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.