07-08/Jan/2025
# NES
Heavy clashes in Eufrates region
SDF resisted attacks at Tishreen Dam, destroying 12 military vehicles.
A turkish airstrikes struck an internet tower near Kobane, 3 SDF tanks and the Tishreen Dam infrastructure. These attacks coincide with ground attacks by Turkish-backed SNA mercenaries. Intense clashes are ongoing.
Tishreen Dam about to break
The strategically important dam is at risk of collapsing. Repairs have been impossible during the ongoing bombardments by turkish drones. The Dam is about to break apart, which would release a flood of 2 billion m³ of water that would cause a massive humanitarian and ecological disaster. It would also cut off the SDF forces in Manbij countryside, as Qereqozah and Tishreen are the only brides over the Eufrates near Manbij.
Civilian resistance in Tishreen
The DAANES is asking the International Coalition and the UN to step in to protect the Tishreen dam. A civilian convoy from different cantons of North Syria went there to organize a protest and defend the dam. The convoy was hit by a Turkish drone in their way, but they continued and arrived to the dam.
Kongra Star women’s forum
Kongra Star hosts women’s forum in Heseke under the slogan “With the unity of women, we will build a democratic Syria”. More than 500 women from Kurdish, Arab, Alawite Armenian and other nations proclaimed: “We want women inside the new constitution drafting committee, plus women’s representation guaranteed as >50% of membership in government institutions.”
SNA protests for salaries
Turkish-backed SNA militias launch protests in Manbij over several months of unpaid salaries, indicating deepening financial crisis and growing internal collapse.
Turkeys necropolitics
Turkey halts delegation to bring the bodies of martyred journalists Nazım Daştan und Cihan Bilgin back to their birth places in Bakur. Turkey uses the bodies of dead kurdish activists as political strategy, as a form of necropolitics.
# Syria
Power ships for electricity
Turkish and Qatari power ships are send to Syria, which could generate 800mw of power. This would increase overall power by 50%. This comes as US has lifted sactions against Syria for the next 6 months.
Syrian airports
Damascus International Airport resumes operation, first flight going to UAE. Soon, flights will operate between Damascus and Baghdad, as well as Erbil. Aleppo Airport is almost operational. Qamishli and Deir ez-Zor airports remain out of service due to extensive damage caused by the former regime before its withdrawal.
# Foreign Policy
Iraq border wall
Iraq build a border wall stretching 400km of the 615km long Iraqi-Syrian border. Iraqi head of defence ensured that the Iraqi border with Syria is safe due to intelligence operations, pursuit of sleeper cells, and continuous airstrikes.
Tensions Israel-Turkey
The Nagel Committee of the Israeli government issued a report warning that the country should prepare for a potential war with Turkey. Their report states that Israel should prepare by increasing military budget and obtaining advanced weaponry, air defence systems and bolstering border security.
France on sanctions and ISIS
French FM says sanctions on Syria could be lifted to support the rebuilding of the country, but only if progress is made in womens rights.
France and EU are deeply concerned about the potential resurgence of ISIS and its threat to Europe. France views the Kurds as key allies in countering the ISIS threat.
Turkey on Kurds and ISIS
Turkish FM: “Turkey will launch a military campaign against the Kurds in Syria if they dont comply with Ankaras demands”. “Turkey is capable of running ISIS prisons if the Syrian administration cannot do so”.
DEM Party delegations
Following Ocalan’s recommendation, the Imrali delegation of the Equality and Democracy of Peoples Party continues to meet with major Turkish political parties, now having met with CHP.
# International Solidarity
Solidarity from Western Sahara
Sahrawi Solidarity Summit that is taking place in a refugee camp in southern Algeria sends solidarity greetings to Rojava.
# Analysis
As SNA weakens, the Turkish army is increasing their role in the Tishreen front lines. Drone strikes are targeting not just military positions, but also SDF supply lines and even the civilian convoy that traveled there. More and more armored vehicles are being supplied to the Turkish proxies, combined with increasing air support from drones and war planes. The resistance of the Tishreen dam is at the moment the warmest front line of all Syria, a decisive battle for the resistance of the DAANES is being fought there.
The reiterated threats of Turkey about a total invasion in Northern Syria are now coming with claims to control ISIS prisons. This could be extreamly dangerous, considering how many foreign ISIS fighters could reorganize their cells with Turkish help. Many of them were aided by Turkish state to cross the border to Syria to join ISIS 10 years ago, and Turkey could now use them as leverage to create instability and chaos in many countries.
The Israel “Committee for the Evaluation of the Defense Establishment Budget and the Balance of Power”, led by former National Security Council head Yaakov Nagel, is highlighting the tensions between Israel and Turkey. These two states are competing for hegemony in middle east, and their tensions can become more and more central as both states expand their influence in Syria. How the transitional goverment balances their occupations (Turkey in the north, Israel in the South) will affect also what role the DAANES and the kurdish liberation movement will play in Syria.
Revolutionary greetings!