Highlights
18.01.26 - 20.01.26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Full scale war is here. We were caught up in the midst of it and did not manage to publish updates the past two days. We'll do our best to be back on track here to keep you updated, but also call on all of you to seek out the truth of what is happening on the ground. If you run into relevant things we did not mention, let us know and we'll do our best to verify and inform. Solidarity is our best weapon!
# NES LOOSES GROUND
The past three days, the border between NES and the Syrian regions under STG control has been moving by the minute - to the loss of NES and gain of STG. Following a fragile ceasefire agreement that has not been respected, SDF had to withdraw from Raqqa as well as Deir ez-Zor region. US by its non-reaction gives green light.
Despite everything that is at stakes for all the people and the revolution, two major risks arising with this are for one the consequences for women.
Women in places like Raqqa, who were liberated from certain of the patriarchal and fascist constraints, are being and will be thrown back to full oppression with all the abuses we can picture. The second is the risk that prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters captive being lost control over which would bolster an ISIS resurgence. At Raqqa Al Aqtaan prison, while SDF withdrew from the city, some SDF fighters stayed behind to defend the prison in order to prevent ISIS being liberated. They are besieged and water supplies being intentionally cut off. The situation is very fragile. Second, the prison in Shedadi had to be left behind by SDF, with US army watching idly from close distance. Consequently, STG went in and freed the prisoners. Third, Al-Hol camp, the refugee camp housing about 40.000 women and children and affiliates of ISIS fighters, cannot be controlled any longer by the SDF. SDF announced that due to the ongoing attacks they can't secure it any longer, shortly after US allegedly deployed some forces and stated that SDF is still in control of the facilities. Several days ago already, after Tabqa Church Prison was evacuated by SDF, STG-affiliated cells entered and opened fire, staging a scene as if taking control of the prison.
Kobani is an island on the map now, encircled by STG and Turkish state factions. STG intentionally cut off water and electricity from the city, putting the inhabitants at great risk.
# MASS MOBILISATION
As last hopes for diplomatic and peaceful solutions are being crushed by Turkey-backed STG aggression, organisations and structures of NES, of other parts of Kurdistan, and internationally call for mass mobilisation in order to defend NES and the revolution. DAANES concludes: “We must understand that we are facing an existential war. To preserve the gains of our revolution and our identity, there is only one option, popular resistance.” In NES, even politicans and injured fighters take up arms.
In other parts of Kurdistan, people in Southern Turkey and Northern Iraq managed to break through the borders to come and join the resistance. Semalka border - the main entry and exit point for NES - allegedly opened doors, allowing many buses full of kurdish civilians going to join the resistance in Rojava. A protest of thousands in Nusaybin, which lies in Turkish territory just next to Qamishlo, culminated successfully in the tearing down of the border. Hundreds rushed across into NES, but Turkish soldiers opened fire against the protestors and at least four people were injured.
This mobilisation is also being echoed by people all around the world, taking to the streets to condemn the attacks. Many protests and demonstrations already took place in Turkey, France, Switzerland, US, Germany, Austria, Catalunya.
# KURDISH UNITY AND PUSHES FOR ETHNIC DIVISION
In face of such grave attacks, different Kurdish organisations and politically differently affiliated populations can be seen moving closer together, recognising the threat to all of them. Talabani, president of PUK in Kurdistan-Iraq condemned the attacks, expresssing to side with NES. At the same time, the current situation sadly also fuels anti-Arab racism in NES, with Arabs sometimes being seen as one with what STG are representing. These ethnic divisions are precisely what Turkey and HTS are striving for and thriving on. In such times we need to remind ourselves and each other more than ever, that what is being defended in NES is a political liberatory effort that bridges among ethnic and national differences.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#Syria #NES #SDF #DAANES #AANES #SNA #SDF #PYD #YPJ #YPG #HTS #Rojava #Kurdistan #Revolution #DefendRojava #Anarchy #Anarchism #Comrades #Internationalism #AbdullahOcalan #Öcalan #PKK #WomenLifeFreedom #TekosinaAnarsist
