Recent news:STG sets up roadblocks on the roads leading to Suwayda, pursuant to the ceasefire agreement.
Remaining tribals in Suwayda governorate launch a last-ditch attack on Suwayda city.
Tribals enter some of the city's northwest areas. They suffer heavy casualties and retreat from the city on the same day.
Straggler tribals launch a few attacks on Druze villages here and there, nothing significant.
Overall ceasefire holds up after that. STG prevents further entry of tribals and their numbers keep dwindling.
STG releases their report on the massacres of Alawites in March of this year. They say that they aren't directly responsible.
Saudi announces they will buy a bunch of property in Syria.
Israeli and Syrian officials meet in Paris. A second meeting in Baku was cancelled.
Accusations that the STG is doing a soft siege on Suwayda governorate and worsening the humanitarian situation.
Turkey/SNA starts threatening the SDF and launches a few attacks against them in Deir Hafer and Tishreen dam.
Links:t.me/Medmannews - Well known channel (Egyptian owner). Posts frequently about MENA
t.me/Middle_East_Spectator - Iranian owner
t.me/Suriyak_maps - Posts maps/latest news. Less prone to hype/hysteria but slower.
https://nitter.poast.org/SAMSyria0 - Local Syrian army soldier. Used to post in Arabic. (Account deleted. RIP)
https://nitter.poast.org/WarMonitorshttps://nitter.poast.org/bosni94https://nitter.poast.org/Sy_intelligencehttps://nitter.poast.org/sayed_ridhahttps://syria.liveuamap.com 148 posts and 82 image replies omitted.>>2442184As I understand from my years following the events in Iraq, Turkey had mixed feelings about these events: the take over of Jalal Talabani as Iraqi president, then got angry that the PUK participated in the reinvigoration of the PKK political forces inside Iraq after Saddam was gone, with subsequent military incursions inside Iraq and bombed positions of the Kurds inside Iraq. Once the Talabani father died, the once president of Iraq by de-facto ruler appointed by the US through the "Interim Iraq Governing Council", it began a power struggle between the Talabanis, Lahur and Pavel. The former being the most PKK friendly of all of the Talabani family.
I am sure, because of the factions affected, that what is going on is the erasure of the potential supporters of the PKK in Iraq, which undoubtedly will weaken the Kurds position in Syria, too, and might be the results of Turkey pressure inside Iraq.
With the fall of Assad in Syria, and the weakening of Hezbollah, one could see that the factions in Iraq could've felt more relaxed to act on behest of Turkey's demands, but all of this are pure guesses.
Where does Barzani stands in all of this? he's a fervent Turkish lover, with economic, energy, and even security ties with Ankara. He's the antithesis of the dream of a Kurdistan, so if I were to throw a long stretched guess, yes, Ankara is behind these clashes. Only time will tell.
This is an interesting video from when the siege of Tishrin dam was going on. Footage and interviews with fighters.
>>2443044Thanks.
>>2443867Unluckily for you nobody with any relevance is petitioning you for your opinion on the matter, anon. Try actually reading the work of the flag you LARP.
Focusing on the essence of the conflict in SulaymaniyahClashes broke out between internal security forces and Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s forces in Sulaymaniyah city center early Friday morning. As a result of the confrontation, which lasted four hours, Lahur and his brothers Aso and Polad were taken into custody. However, the contradictions between the two sides will continue to be on the Kurdish agenda for a long time to come.
For a period, Bafel Talabani and Lahur served as co-chairs of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Tensions between the two escalated in the following period. In fact, it was this contradiction and power-sharing issue that led them to serve as co-chairs of the party. As tensions deepened, Lahur left the PUK and formed a new political party called Bereyi Gel (People's Front). Although it did not achieve significant success in the 2024 local elections, it managed to secure two seats in parliament. However, the tension between Lahur and the Talabanis did not end. Both sides continued to accuse each other. It was also noteworthy that Lahur established his party in Hewlêr (Erbil) after he left the PUK.
The Sulaymaniyah security forces demanded Lahur's surrender in line with a court ruling issued one day before the start of the operation on the grounds that Lahur was allegedly preparing a coup. Lahur, however, stated that he had not received any court ruling.
Of course, we cannot know the inside of the affair. However, it has been rumored for some time that Lahur has been trying to form a peshmerga force affiliated with his party, and that the PUK is very uncomfortable with this. Both sides have been engaging in mutual smear campaigns in the press from time to time. However, no one expected things to reach this point until recently. Another claim that has been circulating in recent days is that Lahur Sheikh Jangi was planning a coup. Some well-known figures in Bashur (South Kurdistan) politics were even mentioned in connection with Lahur. When the other side made the move, Lahur and his brothers came to the forefront, while the other names are not being uttered for now.
As of today, we are no longer talking about behind-the-scenes information, tension, etc., but rather about the conflict between the parties. Sulaymaniyah turned into a war zone from Thursday night to Friday morning. Security measures, which had been intensified at the city's entry and exit points in the evening, were extended into the city center. By 3:30 a.m., the tense wait gave way to clashes. The skies over Sulaymaniyah echoed with gunfire, and the streets and alleys were filled with the smell of gunpowder. Lahur's house in the Sarchinar neighborhood and the Lalezar Hotel, which belongs to Lahur and is located in the same area, were surrounded by security forces. As clashes intensified in the area where Lahur was located, forces loyal to him launched a drone attack on the Dabashan area, where the Talabani family's home is located. During the four-hour attack, four security personnel were reported killed in official statements. No information has been provided regarding the number of casualties among Lahur's forces.
So, what is the problem? At the root of inter-party conflicts in South Kurdistan lies a struggle for political power and authority. Capital plays a pivotal role in the consolidation of political power. When armed forces are added, a situation of power spreading across all areas of life becomes inevitable. Indeed, the underlying motive behind the tensions between political parties has never been the establishment of a more democratic system. Despite having a federal status and a parliament, power is divided among the parties, meaning that it is not the parliament that holds sway in regional governance, but rather the political parties that wield power.
The root cause of the problem is the absence of a constitution, a common political mind, a functioning parliament, and the politics and mindset focused on the common interests of the country and its people. This situation has led to the division of the federal region into different administrative centers. To such an extent that a few years ago, the PUK submitted an application to Baghdad and asked for autonomy for Sulaymaniyah. As a result of this fragmentation, the KDP-PUK effectively govern the areas under their control as two separate governments. They have their own peshmerga forces, intelligence services, special forces, and security forces.
As a result, a structure emerges that is oriented toward common goals, governed by its own laws and regulations, and lacking any center of accountability or oversight; characterized by partisan domination and self-interest. The growing problems inevitably lead to party dominance, economic interests, and the military power that these necessitate. Consequently, in regions where there are no fair courts or justice, tensions based on the desire to hold power escalate into armed conflicts. The reality that power cannot be seized democratically makes the opposite inevitable. This situation paves the way for all kinds of factionalism, polarization, rent-seeking, and corruption. In a place where political power is divided among cronies, it is certain that the system will not be democratic and will not prioritize the interests of the people and society.
It is necessary to look at the problems from the perspective of the linked forces involved. The events in Sulaymaniyah were sad for all Kurds. However, there are undoubtedly those who rejoiced. Who are these forces? This is one of the main questions.
There is no doubt that those who derive power from the fragmentation and internal conflicts of the Kurds are satisfied with the current situation and are encouraging further conflict. They are deepening these contradictions in Bashur and deriving power from their transformation into conflict. It therefore seems extremely unlikely that the political contradictions leading to conflict will not have external connections. In fact, the influence of these forces must definitely be taken into account behind the dysfunctional parliament, the unwritten constitution, and the deepening partisanship mentioned above. As long as Bashur politics fails to overcome this internal fragmentation, it will always be prone to such provoked conflicts.
As a result, rather than getting bogged down in the details of last night's clashes in Bashur Kurdistan and missing the essence of the problem by focusing on who did what and who said what, it is best to focus on the mindset behind the issue, the distorted system and administrative structure, and try to identify the root cause of the problem. As long as this is not done, and as long as every party in the region has its own military force and administrative authority, there will be no room for the development of any alternative or democratic power. Moreover, in a system where even civil society organizations take shape as formations affiliated with political parties, it is impossible for a movement on behalf of the people to develop. As long as the mentality of grabbing a share of the pie, whose distribution is not even guaranteed, prevails, it is inevitable that internal tensions will turn into greater conflicts. The opposite would be contrary to the nature of things. Perhaps those in power may change places; those who today call themselves the opposition (which is certainly not an opposition acting on behalf of the people) may come to power tomorrow. However, structural problems will continue to persist, growing more complex and intractable.
<Source: Yeni Özgür Politika DAANES: Elections are neither democratic nor reflective of the will of the Syrian peopleThe Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) released a statement regarding the so-called "People's Assembly elections," scheduled to be held by the transitional government in Syria next September. The North and East Syria region and Suwayda have been excluded from these elections.
The DAANES statement on Sunday includes the following:
“All the steps taken since the fall of the Assad regime until today—the National Dialogue Conference, the formation of the Interim Government, the declaration of the constitution, and now the announcement of parliamentary elections in Syria—have contradicted the goals of the Syrian revolution, which called for justice, democracy, equality, and freedom for all components of Syria. Syrians have made sacrifices for true citizenship rights, foremost among them the right to free and fair candidacy and elections.
Yet, we see history repeating itself, as this right is once again stripped away from all Syrians. These elections are neither democratic nor reflective of the will of the Syrian people in any form, but rather a continuation of the marginalization and exclusion that Syrians have suffered for the past 62 years under Ba’ath rule.
The conduct of what is called “elections” at this time excludes nearly half of the Syrian people from the process—whether through forced displacement or through systematic policies that prevent the participation of communities and active forces in shaping the country’s future. This very exclusion is clear evidence that what is being presented as elections is nothing more than a formal step that does not meet the requirements of a comprehensive political solution needed by Syrians.
We would also like to stress that labeling our regions as “unsafe” to justify the denial of the rights of more than five million Syrians is baseless. Compared to other parts of Syria, the regions of North and East Syria are the safest.
As an inseparable part of Syria and its people, we reject any measures or decisions imposed with a unilateral mindset that disregards the sacrifices and legitimate rights of all components. Any decision taken in such an exclusionary approach will neither concern us nor be considered binding on the peoples and regions of North and East Syria. We call on the international community and the United Nations not to recognize these elections, which are in direct contradiction to Resolution 2254.
Finally, we reaffirm that the solution in Syria will not come through reproducing the same old policies, but rather through a comprehensive political process in which all Syrians, with their diverse components and free will, participate—leading to a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria that guarantees rights and opens horizons for peace and stability.”
>>2446338a hedge fund venture capitalist. basically a financial clown that probably says numbers, banks accounts, sanctions on specific areas, and that's how he navigates through these meetings.
>I AM GOING TO SACTIOON IF YOU DON'T DO THISor
>PRINTING MACHINE GO BRRRR IF YOU SUPPORT OUR DEMANDS >>2447194you keep saying tribals when it's for all intensive purposes it's the military.
i see your game. fuck off.
>>2450210 (samefag)
According to some sources, Israeli SOF performed an operation in the military base near that area during the night, hence the presence of helicopters.
>>2450213Visual and audio confirmation of events is important.
Salih Muslim: We will never accept a return to a fully centralised system in Syria
Salih Muslim, a member of the Presidency Board of the Kurdistan Democratic Union Party (PYD), underlined the ongoing fight against terrorism, the challenges facing West Kurdistan (north and east Syria) in its dealings with the Damascus government, and the importance of decentralisation. He also highlighted the decisive role of regional and international actors in resolving the Kurdish question.
In an exclusive interview with Kurdistani Nwe, Muslim said: “The whole world knows that we have been on the frontlines of the fight against terrorism since 2012. After liberating West Kurdistan from the forces of the former Syrian regime, we began the war on terror — a war that continues to this day.”
Referring to the talks with Damascus, Muslim said: “We want to resolve our differences with the Damascus government peacefully, because war is not a solution and we do not seek the division of Syria. The Kurdish question is an international issue that must be resolved through international efforts. International forces also want peace in the Middle East because no one emerges victorious from war. But Damascus seeks an unfair peace, while we want a fair peace — without which lasting peace in Syria will remain elusive.”
He further stated: “An oppressive and dictatorial state is not the solution. The only viable path for West Kurdistan is democracy. The best system for our region is decentralisation, which can take various forms, including autonomy, regional governance, federalism, or even confederation.
“We will never accept a return to a fully centralised system in Syria, nor the conditions that existed before 2011,” he said. “If the new Syrian government refuses to recognise decentralisation, we will be forced to demand independence. The dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is unacceptable. Our region must remain protected by our own forces — a principle for which the SDF was established.”
Commenting on the peace process in Turkey, Muslim said: “Turkey cannot demand peace inside its country and at the same time threaten the Kurds in West Kurdistan, so the Turkish government is forced to change its position on this issue. We Kurds have not been hostile to Turkey, we have no problems with Turkey, we have taken up arms to demand our rights in Syria. Turkey must also put pressure on the Damascus government to resolve the Kurdish issue.”
On the relations between Kurds across the four parts of Kurdistan, Salih Muslim stated: “The Kurdish people must remain united across all four parts of Kurdistan. Relations between West Kurdistan and South Kurdistan are particularly close, especially with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. In 2014, when Peshmerga forces moved to Kobanê, the Kurdish people as a whole welcomed them with great joy. I hope the spirit of unity and brotherhood will continue to guide us, with the Kurdish people defending their rights through politics and diplomacy.”
He added: “The PYD and the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) maintain a strategic relationship. Since the establishment of the PYD, the PUK has provided consistent support, and this partnership can be further expanded. The PUK has backed West Kurdistan in all its achievements, including within the framework of the international coalition against ISIS.”
Bahçeli threatens attack on Northern and Eastern Syria
MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli issued a written statement regarding the process carried out to resolve the Kurdish question and the ongoing negotiations in Syria.
Arguing that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the YPG are also addressees of the PKK and of Öcalan’s call, and therefore cannot be exempt from decisions on dissolution and disarmament, Bahçeli said that the statement made on 10 July by U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack ("One nation, one people, one army, one Syria") was appropriate. However, he described Barrack’s 30 August remark ("There is now another organization not related to the PKK, namely the SDF and the YPG") as equally "problematic."
Referring again to the 10 March agreement between the SDF and the Syrian Interim Government within the framework of Syria’s reconstruction, Bahçeli reiterated his threat of an attack on North and East Syria.
Bahçeli said: "The SDF and YPG must comply fully and to the letter with the memorandum of understanding they signed with the Syrian administration on 10 March; otherwise, it must be known to all that a military intervention, through the joint will of Ankara and Damascus, will become inevitable."
Öcalan: Rojava is my red line
Pervin Buldan, a member of the DEM Party’s Imralı Delegation, spoke on JINTV about the Peace and Democratic Society process and the most recent meeting with Öcalan.
<Öcalan: Rojava is our red line
Pervin Buldan said that Abdullah Öcalan made evaluations about Northern and Eastern Syria and developments in Syria. Buldan explained that Öcalan discussed these issues with the state delegation, adding:"With us, with the DEM delegation, he only spoke about Turkish politics, but I know he said this several times: ‘Syria and Rojava are my red line. For me, that place is different.’ He made this point about Syria a few times. Beyond that, however, I want to stress that he did not make evaluations with us regarding Syria and Rojava. He discussed this mainly with the state delegation, debated the issue there, and even said that if the opportunity and circumstances arose, he considered it important to establish communication with them as well. Yes, he emphasized several times that communication with Rojava is important. He expressed that he wanted to talk with them, debate with them, and consider together how a path should be followed and what decision should be taken. This has not yet happened, but if progress is made in the future and such an opportunity is created, perhaps through meetings and contacts with officials in Rojava, we believe the issue will be resolved more easily."
Pervin Buldan also drew attention to the government’s statements about Northern and Eastern Syria, commenting: "Turkey, in this sense, on the issue of Rojava and Syria, needs to stand with the Kurdish people. Excluding the Kurds there, launching an operation against them, or undoing the achievements of the Kurdish people brings no benefit to Turkey, and the Kurds in Turkey will not accept it either. This must be understood clearly, and I believe there is a need to think more rationally and take correct decisions in order to resolve the matter through the right path and method.
Therefore, the developments in Syria, agreements, negotiations with the Damascus government, etc., are being closely monitored by Turkey as well. But the Kurds are extremely sensitive on this issue. Rojava is the greatest sensitivity of the Kurdish people.
So, no matter how many steps we take toward democratization in Turkey, even the smallest loss in Rojava, or an operation there, would cause great devastation among the Kurdish people. Such an approach would not be accepted. No one would accept it. Above all, Mr. Öcalan would not accept it.
I believe that if Turkey approaches this issue with an understanding that stands by the Kurdish people, respects their achievements, and recognizes their right to live in every region with their own gains, their own language, identity, and culture, and seeks to resolve this on a democratic, legal, and constitutional basis, then Turkey itself will be the one to gain. This way, not from a place of loss or causing loss, but from a place of winning and helping others win, a common understanding and consensus can indeed resolve this issue."
<Three key concepts
Pervin Buldan said that Öcalan emphasized three key concepts: "We can think of the issues of democratic society, peace, and integration as a single package. Placing them separately or disconnected from one another would be a mistake, it would be wrong. Mr. Öcalan stressed the importance of taking rapid, synchronized steps that can interweave all of these and of ensuring that integration finally becomes a reality.
Let me put it this way: a commission has now been formed. This commission has started its work, and its actual purpose is to pass laws as quickly as possible. Because without integration laws, nothing can be implemented. Of course, we can talk about peace, we can talk about democratization, we can certainly discuss the injustices and lawlessness in Turkey and how new laws might be passed to address them. But integration is something very different.
Today, there are thousands of people in the mountains with weapons in their hands. Yes, symbolically a dissolution ceremony took place. The PKK declared its disbandment. But there are still armed people. Now, these armed individuals must both lay down their weapons and return to Turkey, and the barriers preventing them from participating in democratic politics must be removed. This can only become a reality through the laws that will emerge from the commission."
Briefing: PKK leader [Abdullah Ocalan] calls Syria his 'red line' as Turkey ramps up pressure (BBC Monitoring)
> • Reported remarks by the jailed PKK leader, in which he described SDF-controlled parts of northern Syria as his "red line", have raised eyebrows in Turkey
< • A pro-Kurdish party MP quoted Abdullah Ocalan as underlining the importance of the de facto autonomous administration in north-eastern Syria
> • One pundit said Ocalan's remarks show his support for Syrian Kurdish forces "remaining armed" and for Syria's decentralisation, questioning the potential impact on Turkey's ongoing PKK peace bid
< • Ocalan's comments come as Turkish officials reiterate warnings about a potential military operation against the SDF unless it disarms and integrates into the Syrian army
Full story
Reported remarks by the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in which he described Kurdish-controlled parts of northern Syria as his "red line", have drawn attention in the Turkish media amid Ankara's continued push for Syrian Kurdish forces to disarm.
Abdullah Ocalan underlined during recent talks with a pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) delegation that "Syria and Rojava are my red line," DEM MP Pervin Buldan told pro-Kurdish Jin TV on 2 September.
She said Ocalan told the DEM Party delegation that he discussed the issue with Turkish officials and he wants to establish communication with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to "discuss what path should be taken on this issue".
Ankara sees the SDF as linked to the PKK and has called on the group to disarm and integrate into the Syrian army since Bashar al-Assad's fall.
Buldan's comments came after Turkish officials reiterated criticism of calls for Syria's decentralisation, apparently in response to Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) spokesman Salih Muslim's remarks that they "may have to demand independence" if the country does not decentralise.
Ankara has in recent days reiterated warnings about a potential military operation the SDF-linked elements if they do not integrate with Damascus.
Government-ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli on 2 September accused the SDF of making "new impositions" and presenting "lists of demands, ranging from autonomy to independence".
Bahceli called on the group to comply with a March agreement to integrate into the Syrian army, warning that "otherwise… a military intervention, with the joint will of Ankara and Damascus, would be inevitable".
A Turkish Defence Ministry spokesperson said on 4 September that the SDF must integrate into Syria's military and refrain from "any actions or statements that would harm Syria's political unity and territorial integrity".
Impact on peace bid?
Pundits discussed the latest remarks in the context of their potential impact on Turkey's push to end the PKK's 40-year armed insurgency.
"To tell any community in the region, including the Kurds, to dissolve within a structure that does not guarantee its own security, and whose democratic character has not yet been clarified… is unethical and beyond the bounds of conscience," DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan said on 3 September, responding to Bahceli's remarks.
Conservative opposition Karar newspaper columnist Taha Akyol wrote on 4 September that Ocalan's remarks show his "full support to the [SDF] remaining armed" and for "decentralisation".
"In this situation, how will the [peace] process unfold domestically?" Akyol said.
Posting on X, former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP Orhan Miroglu warned that increasingly hawkish signals from Ankara risk damaging the PKK peace bid.
He suggested that Turkish officials should look more favourably on Kurdish demands for "decentralisation", instead of threatening a new military intervention.
"I personally do not want to think about or imagine the consequences of a military operation in which Syria and Turkey collaborate militarily to dismantle the SDF. A new conflict process could [turn] the hopes of 50 million Kurds against the states they are in, as well as their will to live together," Miroglu posted.
Autonomous Administration and Transitional Government officials meet in Aleppo
The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commanders, and Syrian Interim Government officials met in Aleppo yesterday evening.
The meeting discussed the implementation of the previously signed agreement regarding the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyah and the reduction of rising tensions in the region.
The parties agreed that steps must be taken to implement the 14-article agreement signed on April 1.
The meeting also discussed the mechanism for establishing joint committees to monitor the implementation of the agreement.
The parties agreed that the Transitional Government would halt the military buildup and escalation in the region, end the possibility of tension and conflict, and hold regular meetings between the relevant committees.
Demonstration for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan in Kobanê
On Sunday, several thousand people took part in a protest march in the northern Syrian city of Kobanê, demanding the freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. The demonstration was organized by the women's movement Kongra Star under the slogan: “With the call for peace and democratic society, we will achieve leader Öcalan's freedom.”
In addition to residents from various locations in the Euphrates Canton, representatives of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), civil society organizations, and women's associations also participated in the rally.
The march began at Free Woman Square and proceeded through central streets to Peace Square, where a closing rally was held. During the demonstration, portraits of Abdullah Öcalan were carried and slogans such as “Bê Serok jiyan nabe” (No life without the chairman) and “Dem dema azadiya Rêber Apo ye” (Now is the time of freedom for leader Öcalan) were chanted.
At the closing rally, Xûnav Xelîl, member of the Kongra-Star Coordination in the Euphrates Canton, called for broad support for the demands for Öcalan’s release. “Abdullah Öcalan has been in resistance on the Turkish prison island of Imrali for 26 years. We must intensify our efforts for his physical freedom. As long as our chairman is not free, we cannot consider ourselves free either,” said Xelîl.
Highlights from Julani's recently interview:
https://xcancel.com/JnoubiSyrian/status/1966571161891807430Tl;dr Russians started negotiating with HTS as early as the Hama offensive.
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