Rise of the Syrian Democratic Forces

A new U.S.-backed alliance is pushing toward the Syrian town of Shadadi, a Daesh-controlled logistics hub. Command of its strategic network of highways could help isolate Raqqa — Daesh’s de facto capital

Oct 10: U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG militia, Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC) and Christian Syriac groups form Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Strength estimated at 4,000 SAC, 12,500 YPG and 1,900 Syriac fighters

Control and support for Daesh

(so-called Islamic State)

Kurdish control

SDF alliance control

Syrian regime control

Oct 13: Four U.S. C-17 cargo planes, accompanied by fighter escort, airdrop 50 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to SDF

TURKEY

100km

60 miles

Nov 12: SDF — backed by coalition air strikes — takes Khatounie

Raqqa

Nov 16: Al-Hawl falls to SDF

IRAQ

LEBANON

Dec 8-9: Democratic Syria Council — political front for SDF — established at city of al-Malikiyah

SYRIA

Damascus

Target: Shaddadi, stronghold Daesh uses for military training

JORDAN

al-Malikiyah

TURKEY

HASAKA PROVINCE

Hasaka

SDF

headquarters

Khatounie

al-Hawl

Tal Afar

SYRIA

al-Shadadi

Euphrates

Raqqa

Deir al-Zawr

IRAQ

RAQQA

PROVINCE

DEIR

AL-ZAWR

PROVINCE

50km

30 miles

HOMS

Sources: Global Security, Institute for United Conflict Analysists

Rise of the Syrian Democratic Forces

A new U.S.-backed alliance is pushing toward the Syrian town of Shadadi, a Daesh-controlled logistics hub. Command of its strategic network of highways could help isolate Raqqa — Daesh’s de facto capital

TURKEY

100km

Control and

support for Daesh

(so-called

Islamic State)

60 miles

Raqqa

Kurdish control

IRAQ

LEBANON

SYRIA

SDF alliance

control

Damascus

Syrian regime

control

JORDAN

al-Malikiyah

TURKEY

HASAKA PROVINCE

Hasaka

SDF HQ

Khatounie

al-Hawl

Tal Afar

SYRIA

al-Shadadi

Euphrates

Raqqa

Deir al-Zawr

IRAQ

RAQQA

PROVINCE

DEIR

AL-ZAWR

PROVINCE

50km

30 miles

HOMS

Oct 10: U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG militia, Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC) and Christian Syriac groups form Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Strength estimated at 4,000 SAC, 12,500 YPG and 1,900 Syriac fighters

Oct 13: Four U.S. C-17 cargo planes, accompanied by fighter escort, airdrop 50 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to SDF (below)

Nov 12: SDF — backed by coalition air strikes — takes Khatounie

Nov 16: Al-Hawl falls to SDF

Dec 8-9: Democratic Syria Council — political front for SDF — established at city of al-Malikiyah (below)

Target: Shaddadi, stronghold Daesh uses for military training

Sources: Global Security, Institute for United Conflict Analysists

Pictures: AFP/Getty Images, Mohanad Mezghiche

Rise of the Syrian Democratic Forces

A new U.S.-backed alliance is pushing toward the Syrian town of Shadadi, a Daesh-controlled logistics hub. Command of its strategic network of highways could help isolate Raqqa — Daesh’s de facto capital

TURKEY

100km

60 miles

Raqqa

IRAQ

LEBANON

SYRIA

Damascus

JORDAN

Control and support for Daesh (so-called Islamic State)

Kurdish control

SDF alliance control

Syrian regime control

50km

al-Malikiyah

30 miles

TURKEY

HASAKA PROV.

Khatounie

Hasaka

SYRIA

al-Hawl

al-Shadadi

Euphrates

Deir

al-Zawr

Raqqa

IRAQ

Oct 10: U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG militia, Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC) and Christian Syriac groups form Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Strength estimated at 4,000 SAC, 12,500 YPG and 1,900 Syriac fighters

Oct 13: Four U.S. C-17 cargo planes, accompanied by fighter escort, airdrop 50 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to SDF (below)

Nov 12: SDF — backed by coalition air strikes — takes Khatounie

Nov 16: Al-Hawl falls to SDF

Dec 8-9: Democratic Syria Council — political front for SDF — established at city of al-Malikiyah (below)

Target: Shaddadi, stronghold Daesh uses for military training

Pictures: Getty Images, Mohanad Mezghiche

Sources: Global Security, Institute for United Conflict Analysists