List of the main acronyms for those in the chat who've joined recently:

HTS: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, that now hold the Interim Government

SDF: Syrian Democratic Forces, military coalition of defense forces in NES

SNA: Syrian National Army, Islamist Turkish proxy forces

FSA: Free Syrian Army, old name that was used as an umbrella for opposition groups against Assad

SSG: Syrian Salvation Government, political front of HTS

SIG: Syrian Interim Government: political front of SNA and Turkey. Also known as STG, Syrian Transitional Government

MoD: Ministry of Defense of the Damascus government

DAANES: Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, political body in cooperation with SDF

IOF: Israeli Occupation Forces

KRG: Kurdish Regional government of north Iraq

KDP/PDK: Kurdish Democratic Party, governing party in KRG, linked to Barzani clan.

YNK/PUK: Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, opposition party in KRG, linked to Talabani clan

PYD: Partiya Yekitiya Democratic - Democratic Union Party, leading political party of DAANES

ENKS: Kurdish national union party, a party in Rojava that is closely connected to KRG and Turkey

KNK: Kurdistan National Congress, a political coalition and organization of parties and civil society from Kurdistan and Kurdish diaspora

FM: Foreign Minister

Aleppo is home to over half a million Kurdish people. The neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah, self-organized in communes and councils, are in grave danger.

These neighborhoods lived through and defended self from blockade, military attacks and harassment by Assad regime before and after Syrian revolution. Today they are under brutal attack by Turkish-backed militias integrated into ministry of defense of Damascus government. In 2025 these same armed factions massacred Alawites in Latakia, then Druze in Suweida, and now they are set to commit ethnic cleansing and massacre in Aleppo.

Councils of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah decided to not leave the besieged neighborhoods and chose defense. Internal Security Forces (Asayish) are putting up resistance to the attacks in an unequal battle.

Stay tuned for detailed update and analysis tomorrow on Sunday. We invite you to be careful about disinformation present in the media spreading talking points of the Turkish and other governmental narratives.

Statement of Kurdistan National Congress on the attacks

✊ General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods calling for general mobilization and people to defend the neighborhoods, and rejecting to surrender to the mercenaries. [9th of January 2026]

In response to the decision of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah Council, hundreds of people from all over northeast Syria organized civilian convoys and set out to reach Aleppo and support the resisting neighborhoods.

🔊Online-Call Aleppo🔊

Turkish backed islamist gangs declared war on the self-administrated Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo. Once again the revolution of Rojava is under attack. Instead of surrender, the people's council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya decided to stay and choose the path of total resistance. People from all parts of Rojava are right now on their way to Aleppo to join the resistance. We want to inform about the current situation and discuss how we can get active. We are one in our struggle for women's liberation and a democratic society!

Share the invitation with all your friends and comrades and join the call!

📆 Sunday, 11.01. - 18:30 CET

https://meet.livingutopia.org/rooms/jzq-jhy-xka-fyr/join

Weekly Highlights 04.01.26 - 11.01.26 [Content Warning: denoscriptions of war violence]

📌 Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh resistance against Damascus attacks in Aleppo
After constant pressure, blockade and low-intensity attacks from regime forces on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh during 2025, last two months saw these attacks escalate. Intense attacks on the two neighborhoods began since the end of December and became especially heavy in the first days of January. Since January 6th a major offensive took place, involving thousands of combatants from different brigades, most of them affiliated with the Turkish state; tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, various types of heavy weapons and munitions including gas bombs, as well as support by Turkish drones.
Internal Security Forces (Asayish) organized defense and led the resistance of the neighborhoods. After its initial attacks, the Damascus forces pushed for full displacement of the neighborhood. The General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods refused to surrender and leave Aleppo, chose the resistance and called for general mobilization. As a response to that decision, a civilian convoy from most cities of NE Syria came together and headed towards Aleppo, aiming to support the resistance.
The number of people who gave their lives in fighting, were injured or are missing is currently unknown. There are reports, messages and videos of fierce resistance and organized self-defense of the neighborhoods, where defenders of the neighborhoods are explaining the situation on the ground, singing, fighting and dancing. At the same time there are many evidences of hundreds of Kurdish people being kidnapped, footages of executions and tortures, mutilations of bodies of fallen female and male Kurdish fighters.
The fighting culminated towards January 9th and 10th, when civilians went to the Khalid Al-Fajr Hospital to help treating the wounded and take refuge. Turkish-backed groups shelled and attacked the hospital dozens of times.
On January 11th a partial ceasefire was reached in order to evacuate the wounded, civilians, children and women, as well as bodies of fallen defenders of the neighborhoods. The general mobilization brought protesters to the streets of Bashur and Bakur (Southern and Northern Kurdistan), European cities and across the northeast Syria. In Turkey and Northern Kurdistan clashes with the police took place.

📌 EU promise 620 millions for Syria
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union is set to provide Syria with 620 million euros this year and next, aimed at post-war recovery, bilateral support, and humanitarian assistance.
During her visit to Damascus on friday 9, she noted, "After years of devastation under the Assad regime, Syria's recovery and reconstruction needs are immense." Von der Leyen expressed the EU's intention to initiate discussions on renewing a cooperation agreement with Syria and to establish a new political partnership. Last year, the EU lifted economic sanctions on Syria following the fall of Assad.
Von der Leyen also highlighted the recent clashes in Aleppo between government forces and Kurdish fighters, calling it "worrisome" and emphasizing the urgent need for continued dialogue among all parties involved.

📌 Israel-Syria intelligence agreements
Following US-mediated discussions in Paris, on January 6, Israel and Syria agreed to establish a US-supervised "fusion mechanism" for intelligence coordination. The United States, Israel, and Syria would create a joint "fusion mechanism" to oversee intelligence sharing, border de-escalation, diplomacy, and commercial matters.
No timeline has been provided for the implementation of the mechanism.
A senior US official stated that this mechanism will facilitate further demilitarization discussions, and outline the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. He also added that the Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) and the Syrian military will stop all military activities in southern Syria until the details of the "fusion mechanism" are finalized.

Additionally, the US delegation in Paris proposed the creation of a "demilitarized economic zone" along both sides of the Israel-Syria border. Israeli negotiators have previously pushed for a larger demilitarized zone spanning four Syrian provinces, extending to Damascus, without requiring Israeli demilitarization on the border.

🔵 Continuous developments
- Following a military incursion and the establishment of a temporary checkpoint, Israeli forces arrested on Thursday four young men in the northern countryside of Quneitra, southern Syria.
- The General Command of the Suweida National Defense Forces reported that Transitional Government forces shelled the city's of Mansoura, killing One fighter from the National Defense Forces. Additionally, it highlighted another incident, where an opposition group attempted to breach a military post. The National Defense Forces successfully repelled this attempt.
- US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that it had carried out several airstrikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State (ISIS), as part of the military operation launched by the U.S. in December 2025 in response to an attack on American personnel. Jordan stated on Sunday its participation in the air strikes.

💬 Evaluation

The end of the year 2025 was marked by anticipation of development in the dialogue between SDF and Damascus government. Despite widespread skepticism, the narrative of Syrian civil war reaching its end has gradually become accepted in the international community. However, many living in Syria know that nothing could be further from truth. Massacres of Alawites and Druze by Damascus government have shown that the original problems which brought Syria to this point are not resolved. Now, the transitional government's assault on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh has pushed Syria a step further down the war.

Main political and military forces of Damascus government in their base are not opposed to war as a method to establish centralized government for the whole of Syria, including atrocities and massacres. Such methods are seen as justifiable within the Salafist vision of the country. On the other hand, political developments of the new Syrian government is hardly compatible with the views of military forces of HTS and other groups that brought about the government of Ahmed Al-Shara'a. Diplomacy and deals with United States, European union and Russia; intelligence agreements with Israel, Abraham accords and surrender of Golan heights to Israel; crackdown on some foreign brigades within the new army. All of these affects how other forces engage with Ahmed Al-Shara'a and his presidency: he is gaining influence from Western powers but losing popularity in the Islamists ranks that lifted him up.

With that in mind, we can analyze that the current consolidation of political and military power of Damascus is directly linked to Turkey. The brutal attack on the Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo is not a step that the transitional government could or would even decide to do independently without long-term Turkish pressure and assistance. The agenda of the transitional government, its militias and the Turkish state align under leadership of Turkey, this time on the question of integration: they do not accept a federalized, decentralized and multi-confessional Syria, where political dialogue could become the new approach to contradictions and women liberation together with co-existence of diverse communities would constitute a major social revolution. Such a development would ultimately undermine the centralized power and the influence of main hegemonic actors present in the region. Without war and chaos, Turkey, United States, Russia, Israel and other states cannot sustain their existence and economies.

That is why the Syrian state massacres Kurdish people and calls the ethnic cleansing and destruction of the neighborhoods "limited security operation". That is why the Islamist groups that massacred Alawites and Druze months ago, are attacking the Kurdish neighborhoods today, while all the states watched and didn't intervene. That is also why DAANES holds Turkey accountable for the attacks.

We would like to conclude this evaluation with words of Aldar Xelil, member of the Presidential Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD):

Mercenaries backed by regional and international powers, foremost among them Turkey, a NATO member, claim to have achieved a “victory” in the name of what they call the “Syrian State,” this claim is nothing but an illusion devoid of any moral or realistic value.

A regime that ruled Syria for decades collapsed in eight days due to the absence of the will to resist, while the two small neighborhoods of Al-Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud resisted for six days and continue to resist relentlessly, despite being besieged from four sides since the fall of the regime. This alone proves that any so-called “victory” over such will is nothing but self-mockery.

This people has faced multiple forces, supporting states, and various types of weapons, alongside massive Turkish support through drones, yet it has not surrendered. Its free will is immortal, renewing itself across time and place, affirming that resistance is not a temporary event but a continuous path toward freedom.

Revolutionary greetings!

Highlights 13.01.26

Deir Hafir
Today the Syrian transitional government (SGT) declared the areas of Deir Hafir, Babiri and Kavas as zones of military operations. The same declaration was made about Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Aleppo before STG invaded.

STG forces were moved to the region, including military vehicles, tanks and weapons. STG is shelling the town of Deir Hafir and its vicinity intensly. Also fighters of STG exploded the bridge to the north from the town and shelled civil homes in nearby villages.

Tishrin
STG carried out artillery strikes on the Tishreen dam as well. There are reports of drones targeting infrastructure of the dam.

Raqqa
Internal Security Forces of the Raqqa region declared curfew from 22:00 till 06:00 to mitigate escalation of the situation inside the city and the surrounding areas.

NES
In the whole northeast Syria the 13th of January was declared the day of mourning and rememberance due to events in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh. Farewell ceremony for the commander of Internal Security Forces (Asayish) Ziyad Heleb who fell in battle took place in Kobane. Meanwhile, small-scale attacks from STG with Turkish support are happening at various points along the borders of DAANES.

Statements
KCK — «Attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh as well as preparations for assault to the east from Euphrates are putting in question the ceasefire between our movement and Turkey and the ongoing process for Peace and Democratic society.»

SDF — on the claims of STG about activities in border areas of their territories: «Repetition of these claims by the Ministry of Defense is yet another attempt to create tensions and fabricate excuses for escalation. We lay full responsibility for all possible consequences on those who are behind these actions.»

Evaluations

The escalation that began in the Kurdish enclave of Aleppo is a logical continuation of Damascus' policy of eliminating “problematic” minorities that do not fit into the order established by the HTS. The fighting has officially spread to territories controlled by the SDF and operating according to the model proposed by the Autonomous Administration. The attacks, which began during the fighting in Aleppo, continued with renewed intensity today in the Deir Hafir area.
This is a clear escalation of the conflict and a sabotage of all progress in the dialogue on the integration of the SDF by the Syrian transitional government. However, such actions would not have been possible without active pressure from Turkey and the consent of Western countries. During the bombing of Aleppo, Jolani established diplomatic ties with European states and received about €600 million, negotiated with Israel on the exchange of intelligence, and enjoyed Trump's patronage.

The invasion of the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo, the ongoing escalation in Deir Hafir, and the attacks on Tishreen are cutting off the path to the realization of the ideas proposed by the Apoist movement for peaceful integration and coexistence of autonomy and the nation-state within a single country. The actions of the Damascus government show that the peace process is impossible, and the autonomous region must once again defend itself against encroachments. In addition to damaging infrastructure, the attack on Tishreen also aims to overshadow last year's popular triumph.
The SDF is ready to fight back, and this will not be in the form of battles in the enclave, where 42,000 Turkish mercenaries and Damascus jihadists faced 900 Internal Security Forces fighters. Reinforcements are being brought in from the SDF territory to the Tabqa region. It appears that northeastern Syria is once again facing fierce fighting and a continuation of more intense warfare. The truce with Damascus proved fragile and was conditioned by the convenience of the imperialist forces. We assume that the escalation will only increase, and the events of recent weeks are unlikely to allow a return to the phase of peace talks with the interim government. The effect of the fighting is exacerbated by deliberate falsification of facts and outright lies spread by the Jolani government.
Together with all of northeastern Syria, we remember and honor our comrades who fell in Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh, and we continue our struggle. Şehîd namirin!
Revolutionary greetings!

Highlights 14/15.01.26

Aleppo Massacre
There is an ongoing massacre of the kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo. Abductions, disappearances and lootings continued after the evacuation of injured and dead, with people escaping while journalists and human rights organisations not allowed to enter.
UN reports min 120,000 people displaces, more than 500 missing more than 120 injured and at least 45 killed. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday that the Syrian government must hold perpetrators of violations accountable and undertake comprehensive reform of the security sector.

Attacks in Deir Hafir
The Syrian Transitional Government (STG) declared the areas of Maskana and Deir Hafer territory of military operations, both areas under control of SDF. They announced a plan to open a "humanitarian corridor" from those localities to Aleppo, and are already claiming that SDF is blocking civilians from exiting the area. A turkish drone bombed the sugar factory that was used as HQ of SDF, and heavy weapons hit residential areas of Deir Hafer. A turkish drone also hit Tabqa, tergeting an SDF vehicle that was there to provide medical treatment to injured. STG is sending military reinforcements from Latakia for those military operations. SDF is also sending reinforcements to respond to the military build up.

Desinformation Campaign
SANA, the Syrian national news agency, is adopting the narrative and strategies of fake news and desinformation of the main Turkish news channels. We can also find the same twisted narratives on the Qatari funded channels of AlJazeera, blaming SDF of attacks on civilians that did not take place, or of SDF stopping civilians from evacuating from Deir Hafer. They depict the massacre that is taking place in Allepo as provoked by SDF, as if STG would rightfully have the control in all Aleppo and SDF came to disrupt it, and now finally STG 'liberated' Aleppo from SDF. Such desinformation campaign builds a narrative that justifies further tensions and attacks against the territories of the Autonomous Administration.

Threat of Resurgence of ISIS in NES, in light of political instability and military escalation
SDF warn that ISIS cells are trying to make use of current military escalation, planning attempts to escape prisons in NES which would present grave risks to entire populations in Syria. So far though, the prisons are under control.

STG and International Community
Al-Sharaa prepares to travel to Germany on Monday to meet with German chancellor Merz, which majorly serves to further legitimise al-Sharaa as Syrian president.
STG minister of local administration and environment participated in Global South Utilities Forum, joining financial discussions to fund the STG with development money from World Bank and from Saudi Arabia. These are efforts of STG to further establish itself as legitimate actor, consolidate power and gather finances.
German activists are already planing a demonstration against the isit of al-Sharaa in berlin, and the DAANES relations committee in US is calling for a rally tomorrow Friday in front of the white house.

Evaluation

The last move of the STG with the "humanitarian corridor" in Deir Hafer shows a level of strategy and planification more developed that what they did in Latakia and Sweida. A way to understand that is that they are learning from past massacrres, trying now to have a more nuanced approach to the media strategy to prevent the the public outrage that their last two massacres created. Another way to see it is understanding the influence of MIT (Turkish intelligence) in this last operations.

To understand this better, we remember the words of Turkish Foreign affairs minister, ex-director of MIT Hakan Fidan, who said that the assault on the Aleppo neighborhoods had to happen because SDF "did not comply with the orders of A. Öcalan" and could not engage in dialogue without force beeing applied to them. With these attacks they try to undermine the DAANES and SDF proposal for federalised Syria, presenting it as an Israeli foreign policy vision for "fragmented Syria" as a way to counter-act the proposals of DAANES for decentralized, multi-ethnic and multiconfessional Syria.

The attacks on Sheikh Makhsood and Asrafiye started the day after the meetings between Israeli and Syrian foreign ministries met in Paris under mediation of US. After that meeting, they declared an agreement to share intelligence and work for de-escalation, allegedly in the southern part of Syria where Israel is expanding they occupied territories. That poses a question on why Turkey is using Israel as excuse to attack the kurds when is the STG who is in open negotiations with Israel, but probably there is no rational explanation, being it just a mediatic argument to redirect the discontent on Israel among Syrian Arab population against SDF.

Coming back to the humanitarian corridor, there are two effects that we need to remark from it. On one side is staging a provocation where they can easily present SDF as obstructing such a "humanitarian effort" to legitimize further attacks. They also create a ground to launch brutal attacks on the area having later the argument that they already evacuated civilians, framing anyone living in those territories newly designed as areas of military operations as a valid target.

One last point we want to remark is how the convulsed times we live in are also a perfect smoke screen for conducting such massacres. With increassing tensions and conflict all around the world, like the US intervention in Venezuela or the uprisings in Iran, it is more difficult for international media to talk about regional massacres in Syria. The situation in iran is also of big relevance for the kurdish people, since it is in Rojhilat, specially in Kirmansha, where the uprising is getting to higher levels of tension after Teheran, with many deads, injured and disapeared (if you have interest we can also bring further updates on the situation in Rojhilat, let us know about it!). Still, what is often the only way to break this media blocades is to organize and protest in solidarity with the ongoing revolution of Rojava. For that, get in touch with you local kurdish solidarity groups and keep updated about coming protests and actions!

Revolutionary greetings! 🖤

Highlights 14/15.01.26

📌 Aleppo Massacre
There is an ongoing massacre of the kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo. Abductions, disappearances and lootings continued after the evacuation of injured and dead, with people escaping while journalists and human rights organisations not allowed to enter.
UN reports min 120,000 people displaces, more than 500 missing more than 120 injured and at least 45 killed. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday that the Syrian government must hold perpetrators of violations accountable and undertake comprehensive reform of the security sector.

📌 Attacks in Deir Hafir
The Syrian Transitional Government (STG) declared the areas of Maskana and Deir Hafer territory of military operations, both areas under control of SDF. They announced a plan to open a "humanitarian corridor" from those localities to Aleppo, and are already claiming that SDF is blocking civilians from exiting the area. A turkish drone bombed the sugar factory that was used as HQ of SDF, and heavy weapons hit residential areas of Deir Hafer. A turkish drone also hit Tabqa, tergeting an SDF vehicle that was there to provide medical treatment to injured. STG is sending military reinforcements from Latakia for those military operations. SDF is also sending reinforcements to respond to the military build up.

📌 Desinformation Campaign
SANA, the Syrian national news agency, is adopting the narrative and strategies of fake news and desinformation of the main Turkish news channels. We can also find the same twisted narratives on the Qatari funded channels of AlJazeera, blaming SDF of attacks on civilians that did not take place, or of SDF stopping civilians from evacuating from Deir Hafer. They depict the massacre that is taking place in Allepo as provoked by SDF, as if STG would rightfully have the control in all Aleppo and SDF came to disrupt it, and now finally STG 'liberated' Aleppo from SDF. Such desinformation campaign builds a narrative that justifies further tensions and attacks against the territories of the Autonomous Administration.

📌 Threat of Resurgence of ISIS in NES, in light of political instability and military escalation
SDF warn that ISIS cells are trying to make use of current military escalation, planning attempts to escape prisons in NES which would present grave risks to entire populations in Syria. So far though, the prisons are under control.

📌 STG and International Community
Al-Sharaa prepares to travel to Germany on Monday to meet with German chancellor Merz, which majorly serves to further legitimise al-Sharaa as Syrian president.
STG minister of local administration and environment participated in Global South Utilities Forum, joining financial discussions to fund the STG with development money from World Bank and from Saudi Arabia. These are efforts of STG to further establish itself as legitimate actor, consolidate power and gather finances.
German activists are already planing a demonstration against the isit of al-Sharaa in berlin, and the DAANES relations committee in US is calling for a rally tomorrow Friday in front of the white house.

💬 Evaluation

The last move of the STG with the "humanitarian corridor" in Deir Hafer shows a level of strategy and planification more developed that what they did in Latakia and Sweida. A way to understand that is that they are learning from past massacrres, trying now to have a more nuanced approach to the media strategy to prevent the the public outrage that their last two massacres created. Another way to see it is understanding the influence of MIT (Turkish intelligence) in this last operations.

To understand this better, we remember the words of Turkish Foreign affairs minister, ex-director of MIT Hakan Fidan, who said that the assault on the Aleppo neighborhoods had to happen because SDF "did not comply with the orders of A. Öcalan" and could not engage in dialogue without force beeing applied to them. With these attacks they try to undermine the DAANES and SDF proposal for federalised Syria, presenting it as an Israeli foreign policy vision for "fragmented Syria" as a way to counter-act the proposals of DAANES for decentralized, multi-ethnic and multiconfessional Syria.

The attacks on Sheikh Makhsood and Asrafiye started the day after the meetings between Israeli and Syrian foreign ministries met in Paris under mediation of US. After that meeting, they declared an agreement to share intelligence and work for de-escalation, allegedly in the southern part of Syria where Israel is expanding they occupied territories. That poses a question on why Turkey is using Israel as excuse to attack the kurds when is the STG who is in open negotiations with Israel, but probably there is no rational explanation, being it just a mediatic argument to redirect the discontent on Israel among Syrian Arab population against SDF.

Coming back to the humanitarian corridor, there are two effects that we need to remark from it. On one side is staging a provocation where they can easily present SDF as obstructing such a "humanitarian effort" to legitimize further attacks. They also create a ground to launch brutal attacks on the area having later the argument that they already evacuated civilians, framing anyone living in those territories newly designed as areas of military operations as a valid target.

One last point we want to remark is how the convulsed times we live in are also a perfect smoke screen for conducting such massacres. With increassing tensions and conflict all around the world, like the US intervention in Venezuela or the uprisings in Iran, it is more difficult for international media to talk about regional massacres in Syria. The situation in iran is also of big relevance for the kurdish people, since it is in Rojhilat, specially in Kirmansha, where the uprising is getting to higher levels of tension after Teheran, with many deads, injured and disapeared (if you have interest we can also bring further updates on the situation in Rojhilat, let us know about it!). Still, what is often the only way to break this media blocades is to organize and protest in solidarity with the ongoing revolution of Rojava. For that, get in touch with you local kurdish solidarity groups and keep updated about coming protests and actions!

Revolutionary greetings! 🖤

Highlights 17.01.26

Offensive of STG
The current situation on the ground is confusing. We report on facts we were able to verify, but information is changing every minute.

Deir Hafer and Maskana
Forces linked to the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) started an offensive on Deir Hafer and Maskana (eastern Aleppo), taking control of those areas. The SDF informed that they reached an agreement with U.S. mediation to withdraw from those areas, which came under SDF control after the collapse of the regime one year ago. U.S. forces were deployed to Deir Hafer to assess the situation and monitor the current events on the ground. The U.S. also deployed warplanes that launched flares, allegedly as a warning to STG forces not to advance beyond Dibsy Afnan town.

Tabqa and Southern Raqqa
After taking control of Deir Hafer and Maskana, forces linked with the STG continued their advance, attacking villages surrounding Tabqa and Raqqa. Previously, the Syrian Arab Army Operations Command published locations of three buildings in Tabqa, calling for civilians to abandon those areas, framing them as being used by PKK militias and remnants of the Assad regime. Forces linked to the STG are taking control of the oil fields in the south of Raqqa, areas that the SDF took under control a year ago to prevent ISIS from occupying them.
The YPJ made a statement confirming the implementation of the withdrawal agreement from Deir Hafer. They also declared that the SDF and YPJ are in control of Tabqa and Raqqa, even as militias linked to the STG aim to take them. The SDF and YPJ are currently responding to those attacks as part of their right to self-defense.

Deir Ezzor
At the same time, clashes erupted in the border areas of Deir Ezzor, as different tribes and allegedly militias linked with the STG attacked SDF positions. The scale of such attacks is still not clear, but the SDF is already mobilizing reinforcements from the oil fields of al-Omar and Koniko to respond. As we write these lines, we see reports of STG forces also deploying in Deir Ezzor to begin attacks on SDF positions.

Presidential Decree on Kurdish Rights and Political Maneuvers of the Syrian Army
Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a presidential decree declaring Kurdish citizens as an essential part of the Syrian people and that the Syrian State is committed to protecting their cultural and linguistic rights. It also states that the Kurdish language may be taught in schools, that Kurds have the right to Syrian citizenship, and that Newroz is declared a public holiday in Syria. It further stipulates that ministries and relevant authorities shall publish this decree in official gazettes and issue the necessary regulations to implement it.
At the same time, the Syrian Army made announcements calling for Syrian Kurds and Arabs to defect from the SDF and join the Syrian Army, urging SDF soldiers to go to their nearest army post and claiming that "your homeland welcomes you anytime, anywhere."

Evaluation

Once again, the situation in Syria is becoming chaotic and confusing, with a level of disinformation and fake news that makes it difficult to have a clear picture of the reality on the ground. The STG clearly planned this operation for a long time, as we can evaluate from the maps and infographics published by the national agency SANA.

The withdrawal of the SDF from Deir Hafer comes alongside the presidential decree, which states clear commitments from the Syrian state. This represents a significant improvement for the Kurdish people compared to the times of the Assad regime, but how this will be implemented remains an open question. It seems clear that this agreement, mediated by the US, was intended to prevent STG forces from advancing beyond Deir Hafer and Maskana regions. However, the attacks on Tabqa are violating these agreements and may be the prelude to a conflict on a scale never seen before.

The attacks by STG forces not only in Tabqa and Raqqa but also in Deir Ezzor demonstrate a wide-scale operation aimed at subduing the SDF, which has been holding its ground and working to resolve the situation at the negotiation table, attempting to avoid further military escalation. Now, red lines are being crossed, breaking agreements and attacking with full force: the SDF is already engaged in heavy clashes against these assaults.

This is once again a critical time for the Rojava Revolution, but as we mentioned in the last update, it is also a crucial time for the Kurdish people in Rojhilat. The protests in Iran are reaching unprecedented levels, and it is clear that the Iranian regime is under heavy pressure. The Kurdish regions of Iran are witnessing a level of unrest higher than we have ever seen, and protests are also ongoing in many other areas, even beginning in some Baloch regions. We are closely monitoring the situation there, but as long as Rojava faces such extreme pressure and escalation of events, we will focus our reports on the ongoing tensions in Syria to avoid taking on more than we can handle.

As we write these lines, reports of STG forces getting closer to Raqqa are surfacing on the internet. The truth of these reports, the extent to which STG forces are launching a full offensive, and how much disinformation is being spread online to confuse the situation is still unclear. What is evident is that the SDF is ready to fight to defend the values and achievements of the revolution. If these attacks aim to occupy and subjugate the people who defeated the Islamic State and built an oasis of democracy and women’s liberation in northern Syria, they will face fierce resistance. Because they know very well that resistance is life.

Revolutionary greetings! 🖤

Statement of general command of SDF (english/kurmanjî):

For our Resisting People

Since January 6, our regions and our people have been subjected to barbaric and inhumane attacks. In the face of these assaults, our fighters are fighting with great courage and sacrifice and continue their struggle with honor.

Today, the Turkish state and its ISIS-minded gangs are increasing their attacks on our people, hoping to break our will and defeat our resistance.

We say with great will and determination that just as our friends in 2014 staged a historic resistance in Kobanê and turned it into a graveyard for ISIS, which was supported by Turkey, today we declare with the same determination that we will turn our cities from Derik to Hasakah and Kobanê into a graveyard for the new ISIS-minded people, who are being led by the Turkish state.

On this basis, we call on all our youth, our men and women in Rojava, North, South and East Kurdistan, as well as in Europe, to unite together and remove the borders of the invaders and join the resistance.

Today is a day of honor.
Today is a day of historical responsibility.
And today we show once again that the will of the people is stronger than any kind of attack and occupation.

__________________________
Ji bo gelê me ê Berxwedêr

ji 06 Çileyê ve, herêmên me û gelê me rasterast rastî êrîşên hov û barbaran ne tê. li hember van êrîşan de, şervanên me bi cesaret û fedakariyeke mezin şer dikin û bi awayekî bi rûmet şerê xwe dewam dikin.

Îro, dewleta Tirk û çeteyên wê yên bi zihniyeta DAIŞê, êrîşên xwe li ser gelê me zêde dikin, bi xeyala ku dikarin îradeya me bişkînin û berxwedana me têk bibin.

Em bi biryar û îradeyeke mezin dibêjin ku çawa hevalên me di sala 2014’an de li Kobanê berxwedana dîrokî kirin û Kobanê kirin goristan ji DAIŞê ya ku ji aliyê Tirkiyê ve hate piştgirîkirin re, îro jî bi heman îradeyê diyar dikin ku em ê bajarên xwe ji Dêrikê heta Hesekê û Kobanê biguherînin goristanek ji bo xwediyên zihniyeta DAIŞê yên nû, yên ku ji aliyê dewleta Tirk ve tên bi rêve birin.

Li ser vî esasî, em bang dikin li hemû ciwanên me, keç û xortên me ên Rojava, Bakur, Başûr û Rojhilatê Kurdistanê, û her weha li Ewropayê, ku bi hev re bibin yek û sînorên dagirkeran rakin û werin tevlî berxwedanê bibin.

Îro roja rûmetê ye
Îro roja berpirsyariya dîrokî ye
Û îro em careke din nîşan didin ku îradeya gelan ji her cure êrîş û dagirkeriyê bihêztir e.

Fermandariya Giştî a Hêzên Sûrya Demokratîk

19 Çile 2026

Highlights 18.01.26 - 20.01.26


Full scale war is here. We were caught up in the midst of it and did not manage to publish updates the past two days. We'll do our best to be back on track here to keep you updated, but also call on all of you to seek out the truth of what is happening on the ground. If you run into relevant things we did not mention, let us know and we'll do our best to verify and inform. Solidarity is our best weapon!

📌 NES Loses Ground
The past three days, the border between NES and the Syrian regions under STG control has been moving by the minute - to the loss of NES and gain of STG. Following a fragile ceasefire agreement that has not been respected, SDF had to withdraw from Raqqa as well as Deir ez-Zor region. US by its non-reaction gives green light. Despite everything that is at stakes for all the people and the revolution, two major risks arising with this are for one the consequences for women. Women in places like Raqqa, who were liberated from certain of the patriarchal and fascist constraints, are being and will be thrown back to full oppression with all the abuses we can picture. The second is the risk that prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters captive being lost control over which would bolster an ISIS resurgence. At Raqqa Al Aqtaan prison, while SDF withdrew from the city, some SDF fighters stayed behind to defend the prison in order to prevent ISIS being liberated. They are besieged and water supplies being intentionally cut off. The situation is very fragile. Second, the prison in Shedadi had to be left behind by SDF, with US army watching idly from close distance. Consequently, STG went in and freed the prisoners. Third, Al-Hol camp, the refugee camp housing about 40.000 women and children and affiliates of ISIS fighters, cannot be controlled any longer by the SDF. SDF announced that due to the ongoing attacks they can't secure it any longer, shortly after US allegedly deployed some forces and stated that SDF is still in control of the facilities. Several days ago already, after Tabqa Church Prison was evacuated by SDF, STG-affiliated cells entered and opened fire, staging a scene as if taking control of the prison.
Kobani is an island on the map now, encircled by STG and Turkish state factions. STG intentionally cut off water and electricity from the city, putting the inhabitants at great risk.

📌 Mass Mobilisation
As last hopes for diplomatic and peaceful solutions are being crushed by Turkey-backed STG aggression, organisations and structures of NES, of other parts of Kurdistan, and internationally call for mass mobilisation in order to defend NES and the revolution. DAANES concludes: “We must understand that we are facing an existential war. To preserve the gains of our revolution and our identity, there is only one option, popular resistance.” In NES, even politicans and injured fighters take up arms.

In other parts of Kurdistan, people in Southern Turkey and Northern Iraq managed to break through the borders to come and join the resistance. Semalka border - the main entry and exit point for NES - allegedly opened doors, allowing many buses full of kurdish civilians going to join the resistance in Rojava. A protest of thousands in Nusaybin, which lies in Turkish territory just next to Qamishlo, culminated successfully in the tearing down of the border. Hundreds rushed across into NES, but Turkish soldiers opened fire against the protestors and at least four people were injured.

This mobilisation is also being echoed by people all around the world, taking to the streets to condemn the attacks. Many protests and demonstrations already took place in Turkey, France, Switzerland, US, Germany, Austria, Catalunya.

📌 Kurdish Unity and Pushes for Ethnic Division
In face of such grave attacks, different Kurdish organisations and politically differently affiliated populations can be seen moving closer together, recognising the threat to all of them. Talabani, president of PUK in Kurdistan-Iraq condemned the attacks, expresssing to side with NES.

At the same time, the current situation sadly also fuels anti-Arab racism in NES, with Arabs sometimes being seen as one with what STG are representing. These ethnic divisions are precisely what Turkey and HTS are striving for and thriving on. In such times we need to remind ourselves and each other more than ever, that what is being defended in NES is a political liberatory effort that bridges among ethnic and national differences.

Highlights 21-22.01.26


📌New ceasfire - Multiple Violations
On January 20th, a 4-day ceasfire was anounced. The Syrian Transitional Government (STG) announced that during this time they will not advance further into Heseke or Qamishlo. The ceasfire is presented as a time given to SDF to discuss the proposal of the STG for dissolution of SDF, the intergration of SDF territories into Syria, and for its fighters to join the ranks of the new Syrian Army on individual basis.
The ceasefire is not fully respected by STG and SNA fighters who continue attacks, but is has halted the advances of the STG. So far though, there is not an outlook for a more peaceful solution after the 4 days end. In various villages though, spread over the current frontline, there are attacks by the Syrian army. Two Turkish drone strikes hit one internal security forces (Asayish) point and a hospital in Qamishli. At least 6 violations from STG of the ceasefire were reported within the first 19 hours by the SDF press office.

📌Civilians Take Up Arms
The existential threat NES is facing as a whole, moves many families and individuals to pick up arms and take their place in the defense of their homes and cities. Many have joined YPG/YPJ, neighborhood watches, etc. The mobilization is called for by the SDF, but the society-wide response is voluntary.

📌Besieged Kobane
Kobane is besieged with either Turkish or Syrian enemy on all sides. Water, basic food supplies, electricity, and internet are completely cut off. Meanwhile, Turkey moves heavy artillery, tanks, and troops to the border, right next to Kobane. In Pirsus, just across the border, protestors have gathered in support.

📌Al Ya'rubiah
STG advances Al Yarubiah at the border of NES to Kurdistan-Iraq after SDF had to withdraw. Syrian state aligned media claim that an ammunition depot exploded on STG soldiers because the SDF mined it while withdrawing. The SDF says this is a misleading claim, and that they did not carry out such an operation. The SDF-press statement says that "According to confirmed information available to us, the explosion resulted from an accident during the transfer of ammunition by Damascus factions, and our forces have no connection to it whatsoever."

📌SDF Withdrawal from Al-Hol Camp
Because of lack of support from the international coalition, the SDF could no longer ensure the security of al-Hol camp. The Ministry of Interior of STG Declare Al Hol Camp as "Restricted Area". The current state of the camp in unclear, with some allegations of STG forces letting people leave the camp, others saying that there are clashes.

📌Released ISIS Members
RIC reports that there are reports of ISIS detainees being released from at least four prisons now in control of the STG, with detainees of two additional prisons also being led out but the affiliation of these prisoners cannot be confirmed at this time. These prisons house tens of thousands of ISIS members. They could pose a serious threat to the security of civilians in NES. Where all these prisoners went is unclear. Though Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) say to have caputred Mahmoud Hassan al-Jubouri, a high-ranking ISIS member while he attempted to cross from Syria into Iraq.
To prevent ISIS from regrouping, US organises the transfer of up to 7,000 ISIS prisoners from NES to Iraq. About 150 detainees have already been transferred. This follows a conversation between al Sharaa and US admiral Brad Cooper.
With Raqqa taken over by STG and Al Aqtaan prison besieged for days, a safe corridor is now demanded for the remaining SDF fighters who kept the position defending the prison of falling into Syrian army hands, thus seeking out a possibility for safe withdrawal.
If you want to read more on the details and consequences of this, check out:
https://rojavainformationcenter.org/2026/01/isis-escapes-as-a-result-of-syrian-army-assault/

📌SNA and STG Affiliates Attempt to Subvert DAANES
There are reports of individuals going around talking to civilians trying to spark insurgent efforts against the SDF.