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!

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!

24-12-24

# NES

– After the SDF surprise counter attack in Manbij countryside, partly possible due to the rainy weather where turkish drones can’t operate well, SDF is reorganizing new defense lines. Ferhat Shami, media responsible of SDF said:

“Our forces confronted an attack by SNA this morning on the village of “Qabr Imo” east of Manbij city, where violent clashes are currently taking place.
In the area of ​​​​Qozak Bridge, our forces blew up a SNA vehicle.
In the axis of Tishrin Dam, the forces of the MMC thwarted an attack by the mercenaries on the villages of Abu “Qalqal” district, where dozens of mercenaries were killed and wounded. The forces also took control of two tanks, an artillery weapon with its ammunition, in addition to destroying some military vehicles belonging to the mercenaries. The clashes in those areas are ongoing.”

– White Helmet Units proclaimed their arrival in Manbij. White Helmets are a humanitarian and rescue organisation that opperated from Turkey and worked in Syrian opposition controlled areas. It was founded in 2014 by James Le Mesurier, a british ex-officer who died in Istanbul in 2019.

– In Manbij city a car bomb exploded in front of the recruitment office of the Turkish led SNA. Dead and wounded SNA fighters confirmed. No one has claimed such action yet.

– US army is patrolling in Kobane city, aiming to divert the turkish agressions.

– Several villages are constantly under mortar and drone attacks in the M4 front lines, both in Ain Issa and in Til Temir areas. 2 SDF fighters were injured today on a drone strike in Um al-Keif, less than 20km away from Til Temir.

# Syria

– Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa anounced an agreement with rebel faction leaders to dissolve all groups and consolidate them under the Defence Ministry, according to a statement from the new Syrian general administration.

– Turkeish State claims that more than 25,000 Syrians have returned home from Turkey since Assad was overthrown. Turkey has been the main destination for Syrians who fleed the war, with estimations of 3 million people, followed by Germany and then Lebanon with almost 1 million each of them. Europe sheltered in total less than 2 milions.

# Forgein policy

– UN Envoy warns of “dramatic consequences” for Syria if tensions in the north remain unresolved.

– A powerful blast happen in an ammunitions and explosives plant in northwest Turkey, with at least 12 dead an a dozen more injured. The cause was not known, some turkish authorities suggested sabotage and an investigation is ongoing.

# International Solidarity

– Across the border of Kobane, members of the DEM party are protesting the looming turkish invasion with a sit-in.

– Donations of 300.000€ have reached Heyva Sor. We want to pass on the gratitude of our Heyva Sor friends, who have been working tirelessly to take care of the refugees from Shehba and Aleppo.

– Alexandra Cordebard, Mayor of Paris’s 10th district, honours the Kurdish community, calling for justice and solidarity on the anniversary of the Second Paris Massacre.

# Analysis

HTS is consolidating their power, announcing the disarmament of different factions and their integration into a new national army, under control of the provisional ministery of defense. The provisional goverment is also making concessions with Christian communities, that organized big protests in Damascus after the arson attack on a christmas tree in Hama. It looks a bit weird for us to see their demonstrations, marching and holding corsses above their heads, playing with the hegemony of christianity of western powers as a tool of deterence.

Anyway, it worked. Ahmed al-Sharaa anounced that those who burned the tree were not Syrians, and that there is no place in the new Syria for them. He learned fast to speak the language on western nation-states, using racism and xenophobia to blame the other, to pin any crimes and problems on some external threat, closing ranks under one flag, one nation, one state. But it really seems that those who burned the tree where not Syrians, but Chechens, Islamist veterans that were counted among the elite fighters of the now dispursed al-Nusra front. As Mussolini did one century ago, when he dumped his loyal ‘fascio di combatimento’ paramilitaries once he got to the italian parliament, al-Sharaa is now purging the ranks of HTS to consolidate his power.

But let’s not get lost in history. The important news for us are happening here, next to the Eufrates river. The counter-offensive on Manbij yesterday night had been an important victory, redefining the dynamics of the SNA-SDF ongoing conflict. It proved that SNA stands no chance against SDF without Turkish drones in the sky. It also means that, from now on, every time it rains, SNA mercenaries will be exposed to new SDF counter-offensives.

For those who had been in Rojava for some time, we remember how the Turkish offensives of 2018 and 2019 advanced ruthlessly to fulfil their aims (first Afrin, later Serekaniye and Gire Spi). Back then, they had green light of Russia and US to do as they wanted. Now, with Russia absent and US waiting for Trump to return to the white house, there is a window of opportunity where SDF can use the rainy days to push back. The first counter-offensive in Manbij has been a success, not just on a military level but also on a psycological level, showing that the revolutionary forces are ready to defend their land. This has sent a clear message: Kobane is a red line. If anyone mess with it, the spirit of the resistance that broke the advance of ISIS will once again burst free!

Revolutionary greetings!