Updates 14-12-24

# Political transition

– Al Julani made a several statements to consolidate his position as ‘de facto’ head of Syrian state, using a moderate and conciliatory tone, claiming no conflict with Israel or Iran, will to stop captaon production in Syria (a drug that the regime was producing)

– The Aacqba arab conference concluded with a statement supporting the current Syria transition and condemning Israel expansion of the “security zone”.

– Turkey has been the first state to open embassy on Damascus, after more than 12 years since they close their embassy in the Syrian capital.

– 150 mass graves containing what is estimated to be 75,000 bodies are being digged in Al-Hussainiya area in the Damascus countryside, behind the Conference Palace.

# Eufrates Region

– Bodies of SDF fighters are being buried, mostly in Kobane but also in other places where those fighters came from.

– SNA is looting and destroying several locations in Manbij. They burned an important library, they killed a restaurant owner while looting his place and many more crimes are being reported.

– SDF command decleared that the ceasfire on the Tishrin dam has not been implemented and that is therefore not effective. SNA is now mobilizing big numbers of soldiers towards the Qereqozah bridge in the kobane region border. Allegedly, turkey is also rallying forces on the Turkey-Syria border around Kobane. Supply of water and electricity from Tishrin to Kobane region dam has also been cut.

# ISIS resurge

– The Palmyra region and the Hamad Syrian desert are witnessing continuous raids of ISIS. The number of ISIS attacks since toppling Bashar al-Assad on December 8 is now 6, resulting in the deaths of 70 people, including civilians and soldiers.

# Context on the ceasefire disagreements –

The tomb of Suleyman Shah, short explanation Written by YPG/YPJ International

Part of the negotiated ceasefire between #SDF and #Turkey was connected to the location of the tomb of Suleyman Shah and its military implications. Let’s dive into this a little deeper to understand what this is all about:

Suleyman Shah lived in 13th century and, according to Ottoman legacy, is the grandfather of Osman I, who founded the Ottoman Empire. Because todays #Turkey likes to see itself as successor of the Ottoman Empire, the tomb and remains are important for them.

The tomb of Suleyman Shah was Turkey’s only foreign enclave, located more or less 30km from the Turkish border close to Qere Qozaq, on the river banks of Euphrates. In 2014 the tomb and its 38 Turkish guards, were completely surrounded by #ISIS.

So the tomb was brought to Ashme village, between #Kobane and Euphrates river, a site closer to the Turkish border, where it was easier and less risky to protect, but still on Syrian (and #SDF) territory. Turkey stressed that the relocation would only be temporarily.

While now negotiating the ceasefire, it was offered to help transfer the tomb again, but #Turkey instead requested that it will be given 1km of land in this area, where they intend to deploy heavy weapons and build a military base. Thus no agreement could be reached.

 

Revolutionary greetings!