And next, Syria?

[zahir]

Going off this it still isn't clear whether all the SNA factions are included.

Syrian rebel groups agree to merge into defense ministry

Rebel groups in Syria, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have agreed to disband and integrate into the country’s defense ministry, the new administration announced on Tuesday.

www.rudaw.net

Rebel groups in Syria, under the supervision of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, have agreed to dissolve and merge into the country’s defense ministry, the new administration announced on Tuesday.

“A meeting of the leaders of the revolutionary factions with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, results in an agreement to dissolve all factions and merge them under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense,” an announcement from the office of Sharaa, who is better known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, read.

The statement did not clarify if the decision applies to the Ankara-supported Syrian National Army (SNA).

eta: some discussion on who's in and who's out.

 

[zahir]

Women's Council of Syria opens office in Damascus.

Meghan Bodette

A women’s institution from NES that’s close to the Autonomous Administration has opened an office in Damascus and met with the Women’s Affairs department of the transitional government, per Kurdish media.

Translation of news report in link:

The Syrian Women's Council's Cizre Office Director Muna Youssef told our agency that since 2017, the council has been trying to open its offices in all Syrian cities, saying: "During the era of the oppressive regime, we did not have any offices in Damascus, but there was a ready ground. Representatives of the council were in Damascus and were organizing their activities in the name of the council."

Muna Youssef noted that the Syrian Women's Council sent a diplomatic delegation of women to Damascus on behalf of the council to meet with the interim government's head of women's affairs, Ayşe El Dibis, and said: "We held many meetings and consultations to open a council office in Damascus, and the conditions were prepared for opening an office in Damascus. We officially opened our office in Damascus yesterday (December 23rd)."

Muna Yousif stated that the Syrian Women's Council wants to transfer the successful experience in North and East Syria to Damascus and develop these achievements, saying: "It is necessary to have women's representation in the constitutional committee, all institutions and aspects of life." Muna Yousif stated that the aim of opening the office is to strengthen relations and establish unity among women in North and East Syria, Sweida, Jarablis, Idlib and all other cities.

 

[zahir]

Democracy Now report on the threat to Kurds in Syria

 

[zahir]

An opinion on relations with Turkey, translated from here

The frequent visits of Turkish officials to Syria and the increase in diplomatic delegations does not mean that there are strong relations or Turkish hegemony. I see the opposite. There are clear Turkish fears and there is a race on their part to try to fill the void. I believe that if the Turks do not obtain gains that satisfy their interests, they have pressure cards in the north that they have not given up yet. Personally, I hope for very good relations with Turkey, but a relationship based on equality and respect for the interests and security of both countries. Turkey has a very important role in reconstruction and in the economic and commercial openness that Syria needs in the coming days.

Turkey decides to increase the salaries of the employees of the interim government affiliated with the coalition in northern Syria by 70%. Isn't Turkey supposed to merge the two governments into the central government!

This supports my idea that I said yesterday that the frequency of Turkish visits is not evidence of complete agreement or dominance, but rather fear of a deal between the new government and the SDF.

Until now, northern Syria is considered more like an autonomous region despite all the laughter and drinking tea on the slopes of Qasioun.

 

[_Russ_]

US admits to Ramp up in troop numbers (I suggest it might be naive to believe the new figures )

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/23/politics/us-troop-syria-pentagon/index.html

 

[zahir]

Wladimir van Wilgenburg

The General Command of the SDF says that they are preparing for operations against Turkish-backed groups in Tal Abyad and Serekaniye. "The time has come to liberate these areas from Turkish occupation and unite Syria."

The SDF also calls on SNA fighters and their families "to take advantage of the final opportunity offered by our command. We urge them to return to their homes in their original towns and cities within Syria."

"We extend a helping hand to any fighter or individual wishing to safely return to their areas within Syria or to the regions of North and East Syria." - SDF

SDF statement translated from here

Today, the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Euphrates Canton issued a written statement to public opinion, in which it addressed the final appeal to the Turkish occupier present in the canton and the settlers, and revealed that its forces are preparing for qualitative operations in the occupied areas. The text of the statement reads as follows:

"This is the last call issued by our leadership, as the Syrian Democratic Forces are preparing for qualitative operations against the Turkish occupation sites in the occupied areas. Accordingly, we call on our people to rally around their forces and support them, and we call on the families concerned to make their fateful decision by the end of this year, by communicating with the dedicated pages bearing the name "Safe Return" on social media.

We address our people and the settlers in the occupied areas, Gire Spi/Tal Abyad and Serekaniye/Ras al-Ain, that the time has come to liberate these areas from the Turkish occupation and unify Syria away from the occupation's ambitions.

We call on the settler families and fighters in the factions affiliated with Turkey, who submitted to the occupation and fought under its banner for years against the Syrian people, to take advantage of the last opportunity offered by our leadership, and to return to their homes in the towns and cities from which they came inside Syria.

The Turkish occupation does not care about the lives of Syrians at all, and has turned northern Syria into hotbeds of terrorism, threatening our homeland and the entire region. The occupation benefits From the Syrian-Syrian conflict to the occupation of the entire Syrian geography. Let us all unite to expel this occupation from our homeland, for there is no aid or support for the Syrian except for his Syrian brother."

We extend a helping hand to every fighter or individual who wants to leave safely to his areas inside Syria or to the region of North and East Syria, and our forces and the Autonomous Administration have pledged to support the families in their safe exit without harming them and protecting them and taking care of them until we reach safety.

This is the last call issued by our leadership, as the Syrian Democratic Forces are preparing for qualitative operations against the sites of the Turkish occupation in the occupied areas, and accordingly we call on our people to rally around their forces and support them, and we call on the families we have addressed to make their fateful decision by the end of this year, by communicating with the dedicated pages bearing the name "Safe Return" on social media sites.

Edited on: 24/12/2024

Expires on: 31/12/2024.

eta: It looks like this statement has now been taken down.

 

[zahir]

Christmas in Damascus video