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28-537: 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". On 5 April 2016, a civilian council

56-520: A Turkey correspondent for The Economist ; Ben Caspit , one of Israel's top national security commentators and analysts; Daoud Kuttab , columnist for Al-Monitor ’s Palestine Pulse; Sultan al Qassemi , former columnist with the United Arab Emirates–based The National and one of Time ' s 140 Best Twitter Feeds of 2011 selections; Barbara Slavin, former diplomatic correspondent for USA Today and senior fellow at

84-510: 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.” The Council prepared to resist a possible Turkish attack on Manbij, with hundreds of additional SDF troops transferred from the Deir Ezzor frontlines . On 5 June 2018, a day after Turkey and

112-546: A deeper understanding between the Middle East and the international community by diving deep with analytical pieces from some of the most trusted, independent authors from across the globe. In 2018, Al-Monitor partnered with North Base Media which was founded by former editor of The Washington Pos t and The Wall Street Journal , Marcus Brauchli and Sasa Vucinic to manage Al-Monitor in order "to provide top-level operational and financial decision-making, and work with

140-669: Is a news website launched in 2012 by the Arab-American entrepreneur Jamal Daniel. Based in Washington, D.C. , Al-Monitor provides reporting and analysis from and about the Middle East . Al-Monitor is the recipient of the International Press Institute 's 2014 Free Media Pioneer Award . Al-Monitor was launched on 13 February 2012 by Jamal Daniel. It was founded with the mission to foster

168-627: The Atlantic Council ; Laura Rozen, a former foreign policy reporter for Politico , Foreign Policy , and Yahoo ; the late Cairo -based political analyst Bassem Sabry , an Egyptian writer who wrote extensively on Egypt and the Arab Spring ; Ali Hashem, correspondent for Al-Jazeera TV ; and Jack Detsch, columnist for Foreign Policy ; and Joyce Karam, former Washington correspondent for The Nationa l ; and Edward Felsenthal , former editor-in-chief of Time . In 2014,

196-475: The International Press Institute awarded Al-Monitor its Free Media Pioneer Award , stating that Al-Monitor 's "unrivalled reporting and analysis exemplify the invaluable role that innovative and vigorously independent media can play in times of change and upheaval". In 2017, the Online News Association awarded Al-Monitor an Online Journalism Award for Best Explanatory Reporting for

224-703: The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) ★★★ * Not all PJs/CROs are assigned to AFSOC; many are assigned to Rescue Squadrons within ACC , PACAF , and USAFE . There is no difference in training or selection between Rescue and Special Tactics assignments. ** TACP-O/TACP Airmen must undergo additional selection and training to be assigned to AFSOC Special Tactics Squadrons . Most are assigned to ACC and support conventional Army Units. Al-Monitor Al-Monitor

252-542: The West Bank and Gaza , avoiding the taint of 'bias' in its coverage of Israeli-Palestinian issues.  Its inclusive and groundbreaking initiatives included a collaboration with PBS News Hour featuring a discussion with an Iranian academic (from Tehran ), an Israeli reporter (from Tel Aviv ), and former US officials including Dennis Ross and Fiona Hill (from Washington).   Al-Monitor editors and journalists are frequently cited in global media as experts on

280-666: The West Bank , Gaza , Egypt , the Gulf and North Africa – and all governments consistently since inception in 2012, leading to its unique standing in the region. Its coverage of Syria has been recognized for the stellar on the ground reporting by Amberin Zaman , as well as independent and opposition-affiliated Syrian reporters in Idlib , Aleppo , and elsewhere, working under often dangerous and difficult conditions.  Al-Monitor, throughout its history, has featured contributors from Israel,

308-723: The Government has no institutions in Manbij. 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. On 10 June, the Council’s spokesperson, Shervan Derwish, survived an IED assassination attempt. On 2 June 2021, the Manbij Military Council announced it would halt regional conscription in

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336-598: 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. In early November 2016, a 'battalion' from the Sham Legion defected and joined

364-594: 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. 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

392-754: The Middle East, including by the New York Times , Washington Post , BBC , Fox News , Al-Jazeera and many others. In 2024, the BBC described the outlet as a "respected Middle East newsletter". In September 2023, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York City, Al-Monitor partnered with Semafor to host the Middle East Global Summit. Interviews at

420-474: The Middle East." The Huffington Post has referred to Al-Monitor as "increasingly a daily must-read for insightful commentary on the Middle East", and The Economist recommended Al-Monitor 's Egypt and Iran coverage in its What to Read section. Al-Monitor, alone among independent media outlets covering the Middle East, has covered the entire region – including field reporting and high-profile interviews from Israel , Iran , Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon ,

448-620: The Syrian Government and Russia to prevent a Turkish operation. On 15 October, under the terms of the military agreement, Russian and Syrian troops were positioned along SDF’s frontlines with Turkey in Manbij. While some international media outlets inaccurately reported that Manbij had come under Syrian Government control, the two sides only agreed to station the SAA on the Autonomous Administration’s borders with Turkey, and

476-489: 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. 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.” On 19 March, it

504-437: The addition of a culture section, a new podcast and video coverage. In 2023, Al-Monitor launched its business and technology coverage, released several newsletters and introduced a subscription model to access its content. In 2024, Al-Monitor integrated article translation in seven languages and narrated audio to listen to articles. Past and present editors, columnists, and contributors include Amberin Zaman , formerly

532-478: 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," and that To reach these objectives [the defense of Manbij] we have transferred, after reaching a new alliance with Russia, the defence of the line to the west of Manbij – where the villages between us and

560-496: The company to explore possible content and commercial avenues." Al-Monitor features reporting and analysis by journalists and experts from the Middle East, with special focus sections on Egypt , the Persian Gulf , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , North Africa , Palestine , Syria , and Turkey . In 2015, Al-Monitor relaunched its website and expanded coverage to include further reporting on Washington ,

588-516: The face of popular local protests, as well as some riots. As with every other year, Turkish forces shelled MMC positions multiple times in 2021. Turkey shelled the Manbij countryside including many villages constantly in 2022, killing and displacing civilians as a result. The MMC and its components including the Kurdish Front, Al-Bab Military Council and the Army of Revolutionaries vowed again

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616-614: The gang groups [FSA, Ahrar al-Sham] affiliated to the Turkish army are – to Syrian state forces." and The SDF ceded this territory west of Manbij because it is clear that there are limits to the extent that the United States will intervene on behalf of the SDF's interests west of the Euphrates. 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

644-419: 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. On 17 September 2017, Muhammad Mustafa Ali, also known by his nom de guerre "Abu Adel",

672-666: The resist any Turkish operation against Manbij region. US special operations forces United States special operations forces ( SOF ) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army , Marine Corps , Navy and Air Force within the US military , as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations . All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to

700-597: The series: "Middle East Lobbying: The Influence Game". The Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing awarded Al-Monitor a Best in Business Award for its Middle East lobbying newsletter in 2019. In January 2013, Ian Burrell of The Independent called Al-Monitor "an ambitious website that pulls together the commentary of distinguished writers from across the region." In 2012, former The Washington Post foreign affairs blogger Max Fisher called Al-Monitor "an invaluable Web-only publication following

728-554: Was appointed the general commander of the Manbij Military Council as the successor of Adnan Abu Amjad. On 5 November 2017, Abu Adel was wounded by an IED of Harakat al-Qiyam , a rebel group in northern Syria. On 27 November 2017, the Martyr Adnan Abu Amjad Regiment, consisting of 250 fighters was established, and joined the MMC. During the Turkish invasion of Afrin , the Manbij Military Council released

756-456: 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 , and was created to administer Manbij after its capture. The commander of the Manbij Military Council, Abu Layla , died of wounds he suffered from gunshots in the Manbij front against

784-474: 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. On 26 March, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a checkpoint bombing that killed 7 members of the MMC. During Operation Peace Spring , the Council prepared to defend Manbij from Turkey, until the SDF reached a military agreement with

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