SUMMARY

The conflict between IS and SDF started in October 2015, as the PYD joined together with Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and Turkmen militias in an alliance with the purpose to build democratic and federal governance in northern Syria, as well as protect the people of the de-facto autonomous region of Rojava.

The PYD had fought the IS since 2013 with little success as the IS managed to capture vast areas across the country. With the creation of the SDF and support of the US-led international coalition, the SDF recaptured areas in northern Al Hasakah governorate soon after its creation. During 2016, the IS and SDF conflict was concentrated to Al Hasakah, Raqqah and Aleppo governorates, where the SDF gained control over areas along the Turkish border areas. In late 2016, the SDF initiated the Raqqah campaign "Euphrate's Wrath", and together with heavy airstrikes by the US-led international coalition, the SDF captured the IS capital city almost a year later. In late 2017, the SDF launched another campaign, Al Jazeera Storm, with the goal to expell IS from areas east of the Euphrates river in Deir ez-Zor governorate, while the Syrian regime was fighting IS from the western areas of the river. By 2018, SDF had captured large areas in the Deir ez-Zor countryside.

On 23 march 2019, SDF took control over IS's last stronghold in northern Syria. By that date, SDF managed to control most of IS’s territories in Eastern Syria. Although this date marked "the defeat" of IS the conflict was still active and saw continuous clashes throughout 2021.