09.06.25 – 15.06.25

Iran-Israel war
Last Thursday, June 12th, Israel started a bombing campaign on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, anti-air defenses and top military leaders. The Syrian transitional goverment has no intention of getting involved in the conflict. In response to the Israel attacks, Iran launched ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones that fly over Syrian air space, most of them have been intercepted by Israeli air defense with US support. Transitional goverment sources stated they are not opposed to intercepting Iranian missiles and drones in Syrian air space. Some intercepted drones fell on Syrian soil, one of them allegedly causing a fire at a UN de-escalation point in the territory recently occupied by Israel in Syria, near the Golan hights.

Since then, the conflict has continued with exchanges of long range attacks between Iran and Israel, threatening to spiral into a regional war with very serious consequences for the middle east and the whole world. At the moment, we are following the events closely. Iranian top military leadership was eliminated in those initial attacks, and they are being replaced in haste. Many anti-air defenses of Iran have been neutralized, nuclear facilities destroyed and leading nuclear scientists assassinated.

Israeli operations in Syria
Israeli forces shot and killed a young Syrian man, Muhamad Hamada, and arrested 7 others in the town of Beit Jann, on the outskirts of Damascus. This occurred in the latest raids by Israeli forces, who are continuing operations and expanding the territory they occupy in Syria since the collapse of the Assad regime.

Clashes between SDF and new Syrian army
SDF and the Syrian army’s 66th Division clashed in several areas south-east of Raqqa province on June 9. Syrian media reported that the SDF and 66th Division engaged each other near Madan, Abu Hamad, and al Maghla Bridge in the eastern Raqqa countryside. The new Syrian army sent military reinforcements to its positions in Madan following the fighting, and deems that after those clashes no further escalation took place. There were no reports of casualties.

ISIS reactivation of international networks
ISIS has begun reactivating its sleeper cells in both Syria and Iraq amid growing concerns that foreign fighters are once again traveling to the region to join the group. Intelligence agencies have reportedly tracked a limited number of suspected salafist foreign fighters arriving from Europe to Syria in recent months. However, it remains unclear whether they were recruited directly by ISIS or by other actors.
SDF continue carring out operations against ISIS, with significant arrests of sleeper cells and logistics networks in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.

02.06.25 – 08.06.25

New Syrian Army: former regime soldiers and more jihadists
The Ministry of Defence of the new Syrian government has stated that former soldiers of the regime may be accepted into the army. Murhaf Abu Qasra also said that these should be soldiers who ‘have not stained their hands with blood.’
There is unconfirmed information that the Syrian army has refused to accept internationalist fighters from SNA linked to Turkey. However, the United States has given the green light to bring foreign jihadist ex-rebels into the army.
China has commented on this: ‘We are concerned by reports that foreign terrorist fighters in Syria have recently joined Syrian government forces. And we call on Syria’s interim officials to fulfil their anti-terrorism duties. They must take all necessary measures to control all terrorist organisations and individuals designated by the Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in Syria.’ China’s main concern is the Uyghurs who have joined jihadist groups and are radically opposed to China.

Operations against drug trafficking at the Syrian border:
In the times of the Assad regime, the town of Abu Kamal located at the Syrian-Iraqi border in Deir-Ez-Zor was a smuggling hub under Iranian influence. It was used to smuggle drugs, weapons and to cross Iranian-backed militia fighters in and out from Syria. This traffic was promoted by the Assad regime.
The General Security forces are running operations aiming to assert control over the border and to put an end to the traffic. The fall of the previous regime comes with a decrease of Iranian influence in Syria, as well as elsewhere in the region, with the military defeat of several Iranian proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Refugees coming back to Syria:
As border crossings reopen, over 25,000 Syrian refugees returned in one week. With the fall of the Assad regime, more and more refugees are coming back to their homes, with already 400.000 crossing the borders from Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan. This massive influx of refugees will bring more challenges to the humanitarian crisis of Syria with 90% of Syrians leaving below the poverty line.

Turkey says no immediate plans to withdraw troops from Syria:
Turkey has no plans to withdraw its soldiers from Syria. The Turkish Minister of Defence stated ‘We have begun to provide military training and advisory services, while taking measures to strengthen Syria’s defence capabilities.’ All this is justified by the preservation of its territorial integrity and unity, as well as the elimination of terrorism.

U.S. troop withdrawal continues amid ongoing operations against ISIS:
On June 4th, US officials declared that 500 troops were withdrawn from Syria, and three US bases were shut down or handed over to SDF. In a declaration on Monday, the US special envoy in Syria emphasized the need for a change in the U.S. partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The next day, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced its participation in six joint anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria. The CENTCOM commander underlined that “operations like these underscore the commitment of USCENTCOM, along with our allies and partners, to the enduring defeat of ISIS in the region”.

Israel launches airstrikes on south Syria in response to rocket fire:
On June 4th, Israeli jets struck a weapons depot belonging to the Syrian army. The IDF stated that the bombing was a response to two rockets launched toward areas under Israeli control in the Golan Heights. In a communique, Israeli forces said that the Syrian regime is responsible for all activities emanating from its territory and that it would be held accountable for the escalation.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any responsiblity of the Syrian army for the attack and suggested that the rockets fired could be the result of external actors trying to destablize the region. It condemned the Israeli airstrikes, calling on the international community to take measures to stop Israeli agression.

Last issue of Serxwebûn
The last issue of Serxwebûn magazine has been published. The magazine has been in circulation since 1979 and has become an integral part of the history of the PKK struggle. The latest issue discusses the political and ideological reasons for the party’s dissolution and what this means.

26.05.25 – 01.06.25

ISIS increasing influence and attacks
ISIS activities continued growing this week, with new attacks against SDF and Security forces of the transitional goverment. Car bombs and other sofisticated attacks prove that ISIS is increasing their capacities, making use of weapons seized after the collapse of Assad regime. Their newly expanded range of attacks also proves growth of their support networks. SDF and Security services of the transitional goverment continued to launch aids to counter their influence.

DAANES delegation in Damascus
During diplomatic meeting several issues were discussed, leading to following conclusions: establishing committees to monitor implementation of March 10th aagreement, working to resolve issues surrounding exams and student rights, resolving difficulties of IDPs returning to their villages and cities, and overcoming problems around implementation of agreements on Ashrafiye and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of Aleppo, including disrupted prisoner exchange.

Damascus refusal to release captured women fighters disrupts prisoner exchange
A second planned SDF-Damascus prisoner exchange in Aleppo has been postponed on May 28th. YPJ made a statement explaining that the Syrian transitional government refused to release women prisoners. DAANES officials stated their intentions to continue negotiating to make the prisoner exchange. On June 2nd a statement was released on media that the issue was resolved and the prisoner exchange will resume.

Syrian IDP Camps and ISIS
Following an agreement between the Syrian transitional government and DAANES to transfer internally displaced persons (IDPs) from al-Hol camp hosting ISIS families, several families were allowed to return to their homes in different parts of Syria. It is not clear how the security forces of the transitional goverment will deal with those families, and it may create an opportunity for ISIS to recruit new fighters and reengage supporters. Authorities of al-Hol camp denied any agreements to transfer the administration of the camp to the transitional government.

Lifting Syria Sanctions
The US Treasury lifted most sanctions on Syria, the EU separately adopted a resolution to lift economic sanctions on Syria but imposed sanctions on Turkish-backed Syrian army commanders and armed factions that committed human rights abuses. The EU Council sanctioned 62nd Division Commander Mohammad al Jassem (Abu Amsha) and 76th Division Commander Saif al Din Boulad (Sayf Abu Bakr) for commanding forces that conducted arbitrary killings, torture, and other targeted violence against civilians, particularly Alawites, in early March 2025. Al-Sharaa has allowed men, such as Abu Amsha, Sayf Abu Bakr, and others, to continue to operate with relative impunity in Syria and has even promoted several of these men to high-ranking positions within the new Syrian army.

Continuous armed attacks in Suweida
An ambulance of As-Suweida National Hospital was targeted on May 26th in an IED explosion that injured 6 people. This is not the first armed attack on medical personnel in the region. The same day people including healthcare workers organized a protest in front of As-Suweida National Hospital, denouncing an earlier incident where armed men entered the hospital and assaulted medical staff.

19.05.25 – 25.05.25

ISIS resurgence reaching new levels
Daesh continue attacking SDF checkpoints in eastern Deir Ezzor in the context of a worrying resurgence of their activities, passing from isolated strikes to coordinated operations. The partial withdrawal of US forces from NES with the evacuation of some bases located in Deir Ez Zor coincides with the increase of ISIS activities and puts a heavy burden on the shoulders of SDF. Many jihadist groups previously located in Idlib are disappointed with the direction of HTS. This disappointment creates a fertile ground for ISIS recruiters, already calling for their former members to rejoin their ranks, inviting also SNA groups to pledge allegiance to the Islamic state. Forces of the General Security Services (GSS) also carried out operations against ISIS cells in Aleppo after new attacks against GSS checkpoints in Deir Ezzor.

Attack on Russian air base
“Burkan al Furat” claimed the attack on Russian forces at Hmeimim air base that killed two Russian soldiers. They published a statement giving the Russians one month to leave Syria before they attack again. The Islamist group also announced that two of its fighters were killed, including ex-Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) military trainer Abu Jihad Masri. The syrian transitional goverment declared that they acted without approval from the Central Security Services.

Tensions in Suweyda continue
Armed attacks and confrontations continue escalating amid the challenges faced by the transitional government and Druze forces in maintaining security in Suwayda Province. Local armed groups have engaged in repeated incidents of theft and other various criminal activities in Suwayda in recent days. A leader of “Men of Dignity” complained that the government has not provided local police institutions with any logistical support or equipment since the May 1 agreement. A new Druze faction known as the “National Guard Forces” recently formed in Suwayda Province, likely due to continued distrust between some Druze and local Sunni communities and the government’s continued security challenges.

Renewed tensions between SDF and SNA at Tishreen Dam
SDF and SNA factions are advancing towards each other west of Tishreen Dam, in the Manbij countryside. Some clashes recently took place there, and it is not clear if Damascus sanctioned the SNA’s recent activity near Tishreen Dam or if they continue to act independently. The existence of SNA-dominated army units that do not answer to Damascus risks discouraging Kurdish militants from integrating into the state due to the SNA’s historic abuses against the Kurdish population.

Damascus delegation in al-Hol
A delegation from the Syrian transitional government visited Hol Camp to discuss the conditions of Syrian residents. The delegation included representatives from the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the intelligence services, as well as officials responsible for counterterrorism efforts within the Syrian transitional government, accompanied by representatives of the U.S.-led Global Coalition.
The delegation held a meeting with representatives of the DAANES and the camp’s administration, discussing the potential return of Syrian residents in the camp to their home areas and villages.

12.05.25 – 19.05.25

Deir Ezzor security operations and ISIS activities.

After continued attacks on SDF checkpoints in eastern Deir Ezzor, SDF deployed additional forces to carry out a wider security operation. More than 10 ISIS linked individuals have been arrested after an extensive intelligence research, focused not just on sleeping cells, but targeting also networks of weapons and oil smuggling often connected with ISIS activities. Despite the defeat of the caliphate, insurgent activity of ISIS in the desert areas of central Syria continued. Since the collapse of the al-Assad regime, sunni fundamentalist groups are disappointed with the moderate politics of the transitional government of al-Sharaa. ISIS is exploiting those frustrations to recruit insurgents into their ranks, increasing their activities and expanding their networks. Syrian authorities also claim the arrest of an ISIS cell in Aleppo, as a reaction to a deadly attack of the fundamentalist group on a public security facility that resulted in the death of a security officer.

Trump – Al-Sharaa meeting in Saudi Arabia:

Trump announced in Riyadh that he will lift the sanctions on Syria, presenting it as “a new opportunity” for the Syrian government to restore stability. The declaration came during his speech at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, where Trump is on a high-profile tour on middle east. After that announcement, a face to face meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa took place, together with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdoğan, who joined online. The White House announced their request for Syria to expel Palestinian terrorists groups and to join the Abraham agreements (agreements of normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations). Another major request was for the Syrian government to assume full responsibility for ISIS detention centers of northeast Syria, currently under control of SDF. The previous request of US for lifting sanctions of removing foreign islamists from government positions was not mentioned. Al-Sharaa invited U.S. companies to invest in Syria’s oil and gas sectors.

More HTS and SNA appointments in government positions

The government of al-Sharaa continues to appoint important figures of HTS in key positions of the transitional government. This include Abdul Qader al Tahhan (Abu Bilal Quds) as Deputy Interior Minister for National Security Affairs, Hakim al Deiri (Dia al Din al Omar) as General Security Services (GSS) Director of Latakia Province and Muhammad Taha al Ahmad as Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs. Also this week a meeting with leading commanders of SNA was held nearby Serekaniye. They discussed about integration of different SNA groups in the new Syrian army, without requiring them to reform or restructure their forces. This brings important questions for the future of the M4 strip area between Serekaniye and Gire Spi, occupied by Turkish proxies since 2019. Thousands of families are waiting to return to their homes after they were expelled by the Turkish military operations more than 5 years ago.

PKK ceasing activities

After a two day congress held in Irak, PKK announced that it will cease activities under such name and that the organization will disband. This statement follows the call of their imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, calling for a peace process and the resolution of the Kurdish question over political means. Turkish state welcomed the statement, but announced that it will continue its ground military operations on areas under control of PKK. Turkish President Erdoğan made declarations calling for the process of dissolution and disarmament to also involve the Syrian and European branches of the organization.

Mazloum Abdi, head of SDF, welcomed the announcement of PKK describing it as a “historic and courageous” decision, marking what he called a pivotal moment for politics and peace in the Middle East. “The PKK’s decision to dismantle its organizational structure, end the armed struggle, and adopt democratic politics based on the call of leader Abdullah Öcalan is commendable. We are confident this step will pave the way for a new phase of politics and peace in the region.”

Evaluation

For more than six and a half months we have been reporting about the ongoing situation on Syria, with special focus on the development of the revolutionary process of north-East Syria. The region has been experiencing deep political changes and transformations, that we try to analyze combining the information that gets published with our experiences and sources on the ground.

We reached a point were this task is getting heavier for us, not being able to fully grasp the meaning of the unfolding events. In these circumstances, we consider it appropriate to re-evaluate our tasks and our role as anarchists in north-east Syria. We want to provide accurate evaluations, in line with our political perspectives and coherent with the principles of critical solidarity that characterize our vision of internationalism.

The implications of what we are witnessing stretches beyond what we expected. We need to be careful about what we share with you all, and we will need some time to reflect what is happening in the new Syria that is being made, what implications does it have for Kurdistan and for Middle east and how this will affect the rest of the world. Overall, we need to reflect what lessons we, as well as other revolutionary movements, can learn from this situation.

Revolutionary greetings

05.05.25 – 11.05.25

Visit al-Sharaa in France:
Al-Sharaa visited France to have a meeting with Emmanuel Macron. News reported Macron’s proposal to strengthen the cooperation of the new government with SDF in the fight against ISIS. In the press conference after the meeting, The French president congratulated the common efforts of Syria’s transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces that resulted in the agreements of the 10th of March, calling it “an important stage in Syria’s history”. Macron called for a continuation of “the gradual lifting of European economic sanctions” if the new Islamist authorities stabilize the country. He added that USA should follow the same path and also should, “as long as possible”, not withdraw American troops from Syria.
Demonstrations organized by Syrian migrants took place in France to denounce the meeting with the former leader of HTS. This meeting happened a week after a declaration from the foreign affairs ministry condemning the massacres perpetuated on the Druze population of Suweida. The declaration urged the Damascus transitional government to take back the control of a situation caused by “outlawed groups”.

New appointment in Damascus forces:
On May 5th (Monday), Damascus transitional government appointed Ahmad al-Hays (Abu Hatem Shaqra) as new leader of the 86th division, responsible of security of the areas of Deir Ezzor, Raqqa and Hasaka. In 2018, he was implicated in the trafficking of Yazidi women and children and in recruiting former ISIS members. He is also responsible of the brutal murder of Hevrin Khalaf in 2019, who was the general secretary of the Future Syrian Party. Ahmad Al-Hayes is on the U.S. sanctions list accused of grave human rights abuses and links to the Islamic State (ISIS). A statement from the DAANES condemned the appointment. Kongra Star, the main structure of the women’s movement in Syria called for accountability, requiring the revocation of Al-Hays appointment and an apology to the family of Hevrin Khalef. On Thursday, the U.S. State Department strongly criticized the transitional Syrian government for this appointment in a press conference.

Continuation of the tensions in Suweida:
The tensions that started last week in the region of Suweida escalated. On thursday, forces connected to the military council of Suweida carried out an ambush on a car of the security forces of Damascus. The escalating violence pushed 300 students to be evacuated out from their university in emergency. Agreements are being made for Security forces of Damascus recently deployed in the area to withdraw, letting local police security forces from Suweida to take care of security. Different groups from the Druze community are calling for restraint and cooperation with Damascus government, while the military council of Suweida seems determined to fight for the defense of the Druze autonomy.

Victory on Tishreen:
The DAANES put an end to the rotations of civilians convoys going to Tirshin to support the SDF forces fighting. In the final statement of the last civilian convoy, victory was declared. The resistance of the dam stopped the attacks of turkish proxy forces, preventing the invasion of Kobane and further war against the DAANES territories. They remembered and thanked all those who gave their life in the defense of the dam, both civilians and military, as well as all those injured in the resistance.
Forces connected to the transitional government continue to be deployed in the surrounding villages, as SDF also continues reinforcing the region. For now, the military conflict is over, but clashes can restart in a near future if the negotiations don’t reach satisfactory agreements for both sides.

PKK 12th congress:
Between the 5th and the 7th of may, PKK held its 12th congress. Proposals and perspectives from Abdullah Ocalan were read and discussed, together with a report of the PKK Central Committee. PKK commemorated the martyrs of the revolution and called on “patriotic people and all democratic socialist forces to properly embrace and live in accordance with all the national and democratic values”. They announced that more details about the the congress will be published in the coming days.

Evaluation:

The resistance in Tishreen declared victory over the attacks of Turkish proxies, concluding almost 4 months of civilian vigil. People from all territories of the DAANES, from Kobane to Deir Ezzor, joined this popular initiative to defend the dam and stop the enemy advance. The combination of military defense and civilian resistance is a clear example of how the revolutionary principles of this revolution are put in practice. It shows the will and determination of the people of North-East Syria, ready to fight to protect their land and defend the achievements of the revolution. It also shows the value of diversity of tactics, how different elements can combine and support each other if they share common revolutionary aims.

The appointment of Abu Hatem Shaqra as leader of the 86th division is bold decision that will have serious implications. The Damascus government making such appointment is an attempt to exercise power and demonstrate authority over North-East Syria, questioning SDF and the inhabitants of North eastern Syria. It is a direct and conscious provocation from a newly born authoritarian regime, that will for sure undermine the already challenging negotiation for integration of SDF in the new Syrian army. Abu Hatem Shaqra’s connection to the turkish secret services is beyond question: he was the commander of a turkish backed group (Ahrar al-Sharqiya) and joined several meetings organized by the MIT during the Afrin war. For turkey, positioning SNA commanders like Abu Hatem Shaqra or Fahim Issa (nominated at the head of the ministry of defense of Syria a month ago) in the higher ranks of the new Syrian Army is a way to ensure influence and to guarantee the alignment of the new Syrian army with Turkish interests. His appointment also questions the US, which has his name on a terrorist list and already made statements condemning such decision.

The visit of al-Sharaa in France may seem a contradictory event, specially when UN and many French politicians opposed such a visit. The French president made special permission for him, allowing the head of the transitional government to visit Europe for the first time. For al-Sharaa, this trip is another step towards legitimacy, probably hoping that other European states will follow the French example, also gathering support for the EU to lift economic sanctions on Syria. The French president emphasized their wish for the Syrian transitional government to strengthen collaboration with SDF, knowing that many international ISIS fighters in NES prisons have French nationality. Discussions about the new Syrian government taking control of ISIS prisons, as Turkey already proposed, necessarily rings the alarms for many countries. Intelligence services all over the world are worried about the future of those experienced salafist militants, especially if the current islamist government takes control of those prisons. Even if we can’t be sure about it, this was probably one of the main reasons that motivated French state to invite al-Shara.

News about the recent congress of PKK are also raising questions about what implications will it have not only for Syria, but for all parts of Kurdistan. As for now not much information is available on what agreements were reached in the congress, but it is expected that official statements will soon be published.

Revolutionary greetings!