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2011 CE — 2017 CE

Syrian Revolution & Rojava

Syria & Iraq KobaniAfrinJaziraMosul

The Syrian civil war, erupting in 2011, created an unprecedented opportunity for Syrian Kurds. On July 19, 2012, the YPG took control of Kobani, followed by Amuda and Afrin, as Syrian government forces withdrew without resistance -- the Rojava Revolution had begun. Based on Ocalan's model of democratic confederalism, the autonomous administration established three cantons (Afrin, Jazira, Kobani) emphasizing direct democracy, gender equality, and multi-ethnic governance. When ISIS swept across Iraq and Syria in 2014, Kurdish fighters became the most effective ground force against the jihadists. The 112-day Battle of Kobani (September 2014 - January 2015) became a global symbol of resistance, with YPG/YPJ fighters -- including thousands of women warriors -- defeating ISIS with US air support. Kurdish-led SDF forces went on to liberate Raqqa, the ISIS "capital" (2017). In Iraq, Peshmerga held the line when the Iraqi Army collapsed before ISIS in June 2014.

Key Events

  • Syrian civil war erupts after Arab Spring protests (2011)
  • Rojava Revolution: YPG captures Kobani, Amuda, Afrin as Assad forces withdraw (July 19, 2012)
  • PYD announces three autonomous cantons: Afrin, Jazira, Kobani (January 2014)
  • ISIS captures Mosul; Iraqi army collapses; Peshmerga defend Kurdistan (June 2014)
  • ISIS launches offensive against Kobani (September 15, 2014)
  • US begins decisive airstrikes in support of YPG/YPJ at Kobani (September 27, 2014)
  • Battle of Kobani: YPG/YPJ defeat ISIS after 112-day siege (January 26, 2015)
  • Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) formed as multi-ethnic coalition (October 2015)
  • Turkey launches Operation Euphrates Shield into northern Syria (August 2016)
  • SDF liberates Raqqa, the ISIS "capital," after months of battle (October 2017)
  • Peshmerga and Iraqi forces recapture Mosul from ISIS (July 2017)

Key Figures

M
Mazloum Abdi (Mazloum Kobani)

Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the multi-ethnic military alliance that, with US air support, defeated ISIS across northeastern Syria.

S

Salih Muslim Muhammad

Co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria, a key political leader of the Rojava Revolution who helped establish the autonomous administration.

A

Arin Mirkan

YPJ fighter who sacrificed her life in a self-detonation attack against ISIS forces during the Battle of Kobani (October 5, 2014), becoming a symbol of Kurdish women's resistance.

M
Masoud Barzani

President of the Kurdistan Region who led Peshmerga forces in defending Iraqi Kurdistan against ISIS and later organized the independence referendum.

Sources (6)