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!

23-12-24

# NES

– Since November 29th until December 22nd, RIC documented that Turkish/SNA attacks on NES have killed 56 civilians (& injured a further 73), 138 military personnel and 19 Asayish.

## Firat

– After the fierce resistance in Tishrin and Qereqozh, the offensive of SNA has collapsed. SDF took this opportunity to move forward, advancing to Manbij from two axis.

– SDF media delegate Ferhat Shami declared that SDF in now 13km away from Manbij.
SNA groups retreat into the city, with the sky too cloudy for turkish drones to see. [This is already outdated and there seems to be reports claiming for SDF to be in the city of Manbij. You can read here the statement of SDF: https://www.aanes-rep-eu.com/news/updates-from-the-sdf-operation-martir-aziz-arab-to-recover-manbij]

– Manbij residents talk about chaos inside Manbij city, with SNA groups looting, stealing and kidnapping civilians. The residents demand the entry of SDF.

– After a fighter of SNA kidnapped and raped a 7-year-old girl in Manbij countryside on Sunday, many members of the al-Bubna tribe rose up in arms against the occupation. Allegedly, the clashes that followed left dozens of dead SNA fighters. Allegedly, tribe leaders made contact with SDF anouncing the area was freed of mercenaries and that SDF is welcome to return.

## Cizire

– A mass demonstration in support of the YPJ took place in Qamishlo today. All-women YPJ units are taking part in the Tishreen Dam & Qaraqozak Bridge resistance.

– A meeting between SDF command Mazlum Abdi with the leadership of ENKS took place today, attended also by officials of the International coalition (US).

# Syria

– People of Al-Sqailbiyyah are protesting the burning of their Christmas tree by jihadists affiliated with HTS. Marching through the village, they carry a large cross to show that they are Christians and not afraid, shouting ‘Enough is enough!
HTS published a video apologising for the incident.

# Foreign policy

– Iraq has decided to cease providing crude oil to Syria starting from December.
Operations at the Baniyas refinery on Syria’s coast came to a halt after it stopped receiving crude oil shipments from Iran, which has been the primary supplier of Syria’s oil imports.

– Parliament of Catalonia promises to support the DAANES. The Self Administration must be at the table deciding over a new Syria, because without all parties present there will be neither a resolution nor lasting peace.

# Analysis

The SDF seized the opportunity and are making an advance towards Manbij. Since SDF kicked out ISIS in 2016, Manbij had years of democracy and stability. Now we see how the local population refuse to accept the Turkish occupation and the violent fundamentalists groups of SNA. We can see how the self administrations managed to get the vast majority of the people behind the idea of this revolution.

This is a very important victory, not just for the military aspect but also on the political side. Pushing back against the occupation is also a psycological blow for the turkish proxy groups, that find themselves in disarray in front of the advance of SDF. Phones and other devices captured in the advance of SDF are now showing their comunications, where desperate calls for help and scared comunications of fighters running away are being circulated in whatsapp groups. Their dependancy on Turkish military power makes them vulnerable to SDF counter attacks, because they don’t have contingency plans for those situations.

Still, Turkish air superiority is a massive challange for SDF advance. Advances towards Manbij are a big achievment, and we should celebrate it. But the war is not over, Turkish planes can become a nightmare not just for SDF but for all poeples of northern Syria. It is still not clear how much Erdogan will try to play political in his alliance with HTS, or how much he will go full on with military attacks.

But this will be something we will need to evaluate in the future, today let’s ceebrate this amazing victory of SDF!

Revolutionary greetings!

22-12-24

# NES

– Violent clashes continue around the Tishreen dam, with a new offensive of SNA repelled by SDF. SDF also sent reinforcements to the area.

– Turkish occupation bombed the countryside of Kobani and occupied Tal Abyad/Girê Spi, as well as 2 villages west of Tal Tamr. A 12-year old girl and her mother were killed by a turkish drone strike in Kobane countryside.

– In response to the martyrdom of 3 citizens targeted in a car, including the head of the religious council in Tel Brak Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tami, imams and preachers of the Democratic Islam Congress condemned the attack, emphasising “our commitment to carrying the banner of resistance, peace and brotherhood, and our determination to move forward towards achieving these goals.”

# Syria and beyond

– Walid Jumblatt, Druze ex-leader of the progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon, and his son Taymur Jumblatt, met today with Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka al-Julani). In a press statement after the meeting al-Sharaa vowed to end negative interferance from Syria in Lebanon.

– Turkish FM Hakan Fidan met today with Ahmed al-Sharaa,both calling for the lifting of sanctions towards Syria. Al-Sharaa announced a process of disarming and dissolving different armed groups into what will become the new Syrian Army, remarking that this will also include the SDF. Fidan called on the international community to help Syria and for Syrians displaced to return. He also remarked the need for a new constitution in Syria.

– Israeli forces continue to occupy more land in the south, moving up to al-Baath town, near Quneitra.

– US army has sent reinforcements to Syria from Iraq amid Turkish attacks on SDF in NE Syria.

# Analysis

Very fast, al-Julani traded his military-style green shirt for a business-style black suit and a tie, hosting several official meetings this Sunday in the Syrian presidential palace. A new technocrat is born, paving his way to the presidency of Syria and to the corridors of the international Realpolitik.

This creates a very challenging situation for the DAANES, since it is the game that kurdish polititians had been trying to play for the last years. Diplomatic institutions had become an important work for the bodies of the self-administration, moderating the revolutionary narrative to look formal and acceptable to western audiences, aiming to achieve recognition and status for North-East Syria. It worked for a while, creating an illusion that office politics and diplomacy was the right path to follow. But now this illusion is vanishing.

The negotiations of Mazlum Abdi for a ceasefire in Kobane, proposing a demilitarized zone, rightly adressed the concerns that Turkey was putting on the table. This exposed the hipocrasy of AKP, that was just using those conditions as an excuse for their attacks. But with US entering the game, and especially with the fierce resistance of SDF in Tishreen and Qereqozah, the invasion got halted for now. SDF is crushing wave after wave of the mercenaries that Erdogan is sending.

Erdogan has hopes that Trump will side with him when he takes office, but the pro-kurdish positions from some senators of the republican party -with a the bipartisan bill against Erdogan proposed in the US senate- are now bringing doubts about that. Kurdish diplomacy has been playing a pivotal role in the last years, and the revolutionary process also paid a price for it, having to play the role that western powers (mainly US) wanted to see “the kurdish partners” playing.

But the kurdish liberation movement is more than the diplomacy of Rojava, and the resistance in kobane is proof of that. We made it that far because the people of Rojava have always been ready to fight and defend their land. If we want to push for revolutionary transformations, we need to take initiative and go on the offensive.

Revolutionary greetings!

21-12-24

# NES

– Turkish backed mercenaries (SNA) launched another fierce attack in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam this morning, using heavy weaponry, armored vehicles and tanks. SDF forces repelled the attack, eliminating 35 mercenaries and destroying one tank and two armored vehicles.

– An attack by SNA fighters in Hamid, on the M4 front lines in the region of Ain Issa, was repelled by SDF forces.

– A Turkish drone attacked a civilian car south of Tel Brak in the Hasakah province, killing three civilians: a woman of HPC (community self defense), a member of the Council of Tel Brak and a religious figure.

– Turkish drones have targeted the wheat silos in Sarin, resulting in significant damage and destruction.

# Syria

– Israel arrested two protesters in their newly occupied zone in southern Syria

– The Syrian Women council made a press conferance in Hasakah to share the statement they released in different languages.

# Foreign policy

– Two U.S. senators introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at imposing sanctions on Turkey. The “Countering Turkish Aggression Act” is designed to prevent further Turkish attacks on the SDF, which they warn could lead to a resurgence of ISIS and pose a direct threat to U.S. national security and global stability.

– Colombian President Petro said in a social media post: “In present-day Syria, a free Kurdish journalist has been killed. I call on the leaders of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Israel, and the United States to stop dividing Syria. This division is heading towards a new genocide — the genocide of the Kurdish people.”

# International solidarity

– Kurdish youth carried out a civil disobedience action in a Paris airport against the attacks by the Turkish state and its affiliated SNA gangs against NES. The police took the protesters into custody.

# Anaysis

Today we will also give space for the women’s village of Jinwar, that sent a letter that adresses Europe:

“The EU is already discussing deporting people back to Syria and is talking about a new beginning in Syria, while people are forced to flee their homes here every day. Turkey attacks everywhere. There is no safe place for people. Sleeping places, food, medicine for the displaced are scarce. It is hardly possible to offer people security.
But the women here are determined. Determined to fight for the children to learn in their own language and grow up with the values ​​of democracy and freedom of women. Determined to counter violence and death by building something beautiful that is full of life. ”

Revolutionary greetings!

20-12-24

# NES

– Kurdish Journalists Cihan Bilgin (ANHA) and Nazin Dashtan (ANF) were killed yesterday in a drone strike after they filmed the effects of the Turkish attacks on the Tishreen Dam.

– Cihan was a journalist for over 8 years. She covered the liberation of Raqqa, bringing attention to the extraordinary struggle of the SDF and the women of YPJ. She was deeply engaged with the philosophy of women’s liberation.

– Nazim was among the first journalists to document the resistance of Kobane in 2014. He reported on the brutality and oppression of the Turkish state. He was a very kind-hearted person, and always ready to support the work of international journalists.

– SNA groups launched an offensive in Qereqozah bridge, with heavy weapons and support of Turkish drones. After fierce clashes, the offensive was been repeled by the Manbij Military Council and other SDF forces.

# Syria

– On Dec. 19, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif aka Mahmud in the Deir ez-Zor Province, killing him and another ISIS operative.

– Former SAA soldiers who fled to Iraq during the fall of the regime had been handed out to new Syrian authorities (HTS) as captives.

– Allegedly, former SAA soldiers in Latakia ambushed a group of HTS fighters in Masyaf, inflicting several casualties. Remnants of Assad’s army have vowed to continue fighting in the west coast region of Syria, and are threatening to arm “popular organisations”. Local groups are taking up weapons to defend demselves from the constant attacks they received from HTS and SNA groups.

– In the western countriside of Daraa, several protests had been taking place against the new israely occupation. In the village Ma’riya IDF opened fire killing one protestor.

# Foreign politics

– Iraq FM called with british FM to inform that ISIS is reorganizing its ranks, expanding control in several areas over Syria and Iraq with seized weapons from syrian army depots that were temporarily abandoned with the collapse of the regime.

– British media said on Thursday that counter-terrorism police in the UK are on high alert for the potential return of British supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) following their potential release from prisons in Syria.

– Pentagon Press Secretary P.Ryder told reporters that there were in fact 2,000 US troops in Syria, not 900 as previously reported, adding that “these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that deploy to meet shifting mission deployments.”

– Turkish police have arrested ten Kurdish Journalists in Van for protesting against the martyrdom of their two colleagues. This follows a long list of arrests that started at the end of November, right before the offensive of HTS started. Dozens of polititians, protesters and journalists, including elected kurdish municipal mayors had been arrested.

– EU diplomatic envoy met with HTS in Damascus to discuss the agreements of the Aqaba conferance, giving support for an inclusive Syrian led political process that results in representative government, which respects the rights of all Syrians. He expressed cautious willingness to support rebuilding of Syria.

– Germanys FM A.Baerbock, who started her office with promising “a feminist foreign policy” and 3 days ago talked about Kobane as a symbol of resistance for kurds, today stated “The Kurdish groups must be disarmed and integrated into the national security structure”.

– US department of Justice removed the page stating a $10 milion reward for information on Syrian islamist leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa (al-Jolani).

# International Solidarity

– The International Federation of Journalists condemned the targeting of Cihan Bilgin and Nazim Dastan by Turkey, and demanded that those responsible for targeting journalists in war zones be held accountable.

– The Coalition for Women in Journalism issues a statement condemning the Turkish drone strike that killed two journalists yesterday: https://www.womeninjournalism.org/alerts/syria-turkish-drone-strike-kills-kurdish-journalsts-jihan-belki-and-nazim-dashdam

# Analysis

The assassination of two Kurdish journalists is a painful reminder of how news and information is a weapon of war.

We are seeing elaborate schemes in social networks, where fake information and fabricated war headlines are propagated, distorting reality and creating confusion about the situation on the ground. This is part of psychological warfare, another form of waging war employed by our enemies. This broadcast channel is partly an answer to it. We know that war has many sides, and that we need to give collective answers to all of them, building mechanisms of self-defense against all kinds of attacks. We also see attacks against health workers, with an ambulance that was transporting injured recently being targeted in the Kobane region. These kinds of attacks are not just attacks against civilians, are attacks against basic ethical standards.

Western powers like to claim a moral high ground, talking about democracy and human rights. Turkey is a NATO member that has been spitting on any basic ethical standards, and still got a new bribe of 1 billion E in the form of aid to control refugees. HTS was on the terrorist lists for its links with Al-Qaeda. But now, climbing the ladder to the top of a Nation-State, that is not relevant for the other heads of State anymore. As it already happened with the Taliban.

It deeply reflects how States are born, with brutal and murderous gangs fighting and killing, until one big man manages to establish himself as president, as king, or even as god. And then the other big men around him applaude and congratulate his ascend. After that, maybe they put some make-up and rewrite the history here and there, to make sure it suits whatever is the current trend in present literature. And, voila! A new goverment is born.

It is also pathetic to see Turkey and Israel building tensions, accusing each other of the same crimes they are committing themselves. Especially when their military intelligence agencies collaborate and negotiate the occupation and partition of Syria behind the cameras.

“The Truth will not remain captive in the darkness”
— Nazim Dashtan

Comrade Nazim, comrade Cihan, all the brave fighters defending this revolution:
Rest in Power!

Revolutionary greetings!

19-12-24

# Syria

– Big demonstration on Damascus with special participation of many women in reaction to misogin declarations from members of the provisional government. The protesters chanted slogans such as “Free Civil Syria” and “We want democracy, not theocracy,” holding placards that read “Towards a State of Law and Citizenship” and “No Free Homeland without Free Women.”

#NES

– Big demonstration in Qamishlo (with usual participation on many woman) against the turkish ocupation. The “independance” flags were present, waving next to SDF flags. The protestors chanted slogans such as “No to the occupation,” “SDF is our strength,” “Long live the brotherhood of peoples,” “Long live the unity of Kurds, Arabs, and Syriacs,” and “Our resistance guarantees our freedom.”

## Eufrates Region

– Violent clashes on the outskirts of Kobane region during last night. Turkish proxy forces continued gatharing troops arround Qereqozah Bridge and Tishreen dam.

– Turkey is building defense lines and deploying heavy weapons in the Turkey-Syria border next ot the city of Kobane, while simultaneously building a border wall around the occupied territories. Communication over phone and internet was blocked in Kobane region.

– After an ISIS attack near Raqqa, the SDF antiterror units performed a sweep ov several villages in the area to maintain security and stability.

– After ISIS attack, SDF carrried out raids on the outskirts of Raqqa.

# Foreign politics

– FM of Turkey Hakan Fidan gave an interview to al-Jazeera saying that they expect the Syrian goverment to crack down on the “terrorists of YPG”. “If our concerns are eliminated, we have no reason to intervene or remain in Syria”. He criticised the US for supporting “SDF terrorists” and Israel for occupying syrian territory.

– Russian president V.Putin said: “We need to solve the kurdish problem… Turkey has a problem with the PKK for decades. After the First World War the Kurds were promised their own state, but they were deceived.”

– Former french president Hollande says “I cannot tolerate the abandonment of the Kurds. I am calling on France and the International Coalition to protect the Syrian Kurds.”

# International Solidarity

– Internationalists interrupted the EU Parliament session to denounce Turkey’s assault on Rojava and call for the freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan

– Brasilian activists gathered infront of the turkish embassy in Brasil to protest the agressions against Rojava/ NES

Revolutionary greetings!