01-02/Jan/2025

“I am here because my conscience could not accept what I saw with my own eyes. When you choose the path, you have to walk it at your own risk. The way is us, and we are the way.” — Cîhan Bilgin

# NES

Clashes in Manbij countryside
Heavy clashes in Manbij countryside continued with intense air support from Turkish army. SDF is holding ground against SNA offensives, destroying some armored vehicles and inflicting heavy loses on SNA troops. SDF shot down a turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone. YPJ destroyed a communication tower.

Damages to Tishreen Dam
Turkish and SNA attacks have left the Tishreen Dam inoperable, with latest figures estimating that at least 413,000 people in Manbij and Kobane area have been deprived of electricity and water for the past 3 weeks. Strikes on the dam have damaged turbines, cut essential cables, caused leakages & resulted in power outages.

Turkish drone strikes
Among other attacks, turkish drones targeted civilian homes in Gire Spi country side. A turkish drone strike in the kurdish controlled area of Aleppo destroyed the only sugar factory in the region.

New US base in Kobane
The US army is building a new base in the city of Kobane. Cement blocks, premade rooms, surveillance cameras and other equipement is being installed.

# Syria

SDF meetings with HTS
Official delegation of SDF command met with HTS command to discuss about the relation of SDF with the new Syrian army being formed. Mazlum Abdi stated that an agreement was not reached but that the negotiations are ongoing. Ahmed al-Sharaa declared “SDF requested to be integrated as an specific corps within the new army, also to determine a percentage of the resources it controls, especially oil, to remain in NE Syria. These demands were rejected by the General Command, but there is a proposal being studied to include elements of the SDF”.

HTS delegation to Saudi Arabia
A Syrian official delegation to Saudi Arabia, led by freshly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, Defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Intelligence chief Anas Khattab, landed in Riyadh, marking their first official trip abroad.

‘Joint forces’ leave SNA
The “Joint Forces”, a coalition of the two main facitons of SNA ‘Hamza division’ and ‘Sultan Suleyman Sha division’, announced their withdrawal from the SNA to join the new Syrian Army under the new ‘defense ministry’.

Druze demand federalism
The Druze in Suwayda have intercepted an HTS convoy from entering Suwayda, and they were forced to return to Damascus.
Commander of Druze operations: “We will not allow any faction, regardless of the number of its members, to enter Suwaida, and we will demand federalism if we are subjected to any aggression or anything is imposed on us”

New insurgent group?
Statements about a new group calling itself “Syrian Popular Resistance” appeared in Iran and Russian linked media. They vow they will fight HTS in retaliation for the attacks on minorities, calling for a “free Syrian Arab republic” with a sectarian religious language.

# Foreign Policy

Meeting between DEM and MHP
The meeting between the (kurdish) DEM Party’s İmralı delegation and MHP leader (far-right) Devlet Bahçeli took place in Turkey. The meeting followed Abdullah Öcalan’s recommendation for dialogue with political parties. DEM party said that the meeting went well.

Iraq forbids kurdish Organisations
With the start of the new year, Iraq issued a new law forbidding “all organisations connected to the PKK” due to a request by Turkey.
This affects among others Free Women Associtation RJAK, Niwêger and Merziye foundations for arts together with the production company of Jin TV. All assets of these organisations have been seized.

US-Syria economic license
Work is underway in US institutions to issue a “temporary” license valid for one year, allowing economic transactions that were previously prohibited under U.S. sanctions on Syria, while sanctions will not be lifted.

ISIS calls for attacks
ISIS made a call to its members to carry out attacks in Europe, the US and Israel, calling for action during New Year celebrations. “Prepare your belts, silencers, knives, and explosives” one message exhorts.

*** Analysis ***

We start 2025 with many things going on. January will be a challenging month, with a race of different actors to strengthen their positions, both in the military field as well as in diplomatic influence. Al-Sharaa is putting his HTS trusted circles in key positions in the goverment. You can read some of their (newly collected) biographies on wikipedia, partly documenting their past activities as “brave jihadist fighters” of al-Nusra. How much they are just playing a theater for western audiences, or how much they really moderated themselves in exchange for power in a Nation-State, is something that will be more clear in the next months.

The statements of an insurgent “popular resistance movement”, with a certain iranian flavour and with russian fringe media echoing it, can contribute to new waves of instability if they come backed up with actions. The druze community in the south also seems unwilling to cooperate with HTS transitional government, contributing to a mosaic of actors that question HTS’ proclaimed power. Meanwhile, many people in Syria’s western cities are going out to the streets, fixing roads and painting murals, reinforcing bonds of solidarity and mutual aid among neighbors. This networks of civic organizing can easily flourish in local committees and popular councils, as they already did in the early years of the Syrian revolution. How much HTS government will give space to these local initiatives, and how much these grassroots movements will confront the authoritarian steps of HTS, is something that will be a determinant for the future of Syria.

The press statement of the ‘joint forces’ leaving the SNA coalition is an important step, moving towards a generalized meltdown of the Turkish proxy forces. It is not clear how much it is an open defection or maybe a ‘cover’ operation of Turkish intelligence, aiming to ‘infiltrate’ some of their trusted agents in the new Syrian Army. Still, together with many local reports of groups and fighters defecting to go back home, plus the big amount of losses that the resistance of SDF is inflicting against their attacks, all this is making SNA more an more unable to hold their ground. How much Turkey will try to keep SNA together or will try to invade directly if things don’t play as they want remains still to be seen.

On the other side, the ongoing talks to integrate SDF in that same new Syrian Army are an uncomfortable but necessary step, in order to build relations with the transitional government and avoid being outmanuvered by Turkey. For now, they seem similar of nature to the negotiations with the Assad regime that were held in the past. SDF never reached any agreement with the regime that wouldnt compromise their integrity and values, and the same is true for the new negotiations with HTS. Negotiations of this kind are diplomatic games, a projection of power of the different actors. If the balance of power changes, negotiations can be pushed in a new direction, with the stronger imposing their will and the other having to accept a compromise. Therefore the most plausible scenario is that those negotiations will get stalled, waiting to solve the differences on the battle field.

Revolutionary greetings!

31-12-24

# NES

Eufrates Front
Fierce clashes between the SDF and the Turkish led SNA continue in the Manbij countryside. After their losses, some SNA fighters surrendered and some have withdrawn. New patrols of US forces of the international coalition were carried out in the countryside of Kobane.

Raids in south Qamishlo
The Internal Security Forces carried out an operation against ISIS and turkish state agents in villages south of Qamishlo, that were previously controlled by the Assad regime forces. Several people were arrested and grenades, weapons and ammunition were seized.

Popular mobilization
Every day this week demonstrations were held in many cities of NES in support of the SDF. Many youth organizations are joining the mobilization call and making statements in defense of the revolution. In many areas local self-defense groups are taking guard in their neighborhood, ensuring security in these challenging times. Many citizens that are usually not involved in self-defense have organized themselves through the existing groups.

France targets ISIS
Yesterday the French Air Force carried out 2 airstrikes against ISIS targets in the desert around Deir ez-Zor.

# Syria

HTS defence minister
HTS announced that Murhaf Abu Qasra, commander of the military wing of HTS for more than 5 years, became major-general of the new Syrian army and has been appointed as defense minister in the transitional government.

HTS giving out Syrian passports
Allegedly, HTS in Damascus granted Syrian passports to 3,800 foreign fighters operating with HTS. At least 8 of them were appointed high positions in the newly formed Syrian Army.

Turkey to print new passports
Allegedly, there has been an agreement with Turkey to print the new Syrian passports, driving licenses and other identity cards.

Save the Children on Syria
Save the Children said that more than half of Syrian children, 4 million, are out of school,and added that “one in every two children would need psychological support.”

# Analysis

Probably not many people will read this on the new year eve night, but there is an extensive analysis of Bese Hozat, copresident of the KCK: https://kck-info.com/interviews311224/

In this interview she reflects about the meaning of Ocalan’s words, expanding on the analysis of the current situation in Kurdistan and the complicated geopolitical powers that aim to reorganize middle east.

Wish a happy new year to everyone!
Revolutionary greetings from your anarchist comrades in North-East Syria!

30-12-24

“If Syrian women don’t stand up for their rights now, they will lose them!”
Gulnaz Osman, Women’s Council of the Democratic Islamic Congress.

# NES

SDF resistance in Manbij
SDF destroyed two Turkish army radar systems, a jamming system and armored vehicles in the Manbij countryside. A special forces team of SDF conducted an operation in the eastern neigborhoods of Manbij through tunnels.

Turkish military bases in Manbij
The SDF says Turkey is establishing two new military bases in Manbij and west of the Euphrates River. The Kurdish-led force also claims to have targeted several Turkish positions in the vicinity.

SNA targets infrastructure
Turkish mercenary artillery and heavy weapons targeting the drinking water pump in the village of Ain Issa and grain silos near Tal Tamir.

Forced levies in Afrin
The Turkish-backed armed al-Amshat imposed levies up to $5,000 on residents of a town in Afrin region. Residents unable to pay typically have vehicles/agricultural machinery taken, and anyone who resists faces physical violence. These levies target olive trees and have exacerbated the hardships faced by the population.

#Syria

New governor of National Bank
Maysaa Sabreen was named as the new governor of the Central Bank of Syria. She was working for the treasury of the Syrian state before. She will be the first woman to hold the position.

Druze leader assesment
Leadership of the Druze in SouthSyria say: “We are not optimistic with the recent developments. We will give HTS a chance. We want a secular state. The weapons of the Druze are important and non-negotiable.”

Bombings around Deir
Unidentified aircraft (probably Israeli or US) targeted former bases of Iranian backed militias in the region of Deir ez-Zor, south of the Euphrates. Simultaneously, there were increased patrols of coalition forces north of the river.

Ukraine Aid to Syria
Foreign Minister of Ukraine is visiting Damascus. He announced that the first trucks with Ukrainian aid will arrive in Syria tomorrow.

# Foreign Policy

Ocalan visit
The DEM party delegation that visited A. Ocalan on the 28th have stressed their cautious optimism, but will refrain from giving detailed information at this time due to the “sensitivity of the process”. They have undertaken to give a more detailed account in the new year.
Many Arab media outlets respond positively to the DEM party meeting with A. Ocalan, like one Saudi newspaper describing him as “the man of necessity when discussing solutions to the Kurdish issue”

Iraq warns HTS
An Iraqi Parliament representative has issued a warning to Syrias Interim Government against falling under Turkish influence, highlighting the importance of Arab unity and of maintaining minority rights.

# International solidarity

Letter to US and UN
500 kurdish women from around the world wrote a open letter to D.Trump and A.Guterres (general secretary of UN) warning about a looming genocide in NES and demand the official recognition of the selfadministration (DAANES).

Alevi Women Statement
The Democratic Alevi Women’s Union issued a written statement condemning the attacks on peoples and faiths in Syria, and calling for widespread participation in an event to be held on 4 January in Strasbourg.

# Analysis

Today a pentagon official declared that the ceasefire between SDF and Turkey is holding. It’s surreal to read those declarations when heavy clashes are happening everyday around Manbij. Ahmed Al-Sharaa keeps receiving visits of foreign diplomats to gain legitimacy as negotiations are still ongoing. Mazlum Abdi affirms the will of SDF to become part of the new Syrian army if an acceptable agreement can be reached. And ISIS continues attacking security checkpoints in several areas of Syria.

The attacks yesterday of the Military Council of Serekaniye in the Turkish occupied areas were a good reminder of two things: 1) Many parts of Syria are still under occupation, and people are ready to fight to liberate their homes 2) SDF is probably the strongest military force on the ground. It is important to remember those things when we look at the negotiations between SDF and HTS. Any call for a new Syrian army needs to include SDF, and SDF will not accept to simply “give up the weapons”. SDF is currently protecting about a third of the Syrian territory, with a well grounded and coordinated force. Together with many local military councils, SDF also counts with special elite units, veterans of the war against ISIS. HTS surprised the world with their production and proficiency with kamikaze drones, and counts in their ranks with some veteran islamist fighters. Still, HTS can’t defeat SDF on the ground, at least not without the Turkish support that is allowing the SNA to attack the SDF.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, after many years of silence, Syrians are now free to discuss politics openly in the street. Years of fear and repression from the regime secret services are now behind. Damascus, Aleppo, Homs… those are historical cities with vibrant new dynamics, that also carry important lessons from the years of resistance against the regime. Many politically organized Syrians are now in exile, but still many voices are already challenging the autoritharian moves of al-Sharaa. We also saw how Damascus was not liberated by HTS, in fact they arrived to the capital when Assad was already gone. The first military barracks stormed in the capital where the southern ones, with druze flags and FSA brigades emblems. Those were welcomed by the people of the capital, that celebrated their arrival because they also wanted the regime out. So when tomorrow HTS starts to claim that they are the ones that saved Syria, remember that they are lying. It was the poeple who toppled down the regime.

Revolutionary greetings!

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 →