Updates 27-12-24
# NES
- Clashes on the villages on the Abu Qalqal road between SDF and Turkish-backed SNA continue. The UK based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) documented the death of 20 civilians, 81 members of pro-turkish factions and 35 members of SDF in the clashes around Tishreen Dam.
- Allegedly, Turkish army convoy entered the town of Manbij
- A car bomb exploded near the Grand Mosque in the center of Manbij. No injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to material damage.
# Syria
- SDF commander M. Abdi stated that SDF forces are ready to integrate into the new Syrian army once a suitable formula is negotiated. He also expressed willingness in 'principle' to transfer border security responsibilities to the new authorities in Damascus. Abdi expressed a vision for a unified and sovereign Syria where all regions work together to rebuild the nation.
- The HTS Military launches a large-scale campaign in Hama, Tartus and Latakia to pursue the remnants of the ousted regime and repress the alawite uprisings. Some voices are calling it an ethnic cleansing campaign, while others insist its to arrest criminals of the Assad regime.
- A delegation from the HTS Ministry of Defense arrives at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia. The new Syrian authorities do not intend to break the agreements under which Russia uses military bases in Syria.
- Israeli airstrikes reported on the Lebanon-Syria border once again.
- New HTS government says it wants peace and "better relations with Israel".
# Forgein Policy
- Turkey’s energy minister said Ankara is considering an oil pipeline to Syria, connecting it to the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
- President of Ukraine Zelensky stated their support to the Syrian people in time of need. 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour are already on their way to Syria as part of the “Grain From Ukraine” humanitarian program in cooperation with the WFP.
- Turkey’s recent proposal to negotiate a maritime boundary agreement with Syria has ignited sharp objections from neighboring Greece and Cyprus. Turkey is seeking to expand its influence and access to potential hydrocarbon resources in the region.
Greek officials have labeled the potential agreement as “illegal" and "hostile".
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
# NES
- Clashes on the villages on the Abu Qalqal road between SDF and Turkish-backed SNA continue. The UK based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) documented the death of 20 civilians, 81 members of pro-turkish factions and 35 members of SDF in the clashes around Tishreen Dam.
- Allegedly, Turkish army convoy entered the town of Manbij
- A car bomb exploded near the Grand Mosque in the center of Manbij. No injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to material damage.
# Syria
- SDF commander M. Abdi stated that SDF forces are ready to integrate into the new Syrian army once a suitable formula is negotiated. He also expressed willingness in 'principle' to transfer border security responsibilities to the new authorities in Damascus. Abdi expressed a vision for a unified and sovereign Syria where all regions work together to rebuild the nation.
- The HTS Military launches a large-scale campaign in Hama, Tartus and Latakia to pursue the remnants of the ousted regime and repress the alawite uprisings. Some voices are calling it an ethnic cleansing campaign, while others insist its to arrest criminals of the Assad regime.
- A delegation from the HTS Ministry of Defense arrives at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia. The new Syrian authorities do not intend to break the agreements under which Russia uses military bases in Syria.
- Israeli airstrikes reported on the Lebanon-Syria border once again.
- New HTS government says it wants peace and "better relations with Israel".
# Forgein Policy
- Turkey’s energy minister said Ankara is considering an oil pipeline to Syria, connecting it to the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
- President of Ukraine Zelensky stated their support to the Syrian people in time of need. 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour are already on their way to Syria as part of the “Grain From Ukraine” humanitarian program in cooperation with the WFP.
- Turkey’s recent proposal to negotiate a maritime boundary agreement with Syria has ignited sharp objections from neighboring Greece and Cyprus. Turkey is seeking to expand its influence and access to potential hydrocarbon resources in the region.
Greek officials have labeled the potential agreement as “illegal" and "hostile".
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
Updates 28-12-24
Today is the 13th anniversary of the Roboski Massacre, carried out by turkish air force, killing 34 kurdish people, 17 of them children.
# NES
Democratic Nation for Syria
Future Syria Party cautioned against replacing Iranian and Russian influence in Syria with Turkish dominance. He affirmed that the Democratic Nation Project has demonstrated success in the regions of NE Syria by showcasing the possibility of cooperation among all societal components, religions, and beliefs.
Car bomb in Manbij
In an official statement, the Manbij Military Council of the SDF, strongly rejected allegations linking their forces to the car bomb attack.
Tensions in Aleppo kurdish neighbourhoods
Yesterday 2 armed men of SNA tried to enter the kurdish neighbourhood Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo and were killed by YPG guards. This morning a vehicle of the SNA threw a small bomb at the YPG checkpoint. YPG opened fire on the vehicle.
Now: HTS is deploying military units around the Kurdish neighbourhoods, no further escalation for now.
# Syria
SNA crimes
SNA militias beheaded a kurdish refugee that was trying to flee the occupied area of Til Rifaat. Videos of SNA fighters calling for extermination of Alawites and kurds are circulating on social networks.
HTS arrests in Deir ez-Zor
The HTS Military forces arrested a group of people in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor for “stealing a grain centre". Local residents accused them of committing violations even before the regime collapsed. Allegedly, the HTS security campaign also targeted drug dealing networks affiliated with the former regime.
UN envoy in Syria
UN envoy in Syria Geir Pedersen stated concerns for the violent escalations of last days calling to stop all acts of violence and for free and fair elections after the transition proces after about three months.
# Foreign Policy
Assad family members detained in Lebanon
Lebanese authorities arrested members of the Assad family at Beirut International Airport yesterday attempting to travel with forged passports.
Also, 70 officers from Assad regime were handed over to HTS by Lebanon.
Visit to Abdullah Ocalan
Members of the DEM party visited Abdullah Ocalan at Imrali prison island. Details and assessments of this meeting will be shared with press and public tomorrow.
Today is the 13th anniversary of the Roboski Massacre, carried out by turkish air force, killing 34 kurdish people, 17 of them children.
# NES
Democratic Nation for Syria
Future Syria Party cautioned against replacing Iranian and Russian influence in Syria with Turkish dominance. He affirmed that the Democratic Nation Project has demonstrated success in the regions of NE Syria by showcasing the possibility of cooperation among all societal components, religions, and beliefs.
Car bomb in Manbij
In an official statement, the Manbij Military Council of the SDF, strongly rejected allegations linking their forces to the car bomb attack.
Tensions in Aleppo kurdish neighbourhoods
Yesterday 2 armed men of SNA tried to enter the kurdish neighbourhood Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo and were killed by YPG guards. This morning a vehicle of the SNA threw a small bomb at the YPG checkpoint. YPG opened fire on the vehicle.
Now: HTS is deploying military units around the Kurdish neighbourhoods, no further escalation for now.
# Syria
SNA crimes
SNA militias beheaded a kurdish refugee that was trying to flee the occupied area of Til Rifaat. Videos of SNA fighters calling for extermination of Alawites and kurds are circulating on social networks.
HTS arrests in Deir ez-Zor
The HTS Military forces arrested a group of people in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor for “stealing a grain centre". Local residents accused them of committing violations even before the regime collapsed. Allegedly, the HTS security campaign also targeted drug dealing networks affiliated with the former regime.
UN envoy in Syria
UN envoy in Syria Geir Pedersen stated concerns for the violent escalations of last days calling to stop all acts of violence and for free and fair elections after the transition proces after about three months.
# Foreign Policy
Assad family members detained in Lebanon
Lebanese authorities arrested members of the Assad family at Beirut International Airport yesterday attempting to travel with forged passports.
Also, 70 officers from Assad regime were handed over to HTS by Lebanon.
Visit to Abdullah Ocalan
Members of the DEM party visited Abdullah Ocalan at Imrali prison island. Details and assessments of this meeting will be shared with press and public tomorrow.
# Analysis
On ethnic minorities and the necessity of a Democratic Nation Project
After a month since the offensive of HTS started, we have now better ground to evaluate what is going on in Syria. The unexpected collapse of al-Assad regime was followed by celebrations and hopefull dreams of an easy and bloodless transition in Syria. But this is something we only see in movies and history books. In real life most revolutions are followed by periods of instability and warlordism, where different factions struggle to impose their hegemony.
The recent protests of Christians, as well as the uprisings of Alawites, are complex events that are getting polarized in social networks. These two social groups had certain priviledges during the regime of al-Assad, priviledges that were partly established with the old French colonial rule, favoring them over sunni arabs or kurds. But those priviledges are also limited to some higher classes, and not all members of those groups were aligned with the regime.
Those uprisings are not simply "uncontrolled regime/Iran/Israel elements/agents" as HTS like to calim, it is also a reaction to the attacks of "uncontroled HTS elements", like the fire on the christmas tree in Hama and the dessecration of the grave of an important Alawite scholar. Those attacks are manifestations of ethnic grudges that many sunni arabs may share, but when ethnic simplifications like this are used to call for ethnic cleansing, things can very easily spiral out of control.
Many Alawites and Christians had power positions in the regime, but many sunni arabs too. Kurds know very well what it means to be part of a secondary class, to be at the bottom of the social pyramid. That's why it has been so important for the DAANES to develop respectful and inclusive methods for everyone, allowing autonomy and self-organization to all different social groups. HTS sectarian visions, with islamic fundamentalism as a ground to build a fake national unity, pose serious threats to the diversity of Syria.
The DAANES is already making calls to stop the attacks against Alawite people, to put an end to the sectarian violence, to build the nation under a base of diversity and respect for the other. The call for a "democratic nation project" should be understood in that sense, as part of a wider project for democratic confederalism, questioning old patterns of tribalism, patriarchy and nation-state. It is a call to continue the revolution all around Syria and beyond.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
On ethnic minorities and the necessity of a Democratic Nation Project
After a month since the offensive of HTS started, we have now better ground to evaluate what is going on in Syria. The unexpected collapse of al-Assad regime was followed by celebrations and hopefull dreams of an easy and bloodless transition in Syria. But this is something we only see in movies and history books. In real life most revolutions are followed by periods of instability and warlordism, where different factions struggle to impose their hegemony.
The recent protests of Christians, as well as the uprisings of Alawites, are complex events that are getting polarized in social networks. These two social groups had certain priviledges during the regime of al-Assad, priviledges that were partly established with the old French colonial rule, favoring them over sunni arabs or kurds. But those priviledges are also limited to some higher classes, and not all members of those groups were aligned with the regime.
Those uprisings are not simply "uncontrolled regime/Iran/Israel elements/agents" as HTS like to calim, it is also a reaction to the attacks of "uncontroled HTS elements", like the fire on the christmas tree in Hama and the dessecration of the grave of an important Alawite scholar. Those attacks are manifestations of ethnic grudges that many sunni arabs may share, but when ethnic simplifications like this are used to call for ethnic cleansing, things can very easily spiral out of control.
Many Alawites and Christians had power positions in the regime, but many sunni arabs too. Kurds know very well what it means to be part of a secondary class, to be at the bottom of the social pyramid. That's why it has been so important for the DAANES to develop respectful and inclusive methods for everyone, allowing autonomy and self-organization to all different social groups. HTS sectarian visions, with islamic fundamentalism as a ground to build a fake national unity, pose serious threats to the diversity of Syria.
The DAANES is already making calls to stop the attacks against Alawite people, to put an end to the sectarian violence, to build the nation under a base of diversity and respect for the other. The call for a "democratic nation project" should be understood in that sense, as part of a wider project for democratic confederalism, questioning old patterns of tribalism, patriarchy and nation-state. It is a call to continue the revolution all around Syria and beyond.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
Updates 01-02/Jan/2025
“I am here because my conscience could not accept what I saw with my own eyes. When you choose the path, you have to walk it at your own risk. The way is us, and we are the way.” — Cîhan Bilgin
# NES
Clashes in Manbij countryside
Heavy clashes in Manbij countryside continued with intense air support from Turkish army. SDF is holding ground against SNA offensives, destroying some armored vehicles and inflicting heavy loses on SNA troops. SDF shot down a turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone. YPJ destroyed a communication tower.
Damages to Tishreen Dam
Turkish and SNA attacks have left the Tishreen Dam inoperable, with latest figures estimating that at least 413,000 people in Manbij and Kobane area have been deprived of electricity and water for the past 3 weeks. Strikes on the dam have damaged turbines, cut essential cables, caused leakages & resulted in power outages.
Turkish drone strikes
Among other attacks, turkish drones targeted civilian homes in Gire Spi country side. A turkish drone strike in the kurdish controlled area of Aleppo destroyed the only sugar factory in the region.
New US base in Kobane
The US army is building a new base in the city of Kobane. Cement blocks, premade rooms, surveillance cameras and other equipement is being installed.
# Syria
SDF meetings with HTS
Official delegation of SDF command met with HTS command to discuss about the relation of SDF with the new Syrian army being formed. Mazlum Abdi stated that an agreement was not reached but that the negotiations are ongoing. Ahmed al-Sharaa declared "SDF requested to be integrated as an specific corps within the new army, also to determine a percentage of the resources it controls, especially oil, to remain in NE Syria. These demands were rejected by the General Command, but there is a proposal being studied to include elements of the SDF".
HTS delegation to Saudi Arabia
A Syrian official delegation to Saudi Arabia, led by freshly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, Defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Intelligence chief Anas Khattab, landed in Riyadh, marking their first official trip abroad.
'Joint forces' leave SNA
The "Joint Forces", a coalition of the two main facitons of SNA 'Hamza division' and 'Sultan Suleyman Sha division', announced their withdrawal from the SNA to join the new Syrian Army under the new 'defense ministry'.
Druze demand federalism
The Druze in Suwayda have intercepted an HTS convoy from entering Suwayda, and they were forced to return to Damascus.
Commander of Druze operations: "We will not allow any faction, regardless of the number of its members, to enter Suwaida, and we will demand federalism if we are subjected to any aggression or anything is imposed on us"
New insurgent group?
Statements about a new group calling itself “Syrian Popular Resistance” appeared in Iran and Russian linked media. They vow they will fight HTS in retaliation for the attacks on minorities, calling for a "free Syrian Arab republic" with a sectarian religious language.
# Foreign Policy
Meeting between DEM and MHP
The meeting between the (kurdish) DEM Party's İmralı delegation and MHP leader (far-right) Devlet Bahçeli took place in Turkey. The meeting followed Abdullah Öcalan's recommendation for dialogue with political parties. DEM party said that the meeting went well.
Iran forbids kurdish Organisations
With the start of the new year, Iran issued a new law forbidding "all organisations connected to the PKK" due to a request by Turkey.
This affects among others Free Women Associtation RJAK, Niwêger and Merziye foundations for arts together with the production company of Jin TV. All assets of these organisations have been seized.
US-Syria economic license
Work is underway in US institutions to issue a "temporary" license valid for one year, allowing economic transactions that were previously prohibited under U.S. sanctions on Syria, while sanctions will not be lifted.
“I am here because my conscience could not accept what I saw with my own eyes. When you choose the path, you have to walk it at your own risk. The way is us, and we are the way.” — Cîhan Bilgin
# NES
Clashes in Manbij countryside
Heavy clashes in Manbij countryside continued with intense air support from Turkish army. SDF is holding ground against SNA offensives, destroying some armored vehicles and inflicting heavy loses on SNA troops. SDF shot down a turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone. YPJ destroyed a communication tower.
Damages to Tishreen Dam
Turkish and SNA attacks have left the Tishreen Dam inoperable, with latest figures estimating that at least 413,000 people in Manbij and Kobane area have been deprived of electricity and water for the past 3 weeks. Strikes on the dam have damaged turbines, cut essential cables, caused leakages & resulted in power outages.
Turkish drone strikes
Among other attacks, turkish drones targeted civilian homes in Gire Spi country side. A turkish drone strike in the kurdish controlled area of Aleppo destroyed the only sugar factory in the region.
New US base in Kobane
The US army is building a new base in the city of Kobane. Cement blocks, premade rooms, surveillance cameras and other equipement is being installed.
# Syria
SDF meetings with HTS
Official delegation of SDF command met with HTS command to discuss about the relation of SDF with the new Syrian army being formed. Mazlum Abdi stated that an agreement was not reached but that the negotiations are ongoing. Ahmed al-Sharaa declared "SDF requested to be integrated as an specific corps within the new army, also to determine a percentage of the resources it controls, especially oil, to remain in NE Syria. These demands were rejected by the General Command, but there is a proposal being studied to include elements of the SDF".
HTS delegation to Saudi Arabia
A Syrian official delegation to Saudi Arabia, led by freshly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, Defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Intelligence chief Anas Khattab, landed in Riyadh, marking their first official trip abroad.
'Joint forces' leave SNA
The "Joint Forces", a coalition of the two main facitons of SNA 'Hamza division' and 'Sultan Suleyman Sha division', announced their withdrawal from the SNA to join the new Syrian Army under the new 'defense ministry'.
Druze demand federalism
The Druze in Suwayda have intercepted an HTS convoy from entering Suwayda, and they were forced to return to Damascus.
Commander of Druze operations: "We will not allow any faction, regardless of the number of its members, to enter Suwaida, and we will demand federalism if we are subjected to any aggression or anything is imposed on us"
New insurgent group?
Statements about a new group calling itself “Syrian Popular Resistance” appeared in Iran and Russian linked media. They vow they will fight HTS in retaliation for the attacks on minorities, calling for a "free Syrian Arab republic" with a sectarian religious language.
# Foreign Policy
Meeting between DEM and MHP
The meeting between the (kurdish) DEM Party's İmralı delegation and MHP leader (far-right) Devlet Bahçeli took place in Turkey. The meeting followed Abdullah Öcalan's recommendation for dialogue with political parties. DEM party said that the meeting went well.
Iran forbids kurdish Organisations
With the start of the new year, Iran issued a new law forbidding "all organisations connected to the PKK" due to a request by Turkey.
This affects among others Free Women Associtation RJAK, Niwêger and Merziye foundations for arts together with the production company of Jin TV. All assets of these organisations have been seized.
US-Syria economic license
Work is underway in US institutions to issue a "temporary" license valid for one year, allowing economic transactions that were previously prohibited under U.S. sanctions on Syria, while sanctions will not be lifted.
ISIS calls for attacks
ISIS made a call to its members to carry out attacks in Europe, the US and Israel, calling for action during New Year celebrations. “Prepare your belts, silencers, knives, and explosives” one message exhorts.
ISIS made a call to its members to carry out attacks in Europe, the US and Israel, calling for action during New Year celebrations. “Prepare your belts, silencers, knives, and explosives” one message exhorts.
# Analysis
We start 2025 with many things going on. January will be a challenging month, with a race of different actors to strengthen their positions, both in the military field as well as in diplomatic influence. Al-Sharaa is putting his HTS trusted circles in key positions in the goverment. You can read some of their (newly collected) biographies on wikipedia, partly documenting their past activities as "brave jihadist fighters" of al-Nusra. How much they are just playing a theater for western audiences, or how much they really moderated themselves in exchange for power in a Nation-State, is something that will be more clear in the next months.
The statements of an insurgent "popular resistance movement", with a certain iranian flavour and with russian fringe media echoing it, can contribute to new waves of instability if they come backed up with actions. The druze community in the south also seems unwilling to cooperate with HTS transitional government, contributing to a mosaic of actors that question HTS' proclaimed power. Meanwhile, many people in Syria's western cities are going out to the streets, fixing roads and painting murals, reinforcing bonds of solidarity and mutual aid among neighbors. This networks of civic organizing can easily flourish in local committees and popular councils, as they already did in the early years of the Syrian revolution. How much HTS government will give space to these local initiatives, and how much these grassroots movements will confront the authoritarian steps of HTS, is something that will be a determinant for the future of Syria.
The press statement of the 'joint forces' leaving the SNA coalition is an important step, moving towards a generalized meltdown of the Turkish proxy forces. It is not clear how much it is an open defection or maybe a 'cover' operation of Turkish intelligence, aiming to 'infiltrate' some of their trusted agents in the new Syrian Army. Still, together with many local reports of groups and fighters defecting to go back home, plus the big amount of losses that the resistance of SDF is inflicting against their attacks, all this is making SNA more an more unable to hold their ground. How much Turkey will try to keep SNA together or will try to invade directly if things don't play as they want remains still to be seen.
On the other side, the ongoing talks to integrate SDF in that same new Syrian Army are an uncomfortable but necessary step, in order to build relations with the transitional government and avoid being outmanuvered by Turkey. For now, they seem similar of nature to the negotiations with the Assad regime that were held in the past. SDF never reached any agreement with the regime that wouldnt compromise their integrity and values, and the same is true for the new negotiations with HTS.
Negotiations of this kind are diplomatic games, a projection of power of the different actors. If the balance of power changes, negotiations can be pushed in a new direction, with the stronger imposing their will and the other having to accept a compromise. Therefore the most plausible scenario is that those negotiations will get stalled, waiting to solve the differences on the battle field.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
We start 2025 with many things going on. January will be a challenging month, with a race of different actors to strengthen their positions, both in the military field as well as in diplomatic influence. Al-Sharaa is putting his HTS trusted circles in key positions in the goverment. You can read some of their (newly collected) biographies on wikipedia, partly documenting their past activities as "brave jihadist fighters" of al-Nusra. How much they are just playing a theater for western audiences, or how much they really moderated themselves in exchange for power in a Nation-State, is something that will be more clear in the next months.
The statements of an insurgent "popular resistance movement", with a certain iranian flavour and with russian fringe media echoing it, can contribute to new waves of instability if they come backed up with actions. The druze community in the south also seems unwilling to cooperate with HTS transitional government, contributing to a mosaic of actors that question HTS' proclaimed power. Meanwhile, many people in Syria's western cities are going out to the streets, fixing roads and painting murals, reinforcing bonds of solidarity and mutual aid among neighbors. This networks of civic organizing can easily flourish in local committees and popular councils, as they already did in the early years of the Syrian revolution. How much HTS government will give space to these local initiatives, and how much these grassroots movements will confront the authoritarian steps of HTS, is something that will be a determinant for the future of Syria.
The press statement of the 'joint forces' leaving the SNA coalition is an important step, moving towards a generalized meltdown of the Turkish proxy forces. It is not clear how much it is an open defection or maybe a 'cover' operation of Turkish intelligence, aiming to 'infiltrate' some of their trusted agents in the new Syrian Army. Still, together with many local reports of groups and fighters defecting to go back home, plus the big amount of losses that the resistance of SDF is inflicting against their attacks, all this is making SNA more an more unable to hold their ground. How much Turkey will try to keep SNA together or will try to invade directly if things don't play as they want remains still to be seen.
On the other side, the ongoing talks to integrate SDF in that same new Syrian Army are an uncomfortable but necessary step, in order to build relations with the transitional government and avoid being outmanuvered by Turkey. For now, they seem similar of nature to the negotiations with the Assad regime that were held in the past. SDF never reached any agreement with the regime that wouldnt compromise their integrity and values, and the same is true for the new negotiations with HTS.
Negotiations of this kind are diplomatic games, a projection of power of the different actors. If the balance of power changes, negotiations can be pushed in a new direction, with the stronger imposing their will and the other having to accept a compromise. Therefore the most plausible scenario is that those negotiations will get stalled, waiting to solve the differences on the battle field.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
👍1
Happy new year and revolutionary 2025! ❤️🖤
We had some problems updating the telegram channel, but we will keep it updated from now on! Also, we will start sending our updates every two days, with possibility to return to daily updates if things escalate again.
It is a lot of work to prepare and curate these messages! We are glad to see the interest for it, but we also have other works that require our attention. Two days still enought to keep everyone updated, we hope like this we can also improve our work, less quantity but better quality ✌️
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
We had some problems updating the telegram channel, but we will keep it updated from now on! Also, we will start sending our updates every two days, with possibility to return to daily updates if things escalate again.
It is a lot of work to prepare and curate these messages! We are glad to see the interest for it, but we also have other works that require our attention. Two days still enought to keep everyone updated, we hope like this we can also improve our work, less quantity but better quality ✌️
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
👍2
This new map is not from RIC as the ones before, but from the ISW, a sketchy american organization but with good fact checking.
This is how they assessed the situation in Syria at the end of the year. It contains very interesting details like contested areas in Manbij region, lack of clear control in the desert areas, or the local militias that formed the south operation room as 'unidentified opposition groups', as the groups that expanded around al-Tanf.
A lot can be said about this map, so we will us it from now on as avatar pic!
This is how they assessed the situation in Syria at the end of the year. It contains very interesting details like contested areas in Manbij region, lack of clear control in the desert areas, or the local militias that formed the south operation room as 'unidentified opposition groups', as the groups that expanded around al-Tanf.
A lot can be said about this map, so we will us it from now on as avatar pic!
Updates 03-04/Jan/2025
# NES
Manbij Front
SDF repelled a massive attack, killing 72 jihadist fighters. 11 SDF soldiers were also killed. Turkey continues to bomb the area and the already heavily damaged Tishreen Dam.
SNA order to kill
Allegedly, an internal information letter was sent to military police of SNA and several of their militias. The letter calls on them to execute any traitor attempting to defect to the enemy or caught trying to flee their area.
Turkey-Syria borders to HTS
Control of the Hammam border crossing between Turkey and Syria in Jindires area, in occupied Afrin, has been handed out to HTS as part of agreements to normalize the situation with the new administration in Damascus.
# Syria
Murderous past of justice minister
Shadi Al-Waisi was recently appointed as minister of justice. He has been identified in a video from Idlib in 2015, this video has been verified. In the video a woman is executed with a head shot in the middle of the street by armed men after Shadi Al-Waisi reads a "judicial" sentence from a smartphone.
Syrias education system
Syria’s new Ministry of Education has published 12 new documents reshaping the country’s education system. They are pushing a religiously driven worldview on what was once the Middle East’s most secular nation.
Tensions in Suwayda
Recent clashes between armed factions in Suwayda involving the armed group "Men of dignity" and another group that is apparently aligned with HTS took place. They left at least 4 deads. Protests followed the incident, some claiming support for an HTS goverment some against it. Some also denounced the sunni-islamist biased changes of educational curriculum.
Clashes on the Lebanese border
Clashes with the Lebanesse army broke out next to a blocked border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, with at least 1 Lebanese soldier badly injured. The Lebanese army claims they shot in the air as warning after a bulldozer moved to reopen the border-crossing, and armed men responded by firing at their positions. Some reports claim the armed men to be HTS fighters, other suggest smuggling networks. Allegedly, clashes resumed again later.
HTS security operations
HTS military personal conducted several raids and security controls after the Alawites protest last week. Some of those raids are evolving to clashes after facing armed resistance, allegedly from old regime loyalist. The Syrian Observatory of Human rights (SOHR) is reporting more than 100 arrested, some reports suggest summary executions of many of them.
# Foreign Policy
French and German FM in Damascus
Ms Baerbock and Mr Barrot are the first european FMs to visit the new governemnt in Damascus. They explained that they can see a renewed relationship between Europe and Syria, but under the condition of gender equality and protection of minorities. HTS officials receiving them refused to shake the hand of the German FM.
# NES
Manbij Front
SDF repelled a massive attack, killing 72 jihadist fighters. 11 SDF soldiers were also killed. Turkey continues to bomb the area and the already heavily damaged Tishreen Dam.
SNA order to kill
Allegedly, an internal information letter was sent to military police of SNA and several of their militias. The letter calls on them to execute any traitor attempting to defect to the enemy or caught trying to flee their area.
Turkey-Syria borders to HTS
Control of the Hammam border crossing between Turkey and Syria in Jindires area, in occupied Afrin, has been handed out to HTS as part of agreements to normalize the situation with the new administration in Damascus.
# Syria
Murderous past of justice minister
Shadi Al-Waisi was recently appointed as minister of justice. He has been identified in a video from Idlib in 2015, this video has been verified. In the video a woman is executed with a head shot in the middle of the street by armed men after Shadi Al-Waisi reads a "judicial" sentence from a smartphone.
Syrias education system
Syria’s new Ministry of Education has published 12 new documents reshaping the country’s education system. They are pushing a religiously driven worldview on what was once the Middle East’s most secular nation.
Tensions in Suwayda
Recent clashes between armed factions in Suwayda involving the armed group "Men of dignity" and another group that is apparently aligned with HTS took place. They left at least 4 deads. Protests followed the incident, some claiming support for an HTS goverment some against it. Some also denounced the sunni-islamist biased changes of educational curriculum.
Clashes on the Lebanese border
Clashes with the Lebanesse army broke out next to a blocked border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, with at least 1 Lebanese soldier badly injured. The Lebanese army claims they shot in the air as warning after a bulldozer moved to reopen the border-crossing, and armed men responded by firing at their positions. Some reports claim the armed men to be HTS fighters, other suggest smuggling networks. Allegedly, clashes resumed again later.
HTS security operations
HTS military personal conducted several raids and security controls after the Alawites protest last week. Some of those raids are evolving to clashes after facing armed resistance, allegedly from old regime loyalist. The Syrian Observatory of Human rights (SOHR) is reporting more than 100 arrested, some reports suggest summary executions of many of them.
# Foreign Policy
French and German FM in Damascus
Ms Baerbock and Mr Barrot are the first european FMs to visit the new governemnt in Damascus. They explained that they can see a renewed relationship between Europe and Syria, but under the condition of gender equality and protection of minorities. HTS officials receiving them refused to shake the hand of the German FM.
Analysis
The recent handover of strategical border-crossing points in Afrin to HTS is a very relevant development, it shows the will of Turkey to sacrifice SNA militias in exchange for better relations with HTS. Those border crossing points are a big source of tax revenue for the militias that control it, cutting down their access to funds and giving them to HTS will not just improve their economical situation but also reinforce the centralized control that the HTS transitional goverment is attempting. And of course, Turkey is expecting HTS to not forget that they are helping them with that, gaining a better diplomatic position in future negotiations.
The visit of the French and German foreign ministers to Damascus indicates that Europe is willing to accept the transitional goverment as legitimate respresentation of Syria. The video with the akward moment when Baerbock offers her hand and the reception delegation and they refuse to shake her hand, has been circulating a lot. It is a clear indication of the misogynist approach that this transitional goverment has. At the same time, they orchestrated a press conferance with an unveiled women talking on behalf of the White Helmets, a rescue organization with close ties with HTS and Turkey. This is clearly a move for media spectacle, since any pictures ever seen of women working with White helmets has been always with veil and gloves, and always as having an auxiliar role. This adds to other examples of HTS tokenizing women to appear moderate and aligned with inclusive values, but it is clearly nothing else than a facade.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
The recent handover of strategical border-crossing points in Afrin to HTS is a very relevant development, it shows the will of Turkey to sacrifice SNA militias in exchange for better relations with HTS. Those border crossing points are a big source of tax revenue for the militias that control it, cutting down their access to funds and giving them to HTS will not just improve their economical situation but also reinforce the centralized control that the HTS transitional goverment is attempting. And of course, Turkey is expecting HTS to not forget that they are helping them with that, gaining a better diplomatic position in future negotiations.
The visit of the French and German foreign ministers to Damascus indicates that Europe is willing to accept the transitional goverment as legitimate respresentation of Syria. The video with the akward moment when Baerbock offers her hand and the reception delegation and they refuse to shake her hand, has been circulating a lot. It is a clear indication of the misogynist approach that this transitional goverment has. At the same time, they orchestrated a press conferance with an unveiled women talking on behalf of the White Helmets, a rescue organization with close ties with HTS and Turkey. This is clearly a move for media spectacle, since any pictures ever seen of women working with White helmets has been always with veil and gloves, and always as having an auxiliar role. This adds to other examples of HTS tokenizing women to appear moderate and aligned with inclusive values, but it is clearly nothing else than a facade.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
News from the front!
Weekly Highlights 28.12.24 - 03.01.25
Clashes in Manbij countryside
Heavy clashes continued in Manbij countryside, with SDF holding ground against the SNA offensives around Qereqozah bridge and Tishreen Dam. Several armored vehicles of turkish proxy forces were destroyed, including tanks and other advanced equipment like radars, even an (in)famous UAV Bayraktar TB2.
HTS government
The cabinet of the transitional government is getting filled with HTS leadership and close circles of Ahmed al-Sharaa, that is acting as a de facto president of Syria. Names of important Jihadist fighters are being published as heads of ministeries and other important state institutions. Al-Sharaa also announced that HTS will be dissolved in the transition process, probably as a strategy to get rid of the terrorist label and gain legitimacy as new government.
Negotiations SDF-HTS
A delegation of SDF command met with a delegation of the transitional government, including al-Sharaa and other relevant HTS members. They negotiated possible integration of SDF in the new Syrian army that is being organized. An agreement was not reached, but negotiations remain open.
SNA facing problems
Two main factions of SNA (Sultan Suleyman Sha and Hamza divisions) left the SNA coalition to join the ranks of the new Syrian Army under the influence of HTS. Many fighters are dying in the front lines of Manbij countryside. Other fighters and groups are defecting to return back to their homes, now free of the Assad regime, often getting arrested and imprisoned by SNA military police in the attempt.
Women's resistance
Declarations of the newly appointed ministry of women affairs, saying that islamic law (sharia) should guide Syria and that she won't let feminist NGOs that don't think like her operate. Many women's organizations like the newly founded Syrian Women's council made statements criticizing it and remarking the role and the importance of women in the revolution.
ISIS resurgence
ISIS has been increasing their activity and attacking security checkpoints in many different parts of Syria as well as Iraq. They also spread a call for their followers to do attacks in US, Europe or Israel. One message called to “Prepare your belts, silencers, knives, and explosives”. The International coalition has been conducting precise bombings in different locations in Syria.
Repression of minorities
The protests that sparked in several cities after the tomb of an historic Alawite scholar was desecrated were met with military repression, with big convoys of HTS fighters being sent to disperse protests. Some clashes with armed protestors were reported. The druze community also stated their intentions to not integrate their militias into the new Syrian army, challenging the call of the transitional goverment to surrend all the weapons to the transitional goverment.
Weekly Highlights 28.12.24 - 03.01.25
Clashes in Manbij countryside
Heavy clashes continued in Manbij countryside, with SDF holding ground against the SNA offensives around Qereqozah bridge and Tishreen Dam. Several armored vehicles of turkish proxy forces were destroyed, including tanks and other advanced equipment like radars, even an (in)famous UAV Bayraktar TB2.
HTS government
The cabinet of the transitional government is getting filled with HTS leadership and close circles of Ahmed al-Sharaa, that is acting as a de facto president of Syria. Names of important Jihadist fighters are being published as heads of ministeries and other important state institutions. Al-Sharaa also announced that HTS will be dissolved in the transition process, probably as a strategy to get rid of the terrorist label and gain legitimacy as new government.
Negotiations SDF-HTS
A delegation of SDF command met with a delegation of the transitional government, including al-Sharaa and other relevant HTS members. They negotiated possible integration of SDF in the new Syrian army that is being organized. An agreement was not reached, but negotiations remain open.
SNA facing problems
Two main factions of SNA (Sultan Suleyman Sha and Hamza divisions) left the SNA coalition to join the ranks of the new Syrian Army under the influence of HTS. Many fighters are dying in the front lines of Manbij countryside. Other fighters and groups are defecting to return back to their homes, now free of the Assad regime, often getting arrested and imprisoned by SNA military police in the attempt.
Women's resistance
Declarations of the newly appointed ministry of women affairs, saying that islamic law (sharia) should guide Syria and that she won't let feminist NGOs that don't think like her operate. Many women's organizations like the newly founded Syrian Women's council made statements criticizing it and remarking the role and the importance of women in the revolution.
ISIS resurgence
ISIS has been increasing their activity and attacking security checkpoints in many different parts of Syria as well as Iraq. They also spread a call for their followers to do attacks in US, Europe or Israel. One message called to “Prepare your belts, silencers, knives, and explosives”. The International coalition has been conducting precise bombings in different locations in Syria.
Repression of minorities
The protests that sparked in several cities after the tomb of an historic Alawite scholar was desecrated were met with military repression, with big convoys of HTS fighters being sent to disperse protests. Some clashes with armed protestors were reported. The druze community also stated their intentions to not integrate their militias into the new Syrian army, challenging the call of the transitional goverment to surrend all the weapons to the transitional goverment.