30-12-24
“If Syrian women don’t stand up for their rights now, they will lose them!”
Gulnaz Osman, Women’s Council of the Democratic Islamic Congress.
# NES
SDF resistance in Manbij
SDF destroyed two Turkish army radar systems, a jamming system and armored vehicles in the Manbij countryside. A special forces team of SDF conducted an operation in the eastern neigborhoods of Manbij through tunnels.
Turkish military bases in Manbij
The SDF says Turkey is establishing two new military bases in Manbij and west of the Euphrates River. The Kurdish-led force also claims to have targeted several Turkish positions in the vicinity.
SNA targets infrastructure
Turkish mercenary artillery and heavy weapons targeting the drinking water pump in the village of Ain Issa and grain silos near Tal Tamir.
Forced levies in Afrin
The Turkish-backed armed al-Amshat imposed levies up to $5,000 on residents of a town in Afrin region. Residents unable to pay typically have vehicles/agricultural machinery taken, and anyone who resists faces physical violence. These levies target olive trees and have exacerbated the hardships faced by the population.
#Syria
New governor of National Bank
Maysaa Sabreen was named as the new governor of the Central Bank of Syria. She was working for the treasury of the Syrian state before. She will be the first woman to hold the position.
Druze leader assesment
Leadership of the Druze in SouthSyria say: “We are not optimistic with the recent developments. We will give HTS a chance. We want a secular state. The weapons of the Druze are important and non-negotiable.”
Bombings around Deir
Unidentified aircraft (probably Israeli or US) targeted former bases of Iranian backed militias in the region of Deir ez-Zor, south of the Euphrates. Simultaneously, there were increased patrols of coalition forces north of the river.
Ukraine Aid to Syria
Foreign Minister of Ukraine is visiting Damascus. He announced that the first trucks with Ukrainian aid will arrive in Syria tomorrow.
# Foreign Policy
Ocalan visit
The DEM party delegation that visited A. Ocalan on the 28th have stressed their cautious optimism, but will refrain from giving detailed information at this time due to the “sensitivity of the process”. They have undertaken to give a more detailed account in the new year.
Many Arab media outlets respond positively to the DEM party meeting with A. Ocalan, like one Saudi newspaper describing him as “the man of necessity when discussing solutions to the Kurdish issue”
Iraq warns HTS
An Iraqi Parliament representative has issued a warning to Syrias Interim Government against falling under Turkish influence, highlighting the importance of Arab unity and of maintaining minority rights.
# International solidarity
Letter to US and UN
500 kurdish women from around the world wrote a open letter to D.Trump and A.Guterres (general secretary of UN) warning about a looming genocide in NES and demand the official recognition of the selfadministration (DAANES).
Alevi Women Statement
The Democratic Alevi Women’s Union issued a written statement condemning the attacks on peoples and faiths in Syria, and calling for widespread participation in an event to be held on 4 January in Strasbourg.
# Analysis
Today a pentagon official declared that the ceasefire between SDF and Turkey is holding. It’s surreal to read those declarations when heavy clashes are happening everyday around Manbij. Ahmed Al-Sharaa keeps receiving visits of foreign diplomats to gain legitimacy as negotiations are still ongoing. Mazlum Abdi affirms the will of SDF to become part of the new Syrian army if an acceptable agreement can be reached. And ISIS continues attacking security checkpoints in several areas of Syria.
The attacks yesterday of the Military Council of Serekaniye in the Turkish occupied areas were a good reminder of two things: 1) Many parts of Syria are still under occupation, and people are ready to fight to liberate their homes 2) SDF is probably the strongest military force on the ground. It is important to remember those things when we look at the negotiations between SDF and HTS. Any call for a new Syrian army needs to include SDF, and SDF will not accept to simply “give up the weapons”. SDF is currently protecting about a third of the Syrian territory, with a well grounded and coordinated force. Together with many local military councils, SDF also counts with special elite units, veterans of the war against ISIS. HTS surprised the world with their production and proficiency with kamikaze drones, and counts in their ranks with some veteran islamist fighters. Still, HTS can’t defeat SDF on the ground, at least not without the Turkish support that is allowing the SNA to attack the SDF.
Another thing to keep in mind is that, after many years of silence, Syrians are now free to discuss politics openly in the street. Years of fear and repression from the regime secret services are now behind. Damascus, Aleppo, Homs… those are historical cities with vibrant new dynamics, that also carry important lessons from the years of resistance against the regime. Many politically organized Syrians are now in exile, but still many voices are already challenging the autoritharian moves of al-Sharaa. We also saw how Damascus was not liberated by HTS, in fact they arrived to the capital when Assad was already gone. The first military barracks stormed in the capital where the southern ones, with druze flags and FSA brigades emblems. Those were welcomed by the people of the capital, that celebrated their arrival because they also wanted the regime out. So when tomorrow HTS starts to claim that they are the ones that saved Syria, remember that they are lying. It was the poeple who toppled down the regime.
Revolutionary greetings!