2nd Forum for Women & Protection in the Middle East

Under the slogan “An Organized Woman is a Strong Woman, and a Strong Woman is the Foundation of Self-Protection” on 25th November the' 2nd Forum for Women & Protectionin the Middle East' took place in North-East Syria.
Women from different organizations reflected on their political analysis of this crucial phase for the Middle East. As this region has become the world’s theater stage for the ongoing 3rd World War, women from different military forces and political organizations spoke about their strategies for protection, self-defense and the common struggle for liberation, peace and democracy.

"We will not surrender our destiny to anyone"- Nesrin Abdullah, Member of the YPJ General Command

What is happening in #Aleppo?

Background information on HTS and current developments in Aleppo:
Since the 27th November the militia HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) has started an offensive on Aleppo city. HTS emerged out of IS when IS established itself in Syria in 2012 under the current HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani. The group later broke with ISIS and affiliated with al-Qaeda, calling itself al-Nusra. It again rebranded itself as a political strategy after 2017, renaming HTS (👇). HTS has set up a 'de facto Islamic state' in Idib region, calling its reign "Salvation Government" (SIG). Acorrding to the Rojava Information Center: "Much like ISIS, HTS conducts morality patrols, arresting young women for failing to follow religious dress codes; young men for shaving or listening to music; and civilian activists for any activity in opposition to HTS’ de facto control of Idlib. HTS’s religious police, known as ‘Sawid Al Khayr’, enforce dress codes and the segregation of males and females on buses and in the streets. HTS conduct public executions for witchcraft and heresy – as well as of ISIS members. Human Rights Watch has documented consistent arbitrary detention and torture of civil society activists who sought to document HTS abuses or protest their rule, as well as assassinations and the restriction of humanitarian aid to civilians living under its rule." International institutions have called it a new offspring of jihadism, calling it "political jihadism", comparing its tactics rather to the #Taliban than #ISIS. Nontheless, some of its fighters have been seen wearing #ISIS patches in the past few days 👇.
HTS has been deepening its relationship with Turkey in the past years, although also having other foreign sponsors. Since 2020 it has been operating together with the Turkish-backed NFL (National Liberation Army), participating in Turkish operations and has recieved training and weapons by Turkey (through NFL common operations). Especially for its economic activities in and out of Idlib it relies on relations with the Turkish state. It has a force of around 15.000-30.000 fighters (2022 estimate)

Situation in Aleppo:
Aleppo is / has been mostly controlled by regime forces with certain areas, the Kurdish neighbourhoods such as Sheikh Maqsood in the north of Aleppo, controlled by SDF forces 👇. As HTS started its offensive on 27th November from the West of Aleppo towards the city, quickly gaining ground as the Syrian regime under Assad (backed by Russia) was defeated. By the evening of 29th November, HTS had taken large parts of the city of Aleppo. As of now different information on the ground exists as of how much of Aleppo is controlled by HTS. SDF had previously stated that we are following the situation closely and are ready to intervene to protect our peole and our soil. Today (30th November) clashes with #SDF forces were reported👇.

Who is SNA?
The Syrian Free Army, the initial main oppositional military force at the outstart of the Syrian revolution has not existed under a central command since 2015 and slowly lost power. Turkey took the lead, reassembled forces under the name Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) later calling itself Syrian National Army, carrying the same flag as the SFA. The SNA in its current form was founded in 2017 largely out of Turkmen factions and has grown into a conglomerate of over 30 militias, including former FSA-militias. The SNA claims to be the main opposition to the Assad regime, also having set up a political arm, the “Syrian Interim Government’.

SNA forces have been acting largely as a proxy force for Turkish interests, expansionism and its fight against the Kurdish Freedom Movement. The SNA has joined Turkish military operations in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (see image above) occupying Afrin, areas in the Afrin-Sexba canton, Gire Spi and Serekaniye. The SNA is mostly funded, trained and equipped by Turkey. HTS and SNA are officially operating militarily together since 2019.

SDF statement about the current attacks against our forces around Aleppo and Shehba

This week has witnessed a large-scale attack and substantial shifts have happened. Damascus government forces have deteriorated in Aleppo and other regions. It is no doubt that this attack is orchestrated by the Turkish occupation state, with the ultimate goal of occupying the entire Syrian territory. However, the primary target of this attack remains the areas under the Autonomous Administration to prevent the peaceful coexistence of the region’s diverse peoples, including Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, and other communities. The Autonomous Administration’s regions are facing a large-scale attack, with a particular focus on the areas of Al-Shahba’a and Aleppo. This constitutes a grave threat to the survival of our people.
This critical moment represents a historic turning point for all Syrians, especially those residing in the Democratic Autonomous Administration. The sole objective of this attack is to our safe areas and ultimately occupy Syrian territory. The aggressor seeks to inflict suffering upon all the region’s peoples.
For several days, our brave fighters have been fiercely resisting the ongoing attacks on the Manbij front and west of the Euphrates.
Our Syrian Democratic Forces have consistently fulfilled their duty to liberate and protect the region. We reaffirm our commitment to these historical responsibilities, regardless of the cost. We will stand firm against these attacks and fulfill our historic duty to safeguard the region and its people. There should be no doubt about our resolve. We urge everyone to heed the call for public mobilization and to coordinate closely with the SDF and Internal Security Forces. It is imperative that we stand united in these challenging times.
In these historic days, we call upon our people to join forces in the defense of their villages, cities, and the entire region. We must participate in the people’s revolutionary war and fulfill our duty to protect our homeland. We call upon the youth of the region, including Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, and Circassians, to fulfill their historical role by joining the resistance fronts and enlisting in the ranks of the SDF, YPG, and YPJ.
The current war is a noble struggle for humanity and human dignity. It is a war to protect the values of freedom and civilization against the obscurantist ideologies of ISIS and Erdogan. This is a war for light and liberation, a war that guarantees a future of coexistence and brotherhood among peoples.
We urge the young men and women of the region to join the SDF and contribute to building a free future. We are confident that with the active participation of our youth, we can repel this attack and thwart the plans of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries.

SDF General Command
December 1, 2024

https://sdf-press.com/en/2024/12/statement-on-recent-developments-in-syria/

This aggression aims to occupy and divide Syria, turning it into a hotbed of international terrorism, the offensive that began in Aleppo and Hama is not limited to a specific area, but threatens all of Syria.

Therefore, we call on all components of our people in the NE Syria to realize that one of the goals of this aggression is to destroy the hopes of Syrians to live in freedom and dignity, target the project of democratic Autonomous Administration, and try to annex new territories to Turkey.

We, Arabs, Kurds, Syriacs, Assyrians and Turkmen, must join hands and strengthen our unity to confront this blatant aggression, and we call on our young men and women to rally around the Syrian Democratic Forces.

We announce the phase of general mobilization and call on our people to be on constant alert.

All our institutions must be on the job, on full alert, and each institution must act as a crisis cell to face the challenges resulting from this aggression.

We appeal to the international community to stop this aggression, which will cause major humanitarian disasters, as it represents a threat to Syria, a new form of Daesh terrorism that will have serious regional and global repercussions."

1st December 2024

https://hawarnews.com/en/democratic-autonomous-administration-declares-stage-of-general-mobilization

Commenting on the attacks in Syria, specifically in the Canton of Afrin and Shahba, and Aleppo, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the NE Syria made a statement to public opinion, in its center in the city of Raqqa, read by the co-presidency of the Autonomous Administration.

"At the outset, we strongly condemn the attack launched by the Turkish state and its mercenaries on Syrian territory, and we salute the historical resistance shown by our people in Aleppo and Shahba.

This attack, led by the Turkish state, represents a continuation of the plan that Turkey failed to achieve through ISIS, and its goal is to occupy Syria and achieve the limits of the "Misak i-Milli pact" that the Turkish state has repeatedly sought to implement.

Statement by Our SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazlum Abdi Regarding the Recent Developments in Northwestern Syria

The situation in northwest Syria has developed rapidly and suddenly, with our forces facing intense attacks from multiple fronts. Following the collapse and withdrawal of the Syrian Army and its allies, we intervened to establish a humanitarian corridor between our eastern regions, Aleppo, and the Tal Rifaat area, with the aim of protecting our people from potential massacres.
However, the attacks of the armed groups backed by the Turkish occupation have disrupted this corridor.
Our forces have valiantly defended our people in Aleppo, Tal Rifa’at, and al-Shahba’a.
We are actively coordinating with all relevant parties in Syria to ensure the safety of our people and facilitate their secure relocation from the Tal Rifa’at and Shahba’a areas to our safe areas in the northeast of the country.
Concurrently, our forces continue to resist to protect our people residing in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Besides these attacks, Turkish mercenaries yesterday also bombed Tel Temir (further in the East of AANES) power station which is now out of order. Turkey has targeted a car on the road between Heseke and Qamishlo with drone, by which one SDF fighter was martyred.

Meanwhile the people’s protection units and the population of the Kurdish-dominated neighbourhoods of Aleppo have refused to leave and are preparing themselves for attacks. Previous false information was spread that they were leaving Aleppo. Aleppo, as stated previously, is for some days now largely in the hands of HTS, a jihadist militia that has strong ties to Turkey’s mercenary army’s, however cannot simply be seen as a proxy. HTS is running de facto Islamic state in the regions under its controls.

SDF and AANES have both released statements raising awarenes of the possibility for massacres, occupation, the crushing of people’s aspirations and humanitarian crisis. Both statements highlight the role of Turkey behind the attack and the aim of Turkey to occupy more land in Syria, in line with its expansionist “ "Misak i-Milli pact". Since yesterday, Turkish mercenaries have solely been attacking SDF positions (not regime or Iran-backed militias), showing that the aim is to attack the Rojava revolution in-line wth Turkey’s long-standing fascist agenda against Kurdish aspirations and the freedom movement. Several institutions have reassured their promise to defend our soil and our people and call on a general mobilisation and especially the youth to join the ranks of SDF, YPG and YPJ forces.

New #YPJ statement
📍condemning the attacks on our people
📍vowing to avenge captured female fighters of the 'Defense Forces of Sheikh Maqsud & Eshrafiyeh'
📍calling for women to join their ranks & international women's organisatons to expose true agenda of Turkey and militias