29-12-24

# NES

Attacks in Eufrates region
SNA attacked positions around Abu Qalqal but were repelled by SDF, causing heavy losses among the attackers. Turkish artillery and warplanes bombed the area of Qereqozah Bridge, Sarrin grain silos and Kobane countryside. A Turkish UAV targeted an SDF vehicle north of Tabqa.

Resistance of Serekaniye forces
The Serekaniye military council (SDF) conducted a series of deliberate and strategic operations from the front lines around Til Temir. Coordinated attacks were launched against 6 Turkish bases and several military points of SNA factions in the vicinity of Serekaniye.

SNA abducts Yezidis
The Turkey-backed Military Police in Tel Rifaat has demanded ransoms for 22 Kurdish Yazidi residents that were recently detained trying to flee the town after the occupation of the SNA.

Revolt against SNA in Manbij
In Manbij the residents of Alush village have revolted against the Turkish led SNA and demand their expulsion from their village and its surroundings. Reason for the revolt is that a little boy from the village was killed by a SNA artillery strike.

ISIS in Raqqa arrested
The Internal Security Forces of NES announced on Saturday capturing 27 individuals affiliated with ISIS in the countryside of Raqqa.

# Syria

Ahmed al-Sharaa declarations
In an interview with national TV, al-Sharaa declared in the National Dialog Conference that HTS will be dissolved. He said that the kurdish forces are to be integrated into the Syria Ministry of Defense and negotiations are ongoing. He also stated that organizing elections may take 4 years, and writing a constitution 3 years.

Women Director of HTS
New Syrian Director of Women’s Affairs office of HTS transitional government Aisha Al-Debs, called on Syrian women to “not overstep the priorities that god created for her”, emphasizing her role in family and duty with religion. She insisted on islamic rule (Sharia) as a guiding principle for Syria. About NGO’s that empower women and defend women’s rights to work in Syria she said: “I will not give room to those who disagree with my way of thinking”

Reaction of Zenobia Women congress
The womens organisation Zenobia rejected this perspective and wrote: “Syrian women have struggled & made great efforts to achieve equality & justice. In all areas socially, economically, politically, militarily and in self defense. In order to reflect the opinion of all women in Syria, a dialog of all women at national level is necessary.”

Explosion in Damascus countryside
Dozens killed and injured in an explosion in a weapons depot near Adra, Damascus countryside. The origin of the explosion is not clear yet, some suggest an Israeli airstrike, some suggest accidental explosion of war materials.

Threats against Russian Base
Russian intelligence accused US and UK agencies of planning attacks on Russian military bases in Syria. According to Russia, the alleged plot involves using ISIS operatives to destabilize the region and to force Moscow to withdraw its forces.
Western powers have denied similar accusations in the past, dismissing them as part of Russia’s narrative to justify its continued military presence in Syria.

Celebrations of unity in Damascus
Syrians gathered in Damascus’ Umayyad Square, carrying both crosses and copies of the Quran, in a powerful display of unity and inclusivity to celebrate the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad. “We have been waiting for this moment for 54 years”

# Foreign Policy

Visit to A. Ocalan
The DEM (kurdish party in Turkey) delegation that visited A. Ocalan gave a press statement about their visit. They announced that he emphasized the importance of brotherhood between Turkish and Kurdish people, calling for a democratic and peaceful process for Turkey.

Iran allows prison visits
Warisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, Kurdish political prisoners sentenced to death, were granted a rare one-hour visit with their families in Iran’s Evin Prison on the country’s Mother’s Day. This marks their first meetings in nine months.

# Analysis

Any hopes of a tolerant and progressive goverment under HTS are rapidly dying. The military repression against Alawites has been just a glimpse of what is coming. After yesterdays call of the UN envoy for elections in 3 months, al-Sharaa responded today that no elections will take place in Syria in the next 4 years. He also anounced his plans for the dissolution of HTS during the National Dialog Conferance. That probably means to dissolve it inside the structures of a new centralized government, attempting to wash off the terrorist label that still hangs on HTS, while institutionalizing and taking control of a new Syrian state. In short, achieving a transition from Party to State, as any authoritarian force attemps to do.

We also include some words from Hawzhin Azeez, a kurdish political academic who shared her reflections about the rumors of dissolution of SDF and the importance of YPJ:

It’s a mistake to see the YPJ as solely a response to end ISIS terrorism or an integral aspect of Kurdish national liberation.
The YPJ are a permanent military force that will only dissolve itself when capitalist, statist and patriarchal oppression ends. They are ideologically committed to protecting women and themselves so long as these hierarchies of oppression and violence against women exist. They are a permanent women’s self protection unit here to stay.
Even if the HTS/Jolani government manoeuvres the disarming of the SDF somehow, the YPJ is ideologically committed to permanent self protection even against the men/forces in their own communities. They cannot be dissolved! The YPJ is one of the most radical and groundbreaking aspects of Rojava’s Revolution.

Revolutionary greetings!

28-12-24

# NES

Democratic Nation for Syria

Future Syria Party cautioned against replacing Iranian and Russian influence in Syria with Turkish dominance. He affirmed that the Democratic Nation Project has demonstrated success in the regions of NE Syria by showcasing the possibility of cooperation among all societal components, religions, and beliefs.

Car bomb in Manbij

In an official statement, the Manbij Military Council of the SDF, strongly rejected allegations linking their forces to the car bomb attack.

Tensions in Aleppo kurdish neighbourhoods

Yesterday 2 armed men of SNA tried to enter the kurdish neighbourhood Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo and were killed by YPG guards. This morning a vehicle of the SNA threw a small bomb at the YPG checkpoint. YPG opened fire on the vehicle.

Now: HTS is deploying military units around the Kurdish neighbourhoods, no further escalation for now.

# Syria

SNA crimes

SNA militias beheaded a kurdish refugee that was trying to flee the occupied area of Til Rifaat. Videos of SNA fighters calling for extermination of Alawites and kurds are circulating on social networks.

HTS arrests in Deir ez-Zor

The HTS Military forces arrested a group of people in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor for “stealing a grain centre”. Local residents accused them of committing violations even before the regime collapsed. Allegedly, the HTS security campaign also targeted drug dealing networks affiliated with the former regime.

UN envoy in Syria

UN envoy in Syria Geir Pedersen stated concerns for the violent escalations of last days calling to stop all acts of violence and for free and fair elections after the transition proces after about three months.

# Foreign Policy

Assad family members detained in Lebanon

Lebanese authorities arrested members of the Assad family at Beirut International Airport yesterday attempting to travel with forged passports.

Also, 70 officers from Assad regime were handed over to HTS by Lebanon.

Visit to Abdullah Ocalan

Members of the DEM party visited Abdullah Ocalan at Imrali prison island. Details and assessments of this meeting will be shared with press and public tomorrow.

# Analysis
On ethnic minorities unrest and the need of a ‘democratic nation’ project

After a month since the offensive of HTS started, we have now better ground to evaluate what is going on in Syria. The unexpected collapse of al-Assad regime was followed by celebrations and hopefull dreams of an easy and bloodless transition in Syria. But this is something we only see in movies and history books. In real life most revolutions are followed by periods of instability and warlordism, where different factions struggle to impose their hegemony.

The recent protests of Christians, as well as the uprisings of Alawites, are complex events that are getting polarized in social networks. These two social groups had certain priviledges during the regime of al-Assad, priviledges that were partly established with the old French colonial rule, favoring them over sunni arabs or kurds. But those priviledges are also limited to some higher classes, and not all members of those groups were aligned with the regime.

Those uprisings are not simply “uncontrolled regime/Iran/Israel elements/agents” as HTS like to calim, it is also a reaction to the attacks of “uncontroled HTS elements”, like the fire on the christmas tree in Hama and the dessecration of the grave of an important Alawite scholar. Those attacks are manifestations of ethnic grudges that many sunni arabs may share, but when ethnic simplifications like this are used to call for ethnic cleansing, things can very easily spiral out of control.

Many Alawites and Christians had power positions in the regime, but many sunni arabs too. Kurds know very well what it means to be part of a secondary class, to be at the bottom of the social pyramid. That’s why it has been so important for the DAANES to develop respectful and inclusive methods for everyone, allowing autonomy and self-organization to all different social groups. HTS sectarian visions, with islamic fundamentalism as a ground to build a fake national unity, pose serious threats to the diversity of Syria.

The DAANES is already making calls to stop the attacks against Alawite people, to put an end to the sectarian violence, to build the nation under a base of diversity and respect for the other. The call for a “democratic nation project” should be understood in that sense, as part of a wider project for democratic confederalism, questioning old patterns of tribalism, patriarchy and nation-state. It is a call to continue the revolution all around Syria and beyond.

Revolutionary greetings!

A new Syria in the making.

One month of unrest and reorganization of the power balance in Syria

Current Situation in Syria: The situation in Syria is uncertain. At the end of November Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, an islamist group that was ruling in Idlib) launched an offensive that managed to overthrow the regime and take control of the capital, installing a transitional government. The Kurdish regions in the north (aka Rojava), as well as the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) which they are part of, are currently under new attacks of Turkish army and its proxy forces. In coordination with the HTS offensive, Turkish proxies occupied the cities of Til Rifat and Manbij, and are also threatening Kobane among many other areas. Continue reading Evaluation after one month of tensions: A new Syria in the making →

27-12-24

# NES

– Clashes on the villages on the Abu Qalqal road between SDF and Turkish-backed SNA continue. The UK based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) documented the death of 20 civilians, 81 members of pro-turkish factions and 35 members of SDF in the clashes around Tishreen Dam.

– Allegedly, Turkish army convoy entered the town of Manbij

– A car bomb exploded near the Grand Mosque in the center of Manbij. No injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to material damage.

# Syria

– SDF commander M. Abdi stated that SDF forces are ready to integrate into the new Syrian army once a suitable formula is negotiated. He also expressed willingness in ‘principle’ to transfer border security responsibilities to the new authorities in Damascus. Abdi expressed a vision for a unified and sovereign Syria where all regions work together to rebuild the nation.

– The HTS Military launches a large-scale campaign in Hama, Tartus and Latakia to pursue the remnants of the ousted regime and repress the alawite uprisings. Some voices are calling it an ethnic cleansing campaign, while others insist its to arrest criminals of the Assad regime.

– A delegation from the HTS Ministry of Defense arrives at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia. The new Syrian authorities do not intend to break the agreements under which Russia uses military bases in Syria.

– Israeli airstrikes reported on the Lebanon-Syria border once again.

– New HTS government says it wants peace and “better relations with Israel”.

# Forgein Policy

– Turkey’s energy minister said Ankara is considering an oil pipeline to Syria, connecting it to the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.

– President of Ukraine Zelensky stated their support to the Syrian people in time of need. 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour are already on their way to Syria as part of the “Grain From Ukraine” humanitarian program in cooperation with the WFP.

– Turkey’s recent proposal to negotiate a maritime boundary agreement with Syria has ignited sharp objections from neighboring Greece and Cyprus. Turkey is seeking to expand its influence and access to potential hydrocarbon resources in the region.
Greek officials have labeled the potential agreement as “illegal” and “hostile”.

Revolutionary greetings!

26-12-24

# NES

– Heavy clashes south of Manbij and on Tishreen Dam, including Manbij Military Council destroying military vehicles. After Turkish defense ministery claimed control over Tishreen dam, SDF media’s Ferhat Shami recorded a video in the Dam proving that it’s still under control of SDF.

– Counter-terrorist forces HAT arrested 4 ISIS members around Deir-ez Zor. Security forces also seized several weapons and ammunition from ISIS in raids carried out in Raqqa countryside.

– Armenian batallion in Rojava claimed an attack on SNA mercenaries positions on Til Temir frontline. Several enemy positions, including a turkish military base, got hit with heavy weapons. After the attack a lot of mercenaries emptied their position and ran away.

– 25 fighters of SNA in the occupied area of Serekaniye tried to defect and surrender to SDF forces to return to their homes. They were caught and arrested by SNA fighters of Sultan Murad brigade and handed out to SNA military police.

# Syria

– Protests of Alawites are escalating in Latakia, Tartus, Hama, Damascus and other parts of Syria. HTS is sending military reinforcements to those areas, some of them are opening fire against protesters. HTS/SNA militias are combing through alawite villages acusing them of being agents of Assad/Iran/Israel. Young Alawite men are being arrested in mass, dead bodies lying in the streets.

– The Democratic Union Party (PYD) has called on the Syrian people, political parties, and the administration in Damascus to address violations targeting Alawite communities and to reject actions that deepen sectarian divisions. The PYD also urged all democratic forces to join efforts in guiding Syria toward stability and safety.

– HTS claims they arrested a regime general responsible for the field courts at Sednaya Prison, who sentenced thousands of people to death.

# Foreign policy

– An Iraqi delegation met with HTS administration in Damascus. The Iraqi delegation discussed developments in Syria and the requirements for security and stability on the common border between Iraq and Syria”

– 191 Iranian lawyers condemned the Turkish occupation state’s attacks and its mercenaries on Syria, and called on the United Nations to intervene to put an end to these attacks.

# Analysis

Tomorrow will be one months since the offensive of HTS started in Idlib. Many things had changed in one month, and many more can change in the next days. We are working to make an easy-to-read summary of the situation to make it more accessible to everyone. If you can help with graphic design or have more ideas, please contact us! For now we are thinking to make some flyers and infographics that can be easily shared and distributed in real life events, as it was proposed the first days we started this broadcast channel.

Revolutionary greetings!

25-12-24

# NES

– Fierce clashes between SDF and Turkish backed SNA continue over night until now around south east of Manbij. SDF anounced five mercenaries were eliminated, three vehicles destroyed and several weapons and ammunition seized. SDF is holding positions around Abu Qilqil, approx. 13km away from Manbij.
In support of the mercenaries attacks, Turkey launched heavy artillery fire upon areas surrounding Qereqozah bridge, Sarrin air field and the Tishreen Dam, causing significant damage to the body of the Dam.

– The SDF has freed a woman of Asayish who was kidnapped by the Turkish led SNA in Manbij. The operation was carried out during the counter-offensive of last night by the special forces of the SDF.

– A Turkish drone struck a checkpoint in the Zirgan area killing one member of the Internal Security Forces and a member of the Military Discipline Forces. A further four members of the ISF were injured.

# Syria

– Syrian Women Council opened an office in Damascus and is calling for a decentralised Syria that promotes womens rights. They propose the creation of a Syria-wide Women Party, that will write a women-constitution, protecting the rights of women and girls.

– HTS fighter and SNA have dessecrated and set fire to the tomb of “Abu Abdullah al-Hussein bin Hamdan Al Khusaibi, one of the most important alawite scholars.

– In Latakia, Tartus, Hama, Homs and dozens of villages Alawites are protesting against these attacks. Allegedly, HTS fighters opened fire on the protestors, killing and wounding dozens. The protests are escalating and HTS is sending military reinforcements to retake control. Allegedly, SNA is also being deployed on the area.

– Israeli forces moved into Suwaysa, southern Syria, extending their advance 3km beyond the ceasefire line.
Using loudspeakers, they imposed a curfew, instructed residents to vacate their homes and demanded residents surrender any weapons in their possession.
The residents started protesting the Israeli occupation. IDF shot at the protesters, wounding 7. After that, IDF soldier retreated from the area.

– The attacks of ISIS continue increasing everyday, with more than 100 people killed since the fall of the regime in attacks of cells, mostly in the central areas of the Syrian desert. Also several checkpoints of Asayish have been targeted, with 5 attacks on the last 4 days.

# Foreign policy

– M.Waltz, US nominated security adviser for D.Trump, highlighted the importance of SDF in the fight against ISIS, saying their role is “key to US interests”. Besides that, he seems to continue advocating for reducing US army presence in the Syria.

# Analysis

There are now big protests in the main cities of Tartus and Latakia, reacting to the desecration of the tomb of an important Alawite scholar. This adds to videos that had been circulating on social networks, where HTS fighters are threatening and insulting Alawites in rural areas. Also in Hama and Homs big protests are ongoing, with rumors spreading of HTS opening fire against protestors. This can become a big challange for the provisional goverment, since the stronghold of the old regime minority (the Alawites) can easily spark clashes and old hates, with HTS acting on old grudges and spite against them. Seems that SNA is now being deployed on Latakia too, and they will just add gasoline to the fire. This adds difficulties to HTS, that more or less managed to calm down the protests of christians in Damascus for now, knowing that those are closely watched by western christian powers, even more on christmas days.

Today there was also big confusion with a statement atributed to SDF, that was announced by kurdish media but not visible on any SDF channels. The alleged statement called for armed groups in Serekaniye and Gire Spi to surrender their weapons, to abandon their positions and leave occupied territories, offering safe passage to other areas if they withdraw before the end of the year. Most kurdish media removed the statement, but still the news circulated. On the ground no one knows anything about such plans. Still, after the success of the Manbij counter-attack, liberating Serekaniye is something that everyone is talking about.

Revolutionary greetings!