Manbij Military Council Explained

Manbij Military Council
Native Name:مجلس منبج العسكري
Native Name Lang:ar
War:Syrian civil war
Active:2 April 2016 – present
Clans:
Leader1 Title:Top commander
Leader1 Name:
Leader2 Title:Spokesperson
Leader2 Name:Shervan Derwish
Leader3 Title:Notable commanders
Leader3 Name:
  • Faisal Abdi Bilal Saadoun ("Abu Layla", 2016)
  • Dilsuz Hashme[6]
  • Ibrahim Semho (Euphrates Liberation Brigade)
  • Abu Jassim
  • Abu Khalaf
  • Ahmad Arsh (Manbij Revolutionaries Battalion)
  • Ibrahim al-Banawi
Size:5,000–6,000 (2018)[7]
Headquarters:Tishrin Dam (pre-offensive)
Manbij (post-offensive)
Area:Aleppo, Raqqa, Hasaka, and Deir ez-Zor governorates, Syria
Partof: Syrian Democratic Forces (unofficially)[8] [9] [10]
Allies: United States
France
Opponents:
Syrian National Army
Turkey (denied by MMC)
Battles:

The Manbij Military Council (MMC) is a coalition established by several groups in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily the Northern Sun Battalion, on 2 April 2016 at the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates. The MMC led the SDF's Manbij offensive from June 2016 that led to the capture of the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant two months later. Most fighters in the MMC are from Manbij and the surrounding areas.

History

2016

See main article: Manbij offensive. The Manbij offensive has included the Manbij Military Council, US special operations forces, and minimal YPG and YPJ involvement assisted by US-led coalition airstrikes. The SDF fighters are mostly Arabs. 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".[12]

On 5 April 2016, a civilian council was formed in the town of Sarrin by individuals originally from Manbij who had fled when Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took over. The council consists of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Circassians,[13] and was created to administer Manbij after its capture.[14]

The commander of the Manbij Military Council, Abu Layla, died of wounds he suffered from gunshots in the Manbij front against the Islamic State. He was succeeded by Muhammad Mustafa ("Abu Adel").

On 19 August 2016, the Manbij Military Council issued a statement which announced that it was taking over the security of Manbij city center and villages from the YPG and YPJ, though some of their fighters remained to continue to provide training and other support duties.[15] [16]

In early November 2016, a 'battalion' from the Sham Legion defected and joined the MMC.

On 17 November 2016, the rest of the YPG and YPJ fighters left Manbij, leaving the security of the area and training of troops fully to the council.[17]

2017

On 2 March 2017, the Manbij Military Council handed over a vast expanse of territory west of Manbij to the Syrian Army to create a buffer zone between the SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. They released a statement saying that "Defending the civilians and protecting them from the adverse impact of the war, ensuring the security of Manbij and frustrating the invasion plans of the Turkish army against Syrian soil are the goals we have taken for all the peoples living on the lands of Syria,"[18] and that

and

On 17 April 2017, it was announced that 200 fighters from the council would participate in the Battle of Tabqa to take al-Thawra, part of the larger Raqqa campaign. On 24 May 2017, an additional 2,200 fighters were sent for the fourth phase of the campaign.

The Manbij Military Council fought in the Battle of Raqqa since 6 June 2017. On 29 August, Adnan Abu Amjad, general commander of the Manbij Military Council, was killed in action during the battle.[19]

On 17 September 2017, Muhammad Mustafa Ali, also known by his nom de guerre "Abu Adel", was appointed the general commander of the Manbij Military Council as the successor of Adnan Abu Amjad.[4] [20] On 5 November 2017, Abu Adel was wounded by an IED of Harakat al-Qiyam, a rebel group in northern Syria.[5]

On 27 November 2017, the Martyr Adnan Abu Amjad Regiment, consisting of 250 fighters was established, and joined the MMC.

2018

During the Turkish invasion of Afrin, the Manbij Military Council released a condemnation stating, “This aggression that practices ethnic cleansing and mass genocide against our people in Afrin is aimed for producing terrorist groups in areas where there is peace and coexistence.”[21] The Council prepared to resist a possible Turkish attack on Manbij, with hundreds of additional SDF troops transferred from the Deir Ezzor frontlines.[22]

On 5 June 2018, a day after Turkey and the U.S. agreed to a roadmap for the Manbij region, the YPG announced it would withdraw its remaining forces there, who they stated were serving as tactical advisors to the MMC.[23]

2019

On 11 March 2019, Manbij Military Council Co-Chair Muhammad Mustafa told Al-Monitor that “Russian commanders told us exactly two days ago that the minute the Americans leave they will deploy their forces along the demarcation line.”[24]

On 19 March, it was reported that the MMC had facilitated the capture of five Islamic State militants believed responsible for a January 2019 suicide bombing which killed four Americans.[25]

On 26 March, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a checkpoint bombing that killed 7 members of the MMC.[26]

During Operation Peace Spring, the Council prepared to defend Manbij from Turkey, until the SDF reached a military agreement with the Syrian Government and Russia to prevent a Turkish operation.[27]

On 15 October, under the terms of the military agreement, Russian and Syrian troops were positioned along SDF’s frontlines with Turkey in Manbij.[28] While some international media outlets inaccurately reported that Manbij had come under Syrian Government control,[29] the two sides only agreed to station the SAA on the Autonomous Administration’s borders with Turkey, and the Government has no institutions in Manbij.[30]

2020

On 3 February 2019, the Manbij Military Council called on Manbij residents serving in Syrian National Army militias in Turkish-occupied zones to defect and return to the region. [31]

On 10 June, the Council’s spokesperson, Shervan Derwish, survived an IED assassination attempt.[32]

2021

On 2 June 2021, the Manbij Military Council announced it would halt regional conscription in the face of popular local protests, as well as some riots. [33]

As with every other year, Turkish forces shelled MMC positions multiple times in 2021.[34] [35]

2022

Turkey shelled the Manbij countryside including many villages constantly in 2022, killing and displacing civilians as a result.[36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] The MMC and its components including the Kurdish Front, Al-Bab Military Council and the Army of Revolutionaries vowed again the resist any Turkish operation against Manbij region.[42]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Join the banner of liberalization of the Euphrates to the Military Council in Aleppo Manbej. https://web.archive.org/web/20161004154855/http://aranews.org/2016/10/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%AC/. dead. October 4, 2016. ARA News. 2 October 2016.
  2. Web site: The formation of a brigade Hawks Manbej and join the Council of Manbej military. Hawar News Agency. Arabic. 27 November 2016. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009202957/http://hawarnews.com/%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B5%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D9%85/. 9 October 2017. dead.
  3. Web site: A Border Police of Assad regime? or a commander in SDF factions?. Verify. 6 March 2017. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170725072313/http://www.verify-sy.com/A-Border-Police-of-Assad-regime--or-a-commander-in-SDF-factions-/614/International-media/en. 25 July 2017. dead.
  4. Web site: Muhammad Abu Adel, MMC new commander. Hawar News Agency. 18 September 2017. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180123113143/http://en.hawarnews.com/muhammad-abu-adel-mmc-new-commander/. 23 January 2018. dead.
  5. Web site: FSA Qiyam Movement claims the responsibility.
  6. Web site: Inside The Fight To Retake Raqqa From ISIS. Aris Roussinos. Aris Roussinos. 19 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Asharq Al-Awsat Exclusive: Manbij Agreement Tests US-Turkish Ties. Asharq Al-Awsat. Ibrahim Humaidi. 6 June 2018.
  8. Web site: The Meaning of Manbij. Carnegie Middle East Center. Hadeel al-Saidawi. 5 October 2018.
  9. Web site: Islamic State claims attack on SDF in Manbij, first since territorial defeat. Middle East Eye. 26 March 2019.
  10. Web site: We are not against turkey… The Syrian Democratic Forces are our ally and we are not subordinated to them. North Press Agency. 9 May 2019.
  11. Web site: 200 fighters from Manbij to join Raqqa operation, SDF gets closer to Tabqa centre. Wladimir van Wilgenburg. ARA News. 18 April 2017. 18 April 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170419101805/http://aranews.net/2017/04/200-fighters-manbij-join-raqqa-operation-sdf-gets-closer-tabqa-centre/. 19 April 2017.
  12. News: SDF-led Manbij Military Council cuts off ISIS supply route between Raqqa and Manbij. Ara News. 2016-06-05. 2016-06-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160606122340/http://aranews.net/2016/06/sdf-linked-manbij-military-council-cuts-off-isis-supply-route-raqqa-manbij/. 2016-06-06.
  13. Web site: Kurds, rebels in rat race to seize ISIS territory. Wilgenburg. Wladimir van. now.mmedia.me. 2016-05-30. 2016-04-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425174147/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/566847-kurds-rebels-in-rat-race-to-seize-isis-territory. dead.
  14. Web site: Kurds set up new civilian council for recapturing Syria's Manbij from ISIS. ARA News. 6 April 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407222648/http://aranews.net/2016/04/kurds-set-new-civilian-council-recapturing-syrias-manbij-isis/. 7 April 2016.
  15. Web site: SDF withdraws from Manbij after liberation, handing city over to local council. aranews. 19 April 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821072129/http://aranews.net/2016/08/22872/. 21 August 2016.
  16. Web site: Manbij Military Council takes over the security of Manbij. ANF. 19 August 2016.
  17. Web site: YPJ and YPG withdraw from Manbij. Hawar News Agency. 4 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161122210719/http://en.hawarnews.com/ypj-and-ypg-withdraw-from-manbij/. 22 November 2016.
  18. Web site: Russian general confirms a Kurdish-Russian deal against Turkey. https://web.archive.org/web/20170305013410/http://aranews.net/2017/03/russian-general-confirms-a-kurdish-russian-deal-against-turkey/. dead. March 5, 2017. ARA News. 5 March 2017. 5 March 2017.
  19. Web site: SDF: Manbij commander Adnan killed in Raqqa offensive. Rudaw Media Network. 30 August 2017.
  20. Web site: Mohammed Abu Adel as General Commander of the Manbaj Military Council. Furat FM Radio. 17 September 2017. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918154653/http://furatfm.com/2017/09/17/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9/. 18 September 2017. dead.
  21. Web site: 5 December 2018 . Manbij Military Council vows to resist possible Turkish assault . 9 December 2023 . Rudaw.
  22. Web site: Schmitt, Nordland . Eric, Rod . 28 February 2018 . Amid Turkish Assault, Kurdish Forces Are Drawn Away From U.S. Fight With Islamic State . 9 December 2023 . WRAL NEWS.
  23. Web site: June 5, 2018 . YPG confirms withdrawal from Syria's Manbij after Turkey-US deal . 9 December 2023 . AlJazeera.
  24. Web site: Zaman . Amberin . 11 March 2018 . Russian forces will defend Manbij 'the minute Americans leave' . 9 December 2023 . Al-Monitor.
  25. Web site: Martinez . Luis . 19 March 2019 . 5 ISIS fighters captured for alleged role in Syria blast that killed 4 Americans . 9 December 2019 . ABC News.
  26. Web site: 26 March 2019 . 7 US-backed Kurdish fighters killed in ISIS attack in Manbij . 9 December 2023 . MilitaryTimes.
  27. Web site: Najjar . Farah . 16 October 2019 . New front in Syria's war: Why Manbij matters . 9 December 2023 . Al Jazeera.
  28. Web site: McKernan . Bethan . 15 October 2019 . Russian troops patrol between Turkish and Syrian forces on border . 9 December 2023 . The Guardian.
  29. Web site: 15 October 2019 . Russia-backed Syrian forces enter key city . 9 December 2023 . DW.
  30. Web site: Hamidi . Ibrahim . 7 December 2022 . Mazloum Abdi: US Barred Türkiye from Carrying Out Military Operation in Syria . 9 December 2023 . Asharq Al-Awsat.
  31. Web site: al-Ahmde . Rana . 20 February 2020 . Will Manbij fighters heed the call to return home? . 9 December 2023 . Al-Monitor.
  32. Web site: Van Wilgenburg . Wladimir . 10 June 2020 . Local official survives assassination attempt in Syria's Manbij . 9 December 2023 . Kurdistan24.
  33. Web site: van Wilgenburg . Wladimir . 3 June 2021 . Military conscription suspended after protests and riots in Syria's Manbij . 10 December 2023 . Kurdistan 24.
  34. Web site: al-Hassan . Saddam . 8 February 2023 . Turkey bombarded Manbij Military Council posts northern Syria . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  35. Web site: al-Hassan . Saddam . 22 June 2021 . Turkey intensively shells Syria's Manbij countryside . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  36. Web site: al-Hassan . Fadi . 8 July 2022 . Turkish bombardment forces villagers in Syria's Manbij to flee in night . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  37. Web site: Haydar . Ammar . 11 June 2022 . Turkey shells telecommunications tower in Syria's Manbij . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  38. Web site: al-Hussein . Fadi . 23 October 2022 . Turkish shelling prevents farmers from cultivating lands in Syria's Manbij . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  39. Web site: al-Hassan . Saddam . 1 March 2022 . Villages of Syria's Manbij hit with 25 Turkish shells . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  40. Web site: al-Hassan . Saddam . 28 April 2022 . Syria's Manbij countryside hit with Turkish drones, shells . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.
  41. Web site: 4 December 2022 . The outcome of the Turkish occupation attacks against NE Syria on December 3, 2022 . 4 December 2022 . sdf-press.com.
  42. Web site: al-Hussein . Saddam . 16 July 2022 . SDF's military council in Manbij condemns Turkish threats against northern Syria . 10 December 2023 . North Press Agency.

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