The latest news and top stories on the Syrian Democratic Forces. A prominent northern Syria-based military and political organisation, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious military alliance. Its primary mission is to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and establish a secular democratic federalised Syria. Operating as the official military wing of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, the SDF controls significant territory in the northeast. The organisation is recognised for its pivotal role in defeating ISIS and its commitment to democratic principles including gender equality and religious freedom.