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!