Has sahwa hit the fan in Syria? / By Michael Weiss
Michael Weiss is a columnist at Foreign Policy and a fellow at the Institute of Modern Russia. He tweets @michaeldweiss
8-1-2014 – Has sahwa finally hit the fan in Syria? Since just after Christmas, the nastiest and most backward group in the country, the schismatic al-Qaeda affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), has had its black-clad ass handed to it by three disparate but equally fed-up rebel super-formations, none of them more than three months old. The largest and most formidable of these anti-ISIS newcomers is the mainly Salafi Islamic Front, which fields as many as 60,000 fighters and was created, as far as I can tell, to accomplish three things: 1. isolate and marginalize ISIS, though not necessarily through military force; 2. establish the first truly cohesive rebel army with a top-down hierarchy and command-and-control capability; 3. lure the more “moderate” or pragmatic al-Qaeda group in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, into the oppositional mainstream.
SYRIA IS NOW GOING TOTALLY TO HELL / BENJAMIN HILLER Photojournalist
Syria is going now totally to hell (as it was not already worse enough) – there are reports that ISIS did massacres in the Idlib province as well as Aleppo city (though they could be the same) – with up to 30/40 civilians, media activists and Syrian Journalists massacred. At the same time fighting broke out in Raqqa city and it seems like the FSA, together with al-Nusra, pushed ISIS out of the city – as ISIS is re-enforcing their troops in Aleppo.
The opposition claims – and I think in part rightly so – that ISIS is in the end just helping the regime, as they do not really fight anymore against them, but against the Kurds, Christians, the Free Syrian Army and now tries to get hold of the Aleppo parts from the FSA. – Here some updates on it: http://www.aawsat.net/2014/01/article55326685
TODAY’S MESOP WEST KURDISTAN INSIGHT : Islamist Rebel Groups Seize ISIL Aleppo Headquarters
Islamist rebel groups have reportedly overtaken the Aleppo headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Islamist brigades captured the base, a former children’s hospital, in the Qadi Askar area, but it is unclear what happened to the hundreds of fighters that had been there.
Syria Kurdish parliament ratifies laws / 16 Parties excluded from PYD dominated meeting
8-1-2014 – Kurdpress – Democratic Autonomy Legislators System, the parliament of Syria Kurds passed autonomic laws for ruling the Kurdish region in the north of Syria.
SAUDI ARABIA CONTRA QUATAR – Dispute hits National Coalition of Syria
8-1-2014 – Kurdpress – Dispute hits National Coalition of Syria, main opposition body of the country, after 40 members of the body resigned in protest to re-election of its leader Ahmad Asi al- Jarba. Supporters of Jarba’s rival, Riyadh Hijab who enjoys Saudi Arabia’s support, are against Qatari- backed Jarba’s re-election.
REFUGEES REFUSED : Border crossing between Kurdish areas opens
Border crossing between West Kurdistan (Kurdish areas of Syria) and South Kurdistan (Kurdistan region of Iraq) have officially been opened on 6 January for relief, aid, and political delegations, and not for migration reports ANHA. Mustafa Abdul Aziz, supervisor of the border crossing on the PYD/Rojava said the crossing is open, but not for immigration. According to Rudaw the crossing is open for aid and trade. – Posted by Wladimir van Wilgenburg
Elections to be held in West Kurdistan in four months
ANF – AMÛDÊ 08.01.2014 – The legislative assembly of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in West Kurdistan accepted a model of government, a social agreement and an election law at its meeting on 6 December. In accordance with this elections will be held in the three cantons of West Kurdistan within 4 months.
Amnesty Results in Release by PYD Asayish of Azadi-Member
Asayish releases a leading member of the Kurdish freedom party Abdul Rahman Abu and Abdul Rahman Abdo Halabi from the KDP-S after being held by the Kurdish security police for several months claims Welati. According to Welati there are still members from the KDP-S and Freedom Party (Azadi) in prison, which includes Azad Wali (?), a battalion commander and member of Azadi, who is now arrested for 5 months. The release follows an amnesty by the Asayish and a deal between PYD and the KNC. – Posted by Wladimir van Wilgenburg
KURDS & FSA FIGHT JOINTLY AGAINST ISIS
Al Akrad Front liberates two neighborhoods in Aleppo
ANF – ALEPPO 08.01.2014 – In a joint operation with some brigades affiliated to the Syrian opposition, the Kurdish al-Akrad Front has launched an offensive against the al-Qaeda affiliated ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham) in the mainly Kurdish city of Aleppo on Tuesday.
As Fighting Between ISIS & Syrian Opposition Increases, al Nusra Calls for Cease-Fire Grow
Rojava Report – 8.1.2014 – Fighting between the Islamic State or Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an al-Qaeda affiliate, and local opposition groups in the north of Syria is growing – say two articles (here and here) posted on the ANF website today. According to reports, at least 247 people have been killed since clashes broke out on Friday. The fighting comes just weeks before the Geneva-II peace talks, scheduled for January 22nd.
« neuere Artikel / next articles ältere Artikel / previous articles »