MESOP MIDEASTWATCH : Kurdistan’s Weekly Brief January 30, 2024 – ALL PARTS OF KURDISTAN  – 7-2-24

Iran

Iranian border guards wounded at least 15 Kurdish border porters (kolbars), including a teenager, last week. Another kolbar died from wounds previously suffered at the hands of regime forces. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Iranian security forces have killed six kolbars and wounded more than 50 in 2024, mostly near Baneh and Nowsud. Concurrently, the regime arrested twelve activists and civilians in Marivan, Tehran, Shinno, Piranshahr, Salas-e Babajani, and Diwandara. The regime’s latest crackdown follows a public strike on January 30 to protest the execution of four Kurdish political prisoners.

Iraq

Several Iranian-backed militia leaders, including Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) leader Falih Fahad and Badr Organization head Hadi al Ameri, called for the expulsion of U.S. forces from Iraq during the funeral of several militants killed by U.S. strikes. The Iranian-supported Iraqi government announced a three-day mourning period on Friday after U.S. airstrikes on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria killed 16 militants and wounded at least 25. Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba leader Akram al Ka’abi reaffirmed his group would continue attacking U.S. interests in Iraq and called for Kata’ib Hezbollah to end its suspension of attacks on U.S. forces that began last week. On a separate note, a Pentagon delegation met with Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs officials and discussed the “progress made in reforming the Peshmerga forces.” The two parties issued a joint statement after the meeting that said the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs has made “significant progress on financial reform and restructuring its forces.” The meeting was part of ongoing U.S. efforts to improve the Peshmerga’s ability to counter ISIS (Da’esh) terrorism.

Turkey’s Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, headed a delegation to Iraq, engaging with key state officials. During discussions with Iraqi President Latif Rashid, topics included security and intelligence collaboration, water supply, and trade. President Latif underscored the “importance” of halting Turkish “violations and military aggressions affecting Iraqi lands,” advocating for resolution through “dialogue and meetings.” Since 2018, Turkey has maintained a military presence deep within the Kurdistan Region, leading to civilian casualties, frequently as part of a war against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Syria

On Monday, Iranian-backed militias attacked a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) training academy at the al Omar oil field with a loitering munition and killed at least six SDF personnel. Iranian-backed militias resumed attacks on facilities hosting U.S. personnel after the American strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria. The SDF said the attack was launched from a location in Deir ez Zor that is under the control of the Assad regime and vowed retaliation. Separately, the SDF concluded a week-long anti-Da’esh operation inside al Hol camp, which continues to house thousands of Da’esh operatives and their relatives. According to the SDF, 37 terrorists were detained, and a large amount of weapons and ammunition was seized. Simultaneously, the SDF freed a Yazidi woman and two of her children from the camp. The freed Yazidi woman was one of 5000 women enslaved by Da’esh in 2014. That said, a Turkish drone strike killed four members of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) Internal Security Forces (Asayesh) on Friday. On Sunday, the SDF announced that Turkish proxies killed an SDF member near Manbij. “This attack, as well as the previous aggression, was in complete harmony with Da’esh activity and in its service, as well as a clear trend towards obstructing the efforts of the security forces in their ongoing operations to control security in al Hol camp,” said the AANES.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Turkish intelligence officers arrested two civilians in occupied Afrin. The SOHR went on to say Turkey and its proxies have detained 32 people, committed at least 70 human rights violations, and cut down hundreds of olive trees in 2024. Meanwhile, a Kurdish group known as the Afrin Liberation Forces clashed with the Turkish-backed National Army near Afrin.

Turkey

After several weeks of delays, the Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has decided to field its own candidate for the mayoral elections in Istanbul. Ayşegül Doğan, the spokesperson for the Dem Party, announced this decision during a press conference, stating that it had been on the party’s agenda for months. However, the party has not yet revealed the chosen candidate, with speculation suggesting Basak Demirtas, the wife of the imprisoned Kurdish politician, Selahattin Demirtas. In 2019, the main opposition’s candidate, the current mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, emerged victorious after receiving the endorsement of Kurdish parties, which opted not to field their candidate. Nevertheless, come March 31, the DEM Party will present its own candidate, adding another dimension to the mayoral race alongside contenders from both the ruling and opposition parties. On a separate note, the Democratic Dem Party has appealed a parliamentary decision to revoke Can Atalay’s parliamentary membership to the Constitutional Court. Atalay, a member of the Turkish Workers’ Party (TIP) and an ally to the pro-Kurdish parties, has been jailed by the Turkish government.

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