Syrian Democratic Forces

Will Syria's myriad militias unite under one national army?

Some are happy to do so, some may need coaxing, and others have completely ruled it out. Al Majalla gives an overview of the different armed factions and what they want.

Abbas Sharifa 04 February 2025

Tribal members in northwestern Syria have declared a general mobilization and are demanding the opening of roads to Deir ez-Zor.

Getty Images

Recent flare-up shows why Deir ez-Zor is Syria's next flashpoint city

The arrest of a local leader has highlighted tensions over which groups are in control of a fragmented and war-torn land. More violence now looks likely as political faultines are revealed

Rustum Mahmud 07 September 2023

Shi'ite militias in Iraq, near the Syria border strip in 2015. Photo credit: AP

Disagreements over Smuggling between Regime Forces, Iranian Militias in Syria

Despite the relative calm that the various Syrian regions are experiencing, many disputes have begun to appear in the open between Syrian regime forces and the local and foreign militias that enjoy…

Jiwan Soz 30 April 2022

Kurdish People's Protection Units fighters take up positions inside a damaged building in al-Vilat al-Homor, as they monitor the movements of ISIS fighters who are stationed in Ghwayran. (Reuters)

ISIS Returns to Syria, Uses its Children as Human Shields

The Syrian province of Al Hasakah, in the north-east of the country, has recently witnessed armed clashes between elements of the ISIS organization and the Syrian Democratic Forces, known as the SDF,…

Jwan Soz - Qamishli 28 January 2022

The Biden administration should pursue a step-by-step de-escalation by both sides. (Photo: Reuters)

A Deal Is Still Possible in Syria

As U.S. President Joe Biden and his team focus on the Iran nuclear file, the war in Syria remains a festering wound at the heart of the Middle East. Although the current administration has made no…

James F. Jeffrey 20 December 2021

A file photo of an Iraqi policeman manning machine gun near the Iraqi-Syrian borders at the Abu Kamal-qaim border crossing, the main border post between Iraq and Syria, September 8, 2012. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)

Smuggling across Syrian-Iraqi Borders: New Challenge to Intl Coalition

Smuggling activities between Syria and Iraq poses a new challenge for the US-led international coalition, whose troops are located on both sides of Syrian-Iraqi borders. The coalition forces are…

Jiwan Soz 27 August 2021

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a briefing at the State Department, Monday, August 2, 2021, in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool via AP)

First US Sanctions Imposed on Turkish-backed Syrian Militia

It took the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), which is a Syrian armed group that opposes President Bashar Assad’s regime but supports the Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, more than…

Jiwan Soz 06 August 2021

Mother of reporter Farhad Hamo looking at a photo of her son who was kidnapped by ISIS several years ago. (Facebook)

Still Missing in ISIS Prisons

Still unknown is the fate of Syrian citizens who were abducted by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) many years ago when the group held control of large swaths of Syrian and Iraqi lands…

Jiwan Soz 23 April 2021

Donald Trump with Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, in the Cabinet Room on Monday. (AP)

Decision to Withdraw from Syria Sparks Debate Among Republicans

President Donald Trump surprised friends and adversaries alike this week by announcing that the U.S. would be withdrawing the roughly 2,000 troops deployed in northeastern Syria as part of the…

Joseph Braude 12 October 2019

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LATEST ISSUE

Syrian Democratic Forces

Will Syria's myriad militias unite under one national army?

Recent flare-up shows why Deir ez-Zor is Syria's next flashpoint city

Disagreements over Smuggling between Regime Forces, Iranian Militias in Syria

ISIS Returns to Syria, Uses its Children as Human Shields

A Deal Is Still Possible in Syria

Smuggling across Syrian-Iraqi Borders: New Challenge to Intl Coalition

First US Sanctions Imposed on Turkish-backed Syrian Militia

Still Missing in ISIS Prisons

Decision to Withdraw from Syria Sparks Debate Among Republicans

Two years after October 7

Cheers and jeers as Syria votes in first post-Assad parliament

Allies' anger over Gaza tests US support for Israel

Qatar’s economic resilience and the road ahead

Morocco's influence on Matisse

OPINIONS

Türkiye poised to strengthen its hand in the Eastern Mediterranean

Qatar’s economic resilience and the road ahead

Morocco’s Gen Z takes to the streets demanding change

Will Lebanon miss its chance at good ties with Syria?

Syrian Democratic Forces

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