And next, Syria?

[zahir]

The SDF counter-offensive has reached the centre of Manbij.

Cedric Labrousse (translation)

Tonight, the breakthrough of the SDF, mainly the YAT and the YPG, to the city center of Manbij, far behind the lines of Turkey's auxiliaries, in an area that is in no way majority Kurdish and could favor their advances, reminds us that the Turkish plans to occupy the Kurdish regions are the open door to a permanent civil war in the north for years.

If Afrin was able to be massively pacified, it is because 80% of the population left (something confirmed by al-Sharaa himself recently). Towards Tal Rifaat first. And now towards Kobani and the northeast.

But if Turkey invades the entire north, from Kobani to Derik Hamko, there will be hundreds of thousands of people on the move without shelter. And a permanent guerrilla war will begin.

Manbij tonight is both a mistake by the SDF, because they provoke the Turkish occupier. And it is also a reminder: the civil war in the north could last for years with bombings, attacks, traps, ambushes, assassinations... Turkey wants to eliminate the PKK, which it has never managed to defeat since the 1970s: it could give birth to much worse for it.

And this breakthrough by the YAT and YPG is a reminder that the SNA is a largely deficient force whose large shortcomings are only corrected by the presence of the Turkish occupation army.

These forces, pushed by Turkish artillery and aviation, had managed to advance to the Euphrates. Here they are, overtaken from two fronts, once Turkish cover has been removed, in one night. And even if this operation is only a specific mission of a small group, it reminds us that the SNA does not have the competence to hold such a vast region as Turkey would like to entrust to it...

map

 

[zahir]

Translated thread from Cedric Labrousse

The SDF breakthrough on Manbij, a day of reversal.

Taken on December 11, 2024 by Turkish auxiliaries massively supported by the artillery and aviation of this country, Manbij was even far from the front lines. This night of December 29 to 30, 2024, the SDF enters it again.

How did we get here? 1/

On December 23, 2024, the SDF massively repositioned itself on the Tishreen Dam. The beginning of a much larger operation now revealed as such.

As of December 26, barely 72 hours ago, these forces were advancing rapidly. Particularly in Abu Qalqal. 2/

To this must be added a massive demobilization of auxiliary fighters. The fall of the Assad regime seems to have left these forces without objectives, other than the unique ones of occupying Turkey in the region.

And the armed groups in the service of Turkey do not hide this problem: publishing threats to their own men if they were to desert... Symbol of a deep problem. 3/

As early as December 29 during the day, the SDF, mainly the YPG and YAT, had already reached the village of Nehid, south of the city, just a few kilometers from the gates of Manbij. And this in broad daylight. With very little resistance. 4/

Tonight, the YAT and YPG, covered by rocket launchers, entered the eastern districts of Manbij, particularly along Aleppo Street and the Jezirah. The fighting is raging.

This is probably an operation to recover fighters and officers of their forces captured during the capture of Manbij on December 11. Because it seems impossible for the SDF to retake Manbij. Otherwise, to wake up the Turkish occupier who, since December 11, has hardly provided similar support to its local militias. 5/

This breakthrough reveals the weakness of Turkey's auxiliaries and their profound ignorance of the region, some of which are not natives.

This ignorance is compounded by violence, theft, looting, and insults to residents, as has already been the case since 2016 in the areas they occupy. On December 28, the population of al-Alush, a village in the Manbij region, chased out the SNA after fighters from its ranks killed a young man from the village... 6/

Not long ago, the notables and dignitaries of Manbij officially demanded the entry of Damascus forces into the city so that the violence, anarchy and looting would cease...

A disastrous image of Turkey's auxiliaries... 7/

eta: addition to thread (I'm not sure I'm convinced by the argument here - but time will tell)

It would be much more strategic for these forces, which have crossed the Euphrates and advanced to Manbij, to return to the Euphrates. In order to respect the line set by Mazloum Abdi in conjunction with the United States. No interest in provoking further. 8/

ADD.: It should also be noted that a number of fighters are simply returning home now that their towns and villages are no longer under the control of the regime. Now that they have a home to return to, they are abandoning the fight they had been waging for Turkey.

 

[hitmouse]

The Final Straw interview with the Interstices-Fajawat people is up now, really worth a listen imo:

We Will Need Time: two libertarian communist perspectives on events and possibility in Syria | The Final Straw Radio Podcast

thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org

In this episode, you’ll hear Cedric and Khuzama, two libertarian communists with connections to Syria and editor contributors to the blog interstices-fajawat.org , speaking about their observations of what’s been going on leading up to and through the ouster of Bashar Al-Assad, as well as complications among various factions on the ground and the view from the Syrian diaspora. The situation on the ground is changing fast.

No transcription yet but one should be available soon if you prefer to read.

 

[zahir]

SDF ready to hand over border management to Damascus government - Enab Baladi

The leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, expressed his readiness to hand over border control in areas […]

english.enabbaladi.net

Abdi told the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Friday, December 27, that he is “in principle” ready to transfer the responsibility of border security to the new authorities in Damascus.

Abdi pointed out that there has been field coordination with the Military Operations Administration since the second day of the “Deterrence of Aggression” battle, but “there are no direct political negotiations” with the new Damascus government.

Reports have emerged about SDF sending a representative to Damascus to meet with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, but no statements have been issued from either side regarding that.

SDF controls parts of eastern Aleppo countryside and the eastern Euphrates region in northeastern Syria, except for the cities of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain.

On December 12, Abdi mentioned that SDF has agreements with the Military Operations Administration regarding Aleppo and Deir Ezzor governorates, indicating there is an agreement for both eastern and western Deir Ezzor

According to Abdi, the Military Operations Administration informed SDF about its military operation, assuring them that SDF-controlled areas are not its targets.

In his latest interview with Asharq al-Awsat, Abdi said he is ready to integrate into the new Syrian Army after agreeing on a “suitable formula through negotiations.”

Abdi confirmed in his talk with the British newspaper, The Times, on December 24 that his forces, composed of 100,000 elements, are ready to dissolve themselves and join the new Syrian Army.

 

[_Russ_]

“There will be no division of Syria in any way,” al-Sharaa

Not difficult to See where that will go

 

[zahir]

A revised version of this article by Joseph Daher

The Kurdish struggle is central to Syria's future

Joseph Daher argues that progressives must build a pluralistic Syria that recognises the freedoms of Kurds.

www.newarab.com

Mohammed Elnaiem

Brilliant article by Joseph Daher, but one that I fear will fall on ears that refuse to hear. The reality is that Arab chauvinism is deeply ingrained in our region, and Arab intellectuals even use the same rhetorical strategies as Zionists to attack Kurds.

With of course the most obvious parallel between Hamas and the PKK. "We are not against Kurds", they say amid ethnic cleansing campaigns, "we are against PKK terrorists".

And "they are foreign to our region", they must expel "foreign fighters" HTS says, as it promotes a Uigher, a Jordanian, and other non-Syrian fighters to positions like Brigadier General in the new Syrian army. The double standards, the hypocrisy, everybody just ignores it.

 

[LDC]

The Final Straw interview with the Interstices-Fajawat people is up now, really worth a listen imo:

We Will Need Time: two libertarian communist perspectives on events and possibility in Syria | The Final Straw Radio Podcast

thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org

No transcription yet but one should be available soon if you prefer to read.

Cheers, very interesting that, touches on some of the over-extension of the SDF enabled by US support that I mentioned earlier.

 

[Gramsci]

Burning Country

*Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2017* In 2011, many Syrians took to the streets of Damascus to demand the overthrow of the government of Bashar a...

www.plutobooks.com

I read this over the Christmas. Recommended by The39thStep

Version I got was not the new edition.

So not totally up to date.

Its written by Syrians and covers a lot of ground. Brief history of Syria/ economics/ rise of Assad.

So excellent introduction. I would also say A Line in the Sand I read recently gives a lot of context of how British and French empires carved up middle east after WW1 which has a lot on early history of Syria

The stuff on economy showed how Syria economics neo liberalisation led to a more divided society. With few at top making a fortune/ some benefitting from this lower down becoming wealthy businessmen but the poor doing worse.

This was one of the underlying reasons for the revolt against Assad. It was no surprise that during the war it was working class areas that bore the brunt of Assad bombing.

Also demonstrates why some hesitated to join the revolt. Some were not die hard Assad supporters but had done well economically and had more to lose.

One of the themes in the book imo is that western orientalism treats country like Syria as backward riven by religious / tribal divisions. As friend said to me all they do out there is kill each other its all tribal and Islam out there.

This the writers say in end chapter skews the reporting in West.

In fact Syria is a country like most others. It's gone through a process of modernisation and changes in economy. The description of Assad regime reminded me of what I have heard and read of Eastern Europe under Communism. The civil society that played such a huge role at beginning was not unlike civil society in west.

Syria in short isn't just sectarian.

In the book have criticism of the Rojava / PYD as well.

The main thrust of the book was that this was a genuine popular revolt by the people against a totalitarian regime. By this time Syria was one family state- Assad. This is reason given for the level of violence by state. Any opposition within the regime to Assad had been gradually weeded out. Faced with large scale revolt their was no other power based in regime to oust Assad. Once Assad regime saw it was under threat its response was increasing levels of violence. Not negotiation.

I did find the descriptions of civil society based organising very interesting. This was genuinely bottom up. Out of necessity and because the early "leaders" saw their role as aiding local communities not telling them what to do or laying down a party line.

It was imo a staggering achievement in a few months to build a civil society up that had been suppressed for decades.

( Saying this as involved in small way over years in local community stuff so could relate too this.)

Theme of book is that this never totally went away. As regime violence intensified the only option was armed resistance against it. This happened not due to political decision but for practical reasons. Going on peaceful demos and getting shot or arrested meant peaceful protest had its limits.

There is a lot on relationship between the military groups and rest of population. In particular the Jihadist groups. Writers say the relationship was complex. And to easily simplified in Western media.

That helps put into context rise of HTS.

Book also points out that moderate Jihadists and more secular militias on their own pushed ISIS out of areas

There is a lot in book on the more personal decisions people made. Explains why some became Jihadists of extreme sort. The regime violence was so extreme that people saw whole community destroyed in front of them. For some this sent them off the rails and ended up changing from peaceful secular protestors to extreme Jihadists.

On practical level it was Islamic based militias that had best funding from Gulf countries. So if one wanted to fight then joined them. This did mean that some fighters were not full on Jihadists.

Which possibly helps explain some of the events of the recent fall of Assad. Appears it was the foreign fighters who have been the main problem.

I was reminded of other revolts when reading this book. Some of the problems are not specific to Syria but problems associated with revolts in general.

To add Assad regime were very adroit in causing sectarian divisions to weaken what had been unified revolt.

There is more. But leave this for now.

 

[JimW]

AP article on what's happening with the Baath party and former members, with some background: Now Syria's long-ruling Baath party is collapsing, too

 

[Gramsci]

Makdisi Street on Syria.

With Omar S Dahi

Makdisi brothers run this youtube channel from Lebanon. Omar S Dahi is Syrian. Grew up in his words is Arab Nationalist Nasserite household. Went abroad to study and was going back and forth to Syria before it became to difficult. Is in regular touch with people there.

Makdisi Street is good look at middle east issues by people from middle east. Started watching it as its been covering Gaza/ Israel
Perspective on issues like Israel and Syria is different than from here.

First half is general info on Syrian economy during the war and HTS. Dahi has studied the economic side of it. Also worked as part of UN to look at rebuilding Syria,

The last decade has caused immense damage. Even if people wanted to go back there are a host of problems to be overcome. At this point the infrastructure is not in place ( basic stuff like housing and health facilities ) for refugees to come back.

On HTS the jury is out. So far the signals its been putting out are ok.

The emphasis for Dahi is for Syrians to be allowed to determine their future not outside powers. So first thing is respecting Syrian Sovereignty.

Israel was held up as country that already decided to undermine that. Destroying capability of a sovereign state to defend itself.

No good words said by any about Israel in this programme.

Dahi reckoned that rebuilding the state was a possibility. But next few months will see if their can be a national conversation to develop a constitution by the Syrian people.

One model that was not wanted is what happened in Lebanon after civil war. What was needed was a unitary state. Where all rights are respected. On Kurds some self government but needs to be part of the state.

That is a democratic state.

I think the concern is that breakup of state would not be in overall interests of Syrians. But would be in interest of outside powers like Israel and Turkey.

On the whole region the need to rebuild Arab nationalism of a progressive sort. This I can understand. After WW1 the victorious powers ( UK and France) carved up middle east , supported Zionism and made boundaries that were not decided by Arab people

I found this wide ranging discussion by people from the middle east really interesting.

 

[zahir]

The start of negotiations with the SDF.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/12/31/syria-s-al-sharaa-meets-senior-christian-clerics-kurds

Al-Sharaa also held talks with delegates of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday, an official told AFP on Tuesday, adding that they had been “positive.”

The talks were al-Sharaa’s first with Kurdish commanders since an opposition alliance spearheaded by al-Sharaa’s “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) group overthrew longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in early December and come as the SDF is locked in fighting with Turkish-backed factions in northern Syria.

“A meeting took place on Monday between senior officials of the Syrian Democratic Forces and al-Jolani in Damascus,” the official said, using al-Sharaa’s nom de guerre.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said it was a “preliminary meeting to lay the foundations for future dialogue,” adding that both sides had agreed “to continue these meetings to reach future understandings.”

He described the meeting as “positive” and said there would be “intensifying dialogue and meetings in the future.”

eta:

Syrian de facto leader, Kurds discuss future of Rojava: Source

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday held their first meeting with the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, discussing the future of northeast Syria and SDF-held neighborhoods in Aleppo, an informed source told...

manage.rudaw.net

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, elaborated that the SDF delegates and Sharaa, better known with his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, discussed their security relations and the future of Rojava administration and the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo province - which are under SDF control.

An unnamed source told AFP that the meeting was "positive," adding that both sides agreed to continue such meetings "to reach future understandings."

A coalition of rebels spearheaded by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded a blistering offensive against Bashar al-Assad’s regime late last month, toppling the regime on December 8 and ending over five decades of Baathist rule.

HTS has not clashed with the SDF and has allowed the US-backed force to remain in control of the both Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo.

Sharaa told Saudi media on Sunday that the country's new security apparatus will include "Kurdish forces in its ranks" without elaborating.

Sharaa also called Kurds an “integral part” of Syrian society but stressed that his administration will not allow the country to become a “launchpad” for Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacks.

“We are negotiating with the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] to resolve the crisis in northeast Syria,” he said.

SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told Asharq Al-Awsat in a recent interview that they are willing to merge the SDF into the new Syrian army if both sides agree on a “suitable formula through negotiations.”

Stefan Schneck, Germany’s envoy to Syria, told Rudaw on Thursday that Berlin is ready to help Syria’s new rulers establish a unified security force that includes the SDF.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Exclusive sources for the Syrian Observatory: Leaders from "SDF" traveled by a U.S. helicopter to Al-Dumayr Military Airport yesterday to meet with Ahmed Al-Sharaa and senior officials of the General Administration.

 

[zahir]

Partial transcript of Al-Sharaa's interview with Al-Arabiya

Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa: New Constitution And Elections In Syria Will Take Years; Issues With The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) To Be Resolved Through Dialogue; There Will Be No Partition Or Federal System; Iran Must Not Interfe

In a December 29, 2024 interview on Al-Arabiya Network (Saudi Arabia), HTS leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, also known as "Abu Mo...

www.memri.org

Interviewer: "Are things heading towards a solution with the SDF?"

Al-Sharaa: "We addressed all the parties, and said that the problem is Syrian, and we should resolve it internally and try to find a proper solution in northeast Syria, according to some basic principles: There must not be any partition of Syria, and we should not cement the idea of partition in any way, shape, or form – not even in the form of a federation. Our society is still not ready to understand the nature of federations, and it will head for partition under the title of federation.

"Another thing is that there are foreign militants in the northeast, who have problems with neighboring countries. Just like we defend the peace and security of our neighboring countries... Turkey suffers from the PKK and its bombings inside Turkey. We will not allow Syria to become a platform for these attacks.

"The Kurds are part of our people. They were oppressed, just like we were, and it is our duty to protect and defend them, and to let them return to some villages from which they were displaced during the period of the revolution. This is our duty. On the basis of these principles... With regard to the militants in northeast Syria – all the weapons should be held exclusively by the state. Militants who are qualified to join the Ministry of Defense will be welcome there. On the basis of these terms and principles, we will open a negotiations track with SDF, and inshallah, we will find a suitable solution through dialogue."

 

[Gramsci]

Burning Country

*Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2017* In 2011, many Syrians took to the streets of Damascus to demand the overthrow of the government of Bashar a...

www.plutobooks.com

I read this over the Christmas. Recommended by The39thStep

Version I got was not the new edition.

So not totally up to date.

Its written by Syrians and covers a lot of ground. Brief history of Syria/ economics/ rise of Assad.

So excellent introduction. I would also say A Line in the Sand I read recently gives a lot of context of how British and French empires carved up middle east after WW1 which has a lot on early history of Syria

The stuff on economy showed how Syria economics neo liberalisation led to a more divided society. With few at top making a fortune/ some benefitting from this lower down becoming wealthy businessmen but the poor doing worse.

This was one of the underlying reasons for the revolt against Assad. It was no surprise that during the war it was working class areas that bore the brunt of Assad bombing.

Also demonstrates why some hesitated to join the revolt. Some were not die hard Assad supporters but had done well economically and had more to lose.

One of the themes in the book imo is that western orientalism treats country like Syria as backward riven by religious / tribal divisions. As friend said to me all they do out there is kill each other its all tribal and Islam out there.

This the writers say in end chapter skews the reporting in West.

In fact Syria is a country like most others. It's gone through a process of modernisation and changes in economy. The description of Assad regime reminded me of what I have heard and read of Eastern Europe under Communism. The civil society that played such a huge role at beginning was not unlike civil society in west.

Syria in short isn't just sectarian.

In the book have criticism of the Rojava / PYD as well.

The main thrust of the book was that this was a genuine popular revolt by the people against a totalitarian regime. By this time Syria was one family state- Assad. This is reason given for the level of violence by state. Any opposition within the regime to Assad had been gradually weeded out. Faced with large scale revolt their was no other power based in regime to oust Assad. Once Assad regime saw it was under threat its response was increasing levels of violence. Not negotiation.

I did find the descriptions of civil society based organising very interesting. This was genuinely bottom up. Out of necessity and because the early "leaders" saw their role as aiding local communities not telling them what to do or laying down a party line.

It was imo a staggering achievement in a few months to build a civil society up that had been suppressed for decades.

( Saying this as involved in small way over years in local community stuff so could relate too this.)

Theme of book is that this never totally went away. As regime violence intensified the only option was armed resistance against it. This happened not due to political decision but for practical reasons. Going on peaceful demos and getting shot or arrested meant peaceful protest had its limits.

There is a lot on relationship between the military groups and rest of population. In particular the Jihadist groups. Writers say the relationship was complex. And to easily simplified in Western media.

That helps put into context rise of HTS.

Book also points out that moderate Jihadists and more secular militias on their own pushed ISIS out of areas

There is a lot in book on the more personal decisions people made. Explains why some became Jihadists of extreme sort. The regime violence was so extreme that people saw whole community destroyed in front of them. For some this sent them off the rails and ended up changing from peaceful secular protestors to extreme Jihadists.

On practical level it was Islamic based militias that had best funding from Gulf countries. So if one wanted to fight then joined them. This did mean that some fighters were not full on Jihadists.

Which possibly helps explain some of the events of the recent fall of Assad. Appears it was the foreign fighters who have been the main problem.

I was reminded of other revolts when reading this book. Some of the problems are not specific to Syria but problems associated with revolts in general.

To add Assad regime were very adroit in causing sectarian divisions to weaken what had been unified revolt.

There is more. But leave this for now.

Looking for more recent update and found this by one of the writers of the book.

Syria has been liberated from Russia and Iran – but outsiders still threaten its new freedom | Robin Yassin-Kassab

After the fall of the Assad regime, the country now faces challenges from Turkey, Israel and the enmity of the west, says Robin Yassin-Kassab

www.theguardian.com

Cautious optimism that HTS.

Says biggest challenge is the remaining occupations. Turkey and Israel. Also ( I don't quite know what to make of this) the PKK. Who he hopes will withdraw and the Syrian Kurdish parties it banned will operate again. He hopes Kurds will flourish in a new Syria

He also argues that sanctions should be dropped now Assad has gone.

 

[zahir]

Also ( I don't quite know what to make of this) the PKK. Who he hopes will withdraw and the Syrian Kurdish parties it banned will operate again. He hopes Kurds will flourish in a new Syria

He seems to have adopted the Turkish narrative about the SDF/PYD, equating them with the PKK (there are links, obviously). For Turkey, and a lot of Syrians with a more nationalist mindset, this is being used as an advance justification for the ethnic cleansing of Northern Syria. You could compare it to Israel's use of Hamas as a justification for its actions in Gaza. Fortunately it looks like HTS isn't going to go along with this.

Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami clearly have different views on this.

 

[zahir]

Report that Turkey is stopping displaced people in the areas it controls from returning to their original homes in other parts of Syria. Sere Kaniye / Ras al-Ain is on the Turkish border between Kobani and Qamishli and has been occupied by Turkey since 2019. So far I haven't seen any explicit comment from HTS about the Turkish occupation although the proposed incorporation of all armed factions within the new military would mean Turkey losing control of its proxy forces.

Turkey-baced SNA Prevents Syrian Settlers from Returning to Their Homes - SNA Leader

SERE KANIYE, Syria (North Press) – A commander within the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) revealed on Tuesday that Turkey is preventing settlers

npasyria.com

A commander within the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) revealed on Tuesday that Turkey is preventing settlers in Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) from returning to their original homes in Syria following the fall of the previous Syrian regime.

The commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that many of these settlers, who occupy homes belonging to displaced locals, have begun leaving the city. “They are moving to distant villages such as Mabrouka, Aziziyah, and Amiriya, seeking ways to escape back to their original regions in Homs and Hama,” he added.

According to the source, Turkey has imposed strict measures at border crossings, barring settlers from returning to their original areas. “Many of them see no reason to remain in Sere Kaniye, especially after the fall of the regime,” the commander explained.

In parallel, Turkey reportedly increased the salaries of SNA members to 1,000 Turkish lira, up from the previous 500–700 lira range, in an effort to incentivize them to stay. However, this strategy appears to have limited success, as numerous fighters have abandoned their weapons and expressed a desire to leave the region and return to their homes.

Earlier reports disclosed that infiltration operations by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against Turkish-backed factions in the Sere Kaniye countryside have enabled some armed settlers and their families to evacuate to areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). These settlers aim to eventually return to their original homes in central Syria.

Sources also indicate that Turkish authorities are actively discouraging such returns, raising concerns about the long-term impact of forced displacement and demographic changes in the region.

The revelations highlight the precarious situation in Sere Kaniye, which came under Turkish control following the Turkish invadion in 2019. The area has since witnessed significant demographic shifts, with settlers from other parts of Syria occupying homes left vacant by forcibly displaced Kurds and other local residents.

The ongoing restrictions on returning settlers reflect a broader Turkish strategy to maintain influence in northern Syria through demographic manipulation and the empowerment of loyalist factions. However, growing discontent among settlers and fighters could undermine these efforts, creating instability within Turkish-controlled territories.

The displaced original residents of Sere Kaniye continue to call for international intervention to address these violations and ensure their right to return home. The lack of a political resolution and Turkey’s ongoing actions leave the region in a state of uncertainty as 2025 approaches.

 

[zahir]

Drone attack in Kurdish controlled area of Aleppo

Drone Attack in Syria’s Aleppo Kills Kurdish Security Members and Civilians

By Kardo Roj ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, two members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and several civilians lost their lives in a

npasyria.com

The origin of the drone and the group responsible for the attack remain unknown. A source from the neighborhood dismissed the possibility that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was behind the assault. Instead, suspicions have been directed toward Turkish-backed factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA).

 

[tim]

Following on from: Afghanistan, Iraq, Ireland, Kenya, Yemen, Oman, Cyprus and Mandate Palestine allegations of war crimes by the British mitary in Syria. I don't suppose we'll be sending generals to The Hague.


BBC News - UK special forces face possible Syria war crimes charges

UK special forces troops face possible Syria war crimes charges

Nine members of UK special forces could face prosecution over alleged war crimes linked to at least two separate incidents.

www.bbc.com

 

[zahir]

The new government has agreed the appointment of a governor nominated by Druze forces in majority Druze area of Suwaydah.

Translated thread from Cedric Labrousse

It is done. And this decision must be welcomed.

The interim government of Muhammad al-Bashir, dominated by HTS, has just officially appointed Mushina al-Maithawi (or Muheithawi) as governor for the governorate of Suwaydah | Sweida.

Historic.

This decision is a very favorable sign sent by Ahmad al-Sharaa and Muhammad al-Bashir. She is the first female governor. And not from the ranks of HTS.

This is unprecedented and it is also a strong signal sent to the Kurds of the Kobane and al-Hasakah region...

Because, if not for the Druze, the HTS leaders clearly want to reassure the current authorities of the AANES who rule the entire northeast of Syria. And whose SDF is already in regular contact with HTS and the new Ministry of Defense.

Enough to give the Turkish authorities a few sweats, this first opening which could herald others.

An event that went unnoticed, Mushina al-Muheithawi was proposed, by mutual agreement between civil, political, religious and armed Druze organizations, as governor for the governorate of al-Suwaydah. Born in 1970, a senior administrative official, having worked in finance, and known for her opposition to the regime in the regional capital.

The Druze are putting forward their own dynamics. It should be noted that HTS has not appointed a governor in this region and has not carried out operations in the area against former loyalists. The Druze currently benefit, de facto, from complete autonomy of governance.

At the same time, on the military side, the Druze forces have not obtained any recognition from the new Ministry of Defense. But they also refuse to surrender or provide their weapons.

Having participated in the collapse of the regime in the region, the Druze forces, including the Quwat Sheikh al-Karama, have significantly reinforced their equipment, now even controlling armoured vehicles and heavy vehicles. A real autonomous regional army.

 

[tim]

The new government has agreed the appointment of a governor nominated by Druze forces in majority Druze area of Suwaydah.

Translated thread from Cedric Labrousse

There was a semi autonomous Druze state in mandate Syria as well as an Alawite, so back to the future, perhaps.

 

[zahir]

New Year in Damascus video

Damascus tonight. It's on fire. Young women and men celebrate a new year by setting the dance floors that the city's streets and squares have become ablaze.

Shortly before, Ahmad al-Sharaa confirmed the appointment of a female Druze governor in Suwaydah and received Christian delegations in Damascus...

In short. A crazy end to the year in Syria. May the future be kind, peaceful and concretely unifying for all Syrians.

 

[zahir]

YPG

The YPG extends its New Year wishes to all those who stand for freedom and dignity. As we move into the new year, we reflect on the challenges and sacrifices of the past while remaining committed to protecting our people and defending our land.

The new year brings an opportunity to renew our dedication to the principles we hold dear. Together with those who believe in justice and equality, we will continue our efforts to safeguard the freedom and well-being of our people.

 

[zahir]

Mazloum Abdi

To all our fighters, the Syrian people, and the entire world, Happy New Year.
We pray that 2025 brings peace and stability to our homeland. Let us begin the new year with hope and determination for a brighter future for our country.

 

[zahir]

The US backed forces at Al-Tanf

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/31/g-s1-39955/syria-opposition-fighters-hts-military-us

When Salim Turki al-Anteri took his opposition forces into battle against regime troops in southern Syria this month, it was against his own former tank unit.

Drawing on his past U.S. military training and his hopes for a united Syria, the commander ordered his forces to fire artillery warning shots, intended to persuade regime soldiers to abandon their tanks and leave the battlefield.

"We didn't want to kill any soldiers," he says of the battle on Dec. 7, a day before Damascus fell.

"We aimed to the left and to the right, and then closer to them," he says. "We didn't follow them because we knew that if we followed them, we would have to kill them."

 

[zahir]

ScharoMaroof

2025 starts good the >Joint Forces< of the Turkish led SNA have announced their withdrawal from the Turkish-Syrian National coalition (political body of the Syrian National Army SNA under the leadership of the Turkish government).

These 2 military factions will merge with the HTS led Syrian army under the New-Syrian government.

The Joint Forces are the biggest military force in the SNA; essentially their backbone.
Likely other SNA factions will follow - as a sort of Truce exists between the SDF and HTS this means that the Joint Forces can not and will not participate in the Turkish-war against the SDF and the Kurdish people in Rojava & the AANES.

Mr. President of the Syrian National Coalition,
Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the leadership of the joint force "Hamza Division, Sultan Suleiman Shah Division" we inform you of the withdrawal of the two aforementioned factions represented within the military bloc in the Syrian National Coalition through their representatives "Abdul Malik Abboud, Moataz Ramadan"
Wishing everyone continued success and prosperity

Joint Force Command
Saif El Din Boulad Abu Bakr
Mohammed Al Jassim Abu Abdul Hay

With the utmost respect and appreciation

 

[zahir]

Report on Suwayda

Suwayda’s movement endures post-Assad

MARSEILLE — Every day for a year, Salam al-Nawbani traveled 45 minutes from her home in Suwayda to the provincial capital’s central al-Karama (Dignity) Square, the beating heart of the Druze-majority province’s anti-regime protest movement. A former teacher, al-Nawbani has been part of...

syriadirect.org

Post-Assad, Suwayda’s movement has taken steps to create new structures and participate in local governance. “The hirak produced an entity that elected several committees—a political committee, a media committee and a legal committee,” activist Samer Salloum, a member of the movement’s executive committee, told Syria Direct.

The role of the movement is also “to protect state institutions, such as schools, banks, and hospitals,” he added. Movement participants in Suwayda—like volunteers in Damascus and across the country—have cleaned streets and government facilities following looting, al-Nawbani explained.

Discussions are currently underway for the formation of local councils to govern the province, Hisham al-Jawhari, a civil activist who also participated in the protests, said. “There was a meeting of syndicates two weeks ago [in mid-December] at the national level to unify work…and have them lead the next phase,” he said.

Meanwhile, a governor for Suwayda province was reportedly appointed on Tuesday by the HTS-led Damascus government. The new governor, Mohsina al-Mahaythawi, was one of the first women to participate in the protest movement. She is from the Druze sect.

Al-Jawhari has worked for nearly two decades for civil society organizations in Suwayda. Today, these organizations are trying to come together “to speak with one voice,” something that was not possible under the regime, he said.

“Our space [to operate] was restricted, with risks of imprisonment, interrogation, kidnapping and killing. The regime feared civil society. If we were armed it wouldn’t be afraid of us because that’s its language,” he added. “Now we’re able to work publicly.”

“We might form committees for health, services, fuel [and] education,” he continued. “The ideas are [still] fresh, since the rapid fall [of the regime] was a surprise.” The next steps are “coordination and networking…with traditional leaders, intellectuals [and] activists. We’re trying to communicate with more than one province so that our voice represents everyone.”

While many civil society organizations had their differences in the past, today “we all agree that we should monitor the work of state institutions to prevent corruption and pressure armed groups to give up their arms,” he added.

Discussions regarding the future form of governance are ongoing in Suwayda province. “There is an internal conversation, and there have been major tensions surrounding the type of governing system: federalist or confederalist, decentralization or secession, etcetera,” al-Jawhari said.

 

[zahir]

Rim Turkmani

The best end of 2024 that I never imagined. In Damascus after 14 years of being banned from entering my country. The first sentence I heard in Syria today after handing in my expired Syrian passport to the borders officer, who then checked it on the system, was “You had three arrest warrants and one travel ban in your record”. It all has no value now, and I am grateful for every single person who made it possible for me and many other Syrians to be able to go back to our country. With the hope that no one will be banned again from entering Syria because of her/his opinion. Happy New Year

photos

Amazing energy in the cafes of Damascus. Never seen people so happy. There are still many concerns..but people are taking the last day of the year as an opportunity to express their joy. From Rawda Cafe in Damascus this evening.

This looks like the same cafe video

Syrians of all stripes celebrating the new year in Damascus today with a pro-unity chant around the Free Syrian flag: "One, one, the Syrian people are one!"

 

[Gramsci]

He seems to have adopted the Turkish narrative about the SDF/PYD, equating them with the PKK (there are links, obviously). For Turkey, and a lot of Syrians with a more nationalist mindset, this is being used as an advance justification for the ethnic cleansing of Northern Syria. You could compare it to Israel's use of Hamas as a justification for its actions in Gaza. Fortunately it looks like HTS isn't going to go along with this.

Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami clearly have different views on this.

In their book Burning Country they imply that in early period of the uprising against Assad the Kurdish areas were not so heavily attacked by regime. That Assad regime gradually withdrew from Kurdish areas. Part of its way of undermining the uprising by playing different minorities against each other.

Secondly the book argues the western left have taken a lot of interest in what was seen as left wing administration of Kurdish areas ( which I do not know much about) whilst the community organising by others opposing Assad in Syria has been sidelined.

Which is one the themes in the book. Part of book is to give to western audiences the progressive nature of the revolt against Assad. How it was bottom up.

So there is a different view on this that is longstanding.

Omer S Dahi in the Makdisi brothers YouTube programme appears to have similar views.

So it looks like not adopting Turkish narrative as this comes out of a view of Arab nationalism that's been around for long time. Omer S Dahi says as much. Pre Turkish involvement.

Which means what kind of state will emerge is not simply about HTS Vs progressives. Unitary state/ federalist or decentralised.

Joseph Daher article takes another view I notice.

 

[zahir]

The Fall of the Regime - short video by From The Periphery media collective and subMedia

The Fall of the Regime

On December 8th 2024, Bashar al-Assad boarded a Russian military plane, and flew away into exile. His hasty, ignoble retreat marked the surreal culmination of the most brutal and bloody struggle o...

kolektiva.media

On December 8th 2024, Bashar al-Assad boarded a Russian military plane, and flew away into exile. His hasty, ignoble retreat marked the surreal culmination of the most brutal and bloody struggle of the Arab Spring. The fulfillment of a revolutionary demand scrawled by children on the walls of Daraa nearly fourteen years ago: الشعب يريد إسقاط النظام // the people want the fall of the regime.

In the wake of that regime’s fall, and the capture of state power by a coalition of rebel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the world has been forced to come to terms with the distorted legacy of a revolution they never supported. As the scale of the Assad regime’s crimes begin to come to light, and Syrians celebrate the end of a collective decades-long nightmare, much of the Western left continues to subordinate the lived experiences and struggles of Syrians to their own political biases and limited worldviews.

 

[zahir]

Joshua Landis working his way through changes in the school curriculum

In the science curriculum for the junior year (3rd year) in high school, modifications to the curriculum in the Syrian Arab Republic for the academic year 2025

The entire unit on evolution is to be deleted.

This is because within a religious framework, God created man and the universe.

In the same Syrian text book for the 3rd year in high school, the part about the development of the brain is to be deleted.
Apparently, this science conficts with God's creation.

Ammar Abdulhamid

The HTS-led government is already revising textbooks, and while the removal of any mention of the Assads and the old Baath flag makes sense, the removal of references to pre-Islamic gods—even Hammurabi's Code—in history and philosophy books is deeply troubling. Syria and the broader region have a rich history that predates Islam, and we cannot simply erase it or teach it from a judgmental Islamist perspective. Why the urgency, and more importantly, why go down this path at all? What are they afraid of? For decades, we have studied ancient history, learned about ancient gods, and explored different ways of life, yet none of us have converted to these ancient religions.

Another concerning change is the shift from phrases like "in defense of" or "in service to the homeland" to "for the sake of God." Replacing socialist nationalism and its principles with Islam as the guiding reference for textbooks is not liberation—it’s merely a continuation of repression under a different guise. The opinions of parents and their diverse points of view should matter in this process. None of this is particularly surprising, though. The next phase is about confronting and fighting these battles.

 

[zahir]

Yassin Al-Haj Saleh (thread from a few weeks ago)

The problem with HTS and other jihadist groups in Syria

An old-new discussion from a 2013 article

First, lowering our expectations.

The jihadist worldview is hostile to modernity and its values; it's a dangerous, corrupt, and conspiratorial modern world.

This fosters adversarial relations, isolationism, and repression of those labeled as secular or Westernized.

But what undermines the revolution politically also supports it militarily:

The jihadists are some of the most disciplined and effective fighting force, aligning with the revolution's negative goal (ending the regime) rather than its positive goal (a democratic Syria.)

If we judge them through a pragmatic political lens, jihadists appear more favorable in the context of fighting Assad's regime.

But if we look ahead to the social, political, and cultural implications of their hardline salafism, the verdict is inevitably negative.

We can’t embrace HTS' military effectiveness against the regime while ignoring its ideology;

Nor fixate on its ideology and overlook its key role in resisting a regime that’s been killing Syrians non-stop for years.

Focusing on one side makes an effective policy impossible.

Jihadists can’t be countered with despair, liberal critique, or secular sloganeering.

We need a strong social & political coalition mobilizing across society.

Millions of politically active Syrians are the best safeguard against any extremist hijacking of the revolution.

Yassin al-Haj Saleh: After Assad, Syria Must Free Itself from Sectarianism

Yassin al-Haj Saleh, born in 1961, is one of Syria’s foremost intellectuals and a long-standing dissident against the Assad regime. He spent sixteen years in prison for “political reasons,” including time in the maximum-security facility of Tadmur, also known as Palmyra. With the onset of the...

www.resetdoc.org