Hêzên Komandos

The Hêzên Komandos (English: Commando Forces, Arabic: قوات الكوماندوس) are a counterinsurgency force within the Syrian Democratic Forces, trained and equipped by the U.S. Department of Defense. The force primarily targets the Islamic State in High Value Target raids and clearance operations.

History
Hêzên Komandos has been in existence since at least 2020, while earlier SDF “commando” units have existed since at least 2018. In 2020, the Commando Forces reportedly raided 56 sites in a single anti-ISIS operation in Deir Ezzor, with support from the International Coalition. On 25 February 2021, the Commandos raided illegal river crossings on the Euphrates used by smugglers. The SDF deployed the Commando Forces to suppress the al-Sina’a Prison break in 2022. On 5 February 2024, six members of the Hêzên Komandos were killed within an SDF training academy near the al-Omar Oil Fields, when an Iranian attack drone launched by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) from Syrian Government territory struck the facility.

Support by U.S.-led Coalition
Hêzên Komandos are officially trained and armed by the U.S. Department of Defense, which describes the unit as “the SDF’s premier counterterrorism strike force.” The United States Department of Defense has assessed that “SDF Commando units can effectively conduct detention operations, maneuvers, patrols, and large-scale clearance operations.” By February 2020, the DoD had a two-year plan in place to train 1,120 SDF Commandos. As of 2023, the department continues to assist in training and equipping five Commando “companies.”