Syrian Democratic Forces military councils
Throughout 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces have established three separate military councils in the Shahba region in order to facilitate and conduct military operations in the region. As of late 2016, the three military councils are the Manbij Military Council, the al-Bab Military Council, and the Jarabulus Military Council.
Manbij
| Manbij Military Council | |
|---|---|
| Participant in Syrian Civil War | |
|
Flag of the Manbij Military Council | |
| Active | 2 April 2016 - present |
| Groups |
|
| Leaders | |
| Headquarters |
Tishrin Dam (pre-offensive) Manbij (post-offensive) |
| Area of operations | Manbij District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
The Manbij Military Council is a coalition established by seven components of the SDF group Army of Revolutionaries on 2 April 2016 at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates. The military council aims to capture the city of Manbij across the river and many of the council members are local fighters from the surrounding areas.
History
The Manbij offensive has included the Manbij Military Council, the US Special Operations Forces, and minimal YPG and YPJ involvement assisted by coalition airstrikes, and the offensive will be mostly made of Arabs which what the Manbij Military Council fighters are composed of and minimal YPG involvement. During the offensive, an SDF fighter gave his perspective as "we have Arabs, Kurds, nobody knows how many exactly, we all work under the SDF-forces".[4]
On 5 April, a civilian council was formed in the town of Sarin by individuals originally from Manbij who had fled when IS took over. The council consists of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Circassians,[5] and was created to administer Manbij after its future capture.[6]
The commander of the Manbij Military Council, Abu Layla, died of wounds he suffered from gunshots in the Manbij front against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. He was replaced by Abu Adel.
On 19 August 2016, Manbij Military Council issued a written statement and announced that it took over the security of Manbij city center and villages fromYPG and YPJ, though a batch of fighters remaining to continue to provide training and other support duties.[7][8] On 17 November 2016, the 2nd and final batch of YPG and YPJ fighters left Manbij, leaving the security of the area and training of troops fully to the council.[9]
Post-Manbij offensive expansion
- On 1 October 2016, 250 fighters from Manbij graduated from military training formed the Euphrates Liberation Brigade as part of the Manbij Military Council and the SDF.[2]
- In early November 2016, a 'battalion' from the Sham Legion defected and joined the MMC.[10]
- On 27 November 2016, 260 fighters from Manbij graduated after training and formed the Manbij Hawks Brigade, as part of the Manbij Military Council.[3]
Al-Bab
| Al-Bab Military Council | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
 | |
| Active | 14 August 2016-present |
| Groups |
|
| Headquarters | Manbij |
| Area of operations | Al-Bab District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
The al-Bab Military Council was formed on 14 August 2016 by seven small SDF-affiliated factions with the goal of capturing the city of al-Bab, west of Manbij and "a symbol of the revolution and the foundation for a democratic, free and plural Syria". The military council called for US support, and later Afrin based SDF forces launched the an offensive in the countryside, west of al-Bab.[13]
On 31 October 2016, an all-female battalion was established within' the al-Bab Military Council.[11]
Jarabulus
| Jarabulus Military Council | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Syrian Civil War | |
|
Flag of the Jarablus Military Council | |
| Active | August 2016-present |
| Groups |
|
| Leaders | |
| Headquarters | Manbij |
| Area of operations | Manbij District, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
| Battles and wars | |
The Jarabulus Military Council is a SDF coalition in the Shaba Region formed by local fighters from the city of Jarabulus and the surrounding areas that fled from ISIL.[16]
Abdel Sattar al-Jader, the initial leader of the Jarabulus Military Council and the commander of the Euphrates Jarabulus Brigades, was assassinated just prior to the Turkish military intervention in the Syrian Civil War, and the SDF have accused the Turkish military intelligence of organizing the murder.[14]
References
- ↑ "Conflict between US-led coalition allies increases, one Turkish soldier killed - ARA News". 28 August 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- 1 2 "Join the banner of liberalization of the Euphrates to the Military Council in Aleppo Manbej". ARA News. 2 October 2016.
- 1 2 "The formation of a brigade Hawks Manbej and join the Council of Manbej military". Hawar News. 27 November 2016.
- ↑ "SDF-led Manbij Military Council cuts off ISIS supply route between Raqqa and Manbij". Ara News. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- ↑ Wilgenburg, Wladimir van. "Kurds, rebels in rat race to seize ISIS territory". now.mmedia.me. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
- ↑ "Kurds set up new civilian council for recapturing Syria's Manbij from ISIS". ARA News. 6 April 2016.
- ↑ "SDF withdraws from Manbij after liberation, handing city over to local council". aranews. 19 April 2016.
- ↑ "Manbij Military Council takes over the security of Manbij". ANF. 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "YPJ and YPG withdraw from Manbij - ANHA". Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Syrian Rebellion Obs on Twitter".
- 1 2 "Inspired by Kurdish units, al-Bab Military Council creates all-female battalion - ARA News". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Ongoing battles in Shahba, a mercenary commander killed - ANHA". Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Military Council Formed for the Liberation of Al-Bab in Rojava". Kurdish Question. 14 August 2016.
- 1 2 "Turkey's Syria offensive aimed at Kurdish YPG". Deutsche Welle. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ↑ "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016.
- ↑ "Kurdish-backed council says Turkey's intervention to make Syrian town "grave for Erdogan troops"". ARA News. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
