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14.04.25-20.04.25

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# HAWL CAMP OPERATIONS
SDF and Asayish carry through search and sweep operations to identify ISIS sleeper cells in Hawl camp, capturing 16 ISIS members so far. Co-ordinations with Syrian and Iraqi governments to return displaced persons to their homes are ongoing. Jihan Hannan, Co-Director of Hawl Camp warns: “The real danger lies in the radical ideas carried by children and women who have become victims of ISIS,”, rather than the presence of weapons and individual ISIS fighters.

# ALLEGED COUP ATTEMPT OF FORMER SYRIAN REGIME THWARTED
According to Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab, government forces intercepted what was described as an attempted coup allegedly planned by former regime officers targeting the transitional leadership of President Ahmad al-Shara. The ministry attributed the disruption to improved intelligence and coordination with defense and security agencies, although details such as timing and the involvement of specific individuals remain unclear. The incident highlights ongoing internal tensions amid Syria’s evolving political landscape and the confident and capable face the transitional government wants to project while at the same time facing no shortage of external as well as internal enemies.

# REFUGEES RETURN TO SYRIA
Turkey reports that 175,512 Syrian refugees returned already from Turkey to Syria since the fall of Assad. According to UNHCR 400,000 Syrians have returned from neighboring countries since the fall of the Assad regime. In addition more than 1 million internally displaced people (IDPs) within Syria have also returned to their homes.

# DISPLACED FAMILIES RETURN TO HOMES IN DEIR EZ-ZOR
Several families moved back to Deir ez-Zor in the course of a program by AANES to let IDPs voluntarily return to their places of origin.

# US AIMS TO HALVE ITS TROOPS IN NES
Statement was made on April 18 from Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell to bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces in the coming months. Rather than being called a "withdrawal" they use the language of "consolidation". While there has been long standing tensions between Trump and Pentagon on this issue, to the point where his first Defense secretary Jim Mattis resigned in protest, the current policies seems to split the difference between vulgar rants on X and US self serving interests abroad.
The statement ends with a call on the international community to repatriate their nationals and that US still has significant capabilities in the region with a continuous ability to adjust.

# AL-SHARA CONTINUES DIPLOMATIC VISITS ABROAD
Ahmad Al-Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani held their first known meeting since the HTS takeover in Damascus, discussing joint border security and economic cooperation. Iraqi officials emphasized the need for a comprehensive political process in Syria and highlighted the importance of protecting its diverse social and religious fabric while countering threats like ISIS.

# PLATFORM FOR UNITY OF KURDISH WOMEN
Representatives of 24 women organizations from all four parts of Kurdistan founded the Platform for Untiy of Kurdish Women in Sulaymanya aiming to strengthen national unity of women of Kurdistan as a precondition to peace.

# YEZIDI NEW YEAR
This year's celebrations of Red Wednesday, the Yezidi New Year, emphasized themes of resilience, freedom, and the importance of cultural preservation in the wake of years of marginalization and violence. In Dokar village the holiday with its traditional symbolism of rebirth and the arrival of spring was attended by many.

# END FOR WATER CRISIS IN SIGHT?
Renewed political coordination between SDF and the Syrian transitional government gives a glimpse of hope to stabilise new sources of water for the residents of NES. Alouk Water Station in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) might be turned operational again also for NES use, after Turkish occupation and war led to depriving of NES from this source as well as its shutdown in 2023.

# GERMANY STOPS EXPORT OF EUROFIGHTERS TO TURKEY
According to a media report, the German government is blocking the delivery of about three dozen Eurofighter jets to Turkey. A key reason for this decision is the arrest of Ekrem Imamoğlu, the ousted mayor of Istanbul, which has drawn sharp criticism of President Erdoğan from German officials. They describe the situation as an "attack on Turkish democracy," justifying the halt of the arms deal.

# MAY 1ST COMMITTEE ZURICH INVITES ÖCALAN TO BE MAIN SPEAKER
The committee sent a letter to Imrali inviting Ocalan,to at least be symbolically at a distance the main speaker in this year's May First in Zurich.

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# ANALYSIS

Operations in Al Hawl camp highlight the global consequences of colonization in so-called Middle east and Asia. Emergence of modern radical Islamist movements is directly connected to military and political strategy of global state powers in recent decades.
ISIS is no exception. Its criticisms of capitalism and western imperialism came with a brutal program of rape and genocide in war-torn Syria and Iraq. There was not much else that could be done than defeating ISIS militarily, and SDF succeeded in that. However, military victory did not resolve the problems that gave birth to ISIS in the first place. In his Manifesto for Democratic Civilization, Abdullah Öcalan observed:
"Even if we could win multiple victories with armies as mighty as those of Alexander, it would most certainly not be the victory of freedom. Military victories cannot bring freedom; they bring slavery; they can only be valued when won in defense of self, friends, and comrades. On the contrary, I find defending myself against such victories as necessary as defending myself against power itself. If I had my own armies, I would consider defending myself against their victories as the greatest struggle."

We can see this reflection in the current situation of ISIS in Syria. Incredibly valuable and necessary military defeat of ISIS did not erase the ideas on which the Caliphate stood. Today, Al Hawl camp shows us the value of continued struggle in the social sphere of education, rehabilitation and reconciliation. The same reflection can bring us to think about the defense of the revolution in the current political turmoil of Syria and its surroundings: it is not the military capacity which is the greatest or most important strength of this revolution. Its ideas are that strength.

And still, war continues to loom over Syria. With US troops reducing their numbers and possibly withdrawing in the future, ISIS doubling down on underground activities, Israel and Turkey dividing spheres of influence, rising tensions in the overall region and a fragile pause in fighting in the Northeast of Syria, the search for a political solution and way forward can crash against many dead ends. Nevertheless, current agreements, meetings and other developments give the self-defense forces of the revolution a much-needed break. Another round of escalation might not be too far away.

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# ISRAEL ATTACKS AND TENSIONS WITH TURKEY
Israeli troops in southern Syria were met with resistance when some armed individuals confronted their advances with light weapons. After a brief exchange of fire IDF soldiers withdrew from the area, hitting back with artillery shells and airstrikes leaving at least 9 dead. Several Israeli airstrikes hit locations in Damascus, Hama and Homs, where Turkey aimed to build a military air base. Israeli state sources said the attacks are a warning against Turkish expansion in Syria, referring to reported Turkish plans to take control of Tiyas airbase in Homs countryside with a view to deploy air defense batteries and drones. Turkish official channels strongly denounced the Israeli attacks, but also stated that Turkey has no intentions to escalate conflict and risk war with Israel. Thousands of Syrians from Daraa gathered at the funeral of those killed by Israeli airstrikes and elsewhere protests were held to denounce the Israeli aggression.

# AGREEMENT ON YPG AND YPJ WITHDRAWAL FROM ALEPPO
Following agreements between the provisional government and SDF, negotiations to normalize the situation in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo became the first visible step of the military reorganization of Northern Syria. A convoy of hundreds of fighters left the historic Kurdish neighborhoods of Şêx Meqsûd and Eşrefiyê, waving YPG and YPJ flags, escorted by forces of the Ministry of Defense. The convoy moved to Tabqa and other areas under control of SDF. The negotiations included exchange of prisoners, with around 100 prisoners from each side already transferred. Political agreements include certain autonomy of the local political institutions and organizations, as well as representation in the political organs of the region. Military forces connected with the Ministry of Defense will have presence in the area, but local Kurdish security forces (Asayish) will remain in the neighborhoods to ensure protection of the population, with agreements to integrate them in the security and police institutions of Aleppo in the future. Local structures will persist until a permanent solution is reached within the ongoing negotiations for all north-east Syria and freedom of movement in the city will be ensured for all residents. Observers suggest that the Aleppo Agreement could serve as a template for similar understandings in other contested regions of Syria, particularly where different military and political actors maintain overlapping spheres of control.

# ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR AND DECLARATIONS AGAINST THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The Assyrian new year - Akito - was celebrated all along northern Syria on the first of April, with Assyrians, Syriacs and Chaldeans gathering to dance and celebrate. The Assyrian community also made clear at those events that they are not sufficiently represented in the new Syrian state, with declarations and statements denouncing the lack of diversity and inclusivity in the new constitution. Major Assyrian cultural organizations believe minorities are under threat due to the salafist ideology underlying the new government.

CELEBRATIONS FOR ÖCALAN'S BIRTHDAY AND THE FOUNDATION OF YPJ
On April 4th many people celebrated the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan. In Rojava it is common to organize reforestation events, planting trees to restore forests and celebrate nature. This is also the day that YPJ was founded, marking 13 years of struggle in defense of the people of north-east Syria and against patriarchy. YPJ organized events highlighting the importance of women resistance and struggle and the value of Öcalan’s ideas in the revolution of north-east Syria. In Bakur, northern Kurdistan, people marched to Amara village, the birth place of Öcalan. On their arrival to Amara village they called for the Turkish state to act following the message of Öcalan and take steps towards democratization and engagement with the Kurdish political question.

# REHABILITATION WORKS IN TISHRIN DAM
Technical teams have begun maintenance and repair operations at Tishrin Dam, paving the way for the restoration of its services and electricity generation. The dam has been a strategic point in the clashes between SDF and SNA Turkish proxies, suffering critical damage from Turkish bombs and attacks against SDF. As the military conflict slows down and negotiations advance, the rehabilitation of such critical infrastructure is a major step that can help provide electricity to the Syrian people. Clashes between Turkish proxies and SDF are not totally halted, but such initiative may suggest that agreements can make way for restoring Syria energy capacity. This would not have been possible without the efforts and sacrifices of the many civilian convoys that kept vigil on Tishrin dam, preventing further damage to it by Turkish attacks. The vigil goes on after several months of uninterrupted presence, keeping watch on the dam and supporting the resistance of SDF against Turkish attacks.

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# RENEWED CLASHES WITH TURKISH PROXIES
Turkish attacks against SDF continued. The intensity of Turksih attacks decreased since the beginning of March, as negotiations about a ceasefire took place and negotiations for the integration of SDF in the new Syrian army developed. Nevertheless, new attacks in the west bank of the Euphrates river from SNA Turkish proxies this last week, proved that the end of hostilities is not yet a reality. SDF also published footage of three new Turkish military bases being build in Manbij countryside, with videos of alleged Turkish military convoys that include armored vehicles and advanced military equipment such as radars, circulating at night in areas under control of Turkish proxy forces. Rumors about direct negotiations between AKP (Turkish ruling party) and SDF circulate on social networks together with speculations about steps for peace talks between Turkish state and PKK, but until now there are no official announcements in such direction.

# FORMATION OF THE 'SYRIAN EQUAL CITIZENSHIP ALLIANCE' or 'TAMASUK'
In reaction to the provisional constitution that the transitional government recently presented, an alliance of more than 30 diverse political parties and civil society organized groups was formed. The main aim of this alliance, including the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and other Kurdish, Christian, and Druze-affiliated groups, is to demand a new Syrian constitution that respects the diversity of Syria as well as promoting a decentralized and democratic Syrian State. The alliance founding statement present itself not as direct opposition to the government but working towards a unified Syria, willing to engage with all political forces, including the government of al-Sharaa.

# NEW APPOINTED FATWA SUPREME COUNCIL AND RENEWED TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT
On Friday March 28 al-Sharaa appointed 15 members to the newly formed supreme Fatwa council. The council will oversee religious rulings on critical issues and will be lead by Osama al-Rifai, who have close connections with Turkish president Erdogan and the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Rifai was appointed as Grand Mufti of Syria in 2021 and have been a prominent Islamic scholar in the opposition to al-Assad regime. Several notable HTS-affiliated scholars, including Sheikh Abdul Rahim Atun, former HTS-backed Supreme Fatwa Council member Anas Ayrut, and new Minister of Justice Mazhar al Wais, also sit on the new council.
On Saturday March 29 al-Sharaa also announced the list of the ministers of the new transitional government. HTS loyalists and other men close to al-Sharaa keep their positions in key cabinets, with some new names of technocrats that join the government in less critical ministries. The government remains therefore arab, suni and HTS dominated, including some tokenized members from ethnic minority groups. The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC, political body aligned with the DAANES) made a statement denouncing this new government as a continuation of the exclusion politics of the Syrian State, declaring that the DAANES have no obligation to implement the decisions of such government and that it will continue working for a democratic Syria.

# FIRST KURDISH WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN NORTH-EAST SYRIA
The inaugural Kurdish Women's Conference was held in North-East Syria on March 23rd, aimed at amplifying the voices of Kurdish women within the evolving Syrian society and fostering a path toward a unified, democratic future. Approximately 300 delegates are participating, including representatives from political parties, intellectuals, authors, artists, journalists, and women from diverse organizations and movements. The conference features representatives from the women's committees of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) as well as from Aleppo and Damascus. Among the topics was the importance of the continuation of YPJ and womens self-defense as well as rejecting the Damascus constitution. Suad Mistefa, mother of Martyr Hevrin Xelef, said that women cannot be deceived by this constitution and that the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” will always win.

# INTERNATIONAL SEHIDS MEMORIAL
On March 24 a commemoration for international sehids took place in Qamsihlo, gathering dozens of internationals to remember the struggle of our internationalist fallen comrades. March 24 is the date that Elefteria Fortulakis, a woman from Greece, burned herself in 2006 to protest for the imprisonment of Abdullah Ocalan. It was the 5th year this commemoration took place in Rojava, with delegates from “families for peace” from Germany as well as other groups and organizations. The event also hosted the screening of the movie “Legerin – In search of Alina”, exploring the life of sehid Legerin, a doctor from Argentina who joined the guerilla in the Kurdish mountains and lost her life in a car accident in Rojava in 2018.

# EID CELEBRATIONS
At the end of March, closing the Ramadan, the celebrations of Eid become an important event in all Muslim world. In Syria Eid started on March 31st, and for 3 days families will be visiting relatives and friends, eating sweets and strengthening social bonds. Political organizations also celebrate eid visiting each other and building diplomatic relations. The new transitional government made a televised prayer all together from the presidential palace.

# (SOME THOUGHTS, NOT SO MUCH OF) ANALYSIS
The celebrations of eid are an important reminder of the value of social bonds in this society, with kurdish and arab mothers and grandmothers spreading sweets and candies among kids on the streets. Every receiving guests and going to visiting their relatives and neighbors for three days. It also comes with the arrival of the spring, as well as the recent celebrations of newroz dancing around the fire. It also come together with the celebrations of Akito, the Assyrian new year, making a very lively days and cheerful days. News of agreements and peace talks combine good with the atmosphere of this festivity, combining well with hopes of peaceful times and the end of bloodshed in Syria.

For us it’s also an important time to join the local rhythm of this society, to visit friends and neighbors and receive the guests that come to visit us, putting in practice the lessons of hospitality and cultural fluency we learned over the years living and taking part of this revolutionary society. And yes, it’s true that there is a religious component in these celebrations, as Christmas does in christian countries, but we also learned to not focus on that aspect and to value these days for the human and social aspect they bring. Social relations are the key to sustain the networks of mutual aid that are foundational in our anarchist values, and every opportunity to strengthen these bonds of friendship and solidarity should be cherished and celebrated.

Revolutionary greetings!
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# NEWROZ PIROZ BE!

This week all Kurdistan went to the streets for Newroz, the new year celebrations for many peoples in West and Central Asia, Caucasus and Balkans. It has a very significant meaning of resistance for Kurdish people. Throughout northern Syria big celebrations were organized by the DAANES, with music, political speeches and other cultural events. Many political and social organizations made statements to celebrate Newroz and to celebrate the achievements of the Kurdish liberation movement, as well as the revolutionary steps taken this year, and the recent statement of Abdullah Öcalan invigorated the celebrations.

# NEXT STEPS ON THE AGREEMENTS SIGNED BY ABDI-SHARA'A

Following the agreements of cooperation signed by Mazlum Abdi and Ahmed al-Shara'a, the provisional goverment formed a committee to coordinate its implementation. Alongside discussions about the integration of SDF into the Ministry of defense and other topics related to security and military affairs, steps are also been taken in civilian affairs. UNICEF mediated a discussion between the DAANES and the Ministry of Education to develop a fair and accessible process for students across the region, mainly concerning Syrian universities and mechanisms for conducting secondary and preparatory certificate exams. Discussions about oil and gas fields and electricity plants are also taking place, with the Syrian Minister of Electricity Omar Shaqrouq giving at a press conference about energy infrastructure repairs in northeast Syria. Rumors and alleged conditions of SDF and the transitional government about the integration of SDF in the new Syrian army are spreading on some social networks, but as terms are being discussed no official announcements have been made this week.

# AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PYD AND ENKS

Representants of PYD (Partiya Yekitiya Democratic - Democratic Union Party, leading political party of DAANES) and ENKS (Kurdish national union party, a party in Rojava that is closely connected to KRG and Turkey) held a meeting in Qamishlo with mediation of Mazlum Abdi and American officials. After the meeting both sides communicated they reached agreements to end the disputes between both organizations and to build a common delegation to negotiate with the Damascus provisional government. Both parties also expressed their common disagreement with the provisional consitution that was recently proposed by the provisional government, calling for a decentralized and federal Syria. They also stated that they will meet again after the celebrations of Newroz to continue negotiations.

#COASTAL INSURGENCE

Incidents continue in the coastal areas of the Latakia province that saw the recent wave of insurgency. Revenge killings and kidnappings have continued over the past week, even as coordinated insurgent attacks and extrajudicial sectarian killings by interim government forces have decreased. Alawite media have widely reported on instances of violence committed against the Alawite community by Sunnis and government forces. Several thousands, mostly Alawites, left their homes seeking shelter from the attacks in Lebanon. Near 10.000 found temporary shelter in the Russian base at Hmeimim, but after the tensions lowered, Russian military personal urged them to leave the military base.

# CLASHES IN LEBANESE BORDER

After a confusing incident on the border between Syria and Lebanon where some Syrians were killed, clashes took place. Forces of HTS connected to the Syrian Ministry of Defense (MoD) launched a raid into Lebanese territory, taking control of one small border town. The Lebanese army engaged in clashes, allegedly against smugglers or tribal armed groups. HTS-linked media blame Hezbollah for the incidents, but Hezbollah denied involvment. Over the week, clashes continued on and off, with discussions ongoing between Lebanese goverment and Syrian provisional government to secure the border and stop the clashes. Allegedly, Hezbollah used the tensions and confusion to launch raids on Syrian territory.

# DEIR EZZOR INSURGENCY

Soldiers of the MoD launched several raids in the Deir Ezzor region, in areas under control of the provisional government. The raids followed a wave of insurgency and attacks against military points of the MoD, allegedly by smuggling networks and militias aligned with Hezbollah or with Iran. It seems there is no direct relation between the insurgency in Deir Ezzor and the insurgency in coastal areas, but in both cases Assad loyalist elements seem to be involved in one way or another.

# HALT ON TURKISH ATTACKS?

On Sunday 16th of March a Turkish drone attacked a family home in the Kobane countryside killing both parents and 7 children, with only two children surviving with serious injuries. Many protests denouncing the attack took place all across north-east Syria. Two days after the massacre, the attacks of SNA and the Turkish army slowed down to a point that in the last days, no new attacks are reported. This pause could be a temporary phenomenon, but it comes against the backdrop of the SDF-Syrian provisional government talks. Turkey and the SNA appeared to halt attacks on March 19, which was the same day that the Syrian interim government met with the SDF at al Shaddadi base in Hasakah Province to continue negotiations over the SDF’s integration into the Syrian army.

# ISRAEL ATTACKS

Israel continued its attacks on Syrian military positions, further advancing their occupation in southern Syria. Some airstrikes are claimed to be targeting military installations in southern Syria, which were allegedly being repurposed by military personal, and becoming a potential threat to Israel. Military occupation forces entered several new villages of the Quneitra region. Besides the expansion of the military occupation, they launched airstrikes next to the Lebanese border, allegedly targeting Hezbollah militias. The Israeli air force also bombed the Palmyra military airport in central Syria in several raids.

# ANALYSIS: Read in comments

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