The Security Forces of AANES are divided into two bodies, the Syrian Democratic Forces(SDF) and the Internal Security Forces. The SDF operate as the military body and address all foreign threats to stability and security of the region, and the Internal Security Forces are the police and security force tasked with enforcing laws passed by the legislative body and ensure security and stability within.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was founded in 2015 as an alliance of Arab, Kurdish, Syriac, and other minority forces and consists of the YPG, YPJ, and fifteen regional military councils creating the only male and female multi-ethnic, multi-religious military organization in the middle east. The SDF was created to defend North-East Syria against ISIS and acts as the military department of the AANES. Following a four-year campaign against the ISIS caliphate in cooperation with US allies, the SDF now continues to protect the stability and democracy of the region for the people of North and East Syria against terrorist organizations and other malign regional actors.
The People’s Defense Forces (YPG) and Women’s Defense Force (YPJ) were founded in 2011/2012 to protect Rojava from any possible external threat after forcing the Syrian regime to withdraw from the region. The YPG and YPJ are famous for their defeat of ISIS at the Battle of Kobani in 2014 in partnership with their Arab and US allies in the region.
The 15 military councils, which include members from the local population of every region, were created by the SDF to participate in the liberation of North-East Syria from ISIS. They operate under the SDF in a unified defense of North and East Syria against hostile actors.
Founded in 2012 the Internal Security Forces reports to the Commission of Interior and provides internal police and security support in North and East Syria. Now compromised of over 25,000 law enforcement members, the Internal Security Forces acts as a multi-ethnic multi-religious, male and female security force working in collaboration with various supporting units throughout the seven regions of the AANES to ensure stability and security. These units include the Checkpoints Administration, Anti-Terror Forces Command (HAT), Organized Crime Directorate, and Traffic Directorate.
