#NewsFromTheFront
Weekly update from your anarchist comrades in #NES
17.02.25-24.02.25

Also available on https://tekosinaanarsist.noblogs.org/category/war-updates/

# Ongoing clashes in Euphrates region

Heavy clashes continue to take place in the western shore of the Eufrates river around Tishreen Dam and Qereqozah bridge. Turkish planes and drones had been targeting SDF positions together with continued attacks of heavy weapons, as new waves of Turkish proxies launched offensives against SDF positions. The civilian vigil that started on January 8th continues, with new convoys arriving every few days. HTS forces recently deployed forces in Jarablus, near the Euphrates river and next to the Turkish border, in convoys that arrived from Turkish territory into the border city.

# Preparations for the "national dialog conference"

The HTS aligned preparatory committee for the "national dialog conference" have been holding meetings in Damascus with delegates from different provinces of Syria. Anti-Kurdish statements had been made by the president of the committee, that made clear that neither SDF nor PYD will be invited to the "national dialog conference". The participation to those meetings has been therefore controlled by that committee, that made public statements after the meetings concerning the provinces of Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir Ezzor calling for the dissolution of SDF. A video was shared on social media allegedly showing an SDF/DAANES delegate being expelled from one of these sessions. ENKS, political rival of PYD and in opposition to SDF, also criticized the decisions of holding those meetings outside SDF controlled territories and with very limited scope of participation.

# Efforts to return Iraqi nationals from al-Hol camp

A new group of Iraqis sheltered in Hol Camp, hosting families captured in the campaign against the caliphate of ISIS, returned to their country. This process is part of the joint work by the Autonomous Administration and the Iraqi Parliament's Committee on Migration, Displacement and Community Reconciliation. The new group, which is the fifth to leave the camp since the beginning of 2025, consists of 618 people (167 families). The Iraqi administration will reportedly resettle these migrants, who have returned voluntarily, to Jeda Camp in Nineveh. Since 2022, 22 Iraqi groups have left Hol Camp and returned to their country.

# On economy and HTS unfulfilled promises

At a time when Syria’s economy is struggling with inflation, currency devaluation, and rising unemployment, a recent report issued by the Syrian Central Bank on the country’s general inflation rate of 2024 is questioned by several economists, dismissing the Central Bank’s numbers as inaccurate and unreliable.
The head of the Chamber of Industry in Damascus also criticized the Syrian provisional government for their unfulfilled promises to support the industrial sector and incentivize economy. After the fall of the Assad regime, 100,000 Syrians returned from the bordering countries. In a context where it is already hard to maintain the jobs of industrial workers, the lack of measures to answer the need of the newcomers will deepen the humanitarian and economical crisis already ongoing in Syria. On the other side, the announcement of the EU to lift the sanctions on energy, transport and banking on Monday 24th of February can bring important economical changes.

# Trade unions against Syrian government's decisions

The Syrian provisional government fired 400,000 workers connected to services and administration of the Syrian State. This was presented as part of a "government restructuring plan", at a time when Syria’s economy is struggling with inflation, currency devaluation, and rising unemployment. Damascus workers’ unions organized demonstrations to protest the decision, calling for a suspension of the dismissals and the creation of independent review committees to reassess the process.

# Tribal clashes growing in Deir Ezzor

Inhabitants of Deir ez zor are witnessing a surge in deadly clan clashes, increasing local insecurity and heightening residents’ fears, that already left nearly 20 dead and more than 100 injured by gunshots. Most of the victims are civilians uninvolved in the clashes. Community development initiatives promoting dialogue and reconciliation among tribes are unsuccessful, partly due to the fear of repression and increase of violence. Some civilians of the region recently called for “support from local and international organizations to motivate residents to work together”.

# HTS and the of Southern Operation Room

Banyan Hariri, commander of the Southern Operations Room and member of HTS since 2018, has been promoted to colonel and assigned as commander of the military forces in the region of Hawran. His forces from the Southern Operations Room are being merged an integrated under the Defense Ministry together with soldiers of the SAA who fought on the ranks the dissolved Assad regime. The region of Hawran include Daraa and Suweyda, neighboring with the occupied Golan heights and the newly expanded "security zone" of Israel. This process is also happening together with increased security operations of the provisional government against old regime loyalists and drug dealers.

# New military council in Suweyda

In Suweyda, the police command has been reactivated in coordination with the provisional government, and a similar process to resettle soldiers of the SAA started. After meeting with delegates from the provisional government, Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri declared that men from Suweyda joining the army will serve in their regions, and that those who don't want to join military service will continue their civilian lives. Allegedly, on February 22nd, a statement of a new military council of Suweyda was shared on social media, rejecting the integration of their forces in the ministry of defense of the HTS provisional government. We are not sure yet what this implies.

# Israel not-anymore-temporal security zone

Israel defense minister declared that two military posts on mount Hermon and 7 more in the newly occupied "extended buffer zone" will be permanent. Netanyahu called for a demilitarization of the southern Syria and Israel intentions to not allow military forces of HTS provisional government deploy on the areas south of Damascus. Netanyahu expressed concerns about the safety of the Druze community, stating that they won't tolerate threats against them.

# Analysis

*Read in reply!*

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#NewsFromTheFront
Weekly update from your anarchist comrades in #NES
02.02.25-08.02.25

Also available on https://tekosinaanarsist.noblogs.org/category/war-updates/

Weekly highlights - 02.02.25 - 08.02.25

# MANBIJ CAR BOMB AND KOBANE WITHOUT WATER
Another car bomb detonated in Manbij killing 21 people, mostly women. SNA blames SDF, but SDF denies it and attributes it to SNA factions. SDF condemned the attack and called for an investigation, offering support to find the perpetrators.
Heavy clashes between SNA and SDF continued, with constant bombings of turkish air force on positions near Tishreen dam and Qereqozah bridge.
Turkish attacks rendered the main water station of Kobane out of order, leaving more than 200,000 people without drinking water. DAANES calls for international human rights organizations to condemn the attacks, calling it a war crime.

# US MAKING PLANS FOR WITHDRAWAL
With President Trump in office, the Department of Defense (DOD) is drafting plans for a possible withdrawal of all 2000 US troops on Syrian ground. Several proposals are being drafted, considering different time schemes of 20, 60, and 90 days. Pentagon officials stated that for now there is no order to evacuate, but that their work is to have plans for any possible situation.

# SYRIAN-TURKISH 'DEEP STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP'
Following a visit of Al-Sharaa in Ankara, both presidents vowed to establish a close partnership. Al-Sharaa emphasized pressure of Israeli withdrawal, Erdogan cooperation on combating terrorism and pushing back on PKK in Syria. Announcements of a formal defense pact are not officially made yet, but there are clear indicators of Turkey willing to make us of air bases in Syria, as well as offering military support to rebuild a new Syrian army. This will include retaining influence on SNA forces that are expected to joint the new Syrian army.

# NEW DEPLOYMENTS OF HTS IN SNA AREAS
The military operations command, linked to the transitional government of HTS, increased it's deployment of forces in SNA controlled areas. This followed the announcement of SNA joining the new Syrian army, as well as the promotion of several commanders of SNA to high ranks. Among those promoted there is Abu Amsha, leader of the joint forces (hamza and Suleiman Shah brigades), who was behind the assassination of the kurdish polititian Hevrin Xalef in 2019.

# NEW AIR RAIDS OF ISRAEL AND UN ASSESSMENT
UN delegation arrived to Quneitra region to asses the situation after Israel forces organized a partial withrawal from the region. Israel air forces also re-started bombing campaigns, targeting different locations around Damascus, declaring that those are attacks directed to Hamas and weapons that Hamas may use against Israel.

# COMMON DELEGATION PYD-ENKS
ENKS, political organization connected to KDP in Rojava, announced their intentions to have a common delegation with PYD to Damascus, with the objective to negotiate the political status of the kurdish regions of northern Syria. ENKS stated that rejects any proposals of autonomy for north-east Syria and calls for a federal model.

# NEGOTIATIONS AND NEW POLITICAL COUNCIL IN SUWAYDA
Political, military and religious entities created a new council together, pledging to “fill the political void, unify perspectives, and mobilize efforts in line with the evolving needs of Syrians in the upcoming phase.” The transitional government sent a delegation and held meetings with druze authorities, negotiating the process of integration of druze armed forces in the new Syrian army, allegedly in exchange of some political benefits, but seems no definite agreement has been reached yet.

# EXPECTATION FOR THE MESSAGE FROM ÖCALAN
According to DEM-Party, Öcalan prepares historic call for the February 15th, the day that will make 26 years of his imprisonment.

# PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL ON ROJAVA VS. TURKEY
At the Free University of Brussels, jurists, human rights activists, affected people and witnesses take part in the 2-day event to investigate and publicize the human right violations in NES. Turkey declined the invitation.

# ANALYSIS

Now it's two months since Bashar al-Assad left Syria, marking the collapse of the regime and the beginning of a new phase for Syria. Since then, HTS had been gradually taking more and more control of the state apparatus, culminating with the self-proclamation of al-Sharaa as president of Syria. The provisional government, originally announced for three months, legitimized it's authority with a staged "victory congress" where only military commanders could assist, announcing now a period of 4 or 5 years before any elections can take place in Syria. Western support for the new regime kept the press away from calling it a military coup, but it is clearly what happened. This new administration counts with full support of the Turkish state, undermining any constructive agreement with the DAANES to joint efforts and build a democratic Syria.

Negotiations between the new administration in Damascus and the SDF continue, but it is clear that any agreement is out of reach, specially after SNA forces (turkish proxies) are being promoted inside the ranks of the new Syrian army. With Trump on the white house and his calls for US forces to withdraw, the future of the autonomous administration is very uncertain. Other minorities in Syria are slowly being bent under the authority of the new centralized rule, as international states support and assist the new government to establish its power. Any dreams of democratization and revolutionary steps for Syria fade away, as the new administration gets integrated into the ranks of capitalist nation-states.

The imperialist influence that Russia and Iran had over the Assad regime are being exchanged for the imperialist influence of Turkish neo-otoman dreams, with support of Turkish NATO partners of western countries. The islamic fundamentalist politics of the self-proclaimed president of Syria are now kept hidden, waiting to consolidate their power grip before to start any moves that could scare their newly acquired western partners. The promises of protection for ethnic minorities and women rights probably will last until economical sanctions are lifted, but after that nothing will remain between the new centralized state and any resistance against their authoritarian measures.

The revolution of northern Syria is funneled into a very difficult position, forced to accept the integration into a new Syrian state under the rule of an islamist force, or the annihilation under the bombs of the Turkish army. But after more than a decade of revolutionary developments in Syria, and more than four decades of efforts and struggle of the Kurdish Liberation Movement, a promise of an historic announcement is now brought to the table by Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of PKK. In less than a weak it will be 26 years since hee was imprisoned in the prison of Imrali, and this 15th of February is the date that this historic announcement is expected.

At the same time, many anarchist from all around the world are also coming together in solidarity with the Syrian revolution, organizing events in memory of Omar Aziz. On the 16th of February will be 12 years since he died in the brutal prisons of Assad regime, a regime that after more than 50 years finally collapsed. We will remember him and commemorate his legacy as a revolutionary example, building bridges of solidarity over all Syria and all around the world. Now more than ever revolutionary forces must stand together to face the darkening times ahead of us. We remember our sehids, as well as all revolutionaries that gave their lives fighting for a better world.

Revolutionary greetings!

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#Syria #VictoryCongress #SDF #DAANES #AANES #SNA #HTS #AlSharaa #Rojava #Revolution #DefendRojava #Anarchy #Anarchism #Comrades #Internationalism #Manbij #Kobane #Syria #DOD #USA #Turkey #Erdogan #PKK #NewSyrianArmy #Israel #ENKS #KDP #Druze #DEM #Öcalan #Ocalan #ULB #Brussels #OmarAziz

#NewsFromTheFront
Weekly update from your anarchist comrades in #NES
27.01.25-02.02.25

Also available on https://tekosinaanarsist.noblogs.org/category/war-updates/

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# ON THE NEW SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S VICTORY CONGRESS

The Military Operations Administration in Syria announced some dramatic shifts in the country’s governance as results of the so called 'Victory Congress'. This congress was organized with a high degree of secrecy and was held among military leaders of different factions, including SNA. SDF or DAANES delegates were no invited.

__Announcements of the "congress"

- Ahmed al-Sharaa is now the official president of Syria’s transitional phase.
the 2012 Syrian constitution is abolished.
- A temporary legislative council will be established to govern the country until a new constitution is drafted and implemented.
- All military and security institutions previously loyal to the old regime are officially disbanded
- All armed factions and political-revolutionary bodies will be dissolved and integrated into state institutions
- The Ba’ath Party, which had ruled Syria for decades, is officially dissolved

__Key priorities for the transitional phase

1- Establishing a functioning authority to fill the political vacuum.
2- Ensuring civil peace and preventing further internal conflicts.
3- Building state institutions that can serve the Syrian people.
4- Developing a strong economic foundation to drive recovery.
5- Restoring Syria’s international and regional standing.

__Major challenges for the new administration

- Security threats from remaining militant factions and external actors.
- Economic hardship, exacerbated by years of war and sanctions.
- Political divisions within Syrian opposition groups and international stakeholders.

In short, the Military Operations Administration’s decision to dismantle Syria’s previous political and security structures represents the most radical restructuring of the country in decades. The move is expected to face both domestic and international scrutiny, especially as foreign powers —including Russia, Iran, and Turkey— have vested interests in Syria’s political and military landscape.

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# SOME REACTIONS TO THE "VICTORY CONGRESS"

__Declaration of the DAANES

"As the DAANES, we emphasize that these decisions should have been taken at a 'National Congress' with the participation of everyone.
In particular, we do not accept the presence of some terrorists who have the blood of the Syrian people on their hands. Ehmed Ihsan Fayad al-Hayis, who brutally murdered Hevrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Future Syria Party and Mohammad al-Jasim, the head of the Abu Amsha group, complicit in many crimes committed in Afrin, were present at this meeting.
We emphasize once again that this meeting is not legitimate and does not represent the Syrian people.
Any decision to be taken in Syria without a National Congress including all political circles will be incomplete. The most appropriate solution to end the instability in Syria is a national congress. The exclusion or suspension of any party in Syria from the congress will be no different from the practices of the former regime. On this basis, we once again call on the government in Damascus to refrain from such mistakes. Everyone must take part in the making of the new constitution in Syria.
As the DAANES, we once again call for the unity of Syria as part of our national liberation perspective. We emphasize once again that everyone in Syria must have their say about the future of Syria.”

__Reaction of a Syrian journalist, Hussam Hammoud, who covered the Syrian war for BBC, Guardian, al-Monitor and many other media, posted on social networks

What happened yesterday at the so-called “Victory Conference” and the appointment of Sharaa as transitional president was disappointing on multiple levels:

1- A military council, not a revolutionary civilian body, approved it, resembling a coup rather than the revolution of a free nation.

2- Decisions were issued by an unknown legislative authority; there’s no clarity on who approved the dissolution of political institutions or the suspension of the constitution.

3- Civil and political voices were entirely absent, with decision-making confined to military actors.

4- A president was appointed while still technically listed on international terrorism sanctions.

5- “Victory” was declared without securing control over key areas like northeastern and southern Syria.

6- The entire discourse was military-focused, failing to address the Syrian people who sacrificed everything for freedom.

7- Calls for a “national dialogue conference” were actually nothing, what happened lacked civilian representation, reflecting a military-centered vision.

8- Revolutionary political and civil blocs were dissolved by decree and absorbed into the new state, illegally.

9- Military factions remain uncontrolled, a key reason why the conference lacked live coverage, with only select excerpts published to avoid backlash from dissenting military leaders that HTS couldn’t fully gain their trust.

10- The new president’s speeches are aimed at Western media only, not the Syrian people, with no direct address to those on the ground.

11- There was no official Syrian channel for such a critical announcement, Syrians found out about their “new president” through a Telegram message.
The conference was an all-male gathering, mostly Arab and Sunni. Syria is far more diverse than that.

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# OTHER RELEVANT NEWS OF THE WEEK

- Turkish drones and war planes continued their attacks. Besides military targets, ivilians were targeted and killed in Tishreen, Kobane, Sirin and Zirgan.

- Delegations of high military officers and intelligence leaders from the Turkish state visited Damascus this week.

- Turkey declared that SNA accepts the conditions of HTS to get integrated in the new Syrian army.

- Southern military room (Daraa) and Druze armed groups (Sweyda) also accepted an agreement to get integrated in the new Syrian army.

- SDF's conditions to join the new Syrian army were not met, therefore rejected the request to joint under the conditions that HTS proposed, calling to continue negotiations. SDF is now the only force who did not reach an agreement.

- HTS forces deployed on Manbij to assess the security situation.

- Important HTS security operation in Syria-Lebanon border seized several weapon, cracking down on Hezbollah arms smuggling routs.

- HTS continued its operations against regime officials, arresting important figures like Atef Najib, cousin of the former regime president Bashar al-Assad, and former head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa.

- Several insurgent attacks against HTS in different areas has been claimed by the "popular resistance of Syria".

- EU announced that economical sanctions on sectors of finance, energy and transports will be lifted for one year if the interim government ensures an "inclusive political transition".

- Russian delegation visited Damascus, but allegedly they couldn't reach an agreement with the transitional government and agreed to continue negotiations.

Revolutionary greetings!

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#Syria #VictoryCongress #SDF #DAANES #AANES #SNA #HTS #AlSharaa #Rojava #Revolution #DefendRojava #Anarchy #Anarchism #Comrades #Internationalism