It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Two SDF commanders and a fighter killed by Turkish drone attack in Qamishlo
Paying tribute to the martyrs, the SDF said, “We will not remain silent in the face of any threat to our people and our land, and our response will be by defeating the occupation and bringing the freedom of Rojava, north and eastern Syria.” ANF NEWS DESK Saturday, 23 Jul 2022,
The Media Centre of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a statement announcing the death of three of their female fighters as a result of a Turkish UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) strike.
The statement released by SDF Media Centre on Saturday includes the following:
“The recalcitrant Turkish occupying State is trying to eliminate our struggle and revolution for freedom within the framework of the all-out war against our people and their presence on their land. The recalcitrant Turkish occupying State is launching brutal attacks on a daily basis with all kinds of weapons against our Democratic Nation and Coexistence Project that was achieved by the revolution of women and the sacrifices of our martyrs in North-East Syria.
The International Coalition against ISIS may have responsibility for these brutal attacks on our regions.
We will not remain silent in the face of any threat to our people and our land, and our response will be by defeating the occupation and achieving the freedom of Rojava, north and eastern Syria.
On July 22, the Turkish occupation’s drones targeted a car on the Qamishlo road, resulting in the martyrdom of our YAT commander Jiyan Tolhildan, YPJ commander Roj Xabûr, and our comrade Barin Botan, while they were on duty.
First of all, we extend our condolences to all our people in North-East Syria and our SDF fighters, and reiterate our promise to retaliate for the martyrs, defeating the occupation and protecting and expanding our revolution, achieved by our great leaders and our fellow martyrs.
The YAT commander Jiyan Tolhildan, whose real name is Salwa Yusuf, has been involved in organizing the ranks of the people since the first day of the Rojava Revolution. Then she participated in establishing the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), becoming the leader of the Counter-Terrorism Units (YAT), and has fought relentlessly and with great courage in all the battles to build the project of the Democratic Nation and to achieve women’s freedom in North-East Syria. The revolution grew with the struggle of the commander Jiyan. She has led liberation campaigns against the terrorist group ISIS in cooperation with the International Coalition forces.
The (YPJ) commander, Roj Khabur, whose real name is Joana Hisso, who comes from the city of Derbasia, had great enthusiasm and audacity since the very beginning of the Rojava Revolution. With a deep belief in free life, she struggled with her resistance spirit within the ranks of the YPJ on all fronts, leading the liberation campaigns against ISIS terrorism with the cooperation of the International Coalition.
Our comrade, Barin Botan, whose real name is “Ruha Bashar”, came from Afrin and grew up in a patriotic family. In her prime, when she was full of hopes of a free life, she joined the ranks of the Revolution with unprecedented enthusiasm and an irreversible decision. She fought vigorously against all authoritarian forces.
We in the SDF extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of commander Jiyan, commander Roj, and our comrade Barin. Once again, we pledge to retaliate for our martyrs. We will take revenge against the enemies of freedom and women’s revolution.
Just as commander Jiyan, commander Roj and comrade Barin, we will fight for a free future for Rojava and north and eastern Syria. We also pledge to follow their path in steady steps, and we will thwart any attack against our people, our land and our revolution. We will continue to resist all kinds of attacks until we achieve victory.”
The record of the fallen fighters is as follows:
Nom de guerre: Gian Tolhildan Real name: Salwa Yusuf Mother’s name: Asia Father’s name: Hussein Place and date of birth: Afrin / 1980 Place and date of martyrdom: Qamishlo – 22/07/2022
Nom de guerre: Roj Khabur Real name: Joana Hisso Mother’s name: Shams Father’s name: Hasan Place and date of birth: Derbasia / 1992 Place and date of martyrdom: Qamishlo – 22/07/2022
Nom de guerre: Barin Botan Real name: Ruha Bashar Mother’s name: Qadria Father’s name: Marwan Place and date of birth: Shahba’a / 2003 Place and date of martyrdom: Qamishlo – 22/07/2022
TEHRAN, Jul. 24 (MNA) – Turkish forces once again targeted areas in northern Syria with artillery and mortars.
The Syrian news agency 'SANA reported on Sunday that the Turkish artillery attacked areas of northern Syria in Al-Hasakah.
According to the report, the Turkish forces targeted all the villages around the city of 'Abu Rasin' in the northwest of Al-Hasakah.
No further details have been released yet about the possible damages of the attack.
On July 18, Syrian opposition sources reported the Turkish drone attack on the joint headquarters of the Syrian army and the Syrian army militias in the city of 'Tall Rifat' in the north of Aleppo province.
The attack comes as the military cooperation between the Syrian army and the Kurdish militias has increased in the last week, and on Saturday some news was published about the dispatch of 300 Syrian army troops along with six tanks and a helicopter to the city of Manbij.
Meanwhile, a local source told the Sputnik news agency on Saturday that the Syrian army built three new military bases around the village of "Altrauziya" located in the north of Raqqa province in the north of Syria.
The new bases are built near the international road known as "M-4".
Ongoing military escalation | Turkish forces fire over 50 rockets and artillery shells on Kurdish-held areas in northern-western Aleppo
Aleppo province: SOHR sources have reported that Turkish forces stationed in Baslahaya and Maryamin villages fired over 50 rockets and artillery shells on Kurdish-held areas in northern-western Aleppo. The intensive Turkish bombardment targeted positions in the villages of Tel Ajar, Shawarghah, Qal’at Shawarghah, Al-Malikiyah, Kafr Anton, Abbin, Oqaybah and the surrounding areas of Al-Ziyyarah village in Shirawa district in Afrin countryside. However, no casualties have been reported so far.
Yesterday, SOHR activists have reported that violent clashes with heavy and medium machineguns erupted on Saturday dawn between regime forces and “National Army” factions on the frontline of Tadaf city in Al-Bab countryside, east of Aleppo, amid exchange of artillery and rocket fire. No further details were reported about the number of casualties and material damage caused by the clashes and exchange of fire.
Meanwhile, Turkish forces stationed at Thulthana base on the outskirts of Marea in the northern countryside of Aleppo fired two artillery shells on the outskirts of Um Al-Qura and Hasajak villages in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Which caused material damage only.
TEHRAN, Jul. 24 (MNA) – According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session next Tuesday to discuss the Turkish attacks on northern Iraq.
Addressing Iraqi Parliament members in the Saturday session, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that UN Security Council would hold an emergency meeting next Tuesday to look over the recent Turkish attack in Northern Iraq, Kuwaiti News Agency 'Kuna' reported.
Earlier on Saturday, the Iraqi parliament held a session to investigate the case of the Turkish attack on northern Iraq.
The meeting was attended by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein as well as 242 members of the Iraqi parliament.
Iraqi sources reported on Wednesday afternoon that several civilians were killed and injured during a Turkish artillery attack on the north of Iraq.
Although the Baghdad authorities insist that the attack was carried out by Turkish forces and that they are responsible for the deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians, Ankara says that the country's forces did not attack civilians.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an urgent investigation into the bombing of Duhok province.
Iraqi Foreign Minister: There are no PKK forces in the area of the Zakho attack
The Parliament of Iraq has convened for a special session today to discuss the deadly attack with the participation of Chief of Staff, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Joint Operations Deputy Commander Abdulemir Shemeri.
ANF NEWS DESK Saturday, 23 Jul 2022,
Nine people were killed and at least 23 injured when the Turkish state bombed a picnic site in the village of Perex in the southern Kurdish district of Zakho on 20 July. The victims include one-year-old Zahra and twelve-year-old Sara. Seven of them had come to Zakho from Baghdad for holidays, two men came from Karbala.
The Parliament of Iraq has convened for a special session today to discuss the deadly attack with the participation of the Chief of Staff, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Joint Operations Deputy Commander Abdulemir Shemeri.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that, according to the information and documents they have, there are no PKK forces in the area where the attack took place.
The Joint Operations Deputy Commander Abdulemir Shemeri said during the parliamentary session that the attack on the village of Perex had been carried out by the Turkish state forces with 155 mm cannons, from a 7 km distance to the scene.
While Turkey denied involvement and blamed the PKK for the deadly attack which has triggered strong reactions from many states, Fuad Hussein told the press after the massacre that as a result of the investigations carried out by military experts, it was determined that the attack had been carried out by Turkey.
According to the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), the artillery fire came from the Turkish military base Xamtir in Xatîrê. CPT representative Kamaran Osman told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that they went to the village after the bombing: "We talked to witnesses and wounded people and learned from them that four shots were fired. They confirmed to us that all these four shots were fired from the Turkish military base Xamtir." Iraqi Joint Operations Command: Deadly attack in Zakho carried out by Turkey Nine people were killed and at least 23 injured when the Turkish state bombed a picnic site in the village of Perex in the southern Kurdish district of Zakho on 20 July. The victims include one-yea... ANF News
CPT: Artillery fire originated from a Turkish military base Nine people were killed and at least 23 injured when the Turkish state bombed a picnic site in the village of Perex in the southern Kurdish district of Zakho on 20 July. The identities of the victi... ANF News
TEHRAN, Jul. 24 (MNA) – A deadly Turkish attack on a civilian resort in a tourism city in Iraqi Kurdistan has unleashed Iraqi wrath against Turkey and laid bare the tenuousness of Turkish influence in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Turkish artillery targeted what they thought was a PKK hideout in Zakho, Dohuk. Nine civilians were killed and 22 others were injured. All the victims were tourists from other parts of Iraq who escaped the blistering summer heat that hit the country’s southern and central governorates to enjoy the mild weather of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The attack drew sharp criticism from almost all segments of Iraqi society and political parties. Iraqis took to the streets to protest the Turkish attack. Angry protestors in Baghdad surrounded the Turkish embassy and brought down the Turkish flags. In other cities, young protestors shut down Turkish offices issuing visas across the country. Officially, the Iraqi government summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and recalled its chargé d'affaires from Turkey while putting on hold plans to name a new ambassador to Ankara.
Iraq also lodged a protest against Turkey at the United Nations Security Council and requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to discuss the attack. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter of complaint to the Security Council and asked it to hold an emergency session to discuss the Turkish aggression,” said Ahmad al-Sahaf, spokesman for the ministry.
Of note, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an urgent investigation into the artillery shelling of Dohuk.
Turkey has stated that it had no involvement in the massacre of civilians in Zakho and that the PKK was responsible. At the same time, it has stated that it is willing to investigate this matter with Iraq.
Although Turkey denied that it conducted the attack, it prompted many Iraqis to call for a reset in Ankara-Baghdad ties. Many Iraqis said Turkey launched the attack based on a security agreement between Baghdad and Ankara. Therefore, the agreement should be revoked. But the Iraqi foreign ministry said there was no such military or security agreement, giving substance to allegations that the Turkish attack lacked any legal basis.
Some Iraqi factions have long demanded the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Iraqi soil. But Turkey has turned a blind eye to this demand, doubling down its military campaign against what it calls PKK forces.
The Zakho attack renewed Iraqi calls for the withdrawal of Turkish troops. It revealed the tenuous nature of Turkish military presence in Iraq from a political point of view as no Iraqi party dared to openly voice support for Turkey in recent days.
The attack also provided the Iraqi Kurdistan region with an opportunity to mobilize Iraqi public opinion against Turkish military operations in the region. On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, revealed the death toll from the Turkish bombing of the region's lands over the past years. Talabani strongly pushed for the bloody Zakho crime to be a motive to unify the position among the political parties, according to the Iraqi television channel Al Sumeria.
He pointed out that “more than 100 civilians (martyred) in the past few years due to the continuous bombing, without the federal government taking a serious position, and without translating statements of condemnation into a deterrent measure that stops the bloodshed.”
The Iraqi Kurdish official added, “If the federal government and political forces had taken firm positions since the first targeting, and since the first soul was killed without guilt, we would not have witnessed the tragedy of the past few days.”
TEHRAN, Jul. 23 (MNA) – Two unknown groups claimed responsibility for the attack on Turkish bases in northern Iraq and warned that if the Turkish military does not leave Iraq, further operations will be carried out on Turkish soil.
The Kurdish-language media in Iraq reported on Friday afternoon that a Turkish base located in Iraq's Kurdistan region was targeted with two drones.
The attack on the Turkish base was carried out in the north of Dohuk province, according to the source.
Two unknown groups who identified themselves as Iraqis claimed responsibility for the attack on Turkish bases in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
The mentioned group announced on its Telegram channel by releasing a video that it claims responsibility for the special operation which was carried out with a number of long-range drones against the Turkish base in Bamarni district of Dohuk province.
"If the Turkish forces do not withdraw from the territory of Iraq, our next attacks will be inside the territory of Turkey," the group warned.
On the other hand, another group announced in a statement that it claims responsibility for the rocket attack on the Turkish base of Zelikan.
The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Center of Iraqi Kurdistan announced in a statement last night that the Zelikan base was attacked with three rockets, But no one was injured.
These attacks have been carried out after Iraqi sources reported on Wednesday afternoon that several civilians were killed and injured during a Turkish artillery attack on the north of Iraq.
Although the Baghdad authorities insist that the attack was carried out by Turkish forces and that they are responsible for the deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians, Ankara says that the country's forces did not attack civilians.]
Guerrillas hit Turkish forces in retaliation for Zakho massacre
HPG and YJA Star guerrillas dedicate their latest actions "in the name of brotherhood" to the civilian victims of the Turkish attack on Zakho. ANF BEHDINAN Sunday, 24 Jul 2022,
The People's Defense Forces (HPG) and the Free Women's Troops (YJA Star) have dedicated their recent retaliatory actions against the Turkish army to the civilian deaths in Zakho. "The Freedom Guerrilla of Kurdistan has become the hope of all oppressed peoples and continues its legendary struggle uninterruptedly. In the name of brotherhood, our guerrilla forces have carried out a series of actions to avenge the nine innocent people murdered in Zakho by the Turkish state. At least four occupants were punished and one injured in the actions of our mobile units. Two positions, a drone and a surveillance camera were destroyed and an armoured vehicle was damaged," the HPG Press Centre said in a statement it released on Sunday. Guerrilla positions attacked with chemical weapons
According to the HPG statement, the Turkish army used chemical weapons and explosives five times against guerrilla positions in the contested Girê Amêdî area on Saturday. The guerrilla areas were bombed a total of eleven times by fighter jets and 33 times by attack helicopters, and dozens of attacks were carried out with heavy weapons, howitzers and mortars. "The Turkish army uses all kinds of war technology and attacks our comrades in their positions and tunnels with banned chemical weapons. Because it does not achieve any results with this, it has meanwhile started to attack the resistance positions with armoured vehicles and excavators. However, the Turkish occupation forces cannot break the Apoist will and the spirit of sacrifice, no matter what technique they use," said the HPG.
Guerrilla actions in Zap
In the Zap region, guerrillas hit a Turkish unit trying to advance in the Çemço area at 5.30 and 6am today. One soldier was killed and another injured.
On Saturday, guerrillas carried out actions in the resistance area of Şikefta Birîndara. An armed drone was shot down by the guerrillas in an attack flight, and a surveillance camera was destroyed by YJA Star fighters. An advancing armoured car was damaged in a sabotage action at 6 am. At noon, Turkish troops tried to destroy a guerrilla position with a shovel, facing intervention from guerrillas with heavy weapons. In the evening, a Turkish military position was destroyed by guerrillas with heavy weapons. Airdrop operation at Girê Amêdî foiled
On Friday evening, the guerrillas successfully intervened against a helicopter attack and an airdrop operation at Girê Amêdî. On Saturday, guerrillas carried out two actions of sabotage against advancing Turkish units.
YJA Star fighters hit Turkish military base
YJA Star snipers shot dead a soldier at Girê FM on Saturday. Shortly before midnight, mobile female fighters struck the Turkish base Kanî Masî in Metîna, destroying a military position and killing two soldiers.
Footage of action against Turkish soldiers at Girê Amêdî
Footage of an action carried out by the Martyr Bedran Gundikremo Vengeance Unit teams against the Turkish invading forces at Girê Amêdî in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) has been released.
ANF NEWS DESK Saturday, 23 Jul 2022, 11:54 Martyr Bedran Gundikremo Vengeance Unit released footage of the action carried out by their units against the Turkish invading forces at Girê (Hill) Amêdî with heavy weapons at 5.20 am on 21 July. In the video published on Saturday, soldiers can be seen fleeing in panic.
The Girê Amêdî in the west of the Zap region in guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones has been fiercely contested since the beginning of July, and the Turkish army has expanded its occupation operation into the region west of the Zap. In the resistance area of Girê Amêdî near the district of Amadiya in Duhok governorate, the Turkish army airdropped troops 31 times on 4 July after massive air strikes. The guerrillas continue to resist the occupation.
The revenge unit named after Bedran Gundikremo (Sait Tanıt, also known as Bedran Cûdî) repeatedly carries out actions targeting Turkish bases in southern Kurdistan. Gundikremo was a long-time freedom fighter and guerrilla commander from Şırnak in northern Kurdistan. He was martyred in a Turkish air strike in Amadiya in April 2017 together with his son and three other fighters.
Dersim Dağ: Turkish attacks in South Kurdistan target the gains of Kurds
HDP Amed MP Dersim Dağ drew attention to the invasion attacks and the Zakho massacre carried out by the Turkish state in cooperation with the KDP, and said that the targets of the attacks were the gains of the Kurds. ANF AMED Sunday, 24 Jul 2022,
HDP Diyarbakir MP Dersim Dağ said that the KDP has become the projection of the AKP-MHP in South Kurdistan and added: "The KDP is opening its land to invasion attacks. The KDP has never partnered so much with the AKP-MHP alliance. In this sense, they are also responsible for the massacres carried out by Turkey in South Kurdistan."
Turkey continues to attack South Kurdistan and on 20 July carried out a massacre in Zakho. Nine people were killed, including children, and many were injured.
Dağ told ANF that many attacks against South Kurdistan have taken place in the last year and added that the target of the attacks were the gains of the Kurds and and the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.
'KDP is the projection of the AKP-MHP'
Dağ continued: “There was an attack carried out jointly by the AKP-MHP and the KDP. The KDP is opening its lands to invasion. Today, the policies of AKP-MHP, not KDP, are in effect in South Kurdistan. The Turkish state is attempting to occupy that land by maintaining its physical presence.”
'The target is the gains of the Kurds'
Underlining that the attacks carried out in Kurdistan in general are "attacks to complete the Kurdish genocide", Dağ said: "This war is a war against the Kurdish people. Although the KDP does not want to see this, we see that these attacks are aimed at the gains of the South Kurdish people. Because we saw what kind of reaction Turkey had after the independence referendum. Although these attacks are portrayed as an attack on the Kurdish Freedom Struggle, it should be known that they are basically a product of the policy of completing the Kurdish genocide throughout Kurdistan. Because, on the centenary of the Turkish republic, we see that an effort to rebuild the borders of the National Pact is in effect. These attacks are part of the rhetoric that 'Mosul and Kirkuk are Turkish cities', something Turkey repeats at every opportunity."
'Kurds will not forget KDP's betrayal'
HDP Amed MP Dersim Dağ added: "Civilians have always lost their lives in previous attacks. Today, we are faced with the same situation in Zakho. The KDP did not react firmly to this massacre. In this sense, the KDP is also responsible for these massacres. The Kurds will never forget the attitude of the KDP. The Kurds themselves will hold them accountable. When the day comes, the KDP will have to face the Kurdish people. The KDP will remain a black stain on Kurdish history. The Kurds will not forget the KDP's betrayal and sooner or later they will ask for account.”
The Turkish occupation and the Zakho massacre
The fact that the Turkish state is occupying more and more parts of southern Kurdistan and carrying out massacres is the result of the political and social division in Iraq. Iraq must end the Turkish occupation. NAHİDE ERMİŞ HEWLÊR Saturday, 23 Jul 2022
On the seventh anniversary of the Suruç attack, the colonialist Turkish state forces carried out another massacre in the village of Perex in the Bamerne district of Zakho in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). There was a storm of indignation in the region following the deaths of numerous Arab people from Baghdad and neighbouring provinces who were shot at by howitzers during a picnic at a touristic site.
Nine months have passed since Iraq's parliamentary elections on 10 October 2021. In those nine months, neither a government could be formed, nor a president elected because of direct or indirect interventions by the powers that wanted to gain political influence in Iraq.
In 2003, a federal Iraqi state was established in place of the fascist Ba'athist regime that ended with the execution of Saddam Hussein. During this period, the political map of Iraq, which consisted of only one actor, changed and rebuilt itself. The main dynamic of Iraqi politics started a war to gain a stronger role in the Iraqi state and government, which transformed into a federal structure, making the current delicate process even more fragile. The fragmented and cooperative understanding of politics among the forces that form the backbone of the state led to the development of a new political culture. Thus, two different axes began to emerge in domestic politics.
On the one hand, the axis representing the interests of USA-friendly states like Turkey in the Middle East, and on the other hand, the axis led by Iran but also including the Eastern bloc powers with the same imperial goals. The new situation that emerged with the US intervention served mainly to expand Iran's sphere of influence, while the US was demonised more and more every day, as all its interventions in the region were to the detriment of the peoples. The seeds for today's chaos in Iraq were sown during this period.
Three main elements in Iraq
In this new era, the traditional political forces, the religious and ethnic structures of Iraq, began to divide their influence and military power among themselves. However, the division of power has exacerbated the conflicts instead of resolving them.
In the current situation, the three main elements and determinants of Iraq's internal politics, which has become open to foreign intervention, are Shiites, Kurds and Sunni Arabs. These forces also form the deepest fault lines in Iraqi politics. The fragmentation of each of these structures into parts within themselves and the fact that each part considers itself the main force on its respective front has led to serious contradictions and irreconcilable differences. When this situation is combined with the deep structural problems of the country and the endless interventions of foreign powers, it naturally leads to a multiple crisis that spreads to all spheres of life. The real cause of the crisis remains the unresolved structural problems of the state.
Since 2003, a balance of power has been established in the state of Iraq in accordance with the constitutionally guaranteed distribution of power, with the Kurds as president, the Sunnis as speaker of parliament and the Shiites as prime minister. Over time, however, the Shiites have split and fragmented as pro-Iran and pro-Saudi Arabia, increasing the number of parties and groups vying for the post of prime minister. The separate aspirations of the Kurdish parties for the presidency have also sparked a new struggle and led to a split between the various fronts.
This internal fragmentation, the internal rivalries of the increasing number of parties and groups and the problems caused by these rivalries have led to a situation of constant political conflict. This division and tension on the Kurdish and Shiite fronts have weakened the search for a common sense negotiated solution due to the subjective conditions, and the solution has been seen in social and military empowerment. These structures, which used to operate mainly with national and religious sentiments, have over time replaced the power and motivation for national will building with party and group interests. The same mentality and politics developed in other Sunni and Kurdish political structures, and this fragmentation of politics was reflected as greater chaos and crisis at the grassroots level of society.
Internal division opens up space for the Turkish state
The people are in the middle of a war movie that has no finale and whose script was written by well-known hegemonic powers. All the other peoples of the region, especially the Iraqi people, have been made participants in this war that is not in their interest. The idea that whoever is not a party in the Middle East will be eliminated is indeed a very dominant idea. And that is not wrong. However, in the current situation, people see the people and actors who put the interests and concerns of foreign powers first and have an understanding of politics that serves their own family, party and dynastic interests second, as the main reason for the social chaos and crisis they are in.
So the fact that today the Turkish state is occupying ever larger parts of Southern Kurdistan, establishing military bases, causing massacres in towns and villages with artillery and air strikes, and that Iraq is unable to show a deterrent reaction to this as a state, is precisely the result of this internal political and social division.
If Iraq really does not want the Zakho massacre to be repeated and if it wants to end the current state of occupation by the Turkish state, it must adopt a more resolute stance. Otherwise, the anti-people policy of the Turkish state will be the cause of even more suffering and losses, and the Turkish state will become a permanent occupying power in Iraq.
It should also be known that the massacre of Zakho is a continuation of the massacres of Kendakolê in 2000, Kortek in 2011 and Zergelê in 2015. If those responsible are to be held accountable and new massacres prevented, the current occupation of the Turkish state in southern Kurdistan must be ended.
CPT: Artillery fire originated from a Turkish military base
According to the Community Peacemaker Teams, the attack on Zakho, which killed nine people, came from the Turkish military base of Xamtir in southern Kurdistan. The youngest victim is one-year-old Zahra. ANF NEWS DESK Thursday, 21 Jul 2022
Nine people were killed and at least 23 injured when the Turkish state bombed a picnic site in the village of Perex in the southern Kurdish district of Zakho on 20 July. The identities of the victims have since been released, including one-year-old Zahra and twelve-year-old Sara. Seven of them had come to Zakho from Baghdad for holidays, two men came from Karbala.
According to the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), the artillery fire came from the Turkish military base Xamtir in Xatîrê. CPT representative Kamaran Osman told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that the area had been shelled four times by artillery. There were 30 families living in Perex, Osman said: "In June 2020, during the Claw Eagle and Claw Tiger operations, Turkey established two military bases in Xatîrê; Xamtir and Girê Kuxe. The bombardment on Wednesday was carried out from the Xamtir military base. There were four artillery strikes. Nine Arab tourists were killed in the attack. The ages of the dead ranged from 1 to 71. 23 people were injured."
Residents urged by the Turkish military to leave the village
Osman continued: "First of all, the location of the shelling provides enough concrete evidence. But there is also a precursor to this. This is not the first time this has happened. Last month, Turkish soldiers from the same military base came to the village of Perex, went door to door and asked the residents to leave. Of the eleven villages in the area, only the residents of Perex did not leave their village. The other villages were evacuated. As I said earlier, the soldiers also came to the village in June. But the villagers of Perex resisted and refused to leave the village. They then carried out a bombardment from the same military base on 15 June. Two people were injured in this attack. One of them is named Nazir Omar and the other is Mohammad Wazir Omar. However, the villagers continued to refuse to leave the village. And, a massacre took place. We can openly call it a massacre. There are more than 30 victims of this attack."
Talking to eyewitnesses and the wounded
Osman said that they went to the village after the bombing: "We talked to witnesses and wounded people and learned from them that four shots were fired. They confirmed to us that all these four shots were fired from the Turkish military base Xamtir."
The CPT is demanding that Turkey stop the attacks and that the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish regional government effectively protect the population: "Yesterday, we as the CPT issued a written press release. We have forwarded this text to the Kurdistan Regional Government and various consulates in Europe. We will continue to do so. We want the obvious facts to be seen," said Kamaran Osman.
According to the CPT, 138 civilians have been killed by the Turkish military in Iraqi Kurdistan since August 2015.
Protesters in Sydney demand closure of Rojava airspace to Turkey
Protests continue against the Turkish state’s genocidal attacks that claim more lives in various parts of the Kurdistan territory. ANF SYDNEY Saturday, 23 Jul 2022,
Kurdish and Australian activists demonstrated in Sydney, Australia in response to the Turkish state’s increasingly ongoing deadly attacks against Rojava (northern Syria) and the latest Turkish massacre that left 9 civilians dead in a picnic area in the countryside of Duhok governorate in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).
The demonstration was also attended by representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations.
A statement by the co-chair of the Democratic Kurdish Communities Federation in Australia called on the United Nations and the international community to step into action to stop Turkey’s attacks on the people of Rojava.
CALL FOR AN ARMS EMBARGO AND CLOSURE OF AIRSPACE
The Australian Greens NSW Senate David Shoebridge condemned the Turkish massacre of civilians in Zakho and called for Austria and the U.S. to impose an arms embargo on the Turkish state immediately. He also called on the UN to assume responsibility and take action.
Australian cleric Bill Crews called for popular awareness against the Erdoğan dictatorship and expressed his solidarity with the Kurdish people.
Speaking after, Kurdish writer Mansour Rezaki demanded the closure of Rojava airspace to the Turkish state. Further remarks by Peter Boyle, Spokesperson of Rojava Solidarity Sydney, and Jim Mcilroy of the Socialist Alliance pointed to the Kurdish people’s selfless fight and victory against ISIS and called on democratic circles to stand with the Kurds.
The relationship between the Chinese army and European universities
A number of Chinese academics and scholars studying abroad are directly related to the (Third Technical Department of the People’s Liberation Army). Here, Chinese intelligence agencies work differently from all other spy organizations and devices around the world, through (employing academics or students and scholars in the first place, who are in the concerned country for research and study for only a short period, and then return again to their countries to supply them with advanced technologies and research), and that Instead of spending years cultivating a limited number of high-profile sources or double agents within those communities.
The United States of America accuses the Chinese army of developing what is known as (scientific and research network technology from academics and researchers within American and Western universities) in order to obtain technology and information from many countries, including: (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, India, USA).
In the same context, the (Indian Intelligence and Analysis Service) accused the Chinese side of using dozens of study centers for China, which it set up in the state of “Nepal” near the Indian border, in part for the purposes of spying on India. Also, in August 2011, we findthat the (Chinese research vessel disguised as a fishing vessel) was discovered off the coast of Little Andaman, collecting data in a geographically sensitive area.
In the state of Singapore, the Chinese researcher “Huang Jing”, a Chinese academic who was studying at (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) in Singapore, was expelled, because of his frank accusation of using his influence for the benefit of the Chinese intelligence services.
A number of Chinese military universities are active abroad through their network of students and alumni, led by the (Chinese People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences)
(中国人民解放军军事科学研究院)
The Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (AMS)
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Academy is the most important research institute in China. It is directly affiliated with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the capital, Beijing. Since June 2017, it has been headed by the Chinese military commander with the rank of Lieutenant-General (Yang Xiujun), while the General Major (Fang Xiang) is occupied by The position of political commissar.
The Academy of Military Medical Sciences in the capital, Beijing, is one of the most famous and most important military universities in China, known in English and Chinese, as:
The Academy of Military Medical Sciences
中国人民解放军 军事 科学院 军事 医学 研究
It is directly affiliated with the (Chinese People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences), and is mainly concerned with military medical research, and was initially established in Shanghai in 1951, then its headquarters was moved to Beijing again in 1958. Here, (Nanjing University of Aeronautics) is also one of the most important Chinese military universities in the field of space, and its graduates are active abroad. Here, the “National University of Defense Technology of China” is the most important of all, which is directly affiliated with the Central Military Commission of China, known as:
NUDT
As one of the most important Chinese military universities whose students and graduates cooperate academically and research with their counterparts in a large number of German and European universities. The relationship between the (National University of Defense Technology of China) and those close to the Chinese military departments is at the forefront of those close relations between China’s military universities and their European counterparts. Investigating the matter, it was found that there were nearly 3,000 cases of coordination between European universities and Chinese researchers close to the Chinese military in the period between early 2000 and February 2022. The coordination focused mainly on sensitive areas, such as: (artificial intelligence, computer vision, and quantum research).
It also designed (Nanjing Military Command College), which has a history spanning more than 71 years in the form of a Chinese garden, located near (Nanjing National High-Tech Zone). It was among the first group of Chinese military circles opened to foreigners. It has trained nearly 4,000 mid- or senior-level foreign officers from more than 100 countries over the past years. It opens its doors to foreign military students at Asay, who mainly study in (Chinese Military Thinking and Courses of Leadership, Management and the Art of Leadership), during their one-year stay, and it has extended and high-level relations through its military graduates mainly with many universities and research and technology institutes abroad.
China was keen to send many Chinese scientists to work at (Los Almos Laboratory in New Mexico, where the nuclear bomb was born, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, which plays a key role in the US nuclear weapons program these days, and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Base Patterson Air Force, Ohio). After the return of a large number of Chinese scientists from (Los Almos Laboratory), they returned to work again in Chinese universities and research institutes, and they are called the “Los Almos Club”. The Los Alamos Laboratory is home to a wide range of advanced US defense research facilities.
In order to find out how close the links are between European universities and Chinese military universities, a European research association, led by the (Dutch Investigative Platform)
Follow the Money
Known as (Follow the Money), it compiled and evaluated a data record from more than 350,000 scientific publications, with the support of the German non-profit research center “Corective” to identify and track graduates of Chinese military universities, who are studying and enrolled for study and research in German and Western universities.
It was also found that about 2,200 of these publications were issued by the “National University of Defense Technology”, which is a real factory for cadres in China. As for the European universities that cooperated with Chinese University researchers, almost half were from the United Kingdom, which took the lead, followed by the Netherlands and Germany. At least 230 research papers have been written, jointly with Chinese University researchers. Therefore, the largest role falls mainly to the “National University of Defense Technology of China”.
Many of the best talents in the army are trained there, especially in the fields of technology and natural sciences. The focus of Chinese researchers has long been on the (Australian Strategic Policy Institute), which knows as:
ASPI
It is the institute whose main task is to monitor the work of military universities in China, especially the work activities of the “National University of Defense Technology of China”, which plays a (critical role in all kinds of military research projects, from hypersonic projects, i.e. supersonic speed), from nuclear weapons to supercomputers. Here, American, Australian and Western intelligence reports confirm, with the possibility that behind half of the publications there is a “Chinese military officer who studied at a European university, worked and established a relationship that led to cooperation”.
In general, this kind of research cooperation between Chinese scholars and researchers and Western universities is not officially or completely prohibited. Scientific research and collective cooperation in German universities is free, according to the Basic Law in Germany. But in fact, almost unrestricted scientific cooperation with China was politically desirable, in order to establish a foothold in the huge Chinese market. It was not only Germany that hoped that intensive relations in the fields of business, science and culture would contribute to the democratic opening of the communist state.
China never hides its ambition and desire, that by 2050, it wants to become the world’s leading Science and technology superpower in playing a major role in this framework. China is pursuing a fierce military-civilian integration strategy that blurs the boundaries between civil, commercial and military research, and here every citizen has a duty to serve his country militarily, through science.
Another thing in China’s strategy, no less important, is the transfer of technology from abroad, especially in open scientific research societies such as Germany, like the “strawberry shop, which goes in, picks up and takes what it wants”.
A large number of studies have already been published by German researchers at the (Universities of Bonn & Stuttgart & the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany), in cooperation with Chinese researchers from the (National University of Defense Technology). Several studies have also been published in Germany with a Chinese research associate from the (National University of Defense Technology), and this researcher has won many military awards, including the “People’s Liberation Army Distinguished Doctoral Thesis Award”.
But the complicated question here, remains: What is allowed? What research requires obtaining a license? The Basic Law in Germany protects the freedom of scientific research. The (Federal Office for Economics and Export Control) “BAFA” in Germany decided to evaluate the situation after studying each case separately, and the decision is also made on the number of problematic cases, especially those related to Chinese students and researchers. Here, universities must apply for “export licenses” in the case of projects where military use appears possible. This also includes scientific publications with researchers from outside the European Union.
Here we find that, in principle, basic research is free, but applied research is not. The difference between them is that the latter is specifically directed to a specific goal. However, the responsibility for naming the research project’s dual-use status (for civil or military purposes or both) is clear, and here the application for this rests with European universities only, as they must submit a so-called “end-use permit” to the one who authorizes the nature of the research project, which is based on (Civilian use or its extension to the necessity of applied military use of research).
Here, the (Federal Office for Economics and Export Control in Germany) did not wish to comment on whether licenses were obtained to export the publications identified by the research group and its partners, for reasons related to the protection of personal data. When the two German universities concerned were asked, they replied in writing that the publications in question were related to “basic research” and therefore, as they put it, “these licenses are not required”. The two universities indicated that they do not have any official cooperation with (China’s National University of Defense Technology). However, it is clear that this does not rule out cooperation between them, but at the individual level, that is, at the level of Chinese researchers and scholars separately.
The confirmation of the two universities concerned that the relationship between the Chinese co-author and the “National University of Defense Technology” was known, and that agreements, especially with foreign partners, were “carefully vetted”, with the university abiding by laws and regulations in force in Germany and confirming that it provides advisory offers and information Written to educate teachers and students.
Additionally, the (Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute), said it does not comment on individual works, but added that each case is examined with particular attention to the “sensitive cooperation issues relating to key technologies and in which there is a risk of an uncontrolled drain of scientific ingenuity”. But, The (National University of Defense Technology) did not respond to a request for comment.
On the other hand, many foreign academics expressed their desire to raise the level of awareness of the potential risks among universities and supervising scholars regarding mainly Chinese scholars. Starting in 2020, all Chinese researchers wishing to study at German universities have been submitted to a “background check” by the German Foreign Ministry when applying for a visa.
We find that the level of private evaluations of European and German universities is “superficial at best” with regard to Chinese scholars, according to export control officials at German and Western scientific institutions, as they check applicants’ names and compare them to those on US and European sanctions lists. But “as long as the researchers did not mention the Chinese army in their bios”, there are hardly any other controls or reservations about them.
In general, the German and Western sides in general consider the advantages of cooperation with China above all, and consider that most of the cases of Chinese scholars and researchers they have, take the form of paying full fees from China, and China pays all fees and expenses. With confirmation that any Chinese student in Germany is now working after graduating from German and European universities in any military and security institution in China, such as: (the Chinese army cadres factory), it is no longer possible to exchange ideas with them. But if the Chinese researcher leaves work at the (National University of Defense Technology), he can continue his research and academic work again in German and Western universities.
We conclude from the previous analysis of the Egyptian researcher, that the progress made by the Chinese in (the fields of missile technologies, nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence) has raised serious concern among many Western observers who believe that a radical revolution has taken place in the balance of military power on a global scale. Especially with the orders of the Chinese President, Comrade “Xi Jinping”, to fully modernize the Chinese armed forces by 2035. Until his country’s armed forces become a “globally superior” military force, so that it can fight a group and achieve victory in it, by 2049. This is undoubtedly an ambitious goal for the Chinese side, and real and practical steps have begun on its way to achieving it through its network of students, academic scholars and researchers around the world.
Dr.Nadia Helmy Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Politics and Economics / Beni Suef University- Egypt. An Expert in Chinese Politics, Sino-Israeli relationships, and Asian affairs- Visiting Senior Researcher at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)/ Lund University, Sweden- Director of the South and East Asia Studies Unit
New ANC KZN leadership could spell trouble for Ramaphosa second term
24 July 2022 - BY S'THEMBILE CELE
It remains unclear whether the new collective will back President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to win a second term as head of the party. Image:Bloomberg
The ANC has elected new leaders in the key region of KwaZulu-Natal, though it remains unclear whether the new collective will back President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to win a second term as head of the party.
Siboniso Duma was elected chairperson of the party’s provincial structure, which has more than 200,000 ANC members. He ousted former chair Sihle Zikalala, who was seen as a Ramaphosa ally and remains premier of the province. Duma garnered 930 votes to Zikalala’s 665.
With public anger running high over a lack of basic services, rampant unemployment and poverty, the ANC's control over parliament and Gauteng will both be at risk in the 2024 vote.
Ramaphosa himself is facing growing criticism about his failure to address those issues. He drew a stinging rebuke last week from former president Thabo Mbeki for not fulfilling a February pledge to announce a programme within 100 days to boost economic growth — a failure that Mbeki said risked triggering protests similar to those that swept the Arab world a decade ago.
Ramaphosa has also yet to deliver an emergency plan he said July 15 would be announced “in the coming days” to address rolling power blackouts that have curbed economic output.
The party’s failure to address inequality and rampant unemployment present the risk that the ANC may lose its majority in the next election scheduled for 2024, said Sandile Zungu, a businessman who withdrew from the election for chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal region. He called for the inclusion of more business people within the ANC’s structures to help address SA’s economic problems.
“The trends are showing that it will be a situation where less than half the voters don’t believe in the ANC, unless something is done,” Zungu said in an interview.
“The biggest problem this economy faces is its inability to create jobs. That is a major failing of the ANC and to the extent that the policies don’t address this critical challenge of unemployment, then we are failing.”
KwaZulu-Natal, home to sub-Saharan Africa’s largest container hub at the port of Durban, is the second-biggest contributor to SA’s gross domestic product. Warring factions have divided the party in the province, resulting in its losing the kingmaker status that propelled former president Jacob Zuma to power in 2008.
Those who want to lead the party will look to secure the province’s support in the run-up to the national conference in December. Among them is disgraced former health minister Zweli Mkhize, who has signalled he plans to challenge Ramaphosa and has received endorsements from some of the province’s local structures.
Chairpersons in four other provinces have backed Ramaphosa for reelection, though there’s no guarantee that their provincial structures will follow suit.
The ANC’s official nomination process will start in August.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
