KURDWATCH NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY – MARCH 2016 / WEST KURDISTAN ROJAVA – SYRIA

KurdWatch, February 20, 2016—On February 9, 2016, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), recruited a number of young men against their will at several checkpoints in al‑Maʿbada (Girkê Legê). On February 11, there were forced recruitments in the city center of al Jawadiyah (Çil Axa). Exact numbers are not available.

KurdWatch, February 28, 2016—Between February 18 and 24, 2016, Islamic State (IS) fighters attacked positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is dominated by the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), near Tishrin Dam, around forty kilometers southwest of ʿAyn al‑ʿArab (Kobanî). According to statements given by the Syrian Democratic Forces, at least five of its fighters and numerous IS fighters were killed.

KurdWatch, February 28, 2016—On February 22, 2016, around four hundred supporters of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party demonstrated in al‑Qamishli against attacks by the Turkish army on the city of ʿAfrin and on positions held by the PYD’s People’s Defense Units (YPG) [further information].

KurdWatch, February 25, 2016—On February 18, 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces, dominated by the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) captured several villages around the strategically important city of ash‑Shaddadi, fifty kilometers south of al‑Hasakah from the Islamic State (IS). The following day the city was seized without any significant resistance. There are numerous oil and gas sources near ash‑Shaddadi as well as a large gas bottle factory in the city. Thus the city had been an important source of income for the IS. Already on February 16, the IS had withdrawn from many villages and a large power station east of Aleppo and left it to the Syrian regime.

KurdWatch, February 25, 2016—On February 20, 2016, two thousand supporters of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) took part in a demonstration at the Turkish‑Syrian border close to Qarmanluq, around twenty‑five kilometers west of ʿAfrin. Those gathered protested against attacks of the Turkish army on the city of ʿAfrin and on positions held by the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the PYD [further information].

KurdWatch, February 24, 2016—On February 19, 2016 the Turkish army fired ground-to-ground rockets at the city of ʿAfrin, injuring at least four people and damaging several houses. Reports on any dead civilians could not be verified. Positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is dominated by the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) between ʿAfrin und Azʿaz were also fired at on February 19, 20, and 21, 2016. Until now, the YPG has not released any details on any dead or wounded.

KurdWatch, February 23, 2016—On February 15 and 16, 2016, fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, dominated by the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), continued their attacks on the areas of the Syrian opposition east of ʿAfrin. Tall Rifʿat, a city twenty kilometers east of ʿAfrin, and the village of Shaikh ʿIsa were captured. Reports that the YPG negotiated a take-over without a struggle in the city of Mariʿ, ten kilometers east of Tall Rifʿat could not be verified at this time. If this is the case, the YPG has advanced to the frontline to the border of areas controlled by the Islamic State (IS). This advance is one step further to linking the PYD‑controlled enclaves of ʿAyn al‑ʿArab (Kobanî) and ʿAfrin. Furthermore, the wedge has been increased that propelled the Syrian army’s offensive at the beginning of the month north of Aleppo between the opposition‑held territory around Aʿzaz and the opposition territory around Aleppo.

KurdWatch, February 23, 2016—At a conference in al–Qamishli on February 12 and 13, 2016, five Syrian Kurdish parties formed a new alliance. Sheikh Ali’s Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Democratic Yekîtî), Nasruddin Ibrahim’s Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (el‑Partî), the Syrian-Kurdish Democratic Reconciliation (Rêkeftin), Salih Gedo’s Kurdistan Left Party in Syria as well as Amjad ʿUthman’s Kurdish Reform Movement in Syria merged to form the Kurdish National Alliance. Because of their links to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the first four parties had been excluded from the Kurdish National Council [further information]. In the case of Amjad ʿUthman’s party, there had been a split with Faisal Yusif’s Kurdish Reform Movement (formerly the Kurdish Progressive Party in Syria [Reform movement]), whose party is a member of the Kurdish National Council.

KurdWatch, February 20, 2016—On February 14 and 15, 2016, supporters of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in al‑Qamishli, ʿAfrin, ʿAmudah, Tall Tamr, Raʾs al-ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê) und ad‑Darbasiyah commemorated the 1999 arrest of the chairman of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, and demanded his release. In al‑Qamishli, PYD members forced storeowners, under threat of heavy fines, to close their doors. Also in 2015, PYD members had forced storeowners to close their businesses on the anniversary date of Öcalan’s arrest [further information].

KurdWatch, February 20, 2016—On February 13, 2016, the Turkish army bombed positions of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which dominates the Syrian Democratic Forces, east of ʿAfrin, as they marched in the direction of the strategically important cities Aʿzaz and Tal Rafʿat. Before this, the Democratic Forces had captured several Arab villages [further information]. The Turkish army has confirmed the attack.