Syria's new political landscape - UPDATES

[Anthea]

Al-Sharaa Addresses UN General Assembly

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syria’s transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa will participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, marking the first time since 1967 that a Syrian head of state addresses the world body from its iconic podium

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Wednesday that al-Sharaa will attend the high-level week between September 23 and 30, accompanied by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and a senior diplomatic delegation.

SANA underlined that al-Sharaa’s participation makes him the first Syrian president to speak at the UN General Assembly since former President Nour al-Din al-Atassi (1966–1970).

Following the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, during which Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel, Damascus adopted a rigid stance toward international institutions, viewing the UN as biased due to U.S. and Western support for Israel. For more than five decades, this position meant no Syrian president appeared before the General Assembly at the head-of-state level.

Al-Sharaa’s attendance therefore carries profound historical significance, signaling both a break with decades of isolation and the challenges of reintegrating Syria into international diplomacy after years of conflict.

Post-Baathist Syria and International Reintegration

The announcement comes less than a year after the collapse of Baath Party rule on December 8, 2024, which ended 61 years of single-party control, including 53 years under the Assad family. The transitional government led by al-Sharaa has sought to re-establish Syria’s place in the international community, although the road has been fraught with difficulties.

Despite backing from the United States, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia, efforts to normalize Syria’s international standing face obstacles, including ongoing internal conflicts and widespread anger over atrocities committed during the nine months of al-Sharaa’s rule.

Amnesty International has documented what it labeled as “war crimes” in Syria’s coastal provinces earlier this year. Between March 6 and 10, sectarian massacres in Latakia, Tartous, and Hama killed at least 1,169 civilians, including 103 women and 52 children, according to the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression

Amnesty also accused Syrian government forces and affiliated groups of the Druze Massacres and stressed that the Syrian forces deliberately executing civilians, including 46 Druze in Sweida on July 15–16, urging full accountability under international law. More than 2,000 people were reported killed during that wave of sectarian bloodshed, which Amnesty said must be addressed through truth, justice, and reparations to break “the cycle of atrocities.”

The massacres deepened sectarian tensions, particularly in southern Syria, where online videos circulated with chilling threats against Alawites, Druze, and Kurds.

Tensions have since spilled into new military confrontations. On Wednesday, heavy clashes erupted in eastern Aleppo between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus-backed units, underscoring the volatility on the ground even as Syria seeks diplomatic rehabilitation abroad.

According to a statement carried by SANA, the Syrian Ministry of Defense accused the SDF of launching “an irresponsible and sudden campaign of heavy shelling” from positions around al-Jarrah military airport and Maskanah, striking civilian homes in several villages. The ministry reported that two civilians were killed and three injured, vowing to continue targeting the sources of fire.

The SDF rejected the allegations, countering that its fighters had repelled an infiltration attempt by “unruly groups affiliated with the Damascus government” in the Deir Hafar area. In a statement, the SDF asserted: “Our forces decisively repelled the infiltration and artillery attacks… and completely thwarted their attempts.”

This flare-up follows earlier confrontations in Deir Ezzor in late August, where Damascus-backed groups attacked SDF positions. Regional monitoring groups report that Damascus has amassed as many as 50,000 troops near Palmyra, heightening fears of a wider offensive unless the SDF relinquishes control of territories under the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).

Al-Sharaa’s upcoming appearance at the UN General Assembly thus comes at a critical juncture for Syria. On one hand, it symbolizes a long-awaited return to the international stage after nearly six decades of absence. On the other, it occurs against a backdrop of unresolved conflict, sectarian wounds, and political fragmentation that continue to shape the country’s fragile transition.

Whether al-Sharaa’s presence in New York will mark the beginning of Syria’s reintegration—or serve only as a symbolic gesture overshadowed by ongoing violence.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... since-1967

[Anthea]

SDF Accuses Pro-Damascus, Turkish
Backed Groups of Massacre in Aleppo

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are accusing pro-government factions, allegedly supported by Turkey, of carrying out a deadly assault on the village of Um Tina near Deir Hafer in Syria’s eastern Aleppo province

According to an SDF statement issued on Saturday, the attack began with drone strikes and was followed by intensive artillery shelling that struck civilian homes.

The group claimed seven people, including women and children, were killed, while at least four others sustained injuries.

The SDF also reported that its fighters earlier confronted what it described as “Damascus government gunmen” attempting to launch a drone strike on its positions in Deir Hafer, forcing the attackers to retreat.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which closely monitors the conflict, confirmed that 11 civilians were either killed or wounded in shelling attributed to pro-government forces in the same area.

The Syrian government has yet to issue any statement in response to the accusations.

The flare-up follows a week of heightened tensions in Deir Hafer, where clashes erupted between SDF units and government-aligned fighters.

Each side accused the other of destabilizing the region and deliberately targeting non-combatants.

The SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition of militias, controls large swathes of northeast Syria under the umbrella of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

While backed by the United States in the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS), the SDF has long faced hostility from both the Syrian government and Turkiye.

Damascus rejects the autonomy project led by the SDF, while Ankara views the group as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist organization.

The Aleppo countryside, particularly areas near Deir Hafer, has seen repeated flare-ups between SDF forces, pro-government militias, and Turkish-backed factions.

Civilians often bear the brunt of these confrontations, with rights groups consistently warning that indiscriminate shelling and drone strikes are worsening the humanitarian situation in northern Syria.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895013

The SDF have divided Syrian Kurds who proudly referred to their country as Western Kurdistan and made several attempts to declare Independence - the SDF took control of a large part of Western Kurdistan,changed the centuries old name. Refused to work with other Kurdish groups yet internationally untruthfully claiming to represent all Kurds in Syria while telling the Kurds they were not working towards an Independent Western Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Sharaa Calls on US to Lift Sanctions at UN

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa renewed his call on Monday for the United States to formally lift sanctions imposed under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civil Protection Act, during his visit to New York to attend the first UN General Assembly of a Syrian leader in nearly six decades

Sharaa, a former al-Qaida leader who led rebel forces that overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s government last year, noted that while US President Donald Trump lifted most sanctions in May, the Caesar Act remains in effect.

Speaking at a summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Sharaa said the sanctions imposed on the previous Syrian leadership were no longer justified and increasingly perceived by Syrians as targeting them directly.

“We have a big mission to build the economy,” he said. “Syria has a diverse workforce. They love to work, it’s in its genes. So don’t be worried, just lift the sanctions and you will see the results.”

Sharaa, the first Syrian president to participate in the General Assembly since 1967, is expected to deliver his first address at the opening of the Assembly’s 80th session on Tuesday. Later on Monday, he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York but did not comment to reporters on whether he was hopeful the sanctions would be lifted.

The State Department said Rubio underscored the opportunity to “build a stable and sovereign nation” in Syria after Trump’s announcement of sanctions relief but did not address remaining sanctions. They discussed ongoing counterterrorism efforts, locating missing Americans, and the importance of Israel-Syria relations in enhancing regional security, deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

Members of Congress have debated whether to repeal the Caesar Act. Some, including Republicans aligned with Trump as well as Democrats, support its repeal via an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act, expected to pass by the end of December.

Washington has also pressed Syria to reach a security deal with Israel during the New York meetings. Israel and Syria remain formally at war, rooted in territorial disputes, military confrontations, and deep political mistrust. Damascus hopes to halt Israeli airstrikes and withdraw Israeli troops from southern Syria. Sharaa said talks were at an advanced stage and hoped outcomes would preserve Syria’s sovereignty while addressing Israeli security concerns.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, told Axios he would support canceling sanctions against Syria if Sharaa’s government formally moved toward a new security deal with Israel and joined a coalition against Islamic State.

Asked about Syria joining the Abraham Accords, Sharaa said anger over Israeli occupation of Syrian territory would influence Syria’s position. “Israel must withdraw from Syrian land, and security concerns can be addressed in talks. The question is whether Israel’s concerns are truly about security or about expansionist designs — this is what the talks will reveal,” he said.

Sharaa, who had a $10 million US bounty on his head as a militant leader, was interviewed by retired General David Petraeus, who commanded US forces in the Iraq War. Reflecting on their past, Sharaa said, “It’s good that we were once in the battlefield zone and have now moved to another theater — that of dialogue.”

Syria remains deeply fractured after 13 years of civil war. Sharaa said a deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast was delayed. Kurdish calls for decentralization were a step toward separation that risked igniting wider conflict, potentially threatening Iraq, Turkey, and Syria.

This visit, which includes multiple bilateral meetings, highlights Sharaa’s efforts to remove remaining sanctions, rebuild the economy, secure a deal with Israel, and negotiate with Kurdish authorities while navigating a complex post-war political landscape.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895176

[Anthea]

Syrian President Calls for
Support to Rebuild Country

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, marking the first appearance by a Syrian head of state since 1967, and framed Syria as entering a new era of reconstruction after years of war

He called on the international community to support Syria’s rebuilding process, saying, “Syria today is rebuilding itself, and as a nation of civilization, it deserves to be a state of law.” He described Syria as “writing a new chapter in its story, titled peace, stability, and prosperity,” in a speech that lasted less than nine minutes.

Sharaa expressed gratitude to countries that stood by Syria during difficult times, particularly Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, all Arab and Islamic states, the United States, and the European Union. He further pledged Syria’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Israel and urged the international community to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying, “We call on the world to stand with us in the face of these dangers.”

The president recounted the suffering endured under the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, saying, “The former regime, in its war against our people, used the most horrific tools of torture and killing: barrel bombs, chemical weapons, prison torture, forced displacement, sowing sectarian and ethnic strife, and even narcotics as a weapon against our people and the world.”

He added that the former regime “held our beautiful country hostage, killed nearly one million people, tortured hundreds of thousands, displaced around 14 million people, and destroyed nearly two million homes over the heads of their inhabitants.” Sharaa stressed that “the vulnerable population was targeted with chemical weapons in more than 200 documented attacks” and that “our women, children, and youth inhaled toxic gases.”

He described the overthrow of Assad’s regime as “a confrontation that brought down a criminal regime… in a battle that caused no displacement, no civilian deaths, and was crowned with a victory free of vengeance or hostility, through which the people regained their rights.” Sharaa said that “through this victory, Syria has transformed from a country that exported crises into a historic opportunity to establish stability, peace, and prosperity for Syria and for the entire region.”

Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday with several ministers to take part in the annual UN meetings, ending nearly six decades of Syrian absence from the Assembly at the presidential level. Syria has boycotted the Assembly since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, when Israel occupied the Golan Heights, accusing the UN and other international institutions of siding with Israel because of backing from the United States and its Western allies. The last Syrian leader to attend the UN summit was former President Nureddin al-Atassi, who served from 1966 to 1970.

Since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Syria’s new transitional administration under Sharaa, formed in January, has pursued political and economic reforms, promoted social cohesion, and worked to expand cooperation with regional and international partners. Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years under the Baath Party, fled to Russia last December, ending the Baath Party’s decades-long rule.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895338

[Anthea]

Kurdish Party Condemns
Language Ban in Northern Syria

The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria (Al-Parti) has strongly condemned a decision by the Syrian Interim Government to prohibit Kurdish-language education in the cities of Afrin, Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain), and Gire Spi (Tal Abyad) in northern Syria, describing the move as a “dangerous violation” of cultural rights

In a statement issued on Sunday, Al-Parti said the ban undermines coexistence in the region and raises questions about the legitimacy of the Syrian Interim Government itself.

“Education in one’s mother tongue is the simplest right of nations,” the statement read, warning that erasing Kurdish language rights contradicts the very slogans of the Syrian revolution, which sought freedom and democracy against the Ba’ath regime.

The party stressed that language is not only a means of communication but the foundation of identity and national existence.

“Denying the existence of a people with history and land contradicts all principles of democracy and multi-ethnic coexistence,” it said.

Al-Parti further argued that Kurdish should be recognized as an official language alongside Arabic in Kurdish-majority areas and included in the curricula of schools, institutes, and universities as part of a future democratic Syrian constitution.

The statement also directly challenged the Interim Government: “If the Kurdish language is banned, how can there be talk of rights and freedoms in the future of Syria? How can a constitution be written that does not include the rights of all Syrian peoples?”

The party demanded that the Syrian Interim Government reverse its decision and immediately reinstate Kurdish-language education in affected schools.

The cities of Afrin, Serêkaniyê, and Gire Spi, once controlled by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), have been under Turkish-backed Syrian opposition groups since Turkish military offensives in 2018 and 2019.

Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented widespread demographic engineering and rights violations in these areas, including restrictions on Kurdish cultural expression.

Language rights have long been a point of contention in Syria. Under the Ba’athist government of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, Kurdish education was banned for decades, with the Kurdish language prohibited in schools and public institutions.

The Autonomous Administration later introduced Kurdish-language curricula in areas under its control, marking a historic shift. However, in territories seized by Turkish-backed forces, these educational initiatives have been rolled back.

The latest decision, Kurdish parties warn, risks deepening ethnic tensions and undermining efforts to build a pluralistic, post-conflict Syrian state.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895731

[Anthea]

SDF Accuses Syrian Government of Attacks

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday accused armed groups linked to the Syrian Interim Government of systematically shelling the Tishreen Dam- which is located south of Kobani (Western Kurdistan)-and its surrounding areas with heavy weaponry, in what it described as a grave violation of ceasefire agreements and a direct threat to civilian lives and vital infrastructure

In a statement released by the SDF Media Center, the group said that since the morning hours, forces affiliated with Damascus have been targeting the dam with tanks and field artillery. “Shells have directly struck the body of the dam, as well as workers’ housing and nearby villages, posing an extremely dangerous threat to civilian lives and creating the risk of a catastrophic disaster for essential facilities,” the statement read.

The SDF underscored that such attacks escalate tensions at a time when de-escalation and the continuity of essential services are most needed. The group held the Damascus government fully responsible for these violations and their potentially disastrous consequences, affirming its right to defend its people and forces against any threat.

Roads Cut and Neighborhoods Isolated in Aleppo

Simultaneously, Syrian government forces escalated their actions in Aleppo by erecting new earth mounds around the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, cutting off vital arteries that connect residents to other districts of the city. The measures included blocking the key road between Ashrafiyeh Park and Sheihan Roundabout, as well as closing the Gundul Roundabout, which serves as a crucial lifeline linking Sheikh Maqsoud to eastern Aleppo.

The closure of the Gundul checkpoint rendered it entirely inoperative, mirroring the earlier shutdown of the Lairamon checkpoint, deepening the isolation of both neighborhoods. These measures have further exacerbated the hardships of residents, complicating their mobility and obstructing access to essential needs.

The latest fortifications and road closures also disrupted the functioning of joint checkpoints shared between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and government troops, undermining coordination and fueling tensions in the already volatile area.

In response to the escalating measures, the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh convened a gathering at the Zaytoun Roundabout in Aleppo’s Ashrafiyeh neighborhood. In a statement read publicly in Kurdish by Co-Deputy Chair Dunya Bakr, in Arabic by Co-Chair Hevin Suleiman, and in English by the Co-Chair of the Yazidi House, Manan Jaafar.

The Council urged the Syrian Interim Government to uphold its commitments and hold accountable the armed groups violating the April 1 agreement. The assembly was attended by neighborhood residents, political party representatives, and members of civic institutions.

The Council’s statement recalled the collapse of the Baathist regime and the hope it once carried for security, peace, and reconciliation across Syria. “After decades of oppression, injustice, and crimes committed by the regime, we aspired to build a homeland where love and peace prevail. Yet today, violations by groups aligned with the Interim Government revive memories of those dark times,” the statement said.

Highlighting the role of the SDF as a national and inclusive force, the Council underscored that the group has been indispensable for safeguarding the unity of Syria’s land and people. “Since its formation, the SDF has stood as a national necessity, protecting all communities of North and East Syria, including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and Syriacs. It fought ISIS on behalf of the world, shedding the blood of its martyrs to defend Syria’s integrity,” the Council declared.

The statement rejected accusations from the Syrian Interim Government that the SDF does not represent the people of North and East Syria, calling them “baseless attempts to incite sectarianism under the direction of external powers.” It noted that Arab tribes had responded decisively by reaffirming their support for the SDF, which they view as a force inclusive of all Syrian communities and the sole guarantor of the country’s unity.

The Council strongly condemned recent actions by factions affiliated with the Interim Government’s Ministry of Defense, including cutting supply routes between Aleppo and North and East Syria, blocking fuel deliveries on the eve of winter, besieging the neighborhoods, building military berms, positioning armed vehicles toward residential areas, and directly targeting civilians.

These, it stressed, constituted flagrant violations of both the March 10 agreement between SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Interim Government Prime Minister Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as the April 1 agreement.

“These acts bring us back to the provocations of the Baath regime, which once divided the country and oppressed its people. We had hoped to build a homeland that embraced all Syrians in their diversity, but these violations are a betrayal of that vision,” the Council warned.

Residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh declared their full support for the SDF, describing it as the only force that has defended Syria’s identity, resisted partition, and championed women’s rights without marginalization. “The SDF represents us and represents all Syrians. It is the guarantor of unity and the safeguard against division,” the statement emphasized.

Concluding their appeal, the Council called on the Syrian Interim Government to adhere to its commitments and bring to justice the groups responsible for cutting roads and targeting civilians. “We hold it fully accountable for these actions and their consequences,” the Council said, reaffirming their call for unity around the SDF as the only inclusive national force capable of protecting Syria’s future.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... -in-aleppo

[Anthea]

These are the rulers of Syria before the Baath coup:

The only Arab among them, is King Faisal; originally he is not a Syrian but a Bedouin from Hijaz. While the right of the bone left the origin, and Hashim Al-Atasi left the origin. Taj Al-Din Al-Husni, Moroccan origin Amazighi. And the rest, six presidents of Kurdish descent!

Then a rebellious creature comes to you, like Muhannad Al-Qaat, who hides his head with forbidden things, to say that Syrian Kurds are immigrants from Turkey. And the irony is that most Syrian intellectuals, undercover, believe such nonsense !!!

Copied from the page of Delor Maqri

[Anthea]

SDF Reports New Attacks by
Damascus-Linked Militants

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Sunday that seven individuals were injured in a series of fresh attacks carried out by militants affiliated with the Damascus government, as tensions continue to mount across northeast Syria (Western Kurdistan). The latest assaults come just two weeks after the Deir Hafer massacre, which killed eight civilians, including children and women, in indiscriminate bombardments of residential areas

In a statement issued by the SDF Media Center, the force said that “militants of the Damascus government continue to escalate their assaults and violations in the regions of northern and eastern Syria, targeting our fighters and innocent civilians in an attempt to destabilize the security and stability of the area.”

According to the statement, a suicide drone launched by pro-government militants early Sunday morning struck a military vehicle near Deir Hafer, wounding three SDF fighters. Later that evening, another armed drone attacked a patrol of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) as it was performing its duty to protect civilians, resulting in injuries among four of its members. The SDF said that residential neighborhoods in the surrounding areas simultaneously came under random artillery fire, posing a direct threat to civilian lives and spreading fear among the population.

The SDF described these repeated strikes as “clear efforts by the Damascus government’s militants to create chaos and destabilize northern and eastern Syria, in a deliberate attempt to undermine the state of safety and order experienced by the people of the region.”

The statement recalled the September 20 massacre in Deir Hafer, where eight civilians, including five women and two children, were killed when Syrian government forces indiscriminately shelled residential homes. “These attacks demonstrate the regime’s ongoing attempts to destabilize the region and obstruct the peace and stability our people have built,” the SDF said.

Just a day earlier, on October 4, the SDF had reported that its units repelled three consecutive assaults by Syrian government-linked groups attempting to breach its defensive lines near the village of Resim al-Kirom in Deir Hafer’s rural outskirts. The assaults, backed by drones and heavy artillery, failed to make any progress, according to the SDF.

“Our forces were fully prepared and thwarted all the enemy’s attempts,” an SDF source said at the time, warning that “the situation in Deir Hafer remains extremely tense, with civilian lives increasingly endangered by the Syrian army’s indiscriminate attacks.”

Following the failed incursions, the SDF redeployed armored vehicles, artillery units, and additional fighters from Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah to reinforce its positions in Deir Hafer. The Syrian government, in turn, sealed off the main Deir Hafer–Aleppo highway, blocking civilian and logistical movement for nearly a week.

The escalation coincides with the collapse of a planned dialogue between the SDF and the Syrian government that had been scheduled to take place in Damascus under U.S. mediation. Sources close to the SDF told Al-Arabiya al-Hadath that the government “refused to meet with SDF officials,” effectively derailing efforts to de-escalate tensions through political means.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army intensified restrictions in Aleppo city, closing off major access points to the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh. Bulldozers and heavy machinery were deployed to erect new earth barriers, cutting routes linking these districts to other parts of the city, including the roads from Ashrafiyeh Park to Sheihan Roundabout and the crucial Gundul Roundabout. The Lairamon checkpoint was also shut down, isolating residents and restricting the movement of essential goods, including food and fuel.

The SDF accused government-affiliated factions of targeting civilian infrastructure, including the Tishreen Dam and nearby villages south of Kobani, using tank and field artillery fire. “Shells have directly struck the body of the dam, workers’ housing, and nearby villages, posing a severe threat to civilian lives and vital facilities,” the SDF said, calling the attacks “grave violations of ceasefire agreements.”

In response to the siege and bombardments, the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh convened a public assembly at Zaytoun Roundabout in Ashrafiyeh. The multilingual statement—read in Kurdish by Co-Deputy Chair Dunya Bakr, in Arabic by Co-Chair Hevin Suleiman, and in English by Manan Jaafar, Co-Chair of the Yazidi House—condemned the renewed hostilities and called on the Syrian Interim Government to uphold its commitments and hold accountable the armed factions violating the April 1 agreement.

“After decades of oppression, injustice, and crimes committed by the regime, we aspired to build a homeland where love and peace prevail,” the statement said. “Yet today, violations by groups aligned with the Interim Government bring us back to those same provocations.”

The Council reaffirmed its full support for the SDF, describing it as “a national necessity and the only inclusive military force protecting Syria’s unity.” It added that the SDF “defends all communities—Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and Syriacs—and has fought ISIS on behalf of the world, shedding the blood of its martyrs to preserve Syria’s integrity.”

The statement rejected claims by the Interim Government that the SDF does not represent the people of North and East Syria, calling such rhetoric “baseless attempts to incite sectarianism under external influence.” Arab tribes, it said, have reaffirmed their solidarity with the SDF, recognizing it as “the sole guarantor of Syria’s unity.”

The Council further denounced government-linked factions for cutting supply routes, blocking fuel deliveries ahead of winter, and directing armored vehicles toward civilian zones, describing such acts as reminiscent of “the Baath regime’s oppressive tactics.”

Residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh echoed the Council’s stance, expressing “unwavering support for the SDF,” which they credited for defending “Syria’s identity, resisting division, and safeguarding women’s rights and social justice.”

Concluding its October 5 statement, the SDF Media Center reaffirmed the group’s commitment to defending its territories and protecting civilians from ongoing aggression. “The Syrian Democratic Forces will continue their duty to protect our people and confront all attempts to undermine the security and stability of the region,” the statement said.

As clashes intensify across the northern frontlines and pro-government forces persist in their violations, the SDF has maintained that it remains fully prepared to respond to any further escalation. With fragile political talks collapsing and the humanitarian toll rising, the situation in Deir Hafer, Aleppo, and the wider north risks devolving into yet another prolonged cycle of violence and instability in war-torn Syria.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... -militants

[Anthea]

Clashes in Suwayda Several Dead

Heavy clashes erupted overnight in Syria’s southern Suwayda province between the National Guard, a Druze-aligned force, and fighters from the Syrian interim government, leaving several people dead and injured, according to local media and activists

The fighting broke out late Wednesday and continued until dawn Thursday in the Wilgha area of Suwayda, where residents reported hearing strong explosions and heavy gunfire. Local sources said various types of weapons were used during the confrontation. At least eight people were confirmed dead or wounded, though the exact number of casualties and their identities have not been independently verified.

The latest outbreak of violence marks a renewed escalation after a ceasefire was announced in July under US supervision. That truce had briefly halted months of unrest between Druze militias and forces loyal to the Syrian interim government. However, tensions have simmered in the province, which has witnessed periodic clashes between rival groups competing for control and influence.

The National Guard in Suwayda was formed earlier this year as an umbrella force uniting several local Druze factions. It operates largely outside the authority of Damascus and has declared its mission to protect the province’s Druze community and maintain local autonomy. Its emergence has altered the balance of power in the area, where both government-aligned and opposition forces have vied for dominance.

Suwayda, a predominantly Druze region in southern Syria, has remained relatively insulated from the country’s broader civil war but has faced growing instability in recent years. The province has seen clashes involving Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and security forces. Earlier violence in July left dozens dead and displaced families, underscoring the fragility of the region’s security landscape.

There has been no official statement yet from the Syrian Interim Government or Damascus regarding Thursday’s fighting. The area remains tense, and residents fear that the violence could spread to neighboring towns if no mediation effort is made.

Analysts say the renewed clashes highlight the persistent fragmentation of authority in Syria’s south, where rival factions continue to assert control amid the absence of a unified state presence. The breakdown of the July ceasefire also raises concerns about further instability and the potential for sectarian strife in one of Syria’s most sensitive regions.

International observers, including US officials who had previously helped broker the truce, are expected to monitor the situation closely. The return to violence in Suwayda could complicate broader efforts to stabilize Syria’s patchwork of local power centers and delay political reconciliation efforts.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/896469

[Anthea]

Former al-Qaeda member
turned Syrian president

Former Director of the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) told Rudaw on Monday that his recent meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa was “a surreal moment,” noting the latter’s transformation from an al-Qaeda “cell leader” to Syrian interim President.

David Petraeus further emphasized the significance of the regime change that unfolded in Syria, particularly in terms of eliminating Iran’s influence in the country and severing its logistical support to the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.

“It was a surreal moment for me because we were obviously on opposite sides, to put it mildly. And here we were, years later - after he spent five years in American detention for being an AQI (al-Qaeda in Iraq) cell leader - and he's now the President of a new Syria,” Petraeus said in an interview with Rudaw's Peshawa Bakhtyar.

He further noted Sharaa’s role as former head of the now-dissolved militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the early December offensive that overthrew the regime of longtime Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

“He was clear about what he’s seeking to do: to develop a government that is representative of all the people of Syria - a country through which so many of the ethnic, sectarian, tribal, and political fault lines of the Middle East run - and to ensure not just majority rule, but minority rights,” Petraeus added.

The former CIA director had met with Sharaa during the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York in late September, on the sidelines of the Syrian interim president’s participation in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Petraeus further described to Rudaw what he called a “hugely significant change” in the region, pointing to Damascus’s break from Tehran. “Syria is no longer an ally of the regime in Iran and no longer allows Iran to replenish Hezbollah’s weapons systems,” he stated.

Addressing the broader regional security picture, Petraeus said that the threat from the Islamic State (ISIS) has been “dramatically reduced” in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. However, he warned that isolated extremists remain active, particularly in Syria.

“There still are individual extremists, and there certainly are extremists still active in Syria - and that’s very worrisome,” he said, noting that the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS continues to pursue extremist leaders in Syria.

Petraeus also reaffirmed his long-standing support for Kurdish forces. He noted his personal history of working with the Kurdish Peshmerga for over two decades, beginning with their "significant role in northern Iraq in liberating the country from the murderous Saddam Hussein regime" in 2003.

“We often, not only partnered with the Peshmerga; we helped to build them into a more capable force,” Petraeus recalled.

Full transcript of interview with former CIA director David Petraeus:

What can you tell us about your meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in New York?

David Petraeus: Well, it was a surreal moment for me because we were obviously on the opposite sides, to put it mildly. And here we were, years later, after he spent five years in American detention for being an AQI - an al-Qaeda Iraq - cell leader and he's the president of a new Syria; the individual who built the forces that overthrew the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad.

I should say that I was very impressed by him. He was very knowledgeable of many aspects of the economy of Syria. He was clear in what it is that he's seeking to do, which is to develop government that is representative of all of the people of Syria, a country through which so many of the ethnic, sectarian, tribal and political fault lines of the Middle East run, and to ensure not just majority rule, but minority rights.

That will be very challenging to develop. I have some experience with that, in the land of the two rivers [Iraq[, of course. But my hope, very much, is that he succeeds in achieving what he's setting out to achieve, because his success is our success.

What do you say about the future of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) - also known as the Hashed al-Shaabi - and the Iraq government?

David Petraeus: I'll stay out of that, actually. I think that when their elections are less than a few weeks away, that an old soldier leaves that to other people.

Do you think Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is ready to accept decentralization in the north and east in Syria?

David Petraeus: Well, again, he said that he wanted to achieve a very ambitious vision, which is to ensure the unity of the country, to ensure that all elements of the country are represented in governance, roughly proportional to their population, and to ensure that, again, minority rights, not just majority rule.

In your assessment, does the Islamic State (ISIS) still pose a threat in Iraq?

David Petraeus: The Islamic State (ISIS) threat in Iraq is obviously dramatically reduced, but there still are individual extremists, and there certainly are extremists still active in Syria, and that's very worrisome. You will know that it's publicly released, that the [US-led] Coalition [to Defeat ISIS] still is pursuing some Islamist extremists in Syria and periodically brings some of these leaders to justice.

What do you say and what do you think of the role of Kurdish fighters in the Kurdistan Region and in northeast Syria (Rojava) and the continued American support for the Kurdish Peshmerga?

David Petraeus: I can't speak for the United States policy on the Peshmerga. What I can say is that I have worked with the Peshmerga for far more than 20 years, starting in March and April of 2003 when the Peshmerga played a significant role in northern Iraq in liberating the country from the murderous Saddam Hussein regime, when my soldiers were fighting north to Baghdad and then, of course, came north to Mosul.

You remember ‘Ana Iraqi, Ana Moslawi,’ and in the four years that I spent in Iraq as a two-star, three-star and four-star general, we often not only partnered with the Peshmerga, we helped to build them into a more capable force and to bring them into the Iraqi Armed Forces as much as we could.

In your conversation with Syrian interim president, Sharaa, did you sense any willingness on his behalf to lead Syria as a liberal, democratic and moderate leader?

David Petraeus: Well, all I can say is, again, that he said all the right things. He was very intelligent. He has a great presence. There's charisma. He's soft-spoken. He is thoughtful. He's well-considered. But now we have to see if he will turn vision into reality. And as I mentioned earlier, I very much hope that he is successful in doing that because, again, his success is our success.

We want to see Syria stay united. We don't want to see it fracture into ethnic and sectarian pieces, and we're very pleased that it is no longer an ally of the regime in Iran and no longer allows Iran to replenish [the Lebanese movement] Hezbollah's weapons systems, munitions, and other weapons by driving them across Syrian soil and by having bases within Syria. That's a hugely significant change, and it was brought about because Hezbollah is much reduced and because, of course, Iran could not help out and the Russians are more than preoccupied with Ukraine.

This is a strategically significant change in the region, one that many of us had hoped for for many decades. And now it has come, and we should be doing everything we can to support Ahmed al-Sharaa and the emerging Syrian government. I have advocated that the US Congress lift the remaining sanctions on it that prevent investment in the finance, construction, and energy sectors, which are very important for reconstruction. And I can also say that there are innumerable Syrian American businessmen and investors in the United States, many of whom met with Ahmed al-Sharaa before my interview, who have offered and want to invest in the new Syria and to help bring that country back to what we always hoped it would be before the murderous al-Assad regime.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/interview/131020251

[Anthea]

Syria’s Al-Sharaa to Visit Moscow

Erbil (Kurdistan24) – Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to visit Moscow on Wednesday, state-run Syria TV reported on Tuesday, marking his first official visit to Russia since assuming office. The visit comes despite the postponement of an Arab summit initially scheduled to take place in the Russian capital, underscoring the continued depth of strategic coordination between Damascus and Moscow

A Syrian official source confirmed to Syria TV that al-Sharaa will hold high-level talks with Russian leaders focused on the continued operation of Russia’s naval base in Tartous and Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia province — two key pillars of Moscow’s military presence on the Mediterranean coast.

The source added that al-Sharaa is also expected to formally request the extradition of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country following his ouster and was later granted political asylum in Russia, to stand trial for alleged crimes committed against Syrians during his rule.

According to the source, the extradition request is expected to be one of the most sensitive topics on the agenda, potentially testing the strength of the long-standing Syrian–Russian alliance. Moscow, which hosted Assad for years, has in recent months sought to preserve diplomatic and strategic ties with Syria’s new leadership, while offering continued military and political backing in the face of recurrent Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory.

Al-Sharaa’s upcoming visit coincides with a major Russian military buildup along Syria’s western coast. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over the past several days, nine massive Russian A124 transport aircraft have landed at Hmeimim Airbase, carrying heavy weaponry, logistical supplies, and advanced defense systems directly from Russia.

At the same time, four military convoys were seen departing from Russia’s Tartous naval base and heading toward Hmeimim, transporting dozens of military trucks, heavy equipment, and fuel tankers. Witnesses reported that the convoys moved in tight coordination along the coastal highway, indicating Moscow’s ongoing reinforcement of its strategic corridor connecting its naval and air facilities.

Observers say the pattern of activity represents one of Russia’s largest military resupply operations in Syria since early 2022. The continuous stream of heavy aircraft landings suggests that Moscow is not only replenishing its forces but also reasserting its long-term strategic dominance in the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Vadim Makarenko, a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized that Russia’s presence in Syria is permanent and indispensable.

“Russia will remain in Syria — this is beyond any doubt,” Makarenko stated. “Every government or authority in Syria since 1947 has maintained relations with Russia. We have supported them all and defended Syria’s sovereignty. Our presence there serves our national interests — maritime dominance, aerial supremacy, and strategic access to the eastern Mediterranean.”

Makarenko stressed that Moscow’s engagement in Syria transcends personal or political affiliations. “We are not tied to individual leaders,” he explained. “Our objective is to maintain relations with the Syrian state itself. We hope the current Syrian government develops inclusive relations with all national components — Kurds, Druze, and others — to ensure that the Syrian Republic becomes a home for all its citizens.”

He dismissed notions of Russian hegemony in Syria, asserting that Moscow’s role is to preserve balance rather than impose control. “At this moment, Syria remains vulnerable — its air force and navy have been severely weakened, leaving it defenseless before regional powers such as Israel. That is why maintaining equilibrium is crucial, and Russia must help safeguard it,” Makarenko said.

Makarenko also underscored that Russia’s continued deployment in Syria is necessary to prevent internal collapse and maintain the country’s role as an active regional actor. “We are not against the presence of other powers,” he said. “We do not seek monopoly or dominance. Our aim is to contribute to the solution, not to impose it.”

He reiterated that Russia supports inclusive governance and recognizes the importance of Kurdish participation in Syria’s political future. “The Kurds must have their rights and a degree of regional autonomy,” Makarenko added. “Russia will assist Syria in developing an equitable structure where all communities — Kurds, Druze, Arabs — can coexist peacefully. This is not an impossible goal.”

According to Makarenko, Russia’s mission will not change despite growing tensions with Turkey, Israel, or the United States. “We are not leaving Syria because of external pressure. On the contrary, our presence is necessary precisely because those actors are there,” he explained. “Syria needs Russia — and the region needs balance.”

Sharaa’s Moscow trip takes place against a backdrop of rapidly shifting alliances in the Middle East. Following Türkiye’s rapprochement with Damascus and renewed U.S. engagement through its anti-ISIS framework, the Russian–Syrian partnership appears to be entering a new phase focused on institutional continuity and military entrenchment rather than ideological loyalty.

As massive cargo planes continue to land in Latakia and convoys move between Tartous and Hmeimim, analysts view the developments as part of Moscow’s broader determination to anchor its presence in Syria permanently.

“If Russia leaves Syria, it will be gone forever — and that cannot happen,” Makarenko told Kurdistan24. “We must stay to protect our interests, preserve balance, and contribute to a stable future for the Syrian state.”

Al-Sharaa’s impending discussions in Moscow — centered on the fate of the ousted president Assad, the status of Russian bases, and the future of bilateral cooperation — will not only test the resilience of Damascus–Moscow relations but could also define the next phase of Syria’s political transformation and Russia’s enduring footprint in the Middle East.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... -wednesday

[Anthea]

SOHR Director Urges Syria to Follow
Kurdistan Region’s Example in Coexistence

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Rami Abdulrahman, Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said on Friday that Syria should learn from the Kurdistan Region’s experience in promoting peaceful coexistence among its diverse religious and ethnic communities

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Abdulrahman said, “There is no final agreement yet between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the current Syrian Government, but there is an understanding. The current Syrian army is essentially nominal. The SDF has made sacrifices and fought bravely against ISIS.”

His remarks came a day after SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi told the Associated Press that the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed SDF had reached an agreement in principle to integrate into Syria’s national army as part of efforts to unify the country’s military institutions.

Abdulrahman emphasized that the United States and regional powers support Syria's territorial integrity and oppose any form of partition. “The United States and regional countries do not want Syria to be divided, so we support the integrity of Syrian territory,” he noted.

He also highlighted that minority communities such as the Druze and Alawites have placed greater trust in the SDF than in the current Syrian government, alleging that the Syrian army includes elements associated with terrorist organizations.

In March, mass killings of Alawites took place in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus. Reports indicate that hundreds of civilians were summarily executed, their homes burned, and their bodies left on the streets. UN investigators stated that these actions might constitute war crimes.

In July, clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin fighters escalated after the Syrian government deployed forces to the area. Government-aligned troops were accused of committing extrajudicial executions and other atrocities against Druze civilians.

“The Syrian army should not have foreign fighters or foreign interference,” Abdulrahman said, urging the creation of a national military that represents all Syrians.

He concluded by praising the Kurdistan Region as a successful model of coexistence and development. “The Kurdistan Region has achieved significant progress, allowing all communities and religions to live freely and without issues,” Abdulrahman said.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... oexistence

Western Kurdistan is NOT a successful model of coexistence. SDF brought shame on the Kurds by refusing to acknowledge the Kurdish area as being Western Kurdistan. An area that Kurds have been proud of and sought independence for for years.

SDF also brought shame on themselves by refusing to work with other Kurdish political groups.

Yes SDF have done some good including helping in the fight against ISIS and improving the lifestyle of those living in the area it control but it has divided Kurdish loyalty.

Mazloum Abdi is more interested in his own self aggrandizement than the Independence of Western Kurdistan.

Kurds needs UNITY DIGNITY and INDEPENDENCE, not a leader full of his own self-importance

[Anthea]

How MI6 built Syria’s extremist police

Kit Klarenberg uncovers how MI6 covertly built, funded, and legitimized extremist groups in Syria, creating the so-called “Free Syrian Police” and White Helmets as cover operations for Al-Qaeda’s rise and the West’s post-Assad agenda

Documents submitted to the UK Foreign Office by ARK - founded by MI6's Alistair Harris - noted the FSP were “revolutionary entities who share a general ideological affinity with the Syrian rebels.”

On September 19th, in a speech marking the end of his five-year tenure as MI6 chief, Richard Moore hailed the achievements of Britain’s foreign spying agency under his watch. Key among the stated gains was “the end of 53 years of the Assads in Syria.”

He openly admitted MI6 “forged a relationship” with HTS, Damascus’ Al-Qaeda and ISIS-tied presumptive rulers - “a year or two before they toppled Bashar.” Moore went on to boast:

“Syria is a good example of where, if you can get ahead of events, it really helps when they suddenly, unexpectedly move at a faster pace. This nimbleness is a fundamental requirement for MI6 - and I think we remain pretty good at it. John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, while discussing a piece of joint business, said to me recently: ‘You guys can really hustle.’”

Al Mayadeen English has previously exposed how HTS was groomed for power for years prior to its violent palace coup in December 2024 by Inter-Mediate, an MI6-adjacent consulting firm run by Jonathan Powell. A key architect of the criminal 2003 Anglo-American Iraq invasion, he now serves as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, coincidentally taking up the position mere days before HTS illegitimately proclaimed themselves Syria’s government. It’s been subsequently revealed that Inter-Mediate has maintained a dedicated office in Syria’s Presidential Palace ever since.

Moore’s fresh admissions, while vague, offer further confirmation that London’s foreign spying agency has a longstanding relationship with HTS, which remains a proscribed terrorist group under British law.

A key, confirmed mechanism by which MI6 entrenched HTS’ power in north west Syria over the years before the extremist group’s seizure of power was by financing and managing, via cutouts, “moderate opposition service provision”. This took the form of entities including the infamous White Helmets, which supposedly provided “demonstrations of a credible alternative” to Bashar Assad’s government.

While the clandestine efforts were ostensibly intended to weaken HTS’ hold on power and push “moderate” groups, leaked documents indicate British spooks were well-aware these initiatives were cementing the group’s credibility as a governance actor, assisting its “growing influence”, and meant many Syrians regarded HTS as “synonymous with opposition to Assad.” Eerily, the same documents note the group and its armed affiliates - including Al-Qaeda - were “less likely to attack opposition entities that are receiving support” from British intelligence, such as the White Helmets.

We are now left to ponder whether British-run “service providers” were explicitly left alone because of MI6’s secret relationship with HTS. In this context, the earliest and most obvious indication of a dark alliance between London and Syria’s new rulers may date back to January 2019, when HTS took power outright in north west Syria. Almost instantly, the Free Syrian Police, a British-created “moderate opposition service” provider, was formally dissolved. Its members were then invited to continue their activities under HTS’ banner.

‘Revolutionary Entities’

Like the White Helmets, the FSP were components of a wider effort by London to establish a series of statelets across occupied Syria, complete with parallel governance structures staffed by locals trained and funded by Britain, the EU, and US.

Western propaganda and media reporting - heavily influenced by MI6 - universally portrayed these breakaway colonies as “moderate” success stories. In reality, they were deeply chaotic and dangerous, run by murderous violent factions, often under obscenely strict interpretations of Sharia Law.

In March 2017, the BBC published a fawning profile of the FSP, noting its British funding, and claiming the group “demonstrates to Syrians that it is not necessary to carry weapons in order to administer law and order in the country.”

The British state broadcaster repeatedly stressed, the FSP “does not co-operate with extremist groups.” However, nine months later, it was revealed that London’s “moderate” police force enjoyed intimate relationships with multiple extremist groups, including HTS forerunner Jabhat al-Nusra.

Several FSP stations were found to be closely linked to and take directions from extremist courts run by these militants, which executed citizens who violated local extremist legal codes. FSP operatives were also not only present when women were stoned to death for disobeying al-Nusra’s extreme codes, but even closed roads to allow executions to take place. Meanwhile, portions of sums sent to the FSP by its foreign sponsors were regularly handed over to extremist factions for “military and security support”.

While these disclosures caused a scandal, and British funding for the FSP was temporarily suspended, it was reinstated within mere weeks, sparking outcry among aid experts. Officials justified their decision on unstated “mitigating context” to the revelations, and the issues in question being “already known” by the Foreign Office. Indeed, leaked documents reviewed by Al Mayadeen English indicate close collaboration with extremist groups and courts was hardwired into the FSP from the group’s inception, and not concealed from donors.

The documents, submitted to the Foreign Office by ARK - founded by MI6 veteran Alistair Harris - noted the FSP were “revolutionary entities who share a general ideological affinity with the Syrian rebels,” conducting “rudimentary policing operations” in opposition-controlled territory. FSP stations varied significantly “in terms of their effectiveness, their mandate and their overall level of organisation” in the areas comprising their beat. “Their authority” was dependent on “several factors, the most important of which” were:

“The strength of the relationship between an FSP station and local armed groups; the centrality of an FSP station in the work of a local rebel court or other judicial structure; the sophistication and maturity of an FSP station’s overarching command structure.”

‘Direct Engagement’

The leaks further state, “FSP networks enjoy the strongest relations with more moderate Syrian rebel groups.” Yet, chief among “key armed groups that have established relationships with FSP stations” was Nur al-Din al-Zinki. The group was said to have greatly “empowered” FSP offices across occupied Aleppo, establishing the force “as primary policing bodies in towns in which it is strong.” In reality, Nur al-Din al-Zinki didn’t adhere to any meaningful definition of the term “moderate”.

During the initial years of the foreign-fomented Syrian civil war, the group committed countless horrendous atrocities, including beheading a Palestinian teenager in 2016. Its fighters subsequently joined HTS en masse. The readiness of ARK - and by extension British intelligence - to rub shoulders with dangerous armed elements is writ large in another leaked file, outlining potential risks to the project. If “armed actors” denied the FSP “operating space”, ARK would conduct “direct engagement” with the relevant militants to resolve the issue.

Other hazards included almost inevitable submission of “fraudulent invoices” by FSP operatives, and “significant physical risk” to them, “including possible assassination of police or justice actors.” Still, the British were so keen on the project, millions were pumped into the force over many years, with sophisticated communications equipment and vehicles provided. ARK also looked ahead to rebel groups increasing their “influence and territorial reach” in Syria, believing this would “[yield] benefits for the FSP” and expand its sphere of operations.

Fast forward to today, and courtesy of HTS, the British-created FSP is now Syria’s national police force. Ever since Assad’s fall, they have acted accordingly, brutally repressing internal dissent, while standing by as the new government’s militants massacre Alawites and other religious minorities in the country. Just as Inter-Mediate’s office in Damascus’ Presidential palace raises grave questions about the extent of London’s control over HTS, we must ask who all past beneficiaries of “moderate opposition service provision” in the country are truly working for.

As The National reported in February, the White Helmets have been formally invited by Syria’s HTS-run Health Ministry to “run the emergency services countrywide.” The creation of such groups years prior to Assad’s ouster is a palpable example of the ability of “hustlers” in British intelligence to “get ahead of events” in Moore’s phrase, and ensure MI6 has the people, organisations and structures in place to effectively take over countries if and when an enemy government falls.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... ist-police

[Anthea]

Raids targeting French-led jihadists in Syria

French diplomatic sources told Rudaw on Thursday that they were "closely" following an ongoing crackdown by the Syrian interim government targeting foreign jihadists, particularly French nationals, in Idlib, while declining to comment on allegations that Paris was involved in the operation

Asked about the alleged involvement of France in the operation, the sources declined to provide "further comments on an operation that falls under the internal security prerogatives of the transitional government."

"We have taken note of this operation and are following the situation closely," the French diplomatic sources told Rudaw.

Damascus authorities said Thursday they negotiated a ceasefire with the group of jihadists led by Frenchman Oumar Diaby, also known as Omar Omsen, in northwestern Syria, according to sources, a day after the interim government said they had surrounded the ‘French Camp’ in the town of Harem in western Idlib, sparking clashes.

The group is known as Firqatul Ghuraba in Arabic, or the Foreigners' Brigade, led by Diaby. The operation followed accusations that the group had kidnapped a girl. Diaby was accused to have sought to prevent troops entering the camp near the Turkish border, which is home to tens of fighters.

The camp is reportedly a stronghold led by Omsen. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the operation aimed to extradite the French jihadist along with other “individuals wanted by France.”

The Harem raid is part of a broader campaign across Idlib province targeting all known residences of foreign militants in a sweeping search-and-extradition effort, the war monitor explained.

A widely circulated statement on X, attributed to Firqat al-Ghuraba, accused the Syrian interim government of “executing a plan to eliminate foreign fighters in cooperation with the United States and the International Coalition - including France.” The group reportedly alleged that “French nationals are the first targets of this plan.”

In early December, a coalition of opposition forces - led by the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - toppled the regime of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was appointed interim President in late January.

Since assuming power, Sharaa has made diplomatic overtures to remove international sanctions on Syria. A key step in that effort has been the repatriation of foreign fighters to their countries of origin.

According to SOHR, Sharaa recently assured France that he would “end the presence of French jihadists in Syria and hand them over to Paris.” He also reportedly pledged to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow last week that his government would begin “extraditing Russian and Chechen foreign fighters to Russia” in “spaced-out phases" to prevent an uprising against Sharaa's government by the foreign fighters.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /231020252