Monthly highlights
Last Afrin convoy
The eighth and final convoy, departing from Derik, Girkê Legê, and Qamishlo, has set off towards Afrin.
Deputy Commander of the Internal Security Forces of Hasakah Province, Mahmud Xelil said that there are still about 1200 displaced families and that the hope and desire is for all displaced people to return to their cities. He also mentioned that there is plan in place for people to return to Serekaniye after the city is cleared of mines.
Attacks in Kobane countryside
On June 10th, after a discussion between a kurdish shepherd and and arab shepherd in the Kobane countryside, some armed groups exploited these tensions and attempted an incursion in the villages of Ashme and Avenia. The armed groups framed themselves as arab tribes, but several sources reported support from Turkish intelligence to them. Assayish responded to repel the attacks, which triggered further deployments and escalation. After few days of tensions the situation calmed down, but tensions are still high and could easily escalate again.
ISIS attacks in STG controlled areas
On June 14th a car bomb exploded in Al-Bab, a city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Local sources said the explosion took place near the Al-Nasir mosque near the central roundabout. Initial reports indicate that there were injuries in the incident. According to sources, the bomb was planted in the car of a commander of the Ministry of Defense.
On June 15th two ISIS members attacked a General Security checkpoint in Raqqa city. Clashes erupted between General Security forces and ISIS members inside the checkpoint. During the clash, one of the ISIS members detonated a bomb killing 2 members of the ministry of defense forces and injuring more. A second ISIS fighter was killed in the clashes
Mobs harrassing Alawites and dissidents
Most major cities in Syria are witnessing big mobs that are attacking and looting houses, burning cars and shops. They target population they accuse of “Shabiha”, a term formerly used to describe Assad regime affiliated individuals, but that has now become used to describe minorities like Alawites, as well as critical voices or other individuals not in line with the Sharaa-Government. Palmyra, Damascus, Homs and Hama have been the main centers of such pogroms.
Wild fires threatening the harvest season
June is the season of harvest for wheat, a very important source of income for thousands of farmers in Syria. Every summer, wild fires threaten the harvests and lives of many farmes. Some of these fires are started by agents of different groups to increase tensions and create chaos. ISIS and Turkey are known for pursuing such strategy. To prevent that, farmers organize special security teams to keep watch of the fields. In the surroundings of Til Temir Turkish soldiers of a nearby Turkish military base open fire against fields, starting a fire that destroyed many fields, sparking protests among local farmers.
Al-Sharaa appoints last 70 members Syria’s new parliament
The last 70 of the 210 members of the new Syrian parliament have been directly appointed by Ahmed al Sharaa. The elections did not bring many relevant surprises, ending up with a parliament with a majotiry of arab population and a 11% of women, far away from the 20% minimum promised and the ethnic diversity that was pledged.
Syria-Lebanon build up tension
For some time, intelligence reports are hinting efforts from western powers to support a potential intervention of the new Syrian army against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This month, several meetings of high ranking officials took place discussing the situation of Lebanon with Syrian officials, Donald Trump confirmed that he had spoken with al-Sharaa about Hezbollah. When asked whether the Syrian leader was prepared to confront the Lebanese armed group, Trump replied that he would address the matter at a later time. The comments came a day after Trump criticized Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, accusing it of causing excessive civilian casualties while failing to achieve its objectives.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they do a better job of doing it,” Trump said.
Clashes in Rojhilat
In late June, in the eastern Kurdistan region in Iran, IRCG forces launched attacks against camps of YRK (apoist guerrilla forces in Rojhilat) close to Mahabat city. Kurdish militants responded to the attacks and deaths are already reported on both sides. Information is not very clear yet about the current situation, it is not clear if the tensions will continue to escalate.
Building autonomy gathering
In early June the gathering “Building autonomy” took place near Barcelona in Spain. The gathering brought together several European groups and organizations, continuing discussions and works lined out during the Peoples Platform gathering last year in Vienna. This is one more example of how international solidarity initiatives continue working and developing networks of solidarity and international resistance partly inspired by the revolutionary struggle of the Kurdish Liberation Movement.
Evaluation
The newly elected Syrian Parliament is a good example of the empty promises of this transitional government. Democracy, ethnic diversity and even women participation was emphasized in their propaganda, specially when talking for western media. None of that is visible in the new Syrian parliament. The promises of a liberal democracy are becoming only true in relation with economical policies, that is opening more and more to the investments of western companies and gulf states. Hopes for a democratization of Syria are fading out with every month that goes on.
Mobs harassing Alawite minorities and dissident voices continue in every major city. Prices are skyrocketing to impossible levels for most of the Syrian population. Democratic reforms promised are not arriving – and will never. In a Middle East on fire, focused now on the victories of Iran in Hormuz but also on the brutalities of Israel in Palestine and Lebanon, Syria is not on the news. The transitional government has no need to fake anymore, because no one is looking.
There are many concerning developments that continue on a dangerous path: ISIS activities and attacks are increasing, Turkish military expansion over Syrian territory, Israel’s further expansion in southern Syria. The revolution of Rojava proved that democratic autonomy brings power back to the people, creating better conditions and important steps towards a free life. The attacks against north-east Syria are seriously hindering all those important steps.
There is some good news, which are the result of the struggles of the people. Damascus will recognize degrees obtained in the AANES education system. Students will also be able to partake in the middle and high school graduation exams in 2026 and 2027. This is part of an effort to unify the education system. Another development is that soldiers of SDF returned to northern Syria after a short education for standardization of competences in Damascus, ensuring a degree of self-defense capacity in the northern regions.
On a wider scale, Turkish intelligence (MIT) is clearly putting efforts to consolidate their regional influence not only in Syria but also in Iraq and even in Iran. That is seen by KCK as an attempt to put in motion plans for a further war against the Kurdish Liberation Movement. The peace process initiated by Abdullah Ocalan calling for a disarmament and dissolution of PKK is being stalled by the Turkish State, not making any steps further in the negotiations.
As we are finishing to review these updates, a bomb exploded on a cafe in Damascus. This also raises alarms once again about the growing threat of ISIS attacks, which continues to grow. With increasing numbers of ISIS detainees who escaped prisons during the takeover of the transitional government, it is not clear how many of them made their way to other places in Africa and Europe. Violent islamist groups are expanding their influence and even territorial control in Africa, and it is probably just a matter of time until they start their efforts once again to hit targets in the western world. We need to be able to respond to those attacks with a revolutionary perspective, not feeding the growing narratives of islamophobia and racism that far right movements are exploiting. We have difficult times ahead, and we need to be ready for that.
Revolutionary greetings! 🖤
