Syria’s Kurds turn to UAE to ease tensions with Assad

Patriotic Union Of Kurdistan

2023-05-05 

Shafaq News/ The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria is seeking the United Arab Emirates’ help to broker a deal with the Syrian regime amid fading confidence in the United States and Arab outreach to Damascus, Al-Monitor has learned.

Mazlum Kobane, commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the United States’ premier ally in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), recently traveled to the UAE, four well-informed sources and officials in the region speaking on condition of strict anonymity told Al-Monitor. Kobane met with UAE officials, two of the sources said, in order to seek Abu Dhabi’s help to press the Syrian Kurds’ case with the Assad regime. One of the regional sources said that Kobane met with the UAE’s national security adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan, who was named deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi on March 29.

The UAE denied that any such meeting had occurred.

"The claims referenced in your email are false and unfounded,” a UAE official said in an emailed response to Al-Monitor’s request for comment on the UAE's alleged mediation effort between the SDF and the regime.

The officials briefing Al-Monitor insisted that Kobane had indeed gone to the UAE between late March and early April. None provided specific dates. “It is one hundred percent true,” one of the officials said. Two of the officials briefing Al-Monitor said that Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the second largest party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that shares power in the Kurdistan Regional Government, had traveled with him.

Talabani’s office did not respond to Al-Monitor’s request for comment.

Badran Ciya Kurd, the de facto foreign minister of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in Northeast Syria, confirmed that the UAE had expressed interest in helping the Syrian Kurds strike an agreement with the Assad regime. “They said they are ready to help, but so far we do not have a program (roadmap) for this,” Kurd told Al-Monitor in an April 28 interview in Qamishli. "We want them to play a role in the talks with Damascus, Kurd added. He declined to comment on whether Kobane had recently traveled to the UAE.

Ankara strikes

Kobane’s alleged trip to the UAE capital came before he was targeted by a Turkish drone as he was traveling in a convoy from the PUK’s intelligence headquarters known as the Counter Terrorism Group, or CTG, in Sulaimaniyah on April 7. The officials briefing Al-Monitor said the drone strike took place following Kobane’s return from the UAE.

The convoy was headed toward Sulaimaniyah International Airport. Kobane was to fly back to northeast Syria on a plane operated by the US-led coalition against IS. The CTG chief, Wahab Halabji, and three US military personnel were in the motorcade, as was Ilham Ahmed, a top Syrian Kurdish official. The Turkish drone is widely believed to have deliberately missed the target, and Kobane made it home. The goal was to telegraph Ankara’s fury over the shuttling of Kobane by the PUK leader to the UAE, one of the officials briefing Al-Monitor speculated.

On April 5, Turkey announced that it had sealed its airspace to planes taking off from and landing at the Sulaimaniyah airport, ostensibly after hearing of Kobane's assignation in Abu Dhabi, the sources said. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the measure stemmed from an alleged “intensification of the PKK terrorist organization’s activities in Sulaimaniyah [and] infiltration by the terrorist organization into the airport.” The PKK is the acronym for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the outlawed militant group that has been waging an armed campaign for Kurdish autonomy against the Turkish state since 1984. Ankara insists that the SDF and Kobane, who also goes by the surname “Abdi,” are all PKK “terrorists” because of his previous role in the PKK.

Turkey said it would reassess its decision on the airport on July 3 based on measures the PUK takes to curb the PKK’s activities in Sulaimaniyah. Turkey is the Kurdistan Region’s main gateway to Europe.

The PKK was instrumental in the early days of the US-led coalition’s battle against IS, wresting thousands of Yazidis from the jihadis’ jaws in Iraq’s Sinjar region and training fighters for the SDF. However, it was listed as a terrorist entity by the State Department in 1997, hence Ankara’s ire over Washington’s effective collaboration with the group.

Washington insists that the SDF and the PKK are different and says some 900 US special forces stationed in northeast Syria as part of the anti-IS campaign will not be withdrawn. However, confidence in the United States is waning.

The first big shock came in 2019 when the Trump administration greenlighted a Turkish invasion of large swathes of Kurdish-controlled territory, including the key towns of Tell Abyad and Rais al-Ain, also known as Serekaniye. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was another wake-up call, said Fawza al-Yusuf, a leading official in northeast Syria. “Our relations with the United States have been in decline since 2019. Serekaniye and Afghanistan provided lessons,” she told Al-Monitor in an April 27 interview in Hasakah.

Yusuf acknowledged that while the United States' presence gave the Syrian Kurds leverage in their relations with Damascus, there was also a flip side. The Syrian regime insists that the Kurds sever ties with Washington and tell the Americans to leave as a prerequisite to any deal.

“Thus, the presence of the US forces provides the regime with an excuse to not engage with us,” Yusuf explained.

She added that trust in the Russians, the regime’s main ally alongside Iran, was diminishing in parallel with the Kremlin’s deepening ties with Ankara. The Kurds needed to take matters into their own hands and not be reduced to “objects” in regional power games. Diversifying their partners is part of that strategy.

Bridge building

The UAE has taken a lead role in building bridges between the Assad regime and fellow Arab states in recent years after reopening its own embassy in Damascus in December 2018, part of a race for regional influence aimed in part at thinning Turkey's and Iran’s grips over Syria. Engagement with the Syrian Kurds is part of that calculus.

“The anti-Iran and the anti-Islamist agenda have been the driving force for Emirati normalization with Assad,” said Dareen Khalifa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group who follows Syria. The UAE justifies the outreach on the grounds that “Assad isn’t going anywhere and we are going to have to deal with him in one way or another if we want to preserve our interests in Syria,” Khalifa told Al-Monitor.

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and director of its Syria program, contended that the UAE is "trying to be ‘friends’ with everyone, playing mediator everywhere possible and getting into the door of troubling places before anyone else to secure the competitive advantage."

“Ultimately, the UAE’s forward-leaning role in normalizing Assad was initially promoted by a desire to counter Turkish influence, but it’s now principally about securing a competitive advantage — being the Sunni Arab actor with Assad's regime in its pocket and, it no doubt hopes, the first to win large-scale economic contracts if and when Western sanctions are dropped or fail to have their deterrent effect,” Lister told Al-Monitor.

While the UAE may justify its rapprochement with Damascus on the grounds that this will help counter Iranian influence in Syria, the two are top trading partners and Abu Dhabi has hosted top Iranian officials, including Iranian National Security Advisor Ali Shamkani in March.

It remains unclear whether the UAE's efforts to secure approval for Syria’s return to the Arab League during a May 19 summit in Riyadh will succeed. But the UAE is unlikely to give up the push to legitimize Bashar al-Assad. Moreover, it is also believed to be involved in back-channel diplomacy between Ankara and Damascus. UAE meddling apparently angered Tehran, which reportedly leaned on Russia and Turkey to drop the Emiratis from an April 4 meeting with Syrian officials that was held in Moscow. The Iranians took part instead.

In 2018, around the same time the Emiratis reopened its embassy in Damascus, the Syrian Kurds began seeking engagement with the Assad regime. The Russian-induced effort has proved fruitless so far. The regime has rebuffed all of the Kurds' demands for linguistic and political rights. The most the regime offered according to sources familiar with the talks was two hours of Kurdish-language instruction per week.

A fresh sense of urgency appears to have set in as Arab governments, including heavyweight Saudi Arabia, weigh normalization with the Assad regime. Worse, Assad’s longtime nemesis Turkey is also courting Damascus in the hope of reviving a security alliance targeting the Kurds.

On April 18, the Kurdish-led self-administration issued a nine-point declaration reiterating its intention to reach an agreement with the regime. This included an offer to host millions of Syrian refugees currently residing in neighboring Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. “We need to reach out to the Syrian people wherever they are to erase negative feelings about our administration. This includes members of the Syrian opposition. We can build a new democratic Syria only if we are united,” a senior figure in the Kurdish movement told Al-Monitor on condition that he not be identified by name.

Kurd, the de facto foreign minister, said the Syrian Kurds would not compromise on two things. One was the administrative model that they had set up. “The regime has to recognize the self-administration,” he said. The second is the status of the SDF. While the Kurds are willing to fall under the overall command of the Syrian army, they insist on keeping their forces in their own region.

Seeds of an alliance

The UAE is part of the 85-member Global Coalition against IS. The sources briefing Al-Monitor said that formal contacts between the Kurdish-led self-administration and the UAE started in 2018 when Emirati officials traveled to northeast Syria to interrogate imprisoned UAE nationals who had joined IS. The ties were brokered in part by former PUK intelligence supremo Lahur Talabani, who was ousted in 2021 by his cousin, PUK leader Bafel, in a bloodless coup. Talabani lobbied the Emiratis to invest in Syria’s battered oil infrastructure that lies mainly in the Kurdish-controlled northeast, where most of the country’s oil is located. The top ask was an oil refinery. Talabani traveled to Abu Dhabi with Kobane a number of times to push his cause, sources familiar with the outreach said.

But the Emiratis were wary of upsetting Assad, the sources said. They would have been even more concerned about violating US sanctions on Syria.

The moves coincided with spiraling tensions between Turkey and the UAE over the conflict in Libya where they backed opposing sides. These have since subsided, and it remains unclear whether the Emiratis would be willing to support the Syrian Kurds at the expense of their newly repaired ties with Ankara. The stiff Emirati rebuttal over Kobane’s trip suggests they are not.

Syrian Kurdish officials, however, remain upbeat about the relationship. Yusuf praised the UAE for its “constructive and positive approach." “We have good cooperation with them in intelligence sharing, in combating drug trafficking,” she said.

She noted that the UAE was the Arab country with the fewest nationals to have joined IS. “There were only 15 of them, and the Emiratis were very helpful in the fight against DAESH,” she said, using the Arabic language acronym for the jihadis.

Yusuf added that the UAE’s own system of seven separate monarchies united under the same flag bore some resemblance to the decentralized model the Kurds are seeking for Syria. “We have some common traits,” she said.

Source: Al-Monitor

12 years ago, the Rojava Revolution

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Friday, 19 July 2024

On 19 July 2012, the Kurds found their own “Freedom Day” when the people of Kobane took control of their own destiny, repelling Assad’s Syrian forces and embarked on establishing their own self-government. On the following day, 20 July, the people in Afrin joined them in this endeavour, setting off a wave of successful resistance in the coming days and months across the region that emerged as Rojava. The heroic resistance of these embattled Kurdish men and women immediately inspired solidarity from onlookers around the world and peoples of all nations rallied to the defence of Kobane.

What has become known as the Rojava Revolution drew its direct inspiration from the leadership and writings of Abdullah Öcalan; it was a practical implementation of his core political ideas and unique contribution to the politics of Kurdistan and the broader Middle East region, with global implications and valuable lessons for the entire peoples of the world."

Women were in the lead and continue to play a crucial role in the new model of society implemented. All the different nations and beliefs in Rojava and Northern Syria joined the 19 July Revolution with their own features and identities.

They started to work together to build a new democratic system on the road to democratization.

In the developed democratic system, democratic solutions to issues related to women as the oppressed gender were elaborated, and a political and social system started to take shape as an alternative to the global capital and capitalist system.

The so-called Arab Spring began in Tunisia in 2010 and spread to other Arab and Northern African countries. It also reached Syria.

As the popular movement took its first steps in Syria, the Baath regime responded with even stricter oppressive methods in place since 1963 to protect its power.

With the beginning of the Syrian Revolution on 15 March 2011, the peoples of Rojava and northern Syria called for freedom, democracy and equality, organising many demonstrations.

Peoples living in northern Syria also demanded an end of the policy of denial imposed by the Baath regime.

Rojava and Northern Syrian women with their various features began to take the lead in the struggle that developed. The essence of the work carried out in the struggle in Northern Syria and Rojava was a struggle for democracy of the peoples, but it was women who added their particular flavour to this.

Öcalan’s ideas formed the basis of the organization

In Rojava and Northern Syria women had the lead of the demonstrations and there is no doubt that the ideological and practical perspective of the struggle was taken from the philosophy of the PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan. They were against the regional and international conspiracy.

In Rojava and Northern Syria, women set up their own organization in 2005 and called it Yekitiya Star.

Yekitiya Star, the first step in the struggle for women’s liberation, gradually reached a new level of organization in political, military, social, diplomatic and cultural fields with the beginning of the revolution.

Although in the region it was above all Kurdish women who were involved in the freedom struggle and organization, soon other women from the whole region were incorporated and joined both the struggle and the organisation.

In this way, the women’s organization that started as Yekitiya Star soon widened to include various ethnic and religious structures and went on to cover various fields such as political, military and social.

Women strengthened their solidarity in the Syrian revolution

Following the slogan of strengthening the solidarity of women in the Syrian revolution, Yekitiya Star founded the Syrian Women’s Initiative that carried out many different works.

The preparatory meeting of the Syrian Women’s Initiative under the leadership of Yekitiya Star was organized in the Cizire region with the slogan “Whatever their nation, belief and society, the women of Cizire are one”.

The Syrian Women’s Initiative foundation conference was held in Qamishlo on 28 March and the first office was opened in the same Qamishlo on 17 November.

Training programs were organized for women in different parts of Rojava and Northern Syria. In the last period, trainings were held in the new liberated areas. In Afrin, Kobane and Cizire, Mala Jin (Women’s House) were opened.

The understanding was that women should be able to solve their problems, to implement social justice principles, to provide social development against reactionary minds, to participate in all spheres of society for an ecological, democratic and free society.

On 21 January 2014, the Democratic Autonomous Administration and the Women’s Council were established. This enhanced the opportunities and projects for women to be carried out in the fields of administration, diplomacy and economy.

From Zehra Penaber to Raqqa: Liberation Operations

Kobane city has witnessed many historical and heroic epics.

Women’s Defense Units (YPJ), in this city, have resisted the patriarchal system in the name of all women and received support from women all over the world.

After ISIS attacked Kobane on 15 September 2014, women got actively involved in defending the city against the mercenaries that threatened the world and imposed slavery on women.

Women fighters took their place in the front lines throughout the resistance, and carried out many actions.

Arin Mirkan became a symbol of the fight with the action she carried out on 5 October 2014.

Zehra Penaber, Hebun Derik and Evindar, are among the legendary commanders whose names will go down in history. They showed the whole world that women can defend themselves and defeat the ISIS mercenaries.

Avesta and Barin, symbols of Afrin resistance

Women have gained historical achievements against the invading Turkish army and its mercenary allies through the legendary resistance carried out in the Afrin mountains.

Like Arin Mirkan, Avesta Xabur has become a legendary symbol in the struggle for liberty of all women of the world thanks to her resistance in Afrin.

Barin Kobane is another woman whose name has been written in the history of women’s resistance.

Barin Kobane, like Arin and Avesta, have opened the way to many more Barins, Arins, and Avestas who are ready to fight against ISIS and against fascism in the Resistance of the Age.

YPG General Command celebrates 12th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution

The YPG said in a statement that "the Rojava Revolution is not solely for Kurds but for all humanity striving for freedom, equality and justice."


ANF
NEWS DESK
Friday, 19 July 2024

The General Command of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) "proudly and joyfully celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution with our people, the families of our martyrs, and the global community. This day, July 19th, symbolizes not only our people’s independence and resistance but also the dawn of a new era in the history of Kurdistan and the broader Middle East."

In a statement the YPG said: "We solemnly honor all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect this revolution. Their resistance against ISIS, the occupying Turkish state, and other hostile forces led to the liberation of the peoples of Syria and western Kurdistan and significantly impacted global security. Their heroism was pivotal in thwarting the extremist ideologies that threatened humanity.

The Rojava Revolution, which commenced on 19 July 2012, demonstrated that no armed or reactionary force can withstand the will of a determined and resilient people. This revolution has become a beacon of hope for freedom, not only for the Kurdish people but for all the peoples of the Middle East.

Today, our revolution influences a vast region, from establishing an egalitarian and just society in Syria to transforming the political paradigm of the Middle East and developing new models of democracy worldwide. This movement has paved the way for a new governance model based on direct democracy, gender equality, and ecological sustainability. Amid regional turmoil, Rojava has become a living example of the peaceful coexistence of diverse peoples and cultures."

The statement continued: "One of the revolution’s most significant achievements is the creation of a multicultural and multilingual society where Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Syriacs, Armenians, and other groups coexist harmoniously. Simultaneously, the empowerment of women in society and politics, a cornerstone of our revolution, has inspired the entire region. The women of Rojava, with their achievements in both the battlefield and societal development, have redefined traditional perceptions of women’s roles and have become pioneers of social change throughout the Middle East.

We have demonstrated that in the Middle East, often characterized by ethnic conflicts and disputes, peaceful coexistence is not only possible but can form the foundation of a robust and progressive society. Furthermore, our revolution has shown that despite all internal and external assaults, the will of the people to resist can prevail. The defeat of terrorist groups such as al-Nusra and ISIS since 2012, and the successful defense against the attacks by the occupying Turkish state since 2016, attest to this. The resolve for coexistence and the capacity to protect it have thwarted these aggressions."

The statement added: "Let this day be a testament to our ongoing struggle for peace, equality, and justice in our region and across the globe. We call upon all peace-loving and democratic forces worldwide to continue supporting this unique endeavor. The Rojava Revolution is not solely for Kurds but for all humanity striving for freedom, equality, and justice.

On this occasion, we once again gratefully remember all our immortal martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of building and safeguarding this revolution. We pledge to continue this march to realize their dreams and persist in our struggle to protect our people and our revolution."

Riseup4Rojava calls on everyone to protest Turkish war crimes in Northern and Eastern Syria


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 7 Oct 2023, 11:4

Riseup4Rojava issued a statement to condemn the latest waves of bombing in Northern and Eastern Syria and called on everyone to stand up to protest those crimes.

The call said: "Turkey has launched probably the most widespread bombing campaign North-Eastern Syria has faced so far. Since October 5th, Turkey has conducted more than 30 airstrikes, primarily in the Cizîre region and Kobanê. These airstrikes have targeted vehicles, villages, and especially critical civilian infrastructure, including oil and power plants and gas stations, resulting in civilian casualties and casualties among internal security forces. Large areas experienced a total power blackout, with many hospitals, bread-factories and other critical public institutions completely without electricity. The attacks continued this morning when a CoronaHospital & a power station were targeted. Despite the obvious war crimes, no reaction has been heard from the international community so far. These attacks followed threats by Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, directed at the selfadministered region. The pretext for these threats was a self-sacrificial action that took place on October 1st in Ankara, claimed by the People’s Defence Forces (HPG). The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs declared that the attackers came from North-Eastern Syria, justifying these attacks on "all infrastructure, superstructure, and energy facilities," especially in Syria and Iraq."

The statement added: "Understanding these attacks requires avoiding over simplifications such as framing them as mere "revenge for Ankara," as promoted by the Turkish State, or normalizing them, as some media and institutions close to imperial states have done. Instead, it's meaningful to view them as part of a broader military campaign orchestrated by Turkish authorities, in pursuit of what appears to be the creation of a new Ottoman Empire. These attacks are not to be seen as disconnected from the war in the mountains of Southern Kurdistan, the torture in Turkish prisons or the attacks on journalists, politicians and youth in Northern Kurdistan.

What remains unmistakable is the remarkable resistance against this plan of occupation and genocide. This resistance includes not only the recent action in Ankara but also the steadfastness of guerrilla forces in the mountains of Kurdistan and the democratic initiatives undertaken by people in South and North Kurdistan, Iraq, and Armenia. At its core, this resistance is led by the people of North-Eastern Syria, who are constructing democratic structures amidst challenging wartime conditions. All democratic and anti-war forces have a vital role in this resistance and should unite against these attacks. However, merely reacting to them is insufficient. What's needed is to actively confront Turkish fascism, its collaborators, and supporters wherever they may be found."

The statement continued: "We call on all solidarity groups, people and initiatives to become active and to oppose together the attacks by Turkey and international complicity and to act decisvely to stop the warcrimes committed by Turkey. Take the war back to the responsible, profiteers, companies and governments! Together we rise up against the attacks on Rojava and North- Eastern Syria. United we will defend the Revolution!"

YPJ Spokesperson: Turkey’s attacks constitute a war crime and will be responded to

"No power or no attack can make us take a step back, nor can it break our will and strength. The severity of the attacks doesn't matter. The attacks will definitely be responded to," said the spokesperson of the YPJ.

As the Turkish state continues to escalate its attacks against North-East Syria since 5 October, violent bombardments on civilian infrastructure, hospitals, petrol stations, factories, shops and houses have claimed the lives of 15 people, among them 8 civilians.

Ruksen Mihemed, Spokesperson of the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ), spoke to ANF about Turkey’s increasingly ongoing attacks, which she defined as “an open violation of international law”.

Mihemed stated: “Attacks on North-East Syria have been going on unabated since Thursday amidst intense activity by over 30 reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets. Bombardments are directly targeting civilian settlements and infrastructure, power stations, water and oil stations, and hospitals. Vital supply facilities used by the population as well as institutions and establishments have been bombed. With these attacks, a crime against humanity is being committed. The current aggression by the Turkish state is a war against international law. Laws are being violated. It is a crime to violate the borders of a country, to launch terror attacks, to target civilians and civilian infrastructure. Violent attacks are being carried out in North-East Syria. The aggression launched by the Turkish state by using the Ankara attack as a pretext is an unrealistic justification. Turkey’s attacks are terror attacks. The Turkish state has a history marked by massacres and genocides. It is a continuation of the bloody Ottoman history. A repetition of the Gêliyê Zilan, Armenian, Circassian and Arab massacres is directed against North-East Syria today. This is a genocidal aggression based on a large-scale concept. The fascist AKP-MHP alliance has never stopped its attacks against the Kurdish people because their main goal is to complete the Kurdish genocide and to eradicate the Kurdish people. They are currently carrying out an aggression to massacre the peoples living in North-East Syria. The ongoing Turkish attacks do not only amount to a genocide, but also aim to cover up the political, economic and social crisis in Turkey.”

The Turkish state is desperate and weak

Remarking that the Turkish state intends to continue its dictatorship by means of these attacks, Ruksen Mihemed continued: “The Turkish state also wants to give the message that it remains strong and standing. Yet, the situation it currently finds itself in shows its desperateness and weakness. It wants to mislead the people of Turkey. These attacks do not only target the civilian infrastructure and energy resources, but also the social structure, the democratic model implemented in the region, and the co-existence, common will and fraternity and the Autonomous Administration of peoples. The Turkish state pursues the path of war, massacre and genocide rather than democracy. Therefore, it attacks those who stand for democracy, equality, justice, peace and fraternity.”

International powers are becoming a party to war crimes

Pointing to the silence of international powers in the face of the attacks against the peoples of North-East Syria, Ruksen Mihemed stated that: “The Turkish state’s attacks, which constitute war crimes, are taking place in front of the very eyes of the world. The United Nations, international powers and the institutions advocating human rights are remaining silent and shutting their eyes, which means being a party to war crimes. International powers should clarify their position and stand. The forces of the International Coalition and Russia are also stationed in the region. Despite witnessing war crimes on the ground, they have remained quite timid. It is understood that the airspace was opened to the Turkish state and attacks against civilians have been approved. Opening the airspace to the Turkish state and turning a blind eye to attacks mean being a party to this aggression. The International Coalition and Russia should take a tough line. The people of the region have been fighting ISIS terror for years and tens of thousands have been martyred in this struggle. A struggle for all humanity was fought in North-East Syria, where moral values of humanity were protected and defended. It was the population of this very region that stood up for laws, but not those claiming to do so. That’s why it is the peoples of North-East Syria that must be defended and protected.”

Resistance will be enhanced

Ruksen Mihemed pointed out that the YPJ will fulfill its duties and responsibilities and confront the attacks shoulder to shoulder with the people on the basis of the Revolutionary People’s War. “The safety of our people and the stability of our region is our main duty and responsibility. We will not remain without a stand against these attacks. We will take a firm stand against the intended massacre of our people and enhance the resistance, which is weaved with the philosophy of a free life, equality and democracy under the motto “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom). Our strength, will, self-confidence and assertion are derived from our philosophy of life. No power or no attack can make us take a step back, nor can it break our will and strength, because our strength takes its source from the resistance and will of the people. We will shoulder the legacy of our martyred comrades. Our will, determination and struggle will make the enemy regret what it has been doing. The severity of the attacks doesn't matter. The attacks will definitely be responded to.”

Popular resistance should be expanded to all areas

The YPJ Spokesperson concluded: “By taking to the streets on the first day of the attacks, our people have once again proven their loyalty to this cause, to these lands and to their martyrs. The resistance and struggle of the peoples of North-East Syria should be expanded to all areas. Women and youth should stand up for the revolution of peoples. Democratic circles and the friends of peoples should be more active and embrace the revolution stronger. We should stand up for the Rejova Revolution all together.”

SDF announces the outcome of the Turkish aggressions on North and East Syria

The Turkish state has been carrying out genocidal attacks against the regions of North and East Syria since 5 October using the guerrilla action in Ankara on 1 October as a pretext.

ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 7 Oct 2023, 15:59

For the second day in a row, the Turkish occupation continued its large-scale attacks on northern and eastern Syria. And using warplanes, UAVs, and heavy artillery, the Turkish occupation escalated its attacks on power stations and oil fields, hospitals, and populated villages.

The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the outcomes of the Turkish crimes in the region as follows:

Number of warplane strikes: 7

Number of UAV strikes: 14

Number of heavy weapons attacks: 74

Number of attacks using DShK weapons: 1

Number of attacks using sniping rounds: 1

Number of outposts belonging to Damascus government forces: 4

Number of hospitals targeted: 2

Number of water stations targeted: 1

Number of oil facilities targeted: 7

Number of power stations targeted: 2

DETAILS

Qamishlo and its countryside:

The al-Swaydia power generating facility, adjacent to the Rmeilan field and the gas plant, was struck by a Turkish UAV, causing significant damage to the turbines within the facility. This marks the fifth time the Turkish occupation has targeted this facility, resulting in severe structural impairment.

The major power station in the Terpe Spi district, positioned on the eastern side of the district, was targeted by a UAV, resulting in its shutdown.

The Turkish UAV bombed the power station located on the belt north of Qamishlo.

The heavy artillery shelled the vicinity of the village of Tel Jehan in the northwestern countryside of the Tepre Spi district.

Manbij and its countryside:

The Turkish occupation targeted with heavy artillery the following villages: “Hammam, Tokhar, Al-Hawshriya, Aoun Al-Dadat, Al-Dandaniya, Al-Sayada, and the northern and western countryside of the city of Manbij.”

Turkish heavy artillery shelled the villages in the northern and northwestern countryside of Manbij along the front line with the occupied areas of Jarablus.

Southern Countryside of Afrin and Shahba:

Turkish warplanes shelled the village of al-Malikia in Sherra/Shirran district, southern countryside of Afrin.

A position of the Damascus government forces situated between the villages of Aqbiya and Soganka in the Shirawa district was hit by a UAV, resulting in an injury to a member of the Damascus government forces.

Turkish UAV targeted the village of Shawargha in the occupied Sharra district of Afrin.

Turkish heavy weapons shelled the villages of Maranaz, Malikiya, Shawargha, Tel Meraash, Kafr Antun, in the Sharra district in Afrin.

Turkish heavy weapons shelled the villages of Binah, Sogankah, Aqbiya, Miyasa, Kalota, Deir Jameel in the Sharra district, Afrin.

Turkish heavy weapons shelled the vicinity of the Tel Rifa’at district, Ming Military Airport, and the villages of Beyloniya and Ain Daqna in the Shahba region.

Kobane and its countryside:

The Turkish occupation shelled with heavy artillery the following villages in the countryside of Kobane, “Jarkhali, Kultba, Tal Shair, Zor Maghar and Shaikhler / Al-Shuyoukh”, and also targeted a point of the Damascus government forces in the village of “Ahmed Mounir”.

Turkish warplanes bombed the Covid Hospital, Kobani Forest, Kaniya Kurdan Neighborhood, and the Cement Factory in the city of Kobane.

A Turkish UAV targeted the Ahmed Munir Farm and a position of the Damascus government forces in the village of Zor Magar in the western countryside of the city of Kobane.

Turkish heavy weapons shelled the village of Tel Sha’ir in the western countryside of Kobane.

Turkish heavy weapons shelled the villages of Kuran and Jeshan in the countryside of the city of Kobane.

Ain Issa and its countryside and Tal Abyad's southern countryside:

The Turkish occupation bombarded with heavy artillery the following villages in the countryside of the town of Ain Issa “Al-Mushairfa, Abu Nituna, Al-Fatasa, Sakiro and Al-Tarwaziyah”, in addition to a point for the Damascus government forces next to the quarry “Al-Kallah” west of Ain Issa.

The Saqr resthouse and the water pump in the village of Al-Fatsa, located in the eastern countryside of Ain Issa, were shelled with medium and heavy weaponry.

Several sniper shots were fired at the school adjacent to the Fatsa pump, east of Ain Issa.

The heavy weapons shelled the villages of Beir Kino – Hurya – Qaz Ali silos – Zenobia Sawloki – Lava Company – Dabs – Hoshan – City Entrance. With heavy weapons in the western and eastern countryside of Ain Issa.

The heavy weapons shelled the villages of Mashirfa, Al Saramda, and Al-Fatsah.

Ain Issa and its eastern and western outskirts, as well as the villages of Khalidiya, Jdeidah, Ma’aleq, the International Road, and Saida, were shelled with heavy weaponry.

The village of Al-Mukhalat, east of Ain Issa district, was targeted with DShK weaponry.

Tal Tamir & Zarkan countryside:

The Turkish occupation bombarded with heavy weapons the villages of “Taweelah and Al-Kozliya” along the international road (M4) in the western countryside of the Tal Tamir district, and the village of “Sheikh Ali” in the north of the district.

Turkish heavy artillery and explosive shells targeted the villages of Rabi’at, Tel Al Ward, Bobi, Asdiyah, Al Rabita, Kharbat Sha’ir, and Dada Abdul in the southern countryside of the Zarkan district.

Turkish heavy artillery shelled the villages of Kozliya, Tel Al Laban, and Um Al Khair in the southwestern countryside of the Tal Tamir district.

The village of Um al-Kayf, situated west of the Tal Tamir district, was shelled by artillery.

The heavy weapons shelled the village of Sheikh Ali, situated between the Tal Tamir and Zarkan districts.

The heavy artillery shelled the village of Um al-Khair in the western countryside of the Tal Tamir district in Al-Hasakah.

Derik and its countryside:

A Covid hospital in the village of Gri Vra, located in the city of Derik, was bombed and completely demolished by a Turkish UAV.

An oil refinery near the al-Swaydia facility in the Karaki district was struck by a warplane.

A Turkish warplane bombed the Khanaseri Water Station, located in the city of Derik in the Qamishlo province.

A Turkish UAV targeted the village of Mirka Mira in the countryside of the Derik district.

A Turkish UAV targeted the village of Karziro in the countryside of the Dirk district.

Amuda and its countryside:

A Turkish UAV targeted the grain silos in the eastern countryside of the Amuda district.

SDF releases balance sheet of attacks carried out by Turkey

The SDF said that 15 people, including 8 civilians, were killed in the latest Turkish attacks.

ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 7 Oct 2023

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released the balance sheet of the attacks carried out by the Turkish state against Northern and Eastern Syria and said that 15 people, including 8 civilians, were killed in the attacks.

The statement said: “the Turkish occupation on Friday launched a broad-scale assault on northern and eastern Syria, using the recent attack in Ankara as a pretext. They claimed the attack originated from our areas, despite a lack of evidence to support their accusations. This cowardly and treacherous Turkish assault targeted civic services, economic hubs, energy facilities (oil and electricity), water resources, military installations, civilian structures, and inhabited villages. The Turkish occupation state is trying to divert attention from its internal social, economic, and political crises. They aim to export these issues abroad by aggressing neighbouring countries. Additionally, they persistently attempt to legitimize their occupation of northern and eastern Syrian territories.”

The statement added: “The Turkish occupation state launched a fierce attack in the evening and night, utilizing over 30 UAVs. They targeted densely populated areas, civic service facilities, and civilian structures using both warplanes and heavy weaponry. This onslaught affected the following areas and their surroundings: “Southern Afrin countryside, Shehba areas, Manbij, Kobane, Ain Issa, Tal Tamir, Zarkan, Al-Hasakah, Qamishlo, Amuda, Terbe Sipi, Jal Agha, Derik.” This resulted in a tragic loss of both civilian and military lives, with dozens more suffering injuries. Additionally, it inflicted extensive damage on crucial infrastructures.”

The statement added: “These treacherous attacks by the Turkish occupation state targeted the entirety of Syrian territory and all the various ethnic groups residing in the region, including Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians. Simultaneously, the Turkish state is reinvigorating the terrorist organization “ISIS” and providing it with the resources to carry out further acts of terrorism. This poses a significant threat not only to the region but also to the global community.

We want to emphasize that our forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces, are diligently carrying out their responsibilities. We are dedicated to defending our people, protecting our land, and ensuring the security and stability of the region. We salute all the people in the region who stood against the brutal attacks of the Turkish occupation state. This demonstrates their steadfast dedication to their homeland, even in the face of relentless assaults.

It is crucial to reiterate that we will respond vigorously to any attack that threatens the security and stability of our areas. The operations conducted by our forces yesterday are a direct retaliation to the Turkish occupation’s assaults on our regions.

The international coalition forces targeted a Turkish occupation UAV yesterday as it approached one of their bases. However, it is imperative for them and Russia to adopt the same stance when it comes to countering the Turkish occupation’s attacks on civilians, service institutions, and public facilities.”

The following are the outcomes of the Turkish attacks on the regions of north and eastern Syria:

“The toll of martyrs: 15 martyrs including 8 civilians, six members of the internal security forces who were safeguarding the targeted civic facilities, one SDF fighter, and several wounded.

Tal Tamir and its countryside:At 11:30 AM, a Turkish occupation UAV targeted the village of Al-Tawila, resulting in material damage. Simultaneously, another Turkish UAV targeted the village of Al-Rugouba, causing material damage.
At 4:40 PM, a Turkish occupation UAV targeted the village of Al-Dardara, resulting in material damage.

Amuda and its countryside:At 11:00 AM, the village of Tal Habash was subjected to a Turkish UAV strike, resulting in the martyrdom of six members of the internal security forces, and two others were wounded.
At 3:30 PM, Turkish UAVs targeted the power station.
At 4:00 PM, the villages of Bubi, Dabat Abdullah, and Mushairfa were shelled with mortar.

Qamishlo city and its countryside:At 2:30 PM, the power station was also targeted by a Turkish UAV.
At 3:30 PM, a Turkish UAV targeted an industrial warehouse, causing material losses.
At 9:00 PM, a construction factory was bombed by a Turkish UAV.
At 10:00 PM, an ice factory was also bombed by a Turkish UAV.
The Turkish UAVs targeted the following: the village of Tal Khatun at 12:30 PM, the town of Trebesibi at 1:33 PM, and the village of Mezgaft at 4:30 PM. Oil wells were also targeted, resulting in material losses.
At 4:25 PM, an economic company in the town of Trebesibe was targeted by Turkish UAV, causing material losses.
During the night, warplanes bombed four oil infrastructures in the town of Tripe Sibi. These explosions led to the martyrdom of one civilian, the injury of one child, and five other civilians were injured.

Derik and its countryside:At 10:30 AM, a Turkish UAV targeted the vicinity of Chel Aga Dam.
At 1:00 PM, a Turkish UAV targeted the oil pump in the village of Al-Qaws, resulting in material damage.

Later in the evening, the villages of Khana Seri and Sikerka, along with the power station in the town of Chel Aga, were bombed seven times by warplanes. Additionally, the COVID-19 hospital in the village of Gire Vira was also targeted, resulting in two workers being injured.

Al-Hasakah city and its countryside:At 8:00 AM, near Mujsheirfa neighborhood, a sand quarry was targeted by a Turkish UAV. This tragic incident resulted in the martyrdom of one worker, and three others were injured.
At 9:30 AM, a vehicle was targeted by a Turkish UAV, resulting in two of our SDF fighters being injured.
At 11:00 AM, a Turkish UAV bombed the Washokani camp that hosted the forcibly displaced people of Ras al-Ain/Seri Kane, resulting in the martyrdom of one civilian and two others injured.

Euphrates region;At 10:45, a Turkish UAV targeted a motorcycle in the al-Chalabia town of Ain Issa. Two civilians were martyred and two others were injured.
At 10:45 in the town of Sarrin, one civilian was martyred and two others were injured due to a Turkish UAV strike.
A Turkish UAV targeted two civilians martyred while they were working in the vegetable fields near Sarrin town.


Manbij:

The Turkish occupation shelled with heavy artillery the villages of Karhuk, Qawkly, Qart Wiran, Muhsinly, Sayada, Aoun Dadat, Jat, Sheik Yahya, Qaraquzaq, resulting in the martyrdom of one fighter of the Manbij Military Council.

Southern Countryside of Afrin and Shehba:
The Turkish occupation conducted a UAV strike on a position held by Damascus government forces in the village of Mayassa in the “Sherawa” district. This resulted in injuries to two soldiers of the Damascus government forces.
The Turkish occupation shelled with heavy weaponry the village of Ziwana in the Shahba area.
The Turkish occupation targeted the vicinity of the Tal Rifa’at district with heavy weapons.
The Turkish occupation shelled with heavy weaponry the village of Maranaz in the Sharra/Sharan district and the area between the villages of Tal Jamal and Al-Ziara in the Shirawa district.
The Turkish occupation shelled with heavy weapons the following villages: Mayassa, Gondi Mazn/Zouk Al-Kabir, Kaluta, Horsh Soganke, and Binh/Ebin in the Shirawa district, as well as the villages of Maranaz, Al-Shawargha, and Kashtaar” in the Shara/Sharan district, Afrin southern countryside.

Kurdish activists from Switzerland take over Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan vigil in Strasbourg

Members of the Kurdish Youth Movement from Switzerland took over the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan vigil in Strasbourg this week.

ANF
STRASBOURG
Sunday, 8 Oct 2023, 11:09

The Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan vigil was launched on 25 June 2012 in Strasbourg with the aim of ensuring the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and ending isolation.

The vigil today ends its 589th week. Members of the Kurdish Youth Movement from Switzerland took over the vigil, the longest-running action by the Kurds in Europe, last Monday.

The group included Melik Acar, Ali Taş and Koçer Aslan.

The young activists called for participation in the central action to be held in Strasbourg on the anniversary of the 9 October Conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

YPJ fighter: Every Turkish bomb strengthens ISIS

Interview. We spoke with Ronahî Tolhildan, a fighter with the Kurdish women's defense units, YPJ, stationed in Kobane.

 ‘Turkey is not only weakening the structures of the SDF that are holding ISIS members in custody, but is giving concrete support to the Islamic State.’

 

written by Chiara Cruciati  
November 28, 2022

Villages, grain silos, refineries and oil wells: small installations that are propping up northeastern Syria, extracting incomparably minuscule wealth compared to the neighboring energy giants. However, five days after the launch of Turkey’s Operation Claw-Sword, it is apparent that these are its targets, together with civilian infrastructure and population centers, from the east to the west of Rojava.

While the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commemorate the eight fighters killed Wednesday in the Turkish raid on the Al-Hol camp (a tent camp where 60,000 ISIS militiamen and their families are detained), there were some signs of protest from Washington, which had been inscrutable so far: Recent air strikes in Syria directly threatened the safety of U.S. personnel who are working in Syria with local partners to defeat ISIS and maintain custody of more than 10,000 ISIS detainees.” As a result, the U.S. called for “immediate de-escalation.”

We spoke about these developments with Ronahî Tolhildan, a fighter with the Kurdish women’s defense units, YPJ, stationed in Kobane.

How high is the risk of increased ISIS activity in Rojava due to Turkish raids? Or of new breakouts, like the one attempted in January in Hasakah?

Every attack on the Northeast Syria Autonomous Administration is strengthening ISIS. Turkey is not only weakening the structures of the SDF that are holding ISIS members in custody, but is giving concrete support to the Islamic State in the form of information, resources, coordinated attacks. In early 2022, during the attempted breakout from Hasakah prison, Turkey targeted reinforcements who were on their way there to stop it. The occupied city of Afrin is now in the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [the Al-Qaedist group formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front] and on Thursday, jihadist mercenaries approached the cities of Manbij and Raqqa. The jihadist and Turkish attacks should be seen as part of the same attack against the revolution and its values. The risk of a return of ISIS is not confined to these places: Europe is at risk, the world is at risk, because of it.

What is the Turkish strategy? To quickly occupy communities on the Turkish-Syrian border to close the northern corridor or pressure the SDF and civilians to flee, undermining the revolution from within?

The Turks’ military strategy has multiple parts. First, they try to attack society by destroying people’s resistance, demoralizing them and disconnecting them from the Autonomous Administration. Then they strengthen ISIS sleeper cells, as we saw yesterday with the bombs dropped on the security forces at Al-Hol camp. Finally, as soon as possible, Turkey will invade overland and attempt to close the land corridor at the border. In the long run, Islamist groups are expected to establish themselves in the occupied regions, as happened in Afrin, Serêkaniyê and Gire Spî. And it seems that the U.S. wants to reach a “joint solution” with Turkey. This would lead to a new Afghanistan.

So a land-based invasion is possible.

Certainly. Erdogan has already done that in 2018 in Afrin and in 2019 in Serêkaniyê and Gire Spî. Neither the U.S. nor Russia intervened. The first target is likely to be Kobane, a symbol of popular resistance to ISIS. Much of the shelling is already targeting this town and district. In this way, Turkey would link up the occupied cities, Azaz, Serêkaniyê and Gîre Spî.

Were you warned by the United States of the attack Turkey was about to launch?

The U.S. had warned its citizens a few days before. But this was an action more aimed at spreading panic than warning of danger.

The current war is also a psychological war: a constant military pressure which, together with the de facto embargo, steals time and energy away from the revolution, resources that could be used to improve on the already major successes reached.

This kind of low-intensity warfare affects people. The Turkish state is targeting infrastructure and civilians in order to terrorize people and push them to flee. But the self-defense units and the people are standing side by side and will defend the liberated areas. We have been subject to multiple Turkish attacks for years, but the resistance has never been defeated. We will not leave our positions. The revolution has been ten years in the making and has achieved a great deal. Too often the achievements of the people are threatened and destroyed. Peace in northeastern Syria is necessary both for those who live here and also for the whole Middle East, because it is seen by the whole world as a model of women’s liberation, self-determination and cultural diversity.

Do you have any kind of coordination with the Syrian army for the defense of the northeast?

There is no cooperation with the Syrian army.

Chiara Cruciati
Originally published in Italian on November 25, 2022https://ilmanifesto.it/le-bombe-turche-hanno-ridato-forza-ai-jihadisti-in-siria