17-12-24
# NES Updates
– The ceasefire agreement between Turkey and SDF has been extended through US mediation until the end of this week. US state dep.: “We dont want to see any party take advantage of the current unstable situation to advance their own narrow interests…”
SDFs M.Abdi states: “we announce our readiness to propose the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the city of Kobani, with the redeployment of security forces under American supervision and presence. This initiative aims to address Turkey’s security concerns and ensure lasting stability in the region.”
## Eufrates region
– The forces of Manbij Military Council repelled an attack by the Turkish occupation mercenaries on the Tishreen Dam this afternoon, where fierce clashes lasted more than two hours, during which a number of mercenaries were eliminated, forcing them to flee the area.
– Multiple drone strikes were reported in Ain Issa and Raqqa, while protests against the turkish invasion plans continue in Kobane and Qamishlo.
– Tishreen Dam is non-operational. This means >2 million people are facing severe water shortages. UNICEF, Committee of the Red Cross in Syria and Syrian Red Crescent conduct joint mission to the Dam’s technical management facility for urgent repairs.
## M4 area
– Power station in Til Temir was fixed with support of Russian forces, but was bombed again few hours later as well as other villages of Til Temir front lines.
# Foreign politics
## In EU
– A delegation of the DAANES is in Strasbourg for talks with parties in the European Parliament. The talks are about the latest developments in Syria after the overthow of Assad, the ongoing attacks by Turkey and its proxy force SNA, the increasing threat from the so-called Islamic State and the humanitarian situation on the ground.
– EU Left coalition leader M. Schirdewan has spoken out in the EU Parliament in favor of recognizing the DAANES. “That would be credible European foreign policy.”
– Head of EU parliament U.v.d.Leyen: “The EU-Turkey relationship is important. Our economic relationship is growing stronger every year. And Turkey remains a key partner on migration. An extra €1 billion for 2024 is on its way to support Turkey’s efforts to host Syrian refugees.”
## In US
– The Pentagon says the ISIS prison camp al-Hol presents a significant security concern in the sense that were ISIS able to affect some type of breakout, of any detention facility, that would be a significant setback and something that would be very concerning. Which is why we continue to work very closely with the SDF. (…) the SDF that maintains the facility and the US military provides sort of a — kind of an outer layer of security out there.
# Damascus government
– UN expects 1 mil. refugees to return to Syria within the next year
– More mass graves have been discovered outside Damascus. Estimations say that up to 150.000 prison detainees had been killed, doubling previous estimates.
# Analysis
We can see how EU and US are not concerned with the past of HTS as a branch of Al-Qaeda, accepting their provisional government very fast. At the same time very little support or recognition has been given to NES, even when has been the main force on the ground fighting ISIS. Clearly the deciding factors for western powers are not human rights, ethical values and democracy as they like to claim, their decisions are being guided by anti-refugee sentiments and economical interests on oil and gas.
As right-wing parties take more power in governments, their electoral promises of harder migration laws guide their political programs. Those governments end up supporting authoritarian regimes that promise order and stability, hoping they will keep refugees away from their borders, when its exactly those regimes that force people to flee. There is a long history of western powers, especially US, supporting religious fundamentalist groups over socialist revolutionary forces. This goes against ethnic and religious minorities and especially against women and queers, since religious fundamentalism and patriarchy always go hand in hand.
A German organisation called GfbV (society for threatened peoples) warned:
“The new rulers of Syria are presenting themselves in the media as moderate, but there are already many signs that they are not keeping their promises. (…)
Turkish ruler Erdoğan has already sent his foreign minister to Damascus to torpedo a peaceful solution between HTS and DANNES. Erdoğan’s policy is extremely dangerous. The German government, especially the Federal Foreign Office, must not rely on Erdoğan and the Syrian Islamists if it really wants to create stability and a long-term peace order”
We see that the liberal left seems more aware of the situation, but they are not gonna risk anything to stop it. As it already happened with ISIS, there are threats that won’t be stopped with political diplomacy and economic sanctions. Fascism can have many colors, and it is always in deeply militarized and patriarchal environments where it thrives the best. Religious fundamentalism is therefore a perfect ground for fascism in the Middle East, as islamophobia and racist nationalism is in western territories.
Fascism needs to be stopped before it’s to late. Even if having different colors, authoritarian forces will eventually cooperate to eradicate autonomy and diversity. The mentality of dominant male, imposing their hegemony and dreaming of bigger and bigger nation-states under their rule, is the main threat for any expression of free life. But denouncing it is not enough, we have to take action to make sure their ambitions are prevented. And if not you, who? If not now, when?
One solution. Revolution.
Revolutionary greetings!