, and collected testimonies from former and actual residents of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_Governorate" title="Al-Hasakah Governorate">al-Hasakeh</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_Governorate" title="Raqqa Governorate">Raqqa</a> governorates. It found cases of YPG fighters forcibly displacing residents and using fire and bulldozers to raze homes and other structures.<sup id="cite_ref-amnesty.org_127-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-amnesty.org-127">[126]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bbc.com_128-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc.com-128">[127]</a></sup>
</p><p>In a report published by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a>' <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Independent_International_Commission_of_Inquiry_on_the_Syrian_Arab_Republic" title="Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic">Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic</a> on 10 March 2017, the Commission refuted Amnesty International's reports of ethnic cleansing, stating that "'though allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' continued to be received during the period under review, the Commission found no evidence to substantiate reports that YPG or SDF forces ever targeted Arab communities on the basis of ethnicity."<sup id="cite_ref-129" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-129">[128]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-UN_report_counters_130-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-UN_report_counters-130">[129]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-refutes_131-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-refutes-131">[130]</a></sup> Forced displacement of civilians and destruction of civilian property is not a war crime per se. These acts only become a war crime when there is no "imperative military necessity" for them. Amnesty International stated the report documents cases in which there was no such justification.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_132-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-132">[131]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged October 2021">dead link</span></a></i>]</span></sup> It furthermore states that "the circumstances of some of these displacements suggested that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups",<sup id="cite_ref-:0_132-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-132">[131]</a></sup> thus constituting "collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law".
</p><p>In interviews, YPG spokespersons acknowledged that a number of families were in fact displaced. However, they placed the number at no more than 25, and stated military necessity.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_133-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-133">[132]</a></sup> They stated that the family members of terrorists maintained communications with them, and therefore had to be removed from areas where they might pose a danger.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_133-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-133">[132]</a></sup> They further stated that IS was using civilians in those areas to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.<sup id="cite_ref-134" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-134">[133]</a></sup> By describing the events in Hammam al-Turkman before the village was evacuated, the Amnesty International report itself inadvertently supports these YPG reports of military necessity.<sup id="cite_ref-135" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-135">[134]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Recruitment_of_minors">Recruitment of minors</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>In June 2014, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_Rights_Watch" title="Human Rights Watch">Human Rights Watch</a> criticized the YPG for accepting minors into their ranks, picking up on multiple earlier reports of teenage fighters serving in the YPG, with a report by the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Secretary-General_of_the_United_Nations" title="Secretary-General of the United Nations">Secretary General</a> stating that 24 minors under age of 18 had been recruited by YPG, compared to 124 having been recruited by the Free Syrian Army and 5 by the Syrian Arab Army.<sup id="cite_ref-children_136-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-children-136">[135]</a></sup> In response, the YPG and YPJ signed the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Geneva_Call" title="Geneva Call">Geneva Call</a> <i>Deed of Commitment</i> protecting children in armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence and against gender discrimination in July 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-137" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-137">[136]</a></sup> Kurdish security forces (YPG and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Asayish_(Syria)" class="mw-redirect" title="Asayish (Syria)">Asayish</a>) began receiving human rights training from Geneva Call and other international organizations with the YPG pledging to demobilize all fighters under 18 within a month and began to enact disciplinary measures against commanders of the units that had involved in corruption and accepting recruit under age of 18 to their ranks.<sup id="cite_ref-138" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-138">[137]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-139" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-139">[138]</a></sup> In October 2015 the YPG demobilized 21 minors from the military service in its ranks.<sup id="cite_ref-Demobilized_children_140-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Demobilized_children-140">[139]</a></sup>
</p><p>According to the annual UN report of 2018,<sup id="cite_ref-141" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-141">[140]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-142" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-142">[141]</a></sup> there were 224 cases of child recruitment by the YPG and its women's unit, the YPJ, in 2017, an almost fivefold increase from the previous year. This sparked immediate conversations with the anti-child-recruitment <a href="/enwiki/wiki/NGO" class="mw-redirect" title="NGO">NGO</a> Geneva Call which resulted in a broad new military directive strictly prohibiting all recruitment of persons under 18, ordering that any such persons within SDF be immediately removed from the payroll and transferred to the custody of the civilian Authority For Education, mandating the appointment of an <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ombudsman" title="Ombudsman">ombudsman</a> in each military service to receive and investigate reports of child recruitment, and ordering punitive measures by military police and by the SDF's Military Discipline Department against anyone found to be responsible for child recruitment. Geneva Call immediately praised the SDF's wide-ranging initiative to eliminate and prevent child recruitment throughout all of SDF's military organizations.<sup id="cite_ref-143" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-143">[142]</a></sup>
</p><p>In June 2020, United Nations reported the YPG/YPJ as the largest faction in the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war">Syrian civil war</a> by the number of recruited child soldiers with 283 child soldiers followed by <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hayat_Tahrir_al-Sham" class="mw-redirect" title="Hayat Tahrir al-Sham">Hayat Tahrir al-Sham</a> with 245 child soldiers.<sup id="cite_ref-144" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-144">[143]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 15 July 2020, SDF issued a new military order prohibiting child recruitment. The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/NGO" class="mw-redirect" title="NGO">NGO</a> <i>Fight For Humanity</i> conducted multiple training sessions with hundreds of SDF commanders about the UN-SDF Action Plan To Prevent Child Recruitment, and distributed informational posters and flyers about it written in both <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arabic" title="Arabic">Arabic</a> and <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_languages" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdish languages">Kurdish</a>, as part of an ongoing educational process. Syria-based researcher Thomas McClure observed that “SDF are less likely to engage in such practices than any of the other forces in Syria, but seek to hold themselves to a higher standard of accountability and human rights.”<sup id="cite_ref-145" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-145">[144]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 29 August 2020, SDF announced the creation of a new system that anyone can use to confidentially report to specialized Child Protection offices any suspected case of child recruitment, in accordance with the action plan that the SDF signed with the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a> in the summer of 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-146" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-146">[145]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-147" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-147">[146]</a></sup>
</p><p>On 23 April 2021, the UN released its third report on child recruitment in Syria, noting that the SDF's action plan had resulted in a significant decrease in child recruitment (from 216 cases in early 2019 to only 41 cases in early 2020), but that elsewhere in Syria, child recruitment continued to be systematic and widespread within Syrian government and non-government armed forces.<sup id="cite_ref-148" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-148">[147]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">(<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_language" title="Kurdish language">Kurdish</a>: <span lang="ku" dir="rtl">یەکینەیێن پاراستنا گەل</span>, <small>romanized: </small><span title="Kurdish-language romanization"><i lang="ku-Latn">Yekîneyên Parastina Gel</i></span> (YPG) <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1177148991">.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}</style><span class="IPA-label IPA-label-small">pronounced</span> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="ku-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:IPA/Kurdish" title="Help:IPA/Kurdish">[jɛkiːnɛjeːn<span class="wrap"> </span>pɑːɾɑːstɯnɑː<span class="wrap"> </span>ɡɛl]</a></span> <span class="ext-phonos skin-invert"><span data-nosnippet="" id="ooui-php-1" class="ext-phonos-PhonosButton noexcerpt ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel oo-ui-widget oo-ui-widget-enabled oo-ui-buttonElement oo-ui-buttonElement-frameless oo-ui-iconElement oo-ui-buttonWidget" data-ooui="{"_":"mw.Phonos.PhonosButton","href":"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/transcoded\/6\/65\/Kmr-Yek%C3%AEney%C3%AAn_Parastina_Gel.oga\/Kmr-Yek%C3%AEney%C3%AAn_Parastina_Gel.oga.mp3","rel":["nofollow"],"framed":false,"icon":"volumeUp","data":{"ipa":"","text":"","lang":"en","wikibase":"","file":"Kmr-Yek\u00eeney\u00ean Parastina Gel.oga"},"classes":["ext-phonos-PhonosButton","noexcerpt","ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel"]}"><a role="button" tabindex="0" href="/enwiki//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/65/Kmr-Yek%C3%AEney%C3%AAn_Parastina_Gel.oga/Kmr-Yek%C3%AEney%C3%AAn_Parastina_Gel.oga.mp3" rel="nofollow" aria-label="Play audio" title="Play audio" class="oo-ui-buttonElement-button"><span class="oo-ui-iconElement-icon oo-ui-icon-volumeUp"></span><span class="oo-ui-labelElement-label"></span><span class="oo-ui-indicatorElement-indicator oo-ui-indicatorElement-noIndicator"></span></a></span><sup class="ext-phonos-attribution noexcerpt navigation-not-searchable"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:Kmr-Yek%C3%AEney%C3%AAn_Parastina_Gel.oga" title="File:Kmr-Yekîneyên Parastina Gel.oga">ⓘ</a></sup></span>; <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arabic_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a>: <span lang="ar" dir="rtl">وحدات حماية الشعب</span>, <small><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Romanization_of_Arabic" title="Romanization of Arabic">romanized</a>: </small><span title="Arabic-language romanization"><i lang="ar-Latn">Waḥdāt Ḥimāyat aš-Šaʽb</i></span>)</span>
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<div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-casualties-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-casualties_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-casualties_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-casualties_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1215172403">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a{background-size:contain}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a{background-size:contain}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a{background-size:contain}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#2C882D;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911F}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{color:#f8a397}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{color:#f8a397}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911F}}</style><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120724224808/http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html">"Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli"</a>. Rudaw. 22 July 2012. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4984.html">the original</a> on 24 July 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 July</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Armed+Kurds+Surround+Syrian+Security+Forces+in+Qamishli&rft.date=2012-07-22&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fsyria%2F4984.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13112013">"PYD announces surprise interim government in Syria's Kurdish regions"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rudaw_Media_Network" title="Rudaw Media Network">Rudaw</a>. 13 November 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=PYD+announces+surprise+interim+government+in+Syria%27s+Kurdish+regions&rft.pub=Rudaw&rft.date=2013-11-13&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Frudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fmiddleeast%2Fsyria%2F13112013&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTERashid201816-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERashid201816_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFRashid2018">Rashid (2018)</a>, p. 16.</span>
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<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFBarfi2016" class="citation web cs1">Barfi, Barak (April 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/ascent-of-the-pyd-and-the-sdf">"Ascent of the PYD and the SDF"</a>. Washington Institute for Near East Policy.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ascent+of+the+PYD+and+the+SDF&rft.pub=Washington+Institute+for+Near+East+Policy&rft.date=2016-04&rft.aulast=Barfi&rft.aufirst=Barak&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtoninstitute.org%2Fpolicy-analysis%2Fview%2Fascent-of-the-pyd-and-the-sdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFCook2016" class="citation web cs1">Cook, Steven A. (25 February 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/kurds-turkey-pkk-ypg/470991/">"Who Exactly Are 'the Kurds'?"</a>. <i>The Atlantic</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 February</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Atlantic&rft.atitle=Who+Exactly+Are+%27the+Kurds%27%3F&rft.date=2016-02-25&rft.aulast=Cook&rft.aufirst=Steven+A.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Finternational%2Farchive%2F2016%2F02%2Fkurds-turkey-pkk-ypg%2F470991%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/kurdish-forces-bolster-assad-in-aleppo">"Kurdish Forces Bolster Assad in Aleppo"</a>. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 29 July 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-03-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Kurdish+Forces+Bolster+Assad+in+Aleppo&rft.pub=Washington+Institute+for+Near+East+Policy&rft.date=2016-07-29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtoninstitute.org%2Fpolicy-analysis%2Fview%2Fkurdish-forces-bolster-assad-in-aleppo&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33690060">"Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State"</a>. BBC. 23 August 2016.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Turkey+v+Syria%27s+Kurds+v+Islamic+State&rft.date=2016-08-23&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-33690060&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-ypg-patches-syria-2016-5">"US troops wearing YPG patches in Syria"</a>. <i>Business Insider</i>. 27 May 2016.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Business+Insider&rft.atitle=US+troops+wearing+YPG+patches+in+Syria&rft.date=2016-05-27&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fus-soldiers-ypg-patches-syria-2016-5&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.mfa.gov.tr/pkk.en.mfa">"PKK / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs"</a>. <i>www.mfa.gov.tr</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-05-26</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.mfa.gov.tr&rft.atitle=PKK+%2F+Rep.+of+Turkey+Ministry+of+Foreign+Affairs&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfa.gov.tr%2Fpkk.en.mfa&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-terrorist-idUSKCN0VQ25E">"Syrian terrorist list produces 163 names and no agreement"</a>. <i>Reuters</i>. 16 January 2018.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Reuters&rft.atitle=Syrian+terrorist+list+produces+163+names+and+no+agreement&rft.date=2018-01-16&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-mideast-crisis-syria-terrorist-idUSKCN0VQ25E&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFLin2015" class="citation web cs1">Lin, Christina (2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/193475/370_Lin.pdf">"Turkey's Double Standard on Terrorism: Accuses BBC of supporting PKK, backs other groups from China, Russia and US"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>Institute for Strategic, Political, Security and Economic Consultancy</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Institute+for+Strategic%2C+Political%2C+Security+and+Economic+Consultancy&rft.atitle=Turkey%27s+Double+Standard+on+Terrorism%3A+Accuses+BBC+of+supporting+PKK%2C+backs+other+groups+from+China%2C+Russia+and+US&rft.date=2015&rft.aulast=Lin&rft.aufirst=Christina&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.files.ethz.ch%2Fisn%2F193475%2F370_Lin.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFAA2022" class="citation web cs1">AA, Daily Sabah with (2022-06-09). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/ypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation">"YPG deploys US-made TOW missiles in Syria amid possible operation"</a>. <i>Daily Sabah</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-11-17</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Daily+Sabah&rft.atitle=YPG+deploys+US-made+TOW+missiles+in+Syria+amid+possible+operation&rft.date=2022-06-09&rft.aulast=AA&rft.aufirst=Daily+Sabah+with&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailysabah.com%2Fpolitics%2Fwar-on-terror%2Fypg-deploys-us-made-tow-missiles-in-syria-amid-possible-operation&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/88000/mde240032005en.pdf">"UA 15/05 Torture and ill-treatment/ possible unfair trial"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Amnesty International. 19 January 2005.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=UA+15%2F05+Torture+and+ill-treatment%2F+possible+unfair+trial&rft.pub=Amnesty+International&rft.date=2005-01-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fdownload%2FDocuments%2F88000%2Fmde240032005en.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Vice-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Vice_29-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFGold2012" class="citation news cs1">Gold, Danny (31 October 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-ypg">"Meet the YPG, the Kurdish militia that doesn't want help from anyone"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Vice_(magazine)" title="Vice (magazine)">VICE</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 October</span> 2014</span>. <q>A member of YPG's central command … said that the YPG formed in 2004 shortly after the Qamishlo riots, when a number of Kurdish youth realized that they needed to be able to defend themselves more efficiently. They did not officially declare themselves until the revolution started in 2011.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=VICE&rft.atitle=Meet+the+YPG%2C+the+Kurdish+militia+that+doesn%27t+want+help+from+anyone&rft.date=2012-10-31&rft.aulast=Gold&rft.aufirst=Danny&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fread%2Fmeet-the-ypg&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFAyboga,_Flach_and_Knapp2016" class="citation book cs1">Ayboga, Flach and Knapp, Ercan, Anja and Michael (2016). <i>Revolution in Rojava; Democratic Autonomy and Women's liberation in Syrian Kurdistan</i>. London, United Kingdom: Pluto Press. p. 51. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780745336596" title="Special:BookSources/9780745336596"><bdi>9780745336596</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Revolution+in+Rojava%3B+Democratic+Autonomy+and+Women%27s+liberation+in+Syrian+Kurdistan&rft.place=London%2C+United+Kingdom&rft.pages=51&rft.pub=Pluto+Press&rft.date=2016&rft.isbn=9780745336596&rft.aulast=Ayboga%2C+Flach+and+Knapp&rft.aufirst=Ercan%2C+Anja+and+Michael&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFYPG" class="citation web cs1">YPG. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ypgrojava.org/About-Us">"About Us"</a>. <i>ypgrojava.org</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 May</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ypgrojava.org&rft.atitle=About+Us&rft.au=YPG&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ypgrojava.org%2FAbout-Us&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://merip.org/2020/07/arabs-across-syria-join-the-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces/">"Arabs Across Syria Join the Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces"</a>. MERIP. 28 July 2020.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Arabs+Across+Syria+Join+the+Kurdish-Led+Syrian+Democratic+Forces&rft.pub=MERIP&rft.date=2020-07-28&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fmerip.org%2F2020%2F07%2Farabs-across-syria-join-the-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd541.htm">"Kurds Give Ultimatum to Syrian Security Forces"</a>. Rudaw. 21 July 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Kurds+Give+Ultimatum+to+Syrian+Security+Forces&rft.date=2012-07-21&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ekurd.net%2Fmismas%2Farticles%2Fmisc2012%2F7%2Fsyriakurd541.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025429/http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region">"The Kurdish Protection Units have formed a new brigade in the Al–Bab region"</a>. <i>Scientia Humana</i>. 4 December 2012. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://scientiahumana.org/2012/12/04/the-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region">the original</a> on 8 January 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 December</span> 2013</span>. <q>Kurdish Information Center</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Scientia+Humana&rft.atitle=The+Kurdish+Protection+Units+have+formed+a+new+brigade+in+the+Al%E2%80%93Bab+region&rft.date=2012-12-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fscientiahumana.org%2F2012%2F12%2F04%2Fthe-kurdish-protection-units-have-formed-a-new-brigade-in-the-al-bab-region&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/76750/World/Region/Kurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx">"Kurds expel jihadists from flashpoint Syrian town: NGO"</a>. <i>Al-Ahram Weekly</i>. AFP. 17 July 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 February</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Al-Ahram+Weekly&rft.atitle=Kurds+expel+jihadists+from+flashpoint+Syrian+town%3A+NGO&rft.date=2013-07-17&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.ahram.org.eg%2FNewsContent%2F2%2F8%2F76750%2FWorld%2FRegion%2FKurds-expel-jihadists-from-flashpoint-Syrian-town-.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFInternational_Crisis_Group2014" class="citation web cs1">International Crisis Group (8 May 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">"Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 20 February 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 March</span> 2016</span>. <q>While rebel groups from across the ideological spectrum have clashed with the PYD, jihadi and Salafi groups have done so most aggressively and consistently</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Flight+of+Icarus%3F+The+PYD%27s+Precarious+Rise+in+Syria&rft.date=2014-05-08&rft.au=International+Crisis+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisisgroup.org%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFiles%2FMiddle%2520East%2520North%2520Africa%2FIraq%2520Syria%2520Lebanon%2FSyria%2F151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rudaw.net/english/interview/22072013">"YPG Commander: Kurds Are Bulwark Against Islamic Extremism in Syria"</a>. Rudaw. 22 July 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=YPG+Commander%3A+Kurds+Are+Bulwark+Against+Islamic+Extremism+in+Syria&rft.pub=Rudaw&rft.date=2013-07-22&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Frudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Finterview%2F22072013&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFInternational_Crisis_Group2014" class="citation web cs1">International Crisis Group (8 May 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">"Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 20 February 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 March</span> 2016</span>. <q>The PYD's growing influence largely has come at the expense of other Kurdishgroups. In particular, it has prevented emergence of new, rival militias while forcing existing ones to cooperate with or join PYD forces on their terms</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Flight+of+Icarus%3F+The+PYD%27s+Precarious+Rise+in+Syria&rft.date=2014-05-08&rft.au=International+Crisis+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisisgroup.org%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFiles%2FMiddle%2520East%2520North%2520Africa%2FIraq%2520Syria%2520Lebanon%2FSyria%2F151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFInternational_Crisis_Group2014" class="citation web cs1">International Crisis Group (8 May 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">"Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 20 February 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 March</span> 2016</span>. <q>Crisis Group interview, Erbil, 4 July 2013: Intensified Islamist attacks in Kurdish areas shifted Kurdish public opinion toward the PYD. A resident of Tell Tamr, a partly Kurdish town targeted by armed Islamist groups, said, "in the aftermath of the battle of Ras al-Ayn, Islamists entered Tell Tamr. They began kidnapping and killing Kurds. I am not a YPG supporter, and I will never be. But if it weren't for the YPG, not a single Kurd would be left in the [al-] Jazeera region". Crisis Group interview, Erbil, July 2013. A journalist working for a pro-KDP channel commented: "I was the most critical person against the PYD. But at the moment, I have to admit that they are saving the people from the worst".</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Flight+of+Icarus%3F+The+PYD%27s+Precarious+Rise+in+Syria&rft.date=2014-05-08&rft.au=International+Crisis+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisisgroup.org%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFiles%2FMiddle%2520East%2520North%2520Africa%2FIraq%2520Syria%2520Lebanon%2FSyria%2F151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFInternational_Crisis_Group2014" class="citation web cs1">International Crisis Group (8 May 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160220181554/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">"Flight of Icarus? The PYD's Precarious Rise in Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 20 February 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 March</span> 2016</span>. <q>At the same time, Ankara turned a blind eye to the Islamist fighters crossing from Turkey into Syria, viewing them – in addition to helping bring down the Assad regime – as potential counterweights to the PYD. The strategy backfired; the PYD not only gained territory, but also bolstered its appeal among Kurds as their only protector from jihadis. In September 2013, a Turkish official acknowledged: 'We made the PYD stronger by trying to undermine it'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span></q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Flight+of+Icarus%3F+The+PYD%27s+Precarious+Rise+in+Syria&rft.date=2014-05-08&rft.au=International+Crisis+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisisgroup.org%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFiles%2FMiddle%2520East%2520North%2520Africa%2FIraq%2520Syria%2520Lebanon%2FSyria%2F151-flight-of-icarus-the-pyd-s-precarious-rise-in-syria.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-bb-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bb_41-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFN._Abboud2015" class="citation book cs1">N. Abboud, Samer (12 November 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=BPbrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT116"><i>Syria</i></a>. John Wiley & Sons. p. 116. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7456-9801-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7456-9801-4"><bdi>978-0-7456-9801-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Syria&rft.pages=116&rft.pub=John+Wiley+%26+Sons&rft.date=2015-11-12&rft.isbn=978-0-7456-9801-4&rft.aulast=N.+Abboud&rft.aufirst=Samer&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DBPbrCgAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPT116&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-aus-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-aus_43-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/woman-leads-kurds-in-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-20141013-1158kr.html">"Woman leads Kurds in battle against Islamic State in Kobane: activists"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sydney_Morning_Herald" class="mw-redirect" title="Sydney Morning Herald">Sydney Morning Herald</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Sydney+Morning+Herald&rft.atitle=Woman+leads+Kurds+in+battle+against+Islamic+State+in+Kobane%3A+activists&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fworld%2Fwoman-leads-kurds-in-battle-against-islamic-state-in-kobane-activists-20141013-1158kr.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-enalb-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-enalb_44-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/2014/10/14/Kurdish-woman-leads-fight-against-ISIS-in-Kobane-.html">"Kurdish woman leads fight against ISIS in Kobane"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Kurdish+woman+leads+fight+against+ISIS+in+Kobane&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.alarabiya.net%2Fen%2Fperspective%2F2014%2F10%2F14%2FKurdish-woman-leads-fight-against-ISIS-in-Kobane-.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dw.com/en/concerns-grow-about-abuses-war-crimes-in-syria/a-19277777">"Middle East Concerns grow about abuses, war crimes in Syria"</a>. <i>Deutsche Welle</i>. 25 May 2016.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Deutsche+Welle&rft.atitle=Middle+East+Concerns+grow+about+abuses%2C+war+crimes+in+Syria&rft.date=2016-05-25&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dw.com%2Fen%2Fconcerns-grow-about-abuses-war-crimes-in-syria%2Fa-19277777&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-59">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/7a0f6294-ab7f-4d15-b5af-3ff4b444ab3f/Syrian-rebels-admit-chemical-use-against-Kurds">Syrian rebels admit chemical use against Kurds</a>". <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_24" title="Kurdistan 24">Kurdistan 24</a>. 9 April 2016.</span>
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<li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFTrieb2014" class="citation news cs1">Trieb, Erin (August 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/meet-kurdish-women-fighting-isis-syria-n199821">"Meet the Kurdish Women Fighting ISIS in Syria"</a>. NBC News<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Meet+the+Kurdish+Women+Fighting+ISIS+in+Syria&rft.date=2014-08&rft.aulast=Trieb&rft.aufirst=Erin&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fstoryline%2Fisis-terror%2Fmeet-kurdish-women-fighting-isis-syria-n199821&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-profil-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-profil_61-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFMoritz_Baumstieger2016" class="citation web cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source">Moritz Baumstieger (9 November 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/profil-rojda-felat-1.3239571">"Profil – Rojda Felat. Kommandeurin der Offensive gegen den IS in Raqqa und Bismarck-Fan. [Profile – Rojda Felat. Commander of the offensive against the IS in Raqqa and Bismarck-Fan]"</a> (in German). <a href="/enwiki/wiki/S%C3%BCddeutsche_Zeitung" title="Süddeutsche Zeitung">Süddeutsche Zeitung</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 January</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Profil+%E2%80%93+Rojda+Felat.+Kommandeurin+der+Offensive+gegen+den+IS+in+Raqqa+und+Bismarck-Fan.+%5BProfile+%E2%80%93+Rojda+Felat.+Commander+of+the+offensive+against+the+IS+in+Raqqa+and+Bismarck-Fan%5D&rft.pub=S%C3%BCddeutsche+Zeitung&rft.date=2016-11-09&rft.au=Moritz+Baumstieger&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sueddeutsche.de%2Fpolitik%2Fprofil-rojda-felat-1.3239571&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-YPG_strategy-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-YPG_strategy_62-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://janescom.sitefinity.cloud/error/404">"404 error – This is not the page you requested"</a>. <i>Janes.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Janes.com&rft.atitle=404+error+%E2%80%93+This+is+not+the+page+you+requested&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fjanescom.sitefinity.cloud%2Ferror%2F404&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span> <span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: </span><span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment">Cite uses generic title (<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_title" title="Help:CS1 errors">help</a>)</span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-stephens-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-stephens_63-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-stephens_63-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFStephens2014" class="citation news cs1">Stephens, Michael (11 September 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.janes.com/article/43030/analysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy">"Analysis: YPG – The Islamic State's worst enemy"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/IHS_Jane%27s_360" class="mw-redirect" title="IHS Jane's 360">IHS Jane's 360</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=IHS+Jane%27s+360&rft.atitle=Analysis%3A+YPG+%E2%80%93+The+Islamic+State%27s+worst+enemy&rft.date=2014-09-11&rft.aulast=Stephens&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.janes.com%2Farticle%2F43030%2Fanalysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFAhmad2012" class="citation news cs1">Ahmad, Rozh (6 August 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/8/syriakurd578.htm">"A rare glimpse into Kurdish armed forces in Syrian Kurdistan"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ekurd.net" class="mw-redirect" title="Ekurd.net">Ekurd.net</a></i>. Erbil, Iraq.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Ekurd.net&rft.atitle=A+rare+glimpse+into+Kurdish+armed+forces+in+Syrian+Kurdistan&rft.date=2012-08-06&rft.aulast=Ahmad&rft.aufirst=Rozh&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ekurd.net%2Fmismas%2Farticles%2Fmisc2012%2F8%2Fsyriakurd578.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFNordland2018" class="citation news cs1">Nordland, Rod (28 January 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/world/middleeast/kurds-female-suicide-bomber-syria.html">"Female Kurdish Fighter Kills Turkish Troops in Likely Suicide Bombing in Syria"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Female+Kurdish+Fighter+Kills+Turkish+Troops+in+Likely+Suicide+Bombing+in+Syria&rft.date=2018-01-28&rft.aulast=Nordland&rft.aufirst=Rod&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F01%2F28%2Fworld%2Fmiddleeast%2Fkurds-female-suicide-bomber-syria.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/1235721/middle-east">"Turkish troops targeted in Afrin suicide attack"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arab_News" title="Arab News">Arab News</a></i>. 30 January 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 June</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Arab+News&rft.atitle=Turkish+troops+targeted+in+Afrin+suicide+attack&rft.date=2018-01-30&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnode%2F1235721%2Fmiddle-east&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/280120182">"Kurdish female fighter detonates herself to destroy a Turkish tank in Afrin, statement"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rudaw" title="Rudaw">Rudaw</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-06-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Rudaw&rft.atitle=Kurdish+female+fighter+detonates+herself+to+destroy+a+Turkish+tank+in+Afrin%2C+statement&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fmiddleeast%2Fsyria%2F280120182&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-:3-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:3_68-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:3_68-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hao6jQpTs">"Turkey's high stakes in post-ISIL Syria"</a>. <i>Hürriyet Daily News</i>. 5 July 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=H%C3%BCrriyet+Daily+News&rft.atitle=Turkey%27s+high+stakes+in+post-ISIL+Syria&rft.date=2017-07-05&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dg9hao6jQpTs&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFOryx" class="citation web cs1">Oryx. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/08/belly-of-beast-ypg-monsters.html">"Monsters Of Desperation: The YPG's Sturmpanzers"</a>. <i>Oryx</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Oryx&rft.atitle=Monsters+Of+Desperation%3A+The+YPG%27s+Sturmpanzers&rft.au=Oryx&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oryxspioenkop.com%2F2020%2F08%2Fbelly-of-beast-ypg-monsters.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-:4-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:4_70-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:4_70-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:4_70-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:4_70-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:4_70-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFOryx" class="citation web cs1">Oryx. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/kurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html">"Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria"</a>. <i>Oryx</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Oryx&rft.atitle=Kurdish+Armour%3A+Inventorising+YPG+Equipment+In+Northern+Syria&rft.au=Oryx&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oryxspioenkop.com%2F2021%2F10%2Fkurdish-armour-inventorising-ypg.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-:8-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:8_75-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:8_75-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:8_75-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFAA2022" class="citation web cs1">AA, Daily Sabah with (2022-12-04). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/border-eagles-protect-turkiye-syria-boundary-with-domestic-equipment">"<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>'Border Eagles' protect Türkiye-Syria boundary with domestic equipment"</a>. <i>Daily Sabah</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-01-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Daily+Sabah&rft.atitle=%27Border+Eagles%27+protect+T%C3%BCrkiye-Syria+boundary+with+domestic+equipment&rft.date=2022-12-04&rft.aulast=AA&rft.aufirst=Daily+Sabah+with&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailysabah.com%2Fpolitics%2Fwar-on-terror%2Fborder-eagles-protect-turkiye-syria-boundary-with-domestic-equipment&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-76">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFJennifer_Percy2015" class="citation web cs1">Jennifer Percy (30 September 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/magazine/meet-the-american-vigilantes-who-are-fighting-isis.html">"Meet the American Vigilantes Who Are Fighting ISIS"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 December</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Meet+the+American+Vigilantes+Who+Are+Fighting+ISIS&rft.date=2015-09-30&rft.au=Jennifer+Percy&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2015%2F10%2F04%2Fmagazine%2Fmeet-the-american-vigilantes-who-are-fighting-isis.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rferl.org/content/islamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters/26690432.html">"Kobani Kurds Use Facebook To Recruit Foreign Fighters in Struggle Against IS"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Radio_Free_Europe" class="mw-redirect" title="Radio Free Europe">Radio Free Europe</a> Radio Liberty. 13 November 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 November</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Kobani+Kurds+Use+Facebook+To+Recruit+Foreign+Fighters+in+Struggle+Against+IS&rft.pub=Radio+Free+Europe+Radio+Liberty&rft.date=2014-11-13&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rferl.org%2Fcontent%2Fislamic-state-ypg-foreign-fighters%2F26690432.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/06/more-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg">"SOHR"</a>. Syriahr.com. 11 June 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 November</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=SOHR&rft.pub=Syriahr.com&rft.date=2015-06-11&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.syriahr.com%2Fen%2F2015%2F06%2Fmore-than-400-fighters-from-australia-america-and-europe-join-ypg&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Shah-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Shah_79-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Shah_79-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/western-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563">"Western "comrades" join Kurds, Arabs, secularists, Yezidis, and Syriac Christians against Islamic State"</a>. Your Middle East. 29 October 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 February</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Western+%22comrades%22+join+Kurds%2C+Arabs%2C+secularists%2C+Yezidis%2C+and+Syriac+Christians+against+Islamic+State&rft.pub=Your+Middle+East&rft.date=2014-10-29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourmiddleeast.com%2Fculture%2Fwestern-comrades-join-kurds-arabs-secularists-yezidis-and-syriac-christians-against-islamic-state_27563&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-80">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/06/jordan-matson-joins-kurds-against-islamic-state/16796487/">"Exclusive: American explains why he's fighting ISIL"</a>. USA Today. 7 October 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Exclusive%3A+American+explains+why+he%27s+fighting+ISIL&rft.pub=USA+Today&rft.date=2014-10-07&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F2014%2F10%2F06%2Fjordan-matson-joins-kurds-against-islamic-state%2F16796487%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-bbc23oct-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bbc23oct_81-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFMuir2014" class="citation web cs1">Muir, Jim (23 October 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29705167">"The US volunteers who fight with Syria's Kurds"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BBC" title="BBC">BBC</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+US+volunteers+who+fight+with+Syria%27s+Kurds&rft.pub=BBC&rft.date=2014-10-23&rft.aulast=Muir&rft.aufirst=Jim&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-29705167&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-82"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFZurutuza2014" class="citation web cs1">Zurutuza, Karlos (23 October 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.vice.com/article/a-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria">"A Divorced Father-of-Two from Ohio Is Fighting the Islamic State in Syria"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Vice_News" title="Vice News">Vice News</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 February</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=A+Divorced+Father-of-Two+from+Ohio+Is+Fighting+the+Islamic+State+in+Syria&rft.pub=Vice+News&rft.date=2014-10-23&rft.aulast=Zurutuza&rft.aufirst=Karlos&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.vice.com%2Farticle%2Fa-divorced-father-of-two-from-ohio-is-fighting-the-islamic-state-in-syria&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-83"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35036879">"The Chinese man fighting Islamic State with the YPG"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. 8 December 2015.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=The+Chinese+man+fighting+Islamic+State+with+the+YPG&rft.date=2015-12-08&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-asia-china-35036879&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-84"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-84">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><span class="id-lock-subscription" title="Paid subscription required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html">"British ex-trader who fought Isil describes escape from Syria"</a></span>. <i>Telegraph.co.uk</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11668576/British-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html">Archived</a> from the original on 12 January 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-03-24</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Telegraph.co.uk&rft.atitle=British+ex-trader+who+fought+Isil+describes+escape+from+Syria&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworldnews%2Fislamic-state%2F11668576%2FBritish-ex-trader-who-fought-Isil-describes-escape-from-Syria.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-85">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFBlake2017" class="citation news cs1">Blake, Matt (2017-01-02). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/02/briton-ryan-lock-killed-while-fighting-against-isis-in-syria">"Briton killed while fighting against Isis in Syria"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077">0261-3077</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-03-24</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Guardian&rft.atitle=Briton+killed+while+fighting+against+Isis+in+Syria&rft.date=2017-01-02&rft.issn=0261-3077&rft.aulast=Blake&rft.aufirst=Matt&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fuk-news%2F2017%2Fjan%2F02%2Fbriton-ryan-lock-killed-while-fighting-against-isis-in-syria&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFArab" class="citation news cs1">Arab, The New. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/3/foreign-volunteers-fighting-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-killed-by-turkey">"Foreign volunteers fighting with Syrian-Kurdish forces killed 'by Turkey'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>alaraby</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-03-24</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=alaraby&rft.atitle=Foreign+volunteers+fighting+with+Syrian-Kurdish+forces+killed+%27by+Turkey%27&rft.aulast=Arab&rft.aufirst=The+New&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaraby.co.uk%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2F2016%2F12%2F3%2Fforeign-volunteers-fighting-with-syrian-kurdish-forces-killed-by-turkey&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-107"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-107">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/index.html">"U.S. delivers 50 tons of ammunition to Syria rebel groups"</a>. 12 October 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 February</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=U.S.+delivers+50+tons+of+ammunition+to+Syria+rebel+groups&rft.date=2015-10-12&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F12%2Fpolitics%2Fsyria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons%2Findex.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-YPGallies-108"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-YPGallies_108-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086">"YPG, allies clash with Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo"</a>. Middle East Eye. 29 November 2015.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=YPG%2C+allies+clash+with+Syrian+opposition+groups+in+Aleppo&rft.pub=Middle+East+Eye&rft.date=2015-11-29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeasteye.net%2Fnews%2Fypg-and-allies-clashes-syrian-opposition-groups-aleppo-633986086&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-steele-109"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-steele_109-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFSteele2015" class="citation news cs1">Steele, Jonathan (3 December 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/syrian-kurds-are-winning/">"The Syrian Kurds are winning!"</a>. <i>New York Review of Books</i>. <q>Turkey had told ... the US that YPG forces would not be permitted to proceed beyond the Euphrates. In an apparent rebuke ... Kerry [said]: "We're … enhancing our air campaign in order to help drive Da'esh, which once dominated the Syria–Turkey border, out of the last seventy-mile stretch..."<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span></q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=New+York+Review+of+Books&rft.atitle=The+Syrian+Kurds+are+winning%21&rft.date=2015-12-03&rft.aulast=Steele&rft.aufirst=Jonathan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nybooks.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F03%2Fsyrian-kurds-are-winning%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span> Review of <i>Out of Nowhere: The Kurds of Syria in Peace and War</i>, by Michael M. Gunter.</span>
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<li id="cite_note-110"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-110">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/30/syria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations">"<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>'Obama orders US special forces to 'assist' fight against Isis in Syria '<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. 30 October 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 February</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=%27Obama+orders+US+special+forces+to+%27assist%27+fight+against+Isis+in+Syria+%27&rft.date=2015-10-30&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2015%2Foct%2F30%2Fsyria-us-deployment-troops-obama-special-operations&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-111"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-111">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aftoBdrjm7Q">"EXCLUSIVE: Interethnic coalition takes on the IS group in Syria"</a>. France 24. 22 April 2016 – via YouTube.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Interethnic+coalition+takes+on+the+IS+group+in+Syria&rft.pub=France+24&rft.date=2016-04-22&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaftoBdrjm7Q&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-112"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-112">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFShawn_Snow2017" class="citation web cs1">Shawn Snow (7 May 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/syrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons">"Syrian Kurds are now armed with sensitive US weaponry, and the Pentagon denies supplying it"</a>. <i>Military Times</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Military+Times&rft.atitle=Syrian+Kurds+are+now+armed+with+sensitive+US+weaponry%2C+and+the+Pentagon+denies+supplying+it&rft.date=2017-05-07&rft.au=Shawn+Snow&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.militarytimes.com%2Farticles%2Fsyrian-kurds-ypg-us-military-weapons&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-113"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-113">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/trump-kurds-syria-army.html">"Trump to Arm Syrian Kurds, Even as Turkey Strongly Objects"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>. 9 May 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Trump+to+Arm+Syrian+Kurds%2C+Even+as+Turkey+Strongly+Objects&rft.date=2017-05-09&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F05%2F09%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump-kurds-syria-army.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-114"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-114">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/09/in-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state/">"In blow to U.S.-Turkey ties, Trump administration approves plan to arm Syrian Kurds against Islamic State"</a>. <i>Washington Post</i>. 9 May 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Washington+Post&rft.atitle=In+blow+to+U.S.-Turkey+ties%2C+Trump+administration+approves+plan+to+arm+Syrian+Kurds+against+Islamic+State&rft.date=2017-05-09&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fcheckpoint%2Fwp%2F2017%2F05%2F09%2Fin-blow-to-u-s-turkey-ties-trump-administration-approves-plan-to-directly-arm-syrian-kurds-against-islamic-state%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-115"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-115">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170509185346/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210">"Trump OKs arms for Syrian Kurds, despite Turkish objections"</a>. <i>ABC News</i>. 9 May 2017. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210">the original</a> on 9 May 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ABC+News&rft.atitle=Trump+OKs+arms+for+Syrian+Kurds%2C+despite+Turkish+objections&rft.date=2017-05-09&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FPolitics%2FwireStory%2Ftrump-oks-arms-syrian-kurds-turkish-objections-47304210&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-116"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-116">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z">"Britain says uneasy after evidence of Kurdish coordination with Syria and Russia"</a>. Reuters UK. 23 February 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-19</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Britain+says+uneasy+after+evidence+of+Kurdish+coordination+with+Syria+and+Russia&rft.date=2016-02-23&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fuk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0VW16Z&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-117"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-117">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015034/http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/">"Kurdish fighters in Aleppo deny receiving Russian military support"</a>. ARA News. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://aranews.net/2015/12/kurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support/">the original</a> on 28 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-19</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Kurdish+fighters+in+Aleppo+deny+receiving+Russian+military+support&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Faranews.net%2F2015%2F12%2Fkurdish-fighters-in-aleppo-deny-receiving-russian-military-support%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-118"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-118">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://npasyria.com/en/blog.php?id_blog=454&sub_blog=10&name_blog=Abu%20Khawla:%20We%20coordinate%20with%20Russia%20and%20I%20brought%20thousands%20of%20opposition%20fighters%20to%20our%20areas">"Abu Khawla: We coordinate with Russia and I brought thousands of opposition fighters to our areas"</a>. <i>npasyria.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=npasyria.com&rft.atitle=Abu+Khawla%3A+We+coordinate+with+Russia+and+I+brought+thousands+of+opposition+fighters+to+our+areas&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnpasyria.com%2Fen%2Fblog.php%3Fid_blog%3D454%26sub_blog%3D10%26name_blog%3DAbu%2520Khawla%3A%2520We%2520coordinate%2520with%2520Russia%2520and%2520I%2520brought%2520thousands%2520of%2520opposition%2520fighters%2520to%2520our%2520areas&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-119"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-119">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/260120161">"Russia: Kurds should be included in Geneva talks"</a>. Rudaw<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-20</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Russia%3A+Kurds+should+be+included+in+Geneva+talks&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Frudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fmiddleeast%2Fsyria%2F260120161&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-120"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-120">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/">"Salih Muslim: Time Has Proved Us Right"</a>. <i>The Kurdistan Tribune</i>. 16 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2016-03-20</span></span>. <q>The West is fully aware that the Syrian Democratic Forces are an important and reliable active on the ground, hence the military support. Unfortunately, they have not yet approached us at a political level while they keep their ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey ... However, we do hope political relations to materialize among us in the future.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Kurdistan+Tribune&rft.atitle=Salih+Muslim%3A+Time+Has+Proved+Us+Right&rft.date=2016-03-16&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fkurdistantribune.com%2F2016%2Fsalih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-DNI2018-121"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-DNI2018_121-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-dcoats-021318.PDF">Director of National Intelligence, Worldwide threat assessment of the US intelligence community</a>, 13 February 2018. Quote: "The Kurdish People's Protection Unit—the Syrian militia of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—probably will seek some form of autonomy but will face resistance from Russia, Iran, and Turkey."</span>
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<li id="cite_note-122"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-122">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39708909">"Turkey air strikes on Kurds in Syria and Iraq spark US concern"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. BBC News. 25 April 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=Turkey+air+strikes+on+Kurds+in+Syria+and+Iraq+spark+US+concern&rft.date=2017-04-25&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-39708909&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-123"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-123">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFMatt_Blake2017" class="citation web cs1">Matt Blake (27 September 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/27/british-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria">"British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Guardian&rft.atitle=British+film-maker+killed+by+Isis+militants+in+Syria&rft.date=2017-09-27&rft.au=Matt+Blake&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2017%2Fsep%2F27%2Fbritish-film-maker-killed-mehmet-aksoy-militants-raqqa-syria&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-124"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-124">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html">"Turkey accuses Kurdish forces of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria"</a>. Agence France-Presse. 16 June 2015. <q>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said he was troubled by the advance of Kurdish forces, saying they could in the future create a structure to threaten Turkey.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Turkey+accuses+Kurdish+forces+of+%27ethnic+cleansing%27+in+Syria&rft.date=2015-06-16&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fturkey-accuses-kurdish-forces-ethnic-cleansing-syria-093148734.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Rudaw.net-125"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Rudaw.net_125-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFSaeed2015" class="citation web cs1">Saeed, Yerevan (14 October 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/14102015?keyword=amnesty">"US voices concern over allegations of rights violations by YPG"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rudaw_Media_Network" title="Rudaw Media Network">Rudaw</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2015</span>. <q>We'll look closely at all these accusations to determine whether there's any veracity to the claims ... We call on those who actually are or will participate in administering these areas to do so inclusively and with respect for all groups regardless of ethnicity</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=US+voices+concern+over+allegations+of+rights+violations+by+YPG&rft.date=2015-10-14&rft.aulast=Saeed&rft.aufirst=Yerevan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Frudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fmiddleeast%2Fsyria%2F14102015%3Fkeyword%3Damnesty&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-126"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-126">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF">"We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. October 2015. <q>In July and August 2015 Amnesty International investigated the forced displacement of residents from 10 villages and towns in areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=We+had+nowhere+else+to+go%2C+Forced+displacement+and+demolition+in+northern+Syria&rft.date=2015-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fdownload%2FDocuments%2FMDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-amnesty.org-127"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-amnesty.org_127-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes">"Syria: US ally's razing of villages amounts to war crimes"</a>. <i>Amnesty International</i>. 13 October 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Amnesty+International&rft.atitle=Syria%3A+US+ally%27s+razing+of+villages+amounts+to+war+crimes&rft.date=2015-10-13&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fen%2Flatest%2Fnews%2F2015%2F10%2Fsyria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-bbc.com-128"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bbc.com_128-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34511134">"Syria Kurds 'razing villages seized from IS' – Amnesty"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BBC_News" title="BBC News">BBC News</a>. 13 October 2015. <q>Of 225 buildings visible [in Husseiniya] in June 2014, only 14 were still standing by June 2015.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Syria+Kurds+%27razing+villages+seized+from+IS%27+%E2%80%93+Amnesty&rft.date=2015-10-13&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-34511134&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-129"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-129">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054645/https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/">"Syria and Islamist groups guilty of war crimes, YPG cleared: UN report"</a>. <i>Kom News</i>. 15 March 2017. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://komnews.com/syria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report/">the original</a> on 17 March 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Kom+News&rft.atitle=Syria+and+Islamist+groups+guilty+of+war+crimes%2C+YPG+cleared%3A+UN+report&rft.date=2017-03-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fkomnews.com%2Fsyria-and-islamist-groups-guilty-of-war-crimes-ypg-cleared-un-report%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-UN_report_counters-130"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-UN_report_counters_130-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFAntonopoulos2017" class="citation web cs1">Antonopoulos, Paul (15 March 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033742/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/">"UN report counters Amnesty International's claim that Kurds are ethnically cleansing in Syria"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/un-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria/">the original</a> on 12 November 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 May</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=UN+report+counters+Amnesty+International%27s+claim+that+Kurds+are+ethnically+cleansing+in+Syria&rft.date=2017-03-15&rft.aulast=Antonopoulos&rft.aufirst=Paul&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.almasdarnews.com%2Farticle%2Fun-report-counters-amnesty-internationals-claim-that-kurds-are-ethnically-cleansing-in-syria%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-refutes-131"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-refutes_131-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ekurd.net/ypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14">"UN report refutes ethnic cleansing claims against Syrian Kurdish YPG, SDF"</a>. 14 March 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 May</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=UN+report+refutes+ethnic+cleansing+claims+against+Syrian+Kurdish+YPG%2C+SDF&rft.date=2017-03-14&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fekurd.net%2Fypg-changing-demographics-2017-03-14&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-:0-132"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_132-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_132-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051131/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF">"We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. October 2015. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 8 December 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 March</span> 2016</span>. <q>The circumstances of some of the instances of forced displacement documented in this report suggest that they were carried out in retaliation for people's perceived sympathies with, or family ties to, suspected members of IS or other armed groups. This would constitute collective punishment, which is a violation of international humanitarian law.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=We+had+nowhere+else+to+go%2C+Forced+displacement+and+demolition+in+northern+Syria&rft.date=2015-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fdownload%2FDocuments%2FMDE2425032015ENGLISH.PDF&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-:1-133"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_133-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_133-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf">"We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a></i>. October 2015. p. 28<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2021</span>. <q>In some dangerous areas there are some specific cases that are very small, resulting from the terrorist threat, where families were sent away from the area ... Only 25 families were forced to leave across Rojava ... (They are told) 'Folks, remove your things please, and if you leave from this area until the war ends it will be a good thing ...' You have terrorists in al-Raqqa and their families – the uncle, and brother, and sister – are here, and they are in communication, giving them information. We were forced to distance these families. Not detain them. Distance them. Take them outside of the area.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Amnesty+International&rft.atitle=We+had+nowhere+else+to+go%2C+Forced+displacement+and+demolition+in+northern+Syria&rft.pages=28&rft.date=2015-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fen%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FMDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-134"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-134">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf">"We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a></i>. October 2015. p. 29<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2021</span>. <q>He added that IS was benefiting from the presence of civilians in these areas, and using them to plant car bombs or carry out other attacks on the YPG.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Amnesty+International&rft.atitle=We+had+nowhere+else+to+go%2C+Forced+displacement+and+demolition+in+northern+Syria&rft.pages=29&rft.date=2015-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fen%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FMDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-135"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-135">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf">"We had nowhere else to go, Forced displacement and demolition in northern Syria"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a></i>. October 2015. p. 17. <q>After the YPG took the village, on 15 June, a car bomb killed three YPG fighters 4 km from Hammam al-Turkman at a checkpoint in Damishli. The following day there were skirmishes between the YPG and IS in the village before IS was pushed back. A second car bomb went off at a YPG checkpoint at the health clinic in the village on 18 June killing a YPG fighter and injuring one civilian and three days later IS shot and killed a second YPG fighter near the clinic. It was after the death of this fighter that the residents were told by the YPG that they had to leave the village.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Amnesty+International&rft.atitle=We+had+nowhere+else+to+go%2C+Forced+displacement+and+demolition+in+northern+Syria&rft.pages=17&rft.date=2015-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnesty.org%2Fen%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FMDE2425032015ENGLISH.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-children-136"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-children_136-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFU.N._Security_Council2015" class="citation report cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council" title="United Nations Security Council">U.N. Security Council</a> (5 June 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/926">Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict</a> (Report). para. 191. <q>Actual numbers are expected to be higher.... A number of pro-Government groups, including Hizbullah, also reportedly recruited children in small numbers.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=report&rft.btitle=Report+of+the+Secretary-General%3A+Children+and+armed+conflict&rft.pages=para.+191&rft.date=2015-06-05&rft.au=U.N.+Security+Council&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fga%2Fsearch%2Fview_doc.asp%3Fsymbol%3DA%2F69%2F926&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-137"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-137">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and">"Syria: 4 brigades of the Free Syrian Army commit to prohibit sexual violence and the use of child soldiers [EN/AR] – Syrian Arab Republic"</a>. <i>ReliefWeb</i>. 3 July 2017.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ReliefWeb&rft.atitle=Syria%3A+4+brigades+of+the+Free+Syrian+Army+commit+to+prohibit+sexual+violence+and+the+use+of+child+soldiers+%5BEN%2FAR%5D+%E2%80%93+Syrian+Arab+Republic&rft.date=2017-07-03&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Freliefweb.int%2Freport%2Fsyrian-arab-republic%2Fsyria-4-brigades-free-syrian-army-commit-prohibit-sexual-violence-and&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-138"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-138">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/07/10/syria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0">"Syria: Kurdish Forces Violating Child Soldier Ban Despite Promises, Children Still Fight"</a>. <i>Human Rights Watch</i>. 15 July 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">15 July</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Human+Rights+Watch&rft.atitle=Syria%3A+Kurdish+Forces+Violating+Child+Soldier+Ban+Despite+Promises%2C+Children+Still+Fight&rft.date=2015-07-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrw.org%2Fnews%2F2015%2F07%2F10%2Fsyria-kurdish-forces-violating-child-soldier-ban-0&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-139"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-139">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFPerryMalla2015" class="citation news cs1">Perry, Tom; Malla, Naline (10 September 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910">"Western states train Kurdish force in Syria, force's leader says"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Reuters" title="Reuters">Reuters</a></i>. <q>Amnesty International this month faulted the Kurdish administration for arbitrary detentions and unfair trials.... [Ciwan] Ibrahim said ... efforts were underway to improve its human rights record.... The Geneva Call ... promotes good treatment of civilians in war zones...</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Reuters&rft.atitle=Western+states+train+Kurdish+force+in+Syria%2C+force%27s+leader+says&rft.date=2015-09-10&rft.aulast=Perry&rft.aufirst=Tom&rft.au=Malla%2C+Naline&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fuk-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUKKCN0RA1MO20150910&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Demobilized_children-140"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Demobilized_children_140-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation report cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151121223140/http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-28-october-2015/">YPG demobilizes 21 children under the age of 18 from the military service in its ranks</a> (Report). <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Observatory_for_Human_Rights" title="Syrian Observatory for Human Rights">Syrian Observatory for Human Rights</a>. 28 October 2015. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/ypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks/">the original</a> on 2015-11-21.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=report&rft.btitle=YPG+demobilizes+21+children+under+the+age+of+18+from+the+military+service+in+its+ranks&rft.pub=Syrian+Observatory+for+Human+Rights&rft.date=2015-10-28&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.syriahr.com%2Fen%2F2015%2F10%2Fypg-demobilizes-21-children-under-the-age-of-18-from-the-military-service-in-its-ranks%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-141"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-141">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/03/syria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps">"Syria: Armed Group Recruiting Children in Camps"</a>. <i>Human Rights Watch</i>. 3 August 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 September</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Human+Rights+Watch&rft.atitle=Syria%3A+Armed+Group+Recruiting+Children+in+Camps&rft.date=2018-08-03&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrw.org%2Fnews%2F2018%2F08%2F03%2Fsyria-armed-group-recruiting-children-camps&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-142"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-142">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFU.N._Security_Council2018" class="citation report cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council" title="United Nations Security Council">U.N. Security Council</a> (16 May 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://undocs.org/s/2018/465">Report of the Secretary-General: Children and armed conflict</a> (Report)<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 October</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=report&rft.btitle=Report+of+the+Secretary-General%3A+Children+and+armed+conflict&rft.date=2018-05-16&rft.au=U.N.+Security+Council&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fundocs.org%2Fs%2F2018%2F465&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-143"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-143">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFvan_Wilgenburg2018" class="citation news cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wladimir_van_Wilgenburg" title="Wladimir van Wilgenburg">van Wilgenburg, Wladimir</a> (7 September 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977">"SDF command issues order banning child recruitment"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan24" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan24">Kurdistan24</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=SDF+command+issues+order+banning+child+recruitment&rft.date=2018-09-07&rft.aulast=van+Wilgenburg&rft.aufirst=Wladimir&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kurdistan24.net%2Fen%2Fnews%2F380c0f07-bd15-4d0b-b57b-1cd23b7bf977&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-144"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-144">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf">"General Assembly Security Council Seventy-fourth session Seventy-fifth year Agenda item 66 (a) Promotion and protection of the rights of children"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. United Nations<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 June</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=General+Assembly+Security+Council+Seventy-fourth+session+Seventy-fifth+year+Agenda+item+66+%28a%29+Promotion+and+protection+of+the+rights+of+children&rft.pub=United+Nations&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fsg%2Fsites%2Fwww.un.org.sg%2Ffiles%2Fatoms%2Ffiles%2F15-June-2020_Secretary-General_Report_on_CAAC_Eng.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-145"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-145">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFvan_Wilgenburg2020" class="citation news cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wladimir_van_Wilgenburg" title="Wladimir van Wilgenburg">van Wilgenburg, Wladimir</a> (15 July 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/dd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22">"SDF issues new directives to protect schools, children from military conflict"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan24" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan24">Kurdistan24</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 July</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=SDF+issues+new+directives+to+protect+schools%2C+children+from+military+conflict&rft.date=2020-07-15&rft.aulast=van+Wilgenburg&rft.aufirst=Wladimir&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kurdistan24.net%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fdd6c84da-76e6-4704-a1d5-a3d929d1ca22&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-146"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-146">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/29082020">"SDF announce new measure to tackle recruitment of child soldiers"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rudaw" title="Rudaw">Rudaw</a>. 29 August 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=SDF+announce+new+measure+to+tackle+recruitment+of+child+soldiers&rft.date=2020-08-29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rudaw.net%2Fenglish%2Fmiddleeast%2Fsyria%2F29082020&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-147"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-147">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFvan_Wilgenburg2020" class="citation news cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wladimir_van_Wilgenburg" title="Wladimir van Wilgenburg">van Wilgenburg, Wladimir</a> (30 August 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664">"New mechanism allows civilians to report child recruitment in northeast Syria"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan24" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan24">Kurdistan24</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=New+mechanism+allows+civilians+to+report+child+recruitment+in+northeast+Syria&rft.date=2020-08-30&rft.aulast=van+Wilgenburg&rft.aufirst=Wladimir&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kurdistan24.net%2Fen%2Fnews%2F8c9b34b2-4a11-4614-87f2-f1d3269bc664&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-148"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-148">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFvan_Wilgenburg2021" class="citation news cs1"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wladimir_van_Wilgenburg" title="Wladimir van Wilgenburg">van Wilgenburg, Wladimir</a> (22 May 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019,-UN-says">"Child recruitment by SDF down significantly since 2019, UN says"</a>. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan24" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan24">Kurdistan24</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Child+recruitment+by+SDF+down+significantly+since+2019%2C+UN+says&rft.date=2021-05-22&rft.aulast=van+Wilgenburg&rft.aufirst=Wladimir&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kurdistan24.net%2Fen%2Fstory%2F24554-Child-recruitment-by-SDF-down-significantly-since-2019%2C-UN-says&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Bibliography">Bibliography</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFRashid2018" class="citation book cs1">Rashid, Bedir Mulla (2018) [1st pub. 2017]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140230/http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html"><i>Military and Security Structures of the Autonomous Administration in Syria</i></a>. Translated by Obaida Hitto. <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Istanbul" title="Istanbul">Istanbul</a>: Omran for Strategic Studies. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://omranstudies.org/publications/reports/download/68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html">the original</a> on 2018-07-01.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Military+and+Security+Structures+of+the+Autonomous+Administration+in+Syria&rft.place=Istanbul&rft.pub=Omran+for+Strategic+Studies&rft.date=2018&rft.aulast=Rashid&rft.aufirst=Bedir+Mulla&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fomranstudies.org%2Fpublications%2Freports%2Fdownload%2F68_d403f01ed28320cb2e67b13cffb381c7.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3APeople%27s+Defense+Units" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/YPGinfo">YPG</a> on <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Facebook_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Facebook (identifier)">Facebook</a></li></ul>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_articles" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_topics" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria topics"><abbr title="View this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_topics" class="mw-redirect" title="Template talk:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria topics"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_topics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria topics"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_articles" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria</a> articles</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Politics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Libertarian_socialism" title="Libertarian socialism">Libertarian socialism</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Constitution_of_Rojava" class="mw-redirect" title="Constitution of Rojava">Constitution</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria#Politics" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Government</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_in_North_and_East_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights in North and East Syria">Human rights</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Rojava" title="Foreign relations of Rojava">Foreign Relations</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Council" title="Syrian Democratic Council">Parliament</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Rojava" title="List of political parties in Rojava">Political parties</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria#Policing_and_security" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Police</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Asayish_(Rojava_cantons)" class="mw-redirect" title="Asayish (Rojava cantons)">Asayish</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sutoro" title="Sutoro">Sutoro</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Self-Defense_Forces_(Rojava)" class="mw-redirect" title="Self-Defense Forces (Rojava)">Self-Defense Forces</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Protection_Units" class="mw-redirect" title="People's Protection Units">People's Protection Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces_military_councils" title="Syrian Democratic Forces military councils">SDF military councils</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syriac_Military_Council" title="Syriac Military Council">Syriac Military Council</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Sanadid_Forces" title="Al-Sanadid Forces">Al-Sanadid Forces</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Army_of_Revolutionaries" title="Army of Revolutionaries">Army of Revolutionaries</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Front" title="Kurdish Front">Kurdish Front</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin_Liberation_Forces" class="mw-redirect" title="Afrin Liberation Forces">Afrin Liberation Forces</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Economy</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria#Economy" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Economy</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Culture</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Flag_of_Northern_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="Flag of Northern Syria">Flag of Northern Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria#Demographics" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Demographics</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Regions_of_the_AANES" title="Regions of the AANES">Regions</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jazira_Region" title="Jazira Region">Jazira</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Euphrates_Region" title="Euphrates Region">Euphrates</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Afrin_Region" title="Afrin Region">Afrin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Raqqa_Region&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Raqqa Region (page does not exist)">Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Tabqa_Region&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tabqa Region (page does not exist)">Tabqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Manbij_Region&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Manbij Region (page does not exist)">Manbij</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Deir_ez-Zor_Region&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Deir ez-Zor Region (page does not exist)">Deir ez-Zor</a></li></ul></li>
<li>People
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurds_in_Syria" title="Kurds in Syria">Kurds</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrians" title="Syrians">Syrians</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assyrians_in_Syria" title="Assyrians in Syria">Assyrians</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Turkmen" title="Syrian Turkmen">Turkmen</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Armenians_in_Syria" title="Armenians in Syria">Armenians</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Circassians_in_Syria" title="Circassians in Syria">Circassians</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Yazidis_in_Syria" title="Yazidis in Syria">Yazidis</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bedouin#In_Syria" title="Bedouin">Bedouin</a></li></ul></li>
<li>Languages
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Kurdish" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Kurdish">Northern Kurdish</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/North_Mesopotamian_Arabic" title="North Mesopotamian Arabic">North Mesopotamian Arabic</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turoyo" class="mw-redirect" title="Turoyo">Turoyo</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assyrian_Neo-Aramaic" class="mw-redirect" title="Assyrian Neo-Aramaic">Assyrian Neo-Aramaic</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_dialects#Syrian_Turkmen_dialect" title="Turkish dialects">Syrian Turkmen</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="font-weight:bold;"><div>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Category:Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Category:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Category</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Kurdish_organisations" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Kurdish_organisations" title="Template:Kurdish organisations"><abbr title="View this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Kurdish_organisations" title="Template talk:Kurdish organisations"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Kurdish_organisations" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Kurdish organisations"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Kurdish_organisations" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_Kurdish_organisations" title="List of Kurdish organisations">Kurdish organisations</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Political parties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Yezidi_National_Union_ULE" title="Yezidi National Union ULE">Yezidi National Union (ULE)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Militant organizations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Komala_Party_of_Iranian_Kurdistan" title="Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan">Komala</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Komalah_(CPI)" title="Komalah (CPI)">Komalah (CPI)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Party_of_Iranian_Kurdistan" title="Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan">Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran</a> (KDP-I)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Party_(Iran)" title="Kurdistan Democratic Party (Iran)">Kurdistan Democratic Party</a> (KDP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Freedom_Party" title="Kurdistan Freedom Party">Kurdistan Freedom Party</a> (PAK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Free_Life_Party" title="Kurdistan Free Life Party">Kurdistan Free Life Party</a> (PJAK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Organization_of_Iranian_Kurdistan_Struggle" title="Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle">Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sipay_Rizgari" class="mw-redirect" title="Sipay Rizgari">Sipay Rizgari</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Political parties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iranian_Call_and_Reform_Organization" title="Iranian Call and Reform Organization">Iranian Call and Reform Organization</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_United_Front" title="Kurdish United Front">Kurdish United Front</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Militant organizations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Peshmerga" title="Peshmerga">Peshmerga</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/%C3%8Az%C3%AEdxan_Protection_Force" title="Êzîdxan Protection Force">Êzîdxan Protection Force</a> (HPŞ)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sinjar_Resistance_Units" title="Sinjar Resistance Units">Sinjar Resistance Units</a> (YBŞ)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/%C3%8Az%C3%AEdxan_Women%27s_Units" title="Êzîdxan Women's Units">Êzîdxan Women's Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Asay%C3%AE%C5%9Fa_%C3%8Az%C3%AEdxan%C3%AA" class="mw-redirect" title="Asayîşa Êzîdxanê">Asayîşa Êzîdxanê</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Badr_Organization#Structure" title="Badr Organization">Fayli Kurd Brigade</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Political parties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Action_Party_for_the_Independence_of_Kurdistan" title="Action Party for the Independence of Kurdistan">Action Party for the Independence of Kurdistan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_National_Union_of_Kurdistan" title="Democratic National Union of Kurdistan">Democratic National Union of Kurdistan</a> (YNDK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Patriotic_Alliance_of_Kurdistan" title="Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan">Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan</a> (DPAK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Movement_for_Change" class="mw-redirect" title="Movement for Change">Gorran</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_Fayli_Grouping_in_Iraq" class="mw-redirect" title="Islamic Fayli Grouping in Iraq">Islamic Fayli Grouping in Iraq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Islamic_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistan Islamic Group">Kurdistan Islamic Group</a> (IGK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Islamic_Movement" title="Kurdistan Islamic Movement">Kurdistan Islamic Movement</a> (IMK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Tribal_Association" title="Kurdish Tribal Association">Kurdish Tribal Association</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Kurdistan_%E2%80%93_Iraq" title="Communist Party of Kurdistan – Iraq">Communist Party of Kurdistan – Iraq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Conservative_Party" title="Kurdistan Conservative Party">Kurdistan Conservative Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Party" title="Kurdistan Democratic Party">Kurdistan Democratic Party</a> (KDP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Party_%E2%80%93_Progressive_Front" title="Kurdistan Democratic Party – Progressive Front">Kurdistan Democratic Party – Progressive Front</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Solution_Party" title="Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party">Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party</a> (PÇDK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Islamic_Union" title="Kurdistan Islamic Union">Kurdistan Islamic Union</a> (KIU)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/New_Generation_Movement" title="New Generation Movement">New Generation Movement</a> (NG)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_List" title="Kurdistan List">Kurdistan List</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Revolutionary_Party" title="Kurdistan Revolutionary Party">Kurdistan Revolutionary Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Socialist_Democratic_Party" title="Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party">Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party</a> (KSDP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Toilers%27_Party" title="Kurdistan Toilers' Party">Kurdistan Toilers' Party</a> (KZP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Patriotic_Union_of_Kurdistan" title="Patriotic Union of Kurdistan">Patriotic Union of Kurdistan</a> (PUK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Service_and_Reform_List" title="Service and Reform List">Service and Reform List</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Shursh" title="Shursh">Shursh</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Political_parties" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Political parties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Democratic_Party_(Lebanon)" title="Kurdish Democratic Party (Lebanon)">Kurdish Democratic Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Razkari_Party" title="Razkari Party">Razkari Party</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Militant organizations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Descendants_of_Saladin_Brigade" title="Descendants of Saladin Brigade">Descendants of Saladin Brigade</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Protection_Units" class="mw-redirect" title="People's Protection Units">People's Protection Units</a> (YPG)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a> (YPJ)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jabhat_al-Akrad" class="mw-redirect" title="Jabhat al-Akrad">Kurdish Front</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Political parties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_National_Council" title="Kurdish National Council">Kurdish National Council</a> (KNC-ENKS)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Supreme_Committee" title="Kurdish Supreme Committee">Kurdish Supreme Committee</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_National_Alliance_in_Syria" title="Kurdish National Alliance in Syria">Kurdish National Alliance in Syria</a> (HNKS)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Party_of_Syria" title="Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria">Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria</a> (KDP-S)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Democratic_Political_Union" title="Kurdish Democratic Political Union">Kurdish Democratic Political Union</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Movement_for_a_Democratic_Society" title="Movement for a Democratic Society">Movement for a Democratic Society</a> (TEV-DEM)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em">Militant organizations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers%27_Party" title="Kurdistan Workers' Party">Kurdistan Workers' Party</a> (PKK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_Hezbollah" class="mw-redirect" title="Turkish Hezbollah">Kurdish Hizbollah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Defence_Forces" title="People's Defence Forces">People's Defence Forces</a> (HPG)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Free_Women%27s_Units" title="Free Women's Units">Free Women's Units</a> (YJA-STAR)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Freedom_Hawks" title="Kurdistan Freedom Hawks">Kurdistan Freedom Hawks</a> (TAK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/YDG-H" title="YDG-H">Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement</a> (YDG-H)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Civil_Protection_Units" title="Civil Protection Units">Civil Protection Units</a> (YPS)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Civil_Protection_Units-Women" class="mw-redirect" title="Civil Protection Units-Women">Civil Protection Units-Women</a> (YPS-Jin)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:11em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Political_Movement_in_Turkey" title="Kurdish Political Movement in Turkey">Political parties</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Kurdistan" class="mw-redirect" title="Communist Party of Kurdistan">Communist Party of Kurdistan</a> (KKP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democracy_Party_(Turkey)" title="Democracy Party (Turkey)">Democracy Party</a> (DEP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_People%27s_Party_(Turkey)" title="Democratic People's Party (Turkey)">Democratic People's Party</a> (DEHAP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Society_Party" title="Democratic Society Party">Democratic Society Party</a> (DTP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Regions_Party" title="Democratic Regions Party">Democratic Regions Party</a> (DBP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Communities_Union" title="Kurdistan Communities Union">Kurdistan Communities Union</a> (KCK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Islamic_Movement_(Turkey)" title="Kurdistan Islamic Movement (Turkey)">Kurdistan Islamic Movement</a> (HİK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_Party_of_Kurdistan" title="Islamic Party of Kurdistan">Islamic Party of Kurdistan</a> (PİK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Democratic_Party/North" title="Kurdistan Democratic Party/North">Kurdistan Democratic Party/North</a> (KDP/Bakur)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Peace_and_Democracy_Party_(Turkey)" class="mw-redirect" title="Peace and Democracy Party (Turkey)">Peace and Democracy Party</a> (BDP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Peoples%27_Democratic_Party_(Turkey)" title="Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)">Peoples' Democratic Party</a> (HDP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Democracy_Party" title="People's Democracy Party">People's Democracy Party</a> (HADEP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Peoples%27_Equality_and_Democracy_Party" title="Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party">Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party</a> (DEM)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Labor_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="People's Labor Party">People's Labor Party</a> (HEP)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Revolutionary_Party_of_Kurdistan" title="Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan">Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan</a> (PŞK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rights_and_Freedoms_Party" title="Rights and Freedoms Party">Rights and Freedoms Party</a> (HAK-PAR)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Society_for_the_Rise_of_Kurdistan" title="Society for the Rise of Kurdistan">Society for the Rise of Kurdistan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Xoyb%C3%BBn" title="Xoybûn">Xoybûn</a> (CSK)</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Workers_Vanguard_Party_of_Kurdistan" title="Workers Vanguard Party of Kurdistan">Workers Vanguard Party of Kurdistan</a> (PPKK)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan" title="Kurdistan">Kurdistan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurds" title="Kurds">Kurds</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_nationalism" title="Kurdish nationalism">Kurdish nationalism</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kurdistan" title="Kingdom of Kurdistan">Kingdom of Kurdistan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistansky_Uyezd" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdistansky Uyezd">Kurdistansky Uyezd</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Republic_of_Ararat" title="Republic of Ararat">Republic of Ararat</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Republic_of_Mahabad" title="Republic of Mahabad">Republic of Mahabad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Region" title="Kurdistan Region">Kurdistan Region</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava" class="mw-redirect" title="Rojava">Rojava</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_Kurdish_dynasties_and_countries" title="List of Kurdish dynasties and countries">List of Kurdish dynasties and countries</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Syrian_civil_war" style="wide;;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template:Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="View this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Syrian_Civil_War" title="Template talk:Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Syrian_Civil_War" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Syrian Civil War"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Syrian_civil_war" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war">Syrian civil war</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><div id="Overviews" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Overviews</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">Main overviews</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava" class="mw-redirect" title="Rojava">Rojava</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian civil war">Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war">Timeline </a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Background_and_causes_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Background and causes of the Syrian Civil War">Background and causes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_peace_process" title="Syrian peace process">Syrian peace process</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_government_reactions_to_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian government reactions to the Syrian civil war">Syrian government reactions</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Belligerents_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Belligerents in the Syrian civil war">Belligerents </a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Inter-rebel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war">Inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Spillover_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Spillover of the Syrian civil war">Spillover</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Control_of_cities_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Control of cities during the Syrian civil war">Cities and towns </a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sectarianism_and_minorities_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian civil war">Sectarianism and minorities</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(December_2017%E2%80%93present)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)">Syrian Desert campaign (December 2017–present)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">Effects and ongoing concerns</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Casualties of the Syrian civil war">Casualties of the Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Refugees of the Syrian civil war">Refugees of the Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Humanitarian_aid_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war">Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war">Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">Phases and processes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_revolution" title="Syrian revolution">Syrian revolution</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Early_insurgency_phase_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Early insurgency phase of the Syrian civil war">Early insurgency phase</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012%E2%80%932013_escalation_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="2012–2013 escalation of the Syrian civil war">2012–2013 escalation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war_ceasefires" title="Syrian civil war ceasefires">Ceasefires</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_peace_process" title="Syrian peace process">Syrian peace process</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">World reaction</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_reactions_to_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="International reactions to the Syrian civil war">International reactions to the Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war">Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">Specific groups and countries</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war">Russian involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war">Russian intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war">Turkish involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_occupation_of_northern_Syria" title="Turkish occupation of northern Syria">Turkish occupation of northern Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Second_Northern_Syria_Buffer_Zone" title="Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone">Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_demilitarization_(2018%E2%80%932019)" title="Idlib demilitarization (2018–2019)">Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American intervention in the Syrian civil war">American intervention in the Syrian civil war</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_attacks_on_U.S._bases_in_Iraq_and_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="2023 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria">2023 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_Area_in_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="Kurdish Area in Syria">Kurdish Area in Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">Syrian Democratic Forces</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rojava_conflict" title="Rojava conflict">Rojava conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Combined_Joint_Task_Force_%E2%80%93_Operation_Inherent_Resolve" title="Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve">U.S. task force</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;">Agreements and dialogues</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian-Turkish_agreement_on_Syria" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria">Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/AANES%E2%80%93Syria_relations" title="AANES–Syria relations">Relations between Syrian government and Kurdish groups in Syria</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><div id="Timeline" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war">Timeline</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Background_and_causes_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Background and causes of the Syrian Civil War"><b>Background</b></a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/1963_Syrian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" title="1963 Syrian coup d'état">1963 coup</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/1966_Syrian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" title="1966 Syrian coup d'état">1966 coup</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Corrective_Movement_(Syria)" title="Corrective Movement (Syria)">Corrective Movement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamist_uprising_in_Syria" title="Islamist uprising in Syria">Islamist uprising</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/1999_Latakia_protests" title="1999 Latakia protests">Latakia protests</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Damascus_Spring" title="Damascus Spring">Damascus Spring</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2004_Qamishli_riots" title="2004 Qamishli riots">Qamishli riots</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_occupation_of_Lebanon" title="Syrian occupation of Lebanon">Syrian occupation of Lebanon</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Damascus_Declaration" title="Damascus Declaration">Damascus Declaration</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_in_Syria" title="Human rights in Syria">Human rights in Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2010s_in_Syria_political_history" title="2010s in Syria political history">2010s in Syria political history</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2011</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2011)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2011)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2011)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2011)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Civil_uprising_phase_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war">Syrian Revolution</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Death_of_Hamza_Ali_Al-Khateeb" title="Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb">Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Daraa" title="Siege of Daraa">Siege of Daraa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Baniyas" title="Siege of Baniyas">Siege of Baniyas</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Talkalakh_(May_2011)" title="Siege of Talkalakh (May 2011)">May Talkalakh siege</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Rastan_and_Talbiseh" title="Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh">Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2011_Jisr_ash-Shughur_clashes" title="June 2011 Jisr ash-Shughur clashes">June Jisr ash-Shughur operation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Hama_(2011)" title="Siege of Hama (2011)">Siege of Hama</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Homs" title="Siege of Homs">Siege of Homs</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Summer_2011_Jabal_al-Zawiya_operation" title="Summer 2011 Jabal al-Zawiya operation">Jabal al-Zawiya operation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Latakia" title="Siege of Latakia">Siege of Latakia</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_clashes_(2011%E2%80%932014)" title="Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–2014)">Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–2014)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_clashes_(November_2011%E2%80%93March_2012)" title="Rif Dimashq clashes (November 2011–March 2012)">Rif Dimashq clashes (Nov 2011-Mar 2012)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Zabadani_(2012)" title="Battle of Zabadani (2012)">Battle of Zabadani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Douma" title="Battle of Douma">Battle of Douma</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_Governorate_clashes_(2011%E2%80%932013)" title="Daraa Governorate clashes (2011–2013)">Daraa Governorate clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(2011)" title="Battle of Rastan (2011)">Battle of Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Shayrat_and_Tiyas_airbase_ambush" title="Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush">Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(September_2011_%E2%80%93_March_2012)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (September 2011 – March 2012)">Idlib Governorate clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2011_Jabal_al-Zawiya_massacres" title="December 2011 Jabal al-Zawiya massacres">December Jabal al-Zawiya massacres</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2012</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2012)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2012)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2012)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2012)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/January_2012_al-Midan_bombing" title="January 2012 al-Midan bombing">January al-Midan bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(January%E2%80%93February_2012)" title="Battle of Rastan (January–February 2012)">Battle of Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Idlib_(2012)" title="Battle of Idlib (2012)">First Battle of Idlib</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qusayr_(2012)" title="Battle of al-Qusayr (2012)">Battle of al-Qusayr</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2012_Idlib_Governorate_Operation" title="April 2012 Idlib Governorate Operation">Idlib Governorate operation (Apr)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Taftanaz" title="Battle of Taftanaz">Battle of Taftanaz</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Rastan_(May_2012)" title="Battle of Rastan (May 2012)">May Battle of Rastan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Houla_massacre" title="Houla massacre">Houla massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Haffah" title="Battle of al-Haffah">Battle of al-Haffah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qubeir_massacre" title="Al-Qubeir massacre">Al-Qubeir massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tremseh" title="Battle of Tremseh">Battle of Tremseh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Damascus_(2012)" title="Battle of Damascus (2012)">Battle of Damascus</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/18_July_2012_Damascus_bombing" title="18 July 2012 Damascus bombing">18 July 2012 Damascus bombing</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Aleppo_(2012%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)">Battle of Aleppo</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Anadan" title="Battle of Anadan">Battle of Anadan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Base_46" title="Siege of Base 46">Siege of Base 46</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Hasakah_Governorate_campaign_(2012%E2%80%932013)" class="mw-redirect" title="Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2013)">Al-Hasakah Governorate campaign (2012–2013)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(August%E2%80%93October_2012)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Aug-Oct)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Darayya_massacre" title="Darayya massacre">Darayya massacre</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Khirbet_Al-Joz" title="Battle of Khirbet Al-Joz">Battle of Khirbet Al-Joz</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Maarrat_al-Numan_(2012)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Maarrat al-Numan (2012)">Battle of Maarrat al-Numan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Wadi_Deif_(2012%E2%80%932013)" title="Siege of Wadi Deif (2012–2013)">First siege of Wadi Deif</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Harem" title="Battle of Harem">Battle of Harem</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(November_2012%E2%80%93February_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–February 2013)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Nov 2012–Feb 2013)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Darayya_(November_2012%E2%80%93February_2013)" title="Battle of Darayya (November 2012–February 2013)">Battle of Darayya</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aqrab_massacre" title="Aqrab massacre">Aqrab massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Hama_offensive" title="2012 Hama offensive">Hama offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Halfaya_massacre" class="mw-redirect" title="Halfaya massacre">Halfaya massacre</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Darayya_(November_2012%E2%80%93February_2013)" title="Battle of Darayya (November 2012–February 2013)">Battle of Darayya</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_Governorate_clashes_(2012%E2%80%932014)" title="Quneitra Governorate clashes (2012–2014)">Quneitra Governorate clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Talbiseh_bakery_massacre" title="Talbiseh bakery massacre">Talbiseh bakery massacre</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2013</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2013)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2013)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93December_2013)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–December 2013)">May–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Safira" title="Battle of Safira">Battle of Safira</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Shaddadi_(2013)" title="Battle of Shaddadi (2013)">Battle of Shadadeh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Damascus_offensive_(2013)" title="Damascus offensive (2013)">Damascus offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2012%E2%80%932013)" title="Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)">Raqqa campaign (2012–2013)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2013)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2013)">Battle of Raqqa (Mar)</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Daraa_offensive" title="2013 Daraa offensive">Daraa offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(March%E2%80%93August_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (March–August 2013)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Mar–Aug)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Jdaidet_al-Fadl" title="Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl">Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ghouta_chemical_attack" title="Ghouta chemical attack">Ghouta chemical attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qusayr_offensive" title="Al-Qusayr offensive">Al-Qusayr offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Qusayr_(2013)" title="Battle of al-Qusayr (2013)">Battle of al-Qusayr</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bayda_and_Baniyas_massacres" title="Bayda and Baniyas massacres">Bayda and Baniyas massacres</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Hama_offensive" title="2013 Hama offensive">Hama offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hatla_massacre" title="Hatla massacre">Hatla massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_al-Assal_chemical_attack" title="Khan al-Assal chemical attack">Khan al-Assal chemical attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_al-Assal_massacre" title="Khan al-Assal massacre">Khan al-Assal massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Adra_massacre" title="Adra massacre">Adra massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Ras_al-Ayn_(2012%E2%80%9313)" title="Battle of Ras al-Ayn (2012–13)">Battle of Ras al-Ayn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2013)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2013)">Battle of Tell Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(September%E2%80%93November_2013)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (September–November 2013)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Sep–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(October%E2%80%93December_2013)" title="Aleppo offensive (October–December 2013)">Aleppo offensive (Oct–Dec)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Yaarubiyah" title="Battle of al-Yaarubiyah">Battle of al-Yaarubiyah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Hamis_and_Tell_Brak_(December_2013%E2%80%93January_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (December 2013–January 2014)">Battle of Tell Hamis and Tell Brak (Dec–Jan)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2014</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–July 2014)">Jan–Jul</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(August%E2%80%93December_2014)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (August–December 2014)">Aug–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Inter-rebel_conflict_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war">First Inter-rebel conflict</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Markada" title="Battle of Markada">Battle of Markada</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(April%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (April–July 2014)">Deir ez-Zor offensive</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Morek" title="Battle of Morek">Battle of Morek</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93May_2014)" title="Daraa offensive (February–May 2014)">Daraa offensive (Feb–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maan_massacre" title="Maan massacre">Maan massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Otaiba_ambush" title="Al-Otaiba ambush">Al-Otaiba ambush</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Idlib_offensive" title="2014 Idlib offensive">Idlib offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Hosn" title="Battle of Hosn">Battle of Hosn</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Latakia_offensive" title="2014 Latakia offensive">Latakia Offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Malihah" title="Battle of Al-Malihah">Battle of Al-Malihah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Kafr_Zita_chemical_attack" title="2014 Kafr Zita chemical attack">Kafr Zita chemical attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Wadi_Deif_(2014)" title="Siege of Wadi Deif (2014)">Second siege of Wadi Deif</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(2014)" title="Qalamoun offensive (2014)">Qalamoun offensive (Jun–Aug)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Arsal_(2014)" title="Battle of Arsal (2014)">Battle of Arsal</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_the_Shaer_gas_field_(July_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of the Shaer gas field (July 2014)">First Battle of the Shaer gas field</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Eastern_Syria_offensive" title="2014 Eastern Syria offensive">Eastern Syria offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa_Airbase" title="Battle of Tabqa Airbase">Battle of Tabqa Airbase</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February%E2%80%93July_2014)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February–July 2014)">Northern Aleppo offensive (Feb–Jul)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Hama_offensive" title="2014 Hama offensive">Hama Offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Quneitra_offensive" title="2014 Quneitra offensive">Quneitra offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(August%E2%80%93November_2014)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (August–November 2014)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Aug–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE" title="Siege of Kobanî">Siege of Kobanî</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Homs_school_bombing" title="Homs school bombing">Homs school bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(October_2014)" title="Daraa offensive (October 2014)">Daraa offensive (Oct)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Al-Safira_offensive" title="2014 Al-Safira offensive">Al-Safira offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_raid_on_Idlib_city" title="2014 raid on Idlib city">Idlib Raid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front%E2%80%93SRF/Hazzm_Movement_conflict" title="Al-Nusra Front–SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict">Second Inter-Rebel Conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_the_Shaer_gas_field_(October%E2%80%93November_2014)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of the Shaer gas field (October–November 2014)">Second Battle of the Shaer gas field</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Shaykh_Maskin_(2014)" title="Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2014)">Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(December_2014)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (December 2014)">Deir ez-Zor offensive (Dec)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2015</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–July 2015)">Jan–Jul</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(August%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (August–December 2015)">Aug–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Syrian_Air_Force_An-26_crash" title="2015 Syrian Air Force An-26 crash">Air Force An-26 crash</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(January_2015)" title="Daraa offensive (January 2015)">Daraa Offensive (Jan)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Southern_Syria_offensive" title="2015 Southern Syria offensive">Southern Syria Offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Eastern al-Hasakah offensive">Eastern al-Hasakah offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(March%E2%80%93April_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (March–April 2015)">Battle of Sarrin (Mar–Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrin_(June%E2%80%93July_2015)" title="Battle of Sarrin (June–July 2015)">Battle of Sarrin (Jun–Jul)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Bosra_(2015)" title="Battle of Bosra (2015)">Battle of Bosra</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Idlib_offensive" title="2015 Idlib offensive">Idlib Offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Idlib_(2015)" title="Battle of Idlib (2015)">Second Battle of Idlib</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Nasib_Border_Crossing" title="Battle of Nasib Border Crossing">Battle of Nasib Border Crossing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Yarmouk_Camp_(2015)" title="Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015)">Battle of Yarmouk Camp</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Hasakah_offensive" title="Western al-Hasakah offensive">Western al-Hasakah offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(May_2015)" title="Palmyra offensive (May 2015)">Palmyra offensive (May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Qamishli_bombings" title="2015 Qamishli bombings">Qamishli bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tell_Abyad_offensive" title="Tell Abyad offensive">Tell Abyad offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Koban%C3%AE_massacre" title="Kobanî massacre">Kobanî massacre</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(June_2015)" title="Quneitra offensive (June 2015)">Quneitra offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(July%E2%80%93August_2015)" title="Palmyra offensive (July–August 2015)">Palmyra offensive (Jul–Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(September_2015)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Sep)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2015)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (October–November 2015)">Northwestern Syria offensive (Oct–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(October%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015)">Aleppo offensive (Oct–Dec)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_al-Hawl_offensive" title="2015 al-Hawl offensive">Al-Hawl offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Homs_offensive_(November%E2%80%93December_2015)" title="Homs offensive (November–December 2015)">Homs offensive (Nov-Dec)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Aleppo_offensive_(2015%E2%80%932016)" title="East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016)">East Aleppo offensive (2015–2016)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015%E2%80%932016_Latakia_offensive" title="2015–2016 Latakia offensive">2015–2016 Latakia offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive" title="Tishrin Dam offensive">Tishrin Dam offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Russian_Sukhoi_Su-24_shootdown" title="2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown">Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2016</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2016)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2016)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2016)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2016)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Al-Shaykh_Maskin_(2015%E2%80%932016)" title="Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin (2015–2016)">Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(2016)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (2016)">Deir ez-Zor offensive (Jan)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Sayyidah_Zaynab_attacks#January" title="2016 Sayyidah Zaynab attacks">January Sayyidah Zaynab bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(February_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016)">Northern Aleppo offensive (Feb)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ithriyah-Raqqa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93March_2016)" title="Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (February–March 2016)">Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (Feb–Mar)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Shaddadi_offensive_(2016)" title="Al-Shaddadi offensive (2016)">Al-Shaddadi offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2016_Homs_bombings" title="February 2016 Homs bombings">February Homs bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Sayyidah_Zaynab_attacks#February" title="2016 Sayyidah Zaynab attacks">February Sayyidah Zaynab bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Khanasir_offensive" title="2016 Khanasir offensive">Khanasir offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tell_Abyad_(2016)" title="Battle of Tell Abyad (2016)">Battle of Tel Abyad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Maarrat_al-Numan_(2016)" class="mw-redirect" title="Battle of Maarrat al-Numan (2016)">Battle of Maarrat al-Numan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2016)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2016)">Battle of Qamishli (Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(March%E2%80%93June_2016)" title="Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016)">Northern Aleppo offensive (Mar–Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(March_2016)" title="Palmyra offensive (March 2016)">Palmyra offensive (Mar)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Ghouta_inter-rebel_conflict_(April%E2%80%93May_2016)" title="East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016)">East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (Apr–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2016)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Apr–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Raqqa_offensive" title="Northern Raqqa offensive">Northern Raqqa offensive (May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/May_2016_Jableh_and_Tartous_bombings" class="mw-redirect" title="May 2016 Jableh and Tartous bombings">May Jableh & Tartous bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ithriyah-Raqqa_offensive_(June_2016)" title="Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (June 2016)">Ithriyah-Raqqa offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(June%E2%80%93October_2016)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Jun–Oct)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Manbij_offensive" title="Manbij offensive">Manbij offensive</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tokhar_massacre" class="mw-redirect" title="Tokhar massacre">Tokhar massacre</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Southern_Aleppo_campaign" title="2016 Southern Aleppo campaign">Southern Aleppo campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Rai_(August_2016)" title="Battle of al-Rai (August 2016)">Battle of al-Rai (Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Euphrates_Shield" title="Operation Euphrates Shield">Operation Euphrates Shield</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Aleppo_summer_campaign" title="2016 Aleppo summer campaign">Aleppo summer campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(September_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (September 2016)">Western al-Bab offensive (Sep)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/5_September_2016_Syria_bombings" title="5 September 2016 Syria bombings">5 September bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/September_2016_Deir_ez-Zor_air_raid" title="September 2016 Deir ez-Zor air raid">September Deir ez-Zor air raid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/September_2016_Urum_al-Kubra_aid_convoy_attack" title="September 2016 Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack">September Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(September%E2%80%93October_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (September–October 2016)">Aleppo offensive (Sep–Oct)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Dabiq_offensive" title="2016 Dabiq offensive">Dabiq offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Western_al-Bab_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Western al-Bab offensive (October–November 2016)">Western al-Bab offensive (Oct–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_al-Shih_offensive_(October%E2%80%93November_2016)" title="Khan al-Shih offensive (October–November 2016)">Khan al-Shih offensive (Oct–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Raqqa_campaign_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Raqqa campaign (2016–2017)">Raqqa campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Bab" title="Battle of al-Bab">Battle of al-Bab</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aleppo_offensive_(November%E2%80%93December_2016)" title="Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)">Aleppo offensive (Nov-Dec)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(December_2016)" title="Palmyra offensive (December 2016)">Palmyra offensive (Dec)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2017</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2017)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2017)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2017)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2017)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wadi_Barada_offensive_(2016%E2%80%932017)" title="Wadi Barada offensive (2016–2017)">Wadi Barada offensive (2016–2017)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/January_2017_Azaz_bombing" title="January 2017 Azaz bombing">January Azaz bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(December_2016%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (December 2016–April 2017)">Desert campaign (Dec 16–Apr 17)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(January%E2%80%93March_2017)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017)">Idlib clashes (Jan–Mar)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(January%E2%80%93February_2017)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (January–February 2017)">Deir ez-Zor offensive (Jan–Feb)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(February%E2%80%93June_2017)" title="Daraa offensive (February–June 2017)">Daraa offensive (Feb–Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southwestern_Daraa_offensive_(February_2017)" title="Southwestern Daraa offensive (February 2017)">Southwestern Daraa offensive (Feb)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qaboun_offensive_(2017)" title="Qaboun offensive (2017)">Qaboun offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palmyra_offensive_(2017)" title="Palmyra offensive (2017)">Palmyra offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Aleppo_offensive_(2017)" title="East Aleppo offensive (2017)">East Aleppo offensive (Jan–Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/March_2017_Damascus_bombings" title="March 2017 Damascus bombings">March Damascus bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_al-Jinah_airstrike" title="2017 al-Jinah airstrike">Al-Jinah airstrike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_offensive_(March%E2%80%93April_2017)" title="Hama offensive (March–April 2017)">Hama offensive (Mar–Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Tabqa" title="Battle of Tabqa">Battle of Tabqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khan_Shaykhun_chemical_attack" title="Khan Shaykhun chemical attack">Khan Shaykhun chemical attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Shayrat_missile_strike" title="2017 Shayrat missile strike">Shayrat missile strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Aleppo_suicide_car_bombing" title="2017 Aleppo suicide car bombing">Aleppo bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2017_Turkish_airstrikes_in_Syria_and_Iraq" title="April 2017 Turkish airstrikes in Syria and Iraq">April Turkish airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Ghouta_inter-rebel_conflict_(April%E2%80%93May_2017)" title="East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2017)">East Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (Apr–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Desert_campaign_(May%E2%80%93July_2017)" title="Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017)">Desert campaign (May–Jul)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maskanah_Plains_offensive" title="Maskanah Plains offensive">Maskanah Plains offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/East_Hama_offensive_(2017)" title="East Hama offensive (2017)">East Hama offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Raqqa_(2017)" title="Battle of Raqqa (2017)">Battle of Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Daraa_offensive_(June_2017)" title="Daraa offensive (June 2017)">Daraa offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Southern_Raqqa_offensive" title="2017 Southern Raqqa offensive">Southern Raqqa offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Jobar_offensive" title="2017 Jobar offensive">Jobar offensive (Jun–Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Quneitra_offensive_(June_2017)" title="Quneitra offensive (June 2017)">Quneitra offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(July_2017)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017)">Idlib clashes (Jul)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Central_Syria_campaign" title="Central Syria campaign">Central campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(2017)" title="Qalamoun offensive (2017)">Qalamoun (Jul–Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_campaign_(2017%E2%80%932019)" title="Deir ez-Zor campaign (2017–2019)">Deir ez-Zor offensive (Sep 17–Mar 18)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hama_offensive_(September_2017)" title="Hama offensive (September 2017)">Hama offensive (Sep)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_campaign_(October_2017%E2%80%93February_2018)" title="Northwestern Syria campaign (October 2017–February 2018)">Northwestern campaign (Oct 17–Feb 18)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_military_operation_in_Idlib_Governorate" title="Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate">Turkish military operation in Idlib Governorate</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Harasta_(2017%E2%80%932018)" title="Battle of Harasta (2017–2018)">Battle of Harasta</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Syria_campaign_(September%E2%80%93December_2017)" title="Eastern Syria campaign (September–December 2017)">Eastern campaign (Sep–Dec)</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Euphrates_Crossing_offensive" class="mw-redirect" title="2017 Euphrates Crossing offensive">Euphrates Crossing offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Mayadin_offensive" title="2017 Mayadin offensive">Mayadin offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(September%E2%80%93November_2017)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (September–November 2017)">Battle of Deir ez-Zor (Sep–Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Abu_Kamal_offensive" title="2017 Abu Kamal offensive">Abu Kamal offensive</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Beit_Jinn_offensive" title="Beit Jinn offensive">Beit Jinn offensive</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2018</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2018)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2018)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2018)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2018)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Olive_Branch" title="Operation Olive Branch">Operation Olive Branch</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Khasham" title="Battle of Khasham">Battle of Khasham</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rif_Dimashq_offensive_(February%E2%80%93April_2018)" title="Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018)">Rif Dimashq offensive (Feb–Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(January%E2%80%93February_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (January–February 2018)">Southern Damascus offensive (Jan–Feb)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Liberation_Front%E2%80%93Tahrir_al-Sham_conflict" title="Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict">Syrian Liberation Front–Tahrir al-Sham conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(March_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (March 2018)">Southern Damascus offensive (Mar)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Douma_chemical_attack" title="Douma chemical attack">Douma chemical attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/April_2018_missile_strikes_against_Syria" title="April 2018 missile strikes against Syria">Missile strikes (Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Homs_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2018)" title="Northern Homs offensive (April–May 2018)">Northern Homs offensive (Apr–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Eastern_Qalamoun_offensive_(April_2018)" title="Eastern Qalamoun offensive (April 2018)">Eastern Qalamoun offensive (Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Southern_Damascus_offensive_(April%E2%80%93May_2018)" title="Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018)">Southern Damascus offensive (Apr–May)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_Governorate_clashes" title="Deir ez-Zor Governorate clashes">Deir ez-Zor clashes (Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_offensive_(2018)" title="Deir ez-Zor offensive (2018)">Deir ez-Zor offensive (May–Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/As-Suwayda_offensive_(June_2018)" title="As-Suwayda offensive (June 2018)">As-Suwayda offensive (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Southern_Syria_offensive" title="2018 Southern Syria offensive">Southern offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_As-Suwayda_attacks" title="2018 As-Suwayda attacks">As-Suwayda attacks</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/As-Suwayda_offensive_(August%E2%80%93November_2018)" title="As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018)">As-Suwayda (Aug-Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qamishli_clashes_(2018)" title="Qamishli clashes (2018)">Qamishli clashes (Sep)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(September_2018)" title="Syria missile strikes (September 2018)">Missile strikes (Sep)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Syrian-Turkish_border_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2018 Syrian-Turkish border clashes">Northern border clashes</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2019</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2019)">Jan–Apr</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(May%E2%80%93August_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (May–August 2019)">May–Aug</a><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(September%E2%80%93December_2019)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (September–December 2019)">Sep–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/National_Front_for_Liberation%E2%80%93Tahrir_al-Sham_conflict" title="National Front for Liberation–Tahrir al-Sham conflict">Idlib inter-rebel conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Manbij_bombing" title="2019 Manbij bombing">Manbij bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Baghuz_Fawqani" title="Battle of Baghuz Fawqani">Battle of Baghuz Fawqani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/ISIL_insurgency_in_Deir_ez-Zor_(2019)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISIL insurgency in Deir ez-Zor (2019)">ISIL insurgency in Deir-ez-Zor</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/D%C3%AArik_prison_escape_attempt" title="Dêrik prison escape attempt">Dêrik prison escape attempt</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Tell_Rifaat_clashes" title="2019 Tell Rifaat clashes">Tell Rifaat clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(April%E2%80%93August_2019)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (April–August 2019)">Northwestern offensive (Apr–Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2019_Syria_bombings" title="June 2019 Syria bombings">June bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hass_refugee_camp_bombing" title="Hass refugee camp bombing">Hass refugee camp bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(August_2019)" title="Syria missile strikes (August 2019)">Missile strikes (Aug)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2019_Turkish_offensive_into_north-eastern_Syria" title="2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria">Turkish offensive into northeast</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Death_of_Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi" title="Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi">Barisha raid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/November_2019_Syria_bombings" title="November 2019 Syria bombings">November bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/November_2019_Israeli_missile_strikes_in_Syria" title="November 2019 Israeli missile strikes in Syria">Israeli missile strikes (Nov)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qah_missile_strike" title="Qah missile strike">Qah missile strike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_offensive_(December_2019%E2%80%93March_2020)" title="Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)">Northwestern offensive (Dec 19–Mar 20)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2019_United_States_airstrikes_in_Iraq_and_Syria" title="December 2019 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria">US airstrikes</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2020</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2020%E2%80%93present)" class="mw-redirect" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2020–present)">Jan–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Syria" title="COVID-19 pandemic in Syria">COVID-19 pandemic</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Afrin_bombing" title="2020 Afrin bombing">Afrin bombing</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_Governorate_clashes_(June_2020)" title="Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2020)">Idlib Governorate clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Kafr_Takharim_airstrike" title="2020 Kafr Takharim airstrike">Kafr-Takharim airstrike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Ayn_Issa_clashes" title="2020–2021 Ayn Issa clashes">Ayn Issa clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Deir_ez-Zor_ambush" title="2020 Deir ez-Zor ambush">Deir ez-Zor ambush</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2021</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2021)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2021)">Jan–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Siege_of_Qamishli_and_Al-Hasakah" title="Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah">Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_missile_strikes_(January_2021)" title="Syria missile strikes (January 2021)">Missile strikes (Jan)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2021_United_States_airstrike_in_Syria" title="February 2021 United States airstrike in Syria">US airstrike (Feb)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_Qamishli_(2021)" title="Battle of Qamishli (2021)">Battle of Qamishli (Apr)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/June_2021_United_States_airstrike_in_Syria" title="June 2021 United States airstrike in Syria">US airstrike (Jun)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2021_Daraa_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2021 Daraa clashes">Daraa clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tahrir_al-Sham%E2%80%93Junud_al-Sham_conflict" title="Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict">Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2022</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2022)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2022)">Jan–Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Battle_of_al-Hasakah_(2022)" title="Battle of al-Hasakah (2022)">Battle of al-Hasakah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2022_Ahrar_al-Sham%E2%80%93Levant_Front_clashes" title="2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes">Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2022_Jabal_al-Bishr%C4%AB_clashes" title="2022 Jabal al-Bishrī clashes">Jabal al-Bishrī clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2022_Jarqli_airstrikes" title="2022 Jarqli airstrikes">Jarqli airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Aleppo_clashes_(October_2022)" title="Northern Aleppo clashes (October 2022)">Northern Aleppo clashes (Oct)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Claw-Sword" title="Operation Claw-Sword">Operation Claw-Sword</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northwestern_Syria_clashes_(December_2022%E2%80%93present)" title="Northwestern Syria clashes (December 2022–present)">Northwest clashes (Dec)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;"><span style="font-size:110%;"><b>2023</b></span><br /><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(2023)" title="Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2023)">Jan-Dec</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_Al-Sukhnah_attack" title="2023 Al-Sukhnah attack">Al-Sukhnah attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_Damascus_airstrike" title="2023 Damascus airstrike">Damascus airstrike</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_Hama_attack" class="mw-redirect" title="2023 Hama attack">Hama attack</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2023_Northern_Syria_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2023 Northern Syria clashes">Northern border clashes</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em;font-weight:normal; vertical-align:top;;vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Spillover_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Spillover of the Syrian civil war"><b>Spillover</b></a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Syrian_ceasefire_line_incidents_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian civil war">Israel and Golan Heights</a>:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/March_2017_Israel%E2%80%93Syria_incident" title="March 2017 Israel–Syria incident">March 2017 incident</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/February_2018_Israel%E2%80%93Syria_incident" title="February 2018 Israel–Syria incident">February 2018 incident</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_House_of_Cards" title="Operation House of Cards">May 2018 Israel–Iran incidents</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_War_in_Iraq_(2014)" title="Timeline of the War in Iraq (2014)">Iraq</a>:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Akashat_ambush" title="Akashat ambush">Akashat ambush</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_al-Shabah" title="Operation al-Shabah">Operation al-Shabah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Timeline_of_the_War_in_Iraq_(2014)#April" title="Timeline of the War in Iraq (2014)">April 2014 Iraqi border airstrike</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian%E2%80%93Syrian_border_incidents_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Jordanian–Syrian border incidents during the Syrian civil war">Jordanian border incidents</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian%E2%80%93Syrian_border_incidents_during_the_Syrian_civil_war#2014" title="Jordanian–Syrian border incidents during the Syrian civil war">April 2014 Jordanian border airstrike</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war_spillover_in_Lebanon" title="Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon">Lebanon</a>:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lebanon%E2%80%93Syria_border_clashes" title="Lebanon–Syria border clashes">Lebanese border clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Sidon_clash" title="2013 Sidon clash">Battle of Sidon</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iranian_embassy_bombing_in_Beirut" class="mw-redirect" title="Iranian embassy bombing in Beirut">Iranian embassy bombing in Beirut</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/North_Lebanon_clashes_(2014)" title="North Lebanon clashes (2014)">North Lebanon clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qalamoun_offensive_(2017)" title="Qalamoun offensive (2017)">Qalamoun (Jul–Aug 2017)</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian%E2%80%93Turkish_border_clashes_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Syrian–Turkish border clashes during the Syrian civil war">Turkey</a>:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/December_2011_Syrian%E2%80%93Turkish_border_clash" title="December 2011 Syrian–Turkish border clash">December 2011 Turkish border clash</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Turkish_F-4_Phantom_shootdown" title="2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown">2012 Turkish F-4 Phantom shootdown</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Syrian%E2%80%93Turkish_border_clashes" class="mw-redirect" title="2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes">2012 Turkish border clashes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2013_Reyhanl%C4%B1_car_bombings" title="2013 Reyhanlı car bombings">2013 Reyhanlı car bombings</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/January_2014_Turkish_attack_in_Syria" title="January 2014 Turkish attack in Syria">January 2014 Turkish attack in Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Assassination_of_Andrei_Karlov" title="Assassination of Andrei Karlov">Assassination of Andrei Karlov</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Russian_Air_Force_Al-Bab_incident" title="2017 Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident">Russian Air Force Al-Bab incident</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Balyun_airstrikes" title="2020 Balyun airstrikes">2020 Balyun airstrikes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Operation_Spring_Shield" title="Operation Spring Shield">Operation Spring Shield</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:2em;background:transparent; text-align:right; padding:0; vertical-align:top;">Elsewhere:</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Deir_ez-Zor_missile_strike" class="mw-redirect" title="2017 Deir ez-Zor missile strike">Deir ez-Zor missile strike</a> (Iran)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><div id="Belligerents" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Belligerents</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="padding:.3em;"><div id="*_23x15px&#124;border&#124;link=Syria&#124;alt=Syria_*_23x15px&#124;border&#124;link=Syrian_opposition&#124;alt=Syrian_opposition_*_23x15px&#124;border&#124;link=Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria&#124;alt=Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria_*23x15px&#124;border&#124;link=Islamic_State">
<ul><li><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria" title="Syria"><img alt="Syria" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Flag_of_Syria.svg/23px-Flag_of_Syria.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Flag_of_Syria.svg/35px-Flag_of_Syria.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Flag_of_Syria.svg/45px-Flag_of_Syria.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_opposition" title="Syrian opposition"><img alt="Syrian opposition" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg/45px-Flag_of_the_Syrian_revolution.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria"><img alt="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/23px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/35px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg/45px-De_facto_SA-NES_Flag.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State"><img src="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/AQMI_Flag.svg/23px-AQMI_Flag.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/AQMI_Flag.svg/35px-AQMI_Flag.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/AQMI_Flag.svg/45px-AQMI_Flag.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="400" /></a></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em">Syria</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Politics_of_Syria" title="Politics of Syria">Politics of Syria</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arab_Socialist_Ba%27ath_Party_%E2%80%93_Syria_Region" title="Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region">Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Social_Nationalist_Party" title="Syrian Social Nationalist Party">Syrian Social Nationalist Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arab_Socialist_Movement" title="Arab Socialist Movement">Arab Socialist Movement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Communist_Party_(Bakdash)" title="Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash)">Syrian Communist Party</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;">Military and militias</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Armed_Forces" title="Syrian Armed Forces">Syrian Armed Forces</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Resistance" title="Syrian Resistance">Syrian Resistance</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Popular_Front_for_the_Liberation_of_Palestine_%E2%80%93_General_Command" title="Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command">PFLP-GC</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Liwa_al-Quds" title="Liwa al-Quds">al-Quds Brigade</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Army" title="Palestine Liberation Army">Palestine Liberation Army</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war">Foreign support</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hezbollah_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian civil war">Hezbollah involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iranian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war">Iranian involvement</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Liwa_Fatemiyoun" title="Liwa Fatemiyoun">Liwa Fatemiyoun</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war">Russian involvement</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian%E2%80%93Syrian_hospital_bombing_campaign" title="Russian–Syrian hospital bombing campaign">medical facility targeting</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war">military intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wagner_Group" title="Wagner Group">Wagner Group</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Syria%E2%80%93Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_coalition" title="Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition">Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Popular_Mobilization_Forces" title="Popular Mobilization Forces">Popular Mobilization Forces</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_opposition" title="Syrian opposition">Opposition</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Interim_Government" title="Syrian Interim Government">Interim government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/National_Coalition_for_Syrian_Revolutionary_and_Opposition_Forces" class="mw-redirect" title="National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces">National Coalition</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Local_Coordination_Committees_of_Syria" title="Local Coordination Committees of Syria">Local Coordination Committees</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_National_Council" title="Syrian National Council">Syrian National Council</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Supreme_Council_of_the_Syrian_Revolution" title="Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution">Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/National_Coordination_Committee_for_Democratic_Change" title="National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change">National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Revolution_General_Commission" title="Syrian Revolution General Commission">Syrian Revolution General Commission</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Support_Group" title="Syrian Support Group">Syrian Support Group</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Adopt_a_Revolution" title="Adopt a Revolution">Adopt a Revolution</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_National_Council#Syrian_Patriotic_Group" title="Syrian National Council">Syrian Patriotic Group</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;">Opposition militias</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_National_Army" title="Syrian National Army">Syrian National Army</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Free_Syrian_Army" title="Free Syrian Army">Free Syrian Army</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/National_Front_for_Liberation" title="National Front for Liberation">National Front for Liberation</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jaysh_al-Izza" title="Jaysh al-Izza">Army of Glory</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Authenticity_and_Development_Front" title="Authenticity and Development Front">Authenticity and Development Front</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Army_of_Free_Tribes" title="Army of Free Tribes">Army of Free Tribes</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maghaweir_al-Thowra" class="mw-redirect" title="Maghaweir al-Thowra">Revolutionary Commando Army</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood_in_Syria" title="Muslim Brotherhood in Syria">Muslim Brotherhood in Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Grey_Wolves_(organization)" title="Grey Wolves (organization)">Grey Wolves</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war">Foreign support</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/American-led_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war">American-led intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian_intervention_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Jordanian intervention in the Syrian civil war">Jordanian intervention</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qatari_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Qatari involvement in the Syrian civil war">Qatar</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Saudi_Arabian_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Saudi Arabian involvement in the Syrian civil war">Saudi Arabia</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkish_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war">Turkey</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria" title="Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria">Autonomous Administration<br />of North and East Syria</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Movement_for_a_Democratic_Society" title="Movement for a Democratic Society">DFNS Government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Union_Party_(Syria)" title="Democratic Union Party (Syria)">Democratic Union Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdish_National_Council" title="Kurdish National Council">Kurdish National Council</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Rojava" title="List of political parties in Rojava">Smaller political parties</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces" title="Syrian Democratic Forces">SDF militias</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">People's Protection Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units" title="Women's Protection Units">Women's Protection Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anti-Terror_Units" title="Anti-Terror Units">Anti-Terror Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Sanadid_Forces" title="Al-Sanadid Forces">Al-Sanadid Forces</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Army_of_Revolutionaries" title="Army of Revolutionaries">Army of Revolutionaries</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces_military_councils" title="Syrian Democratic Forces military councils">SDF military councils</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syriac_Military_Council" title="Syriac Military Council">Syriac Military Council</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Liwa_Thuwar_al-Raqqa" title="Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa">Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Democratic_Brigade" title="Northern Democratic Brigade">Northern Democratic Brigade</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;">Support</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Patriotic_Union_of_Kurdistan" title="Patriotic Union of Kurdistan">Patriotic Union of Kurdistan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kurdistan_Workers%27_Party" title="Kurdistan Workers' Party">Kurdistan Workers' Party</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_Freedom_Battalion" title="International Freedom Battalion">International Freedom Battalion</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sinjar_Resistance_Units" title="Sinjar Resistance Units">Sinjar Resistance Units</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/%C3%8Az%C3%AEdxan_Women%27s_Units" title="Êzîdxan Women's Units">Êzîdxan Women's Units</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:6.25em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamism" title="Islamism">Islamists</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Islamic_State" title="Islamic State">Islamic State</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Military_activity_of_the_Islamic_State" class="mw-redirect" title="Military activity of the Islamic State">Military activity of ISIL</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Dokumac%C4%B1lar" title="Dokumacılar">Dokumacılar</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khalid_ibn_al-Walid_Army" title="Khalid ibn al-Walid Army">Khalid ibn al-Walid Army</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jund_al-Aqsa" title="Jund al-Aqsa">Liwa al-Aqsa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Group_of_the_One_and_Only" title="Group of the One and Only">Group of the One and Only</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Liwa_Dawud" title="Liwa Dawud">Liwa Dawud</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Qaeda" title="Al-Qaeda">al-Qaeda</a> and allies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tahrir_al-Sham" title="Tahrir al-Sham">Tahrir al-Sham</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Turkistan_Islamic_Party_in_Syria" title="Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria">Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Caucasus_Emirate" title="Caucasus Emirate">Caucasus Emirate</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ajnad_al-Kavkaz" title="Ajnad al-Kavkaz">Ajnad al-Kavkaz</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Junud_al-Makhdi" title="Junud al-Makhdi">Junud al-Makhdi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Malhama_Tactical" title="Malhama Tactical">Malhama Tactical</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ansar_al-Islam_in_Kurdistan" title="Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan">Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><div id="People" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">People</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ammar_Abdulhamid" title="Ammar Abdulhamid">Ammar Abdulhamid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ali_al-Abdallah" title="Ali al-Abdallah">Ali al-Abdallah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Adnan_al-Aroor" title="Adnan al-Aroor">Adnan al-Aroor</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Al-Assad_family" title="Al-Assad family">al-Assad family</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad" title="Bashar al-Assad">Bashar</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Maher_al-Assad" title="Maher al-Assad">Maher</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rifaat_al-Assad" title="Rifaat al-Assad">Rifaat</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rami_Makhlouf" title="Rami Makhlouf">Rami Makhlouf</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hafez_Makhlouf" title="Hafez Makhlouf">Hafez Makhlouf</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Riad_al-Asaad" title="Riad al-Asaad">Riad al-Asaad</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anwar_al-Bunni" title="Anwar al-Bunni">Anwar al-Bunni</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Fahd_Jassem_al-Freij" title="Fahd Jassem al-Freij">Fahd Jassem al-Freij</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Suheil_al-Hassan" class="mw-redirect" title="Suheil al-Hassan">Suheil al-Hassan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Haitham_al-Maleh" title="Haitham al-Maleh">Haitham al-Maleh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Moaz_al-Khatib" title="Moaz al-Khatib">Moaz al-Khatib</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kamal_al-Labwani" title="Kamal al-Labwani">Kamal al-Labwani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Death_of_Hamza_Ali_Al-Khateeb" title="Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb">Hamza al-Khateeb</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tal_al-Mallohi" title="Tal al-Mallohi">Tal al-Mallohi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Fida_al-Sayed" title="Fida al-Sayed">Fida al-Sayed</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Riad_al-Turk" title="Riad al-Turk">Riad al-Turk</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Khaled_Khoja" title="Khaled Khoja">Khaled Khoja</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ammar_al-Qurabi" title="Ammar al-Qurabi">Ammar al-Qurabi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Suheir_Atassi" title="Suheir Atassi">Suheir Atassi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ali_Sadreddine_Al-Bayanouni" title="Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni">Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Aref_Dalila" title="Aref Dalila">Aref Dalila</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Farid_Ghadry" title="Farid Ghadry">Farid Ghadry</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Burhan_Ghalioun" title="Burhan Ghalioun">Burhan Ghalioun</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Razan_Ghazzawi" title="Razan Ghazzawi">Razan Ghazzawi</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ghassan_Hitto" title="Ghassan Hitto">Ghassan Hitto</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Salim_Idris" title="Salim Idris">Salim Idris</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Randa_Kassis" title="Randa Kassis">Randa Kassis</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Abdul_Halim_Khaddam" title="Abdul Halim Khaddam">Abdul Halim Khaddam</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Michel_Kilo" title="Michel Kilo">Michel Kilo</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bassma_Kodmani" title="Bassma Kodmani">Bassma Kodmani</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ali_Habib_Mahmud" title="Ali Habib Mahmud">Ali Habib Mahmud</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ali_Mahmoud_Othman" title="Ali Mahmoud Othman">Ali Mahmoud Othman</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ibrahim_Qashoush" title="Ibrahim Qashoush">Ibrahim Qashoush</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Dawoud_Rajiha" title="Dawoud Rajiha">Dawoud Rajiha</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Yassin_al-Haj_Saleh" title="Yassin al-Haj Saleh">Yassin al-Haj Saleh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bouthaina_Shaaban" title="Bouthaina Shaaban">Bouthaina Shaaban</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Abdulbaset_Sieda" title="Abdulbaset Sieda">Abdulbaset Sieda</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Riad_Seif" title="Riad Seif">Riad Seif</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Fadwa_Souleimane" title="Fadwa Souleimane">Fadwa Souleimane</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mohamad_Anas_Haitham_Soueid" title="Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid">Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Yaser_Tabbara" title="Yaser Tabbara">Yaser Tabbara</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Razan_Zaitouneh" title="Razan Zaitouneh">Razan Zaitouneh</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rami_Jarrah" title="Rami Jarrah">Rami Jarrah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Abdurrahman_Mustafa" title="Abdurrahman Mustafa">Abdurrahman Mustafa</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Fadlallah_al-Haji" title="Fadlallah al-Haji">Fadlallah al-Haji</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"><div id="Related" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Related</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Elections</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2011_Syrian_local_elections" title="2011 Syrian local elections">2011 local elections</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2012_Syrian_parliamentary_election" title="2012 Syrian parliamentary election">2012 parliamentary election</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Syrian_presidential_election" title="2014 Syrian presidential election">2014 presidential election</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Rojava_local_elections" title="2015 Rojava local elections">2015 Northern local elections</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2016_Syrian_parliamentary_election" title="2016 Syrian parliamentary election">2016 parliamentary election</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Rojava_local_elections" title="2017 Rojava local elections">2017 Northern local elections</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2017_Rojava_regional_elections" title="2017 Rojava regional elections">2017 Northern regional elections</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_Syrian_local_elections" title="2018 Syrian local elections">2018 local elections</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2020_Syrian_parliamentary_election" title="2020 Syrian parliamentary election">2020 parliamentary election</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2021_Syrian_presidential_election" title="2021 Syrian presidential election">2021 presidential election</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Issues</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Casualties of the Syrian civil war">Casualties</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Cities_and_towns_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Cities and towns during the Syrian civil war">Cities and towns</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Use_of_chemical_weapons_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war">Chemical weapons</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_heritage_sites_damaged_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="List of heritage sites damaged during the Syrian civil war">Damaged heritage sites</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Foreign_involvement_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Foreign involvement in the Syrian civil war">Foreign involvement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war">Human rights violations</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Humanitarian_aid_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war">Humanitarian aid</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_demonstrations_and_protests_relating_to_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="International demonstrations and protests relating to the Syrian civil war">International demonstrations and protests</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_reactions_to_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="International reactions to the Syrian civil war">International reactions</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_massacres_during_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="List of massacres during the Syrian civil war">Massacres</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Refugees of the Syrian civil war">Refugees</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sectarianism_and_minorities_in_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian civil war">Sectarianism and minorities</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Status_of_the_Golan_Heights" class="mw-redirect" title="Status of the Golan Heights">Status of the Golan Heights</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war_spillover_in_Lebanon" title="Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon">Spillover in Lebanon</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_government_reactions_to_the_Syrian_civil_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian government reactions to the Syrian civil war">Syrian government reactions</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_peace_process" title="Syrian peace process">Peace process</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arab_League_monitors_in_Syria" title="Arab League monitors in Syria">Arab League monitors</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Friends_of_Syria_Group" title="Friends of Syria Group">Friends of Syria Group</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kofi_Annan_Syrian_peace_plan" title="Kofi Annan Syrian peace plan">Kofi Annan peace plan</a>
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations_Supervision_Mission_in_Syria" title="United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria">UN supervision mission</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lakhdar_Brahimi_Syrian_peace_plan" title="Lakhdar Brahimi Syrian peace plan">Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/U.S.%E2%80%93Russia_peace_proposals_on_Syria" title="U.S.–Russia peace proposals on Syria">U.S.–Russia peace proposals</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/39th_G8_summit" title="39th G8 summit">39th G8 summit</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_2118" title="United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118">UN Security Council Resolution 2118</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Geneva_II_Conference_on_Syria" title="Geneva II Conference on Syria">Geneva II conference</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_Zabadani_cease-fire_agreement" title="2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement">2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Vienna_peace_talks_for_Syria" title="Vienna peace talks for Syria">Vienna talks</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Geneva_peace_talks_on_Syria_(2016)" title="Geneva peace talks on Syria (2016)">2016 Geneva talks</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Idlib_demilitarization_(2018%E2%80%932019)" title="Idlib demilitarization (2018–2019)">Idlib demilitarization (2018–present)</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Northern_Syria_Buffer_Zone" title="Northern Syria Buffer Zone">First Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Second_Northern_Syria_Buffer_Zone" title="Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone">Second Northern Syria Demilitarization Deal</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Constitutional_Committee" title="Syrian Constitutional Committee">Syrian Constitutional Committee</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">War crimes trials</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/V%C3%B6lkerstrafgesetzbuch#Syrian_civil_war" title="Völkerstrafgesetzbuch">Universal jurisdiction trials in Germany</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Exclusive_mandate" title="Exclusive mandate">Exclusive mandate</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Fourth_Extraordinary_Session_of_the_Islamic_Summit_Conference" title="Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference">Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/International_recognition_of_the_Syrian_National_Council" title="International recognition of the Syrian National Council">International recognition of the Syrian National Council</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syria_Files" title="Syria Files">Syria Files</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2014_Syrian_detainee_report" title="2014 Syrian detainee report">Syrian detainee report</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Media_coverage_of_the_Syrian_civil_war" title="Media coverage of the Syrian civil war">Syrian media coverage</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/2015_European_migrant_crisis" title="2015 European migrant crisis">2015 European migrant crisis</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_civil_war_in_popular_culture" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian civil war in popular culture">Syrian civil war in popular culture</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2"><div>
<ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Category:Syrian_civil_war" title="Category:Syrian civil war">Category</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Militaries_of_the_Arab_world" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template:Military_of_the_Arab_world" title="Template:Military of the Arab world"><abbr title="View this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Template_talk:Military_of_the_Arab_world" title="Template talk:Military of the Arab world"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Military_of_the_Arab_world" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Military of the Arab world"><abbr title="Edit this template" style=";;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Militaries_of_the_Arab_world" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Militaries of the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Arab_world" title="Arab world">Arab world</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sovereign_state" title="Sovereign state">Sovereign states</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Algerian_People%27s_National_Army" title="Algerian People's National Army">Algeria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bahrain_Defence_Force" title="Bahrain Defence Force">Bahrain</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Military_of_the_Comoros" class="mw-redirect" title="Military of the Comoros">Comoros</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Djibouti_Armed_Forces" title="Djibouti Armed Forces">Djibouti</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Egyptian_Armed_Forces" title="Egyptian Armed Forces">Egypt</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iraqi_Armed_Forces" title="Iraqi Armed Forces">Iraq</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Jordanian_Armed_Forces" title="Jordanian Armed Forces">Jordan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kuwait_Military_Forces" class="mw-redirect" title="Kuwait Military Forces">Kuwait</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Lebanese_Armed_Forces" title="Lebanese Armed Forces">Lebanon</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Libyan_Armed_Forces" title="Libyan Armed Forces">Libya</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Military_of_Mauritania" class="mw-redirect" title="Military of Mauritania">Mauritania</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Royal_Moroccan_Armed_Forces" title="Royal Moroccan Armed Forces">Morocco</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sultan_of_Oman%27s_Armed_Forces" title="Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces">Oman</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Qatar_Armed_Forces" title="Qatar Armed Forces">Qatar</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Saudi_Arabia" title="Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Somali_Armed_Forces" title="Somali Armed Forces">Somalia</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sudanese_Armed_Forces" title="Sudanese Armed Forces">Sudan</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Syrian_Armed_Forces" title="Syrian Armed Forces">Syria</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Tunisian_Armed_Forces" title="Tunisian Armed Forces">Tunisia</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Armed_Forces" title="United Arab Emirates Armed Forces">United Arab Emirates</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Republic_of_Yemen_Armed_Forces" class="mw-redirect" title="Republic of Yemen Armed Forces">Yemen</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_states_with_limited_recognition" title="List of states with limited recognition">States with limited recognition</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Palestinian_National_Security_Forces" title="Palestinian National Security Forces">Palestine</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Polisario_Front" title="Polisario Front">Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Somaliland_Armed_Forces" title="Somaliland Armed Forces">Somaliland</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Autonomous regional armed forces</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Peshmerga" title="Peshmerga">Peshmerga</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Non-state_actors" class="mw-redirect" title="Non-state actors">Non-state actors</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Military_activity_of_the_Islamic_State" class="mw-redirect" title="Military activity of the Islamic State">Islamic State</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hamas" title="Hamas">Hamas</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Hezbollah" title="Hezbollah">Hezbollah</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Houthi_movement" title="Houthi movement">Houthi movement</a></li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/People%27s_Protection_Units" class="mw-redirect" title="People's Protection Units">People's Protection Units</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><i>italic</i> - country that sometimes recognized as part of Arab world</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1038841319">.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q277036#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q277036#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q277036#identifiers" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, /upwiki/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">International</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://viaf.org/viaf/3694150869800922190001">VIAF</a></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">National</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/1158633351">Germany</a></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><span class="rt-commentedText tooltip tooltip-dotted" title="Yekîneyên Parastina Gel"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=olak2016934723&CON_LNG=ENG">Czech Republic</a></span></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>' |
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | '1711391655' |
