Eastern Syria insurgency facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eastern Syria insurgency
Part of the Rojava conflict and the Syrian civil war
Map of areas held by the SDF (in green)
Date 11 October 2017 – present (7 years, 8 months and 1 week) Location Portions of eastern Syria Status Ongoing

The Eastern Syria insurgency is an ongoing conflict in eastern Syria. It involves different armed groups fighting against the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), its military called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and their allies from the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF–OIR) coalition.

The groups fighting in this insurgency include remaining fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). There are also other local groups, mostly Arabs, who either support or oppose the Syrian government.

Understanding the Conflict's Start

This conflict began after major battles in 2016 and 2017. During these battles, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led coalition took back land from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Taking Back Territory from ISIL

The SDF and their allies successfully captured the city of Raqqa, which was ISIL's main base. They also took control of other areas in the Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor Governorate regions.

Local Feelings After the Battles

Many of these areas are home to mostly Arab people, and some also have a lot of Syrian Turkmen people. Some of these local groups were not happy with the Kurdish influence in the SDF, even though the SDF had helped defeat ISIL.

Groups Involved in the Insurgency

After ISIL lost control, different armed groups started to appear in the areas the SDF and the coalition had captured.

ISIL's Secret Operations

Some of these groups are made up of ISIL fighters who now operate in secret. They work in hidden cells, meaning small, secret groups that carry out attacks.

Other Local Armed Groups

Other groups are mostly Arabs. They have formed their own armed forces. Some of these groups support the Syrian opposition, while others support the Syrian government.

Tactics Used by Insurgents

These groups use special fighting methods called guerrilla tactics. This means they avoid big, open battles. Instead, they use surprise attacks and quick strikes.

Common Attack Methods

Their attacks include targeting specific people, quick "hit-and-run" attacks, firing rockets, and using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). IEDs are homemade bombs designed to cause damage.

Where Attacks Happen

These attacks have taken place in many cities across the region known as Rojava. This includes cities like Manbij, Raqqa, and Hasakah.