Turkey and an organization affiliated with it have constructed a new settlement in the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwest Syria, North Press correspondent reported on Monday.
The new settlement is situated on the Jabal al-Ahlam (al-Ahlam Mountain) area that is situated to the south of the city of Afrin, and it is the biggest settlement in that area.
The settlement consists of about 100 apartments and it is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
Families of the militants of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), especially those who have come from Homs and Rif Dimashq governorates will be housed in those apartments.
The city of Afrin and the 365 villages affiliated with it have been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation to push away the Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”
Since then, Islamist organizations supported by Turkey have constructed multiple settlements to house thousands of the SNA militants’ families who came from other areas of Syria. However, the original people of Afrin, mainly the Kurds, have been forcibly displaced and resided in deserted villages and IDP camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo, northwestern Syria.
The trial of a former Syrian general over alleged role in war crimes starts in Stockholm
The trial of a former Syrian army general over his alleged role in war crimes committed in 2012 in his home country started at a Stockholm court Monday, a first according to a human rights organization, AP reported.
Syria has been ravaged by civil war for over 13 years.
Brig. Gen Mohammed Hamo, who is currently residing in Sweden, is charged with aiding and abetting crimes violating international law, described by the prosecution as “a serious crime” when he was charged in February.
The Associated Press got a hold of Hamo’s accusation sheet in which the prosecutor claims the 65-year-old — who was a brigadier general in the Syrian army between January 2012 and July 2012 — has participated in the warfare that “systematically included attacks carried out in violation of the principle of distinction, caution and proportionality,” adding that the attacks were “indiscriminate.”
The prosecutor also said Hamo worked in the Syrian army’s 11th division and he was vital in making “strategic decisions and (implementing) military operations.”
“This trial is important because it’s the first time that anyone from the Syrian government or the Syrian army is actually put on trial for the attacks that took place,” said Aida Samani of the Stockholm-based Civil Rights Defenders, a politically and religiously independent human rights organization.
Russia is hoping to minimise risk of clash with Turkey in Syria – Kremlin
The Kremlin said on Tuesday Russia was hoping to minimize the risk of a direct clash with Turkey in Syria even though soldiers from both countries were in close proximity in IdlEb region on different sides of a live conflict.
According to Reuters, Moscow was commenting a day after Syrian government forces entered parts of a strategic rebel-held town called Saraqeb with Russia’s help. The Russian Defence Ministry said Russian military police had also entered Saraqeb.
“We hope that we’re able to absolutely minimize this risk (of direct confrontation with Turkey) thanks to the close contact between the two countries’ militaries,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the risk of clash.
President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan are due to hold talks on Syria in Moscow on Thursday.
Separately, Peskov said discussions were ongoing about a possible summit on Syria between the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey.
Iran Revolutionary Guards holding Syria as a hostage
The Times of Israel published a story which discusses the complex geopolitical situation involving Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), particularly its Quds Force, in Syria. It highlights the significant influence of the IRGC in the region, detailing its military presence and its implications for Syrian sovereignty and regional security.
The IRGC’s involvement in Syria began in 2013 to support the Assad regime during the civil war and has since expanded to establish a strategic corridor through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, enhancing Tehran’s influence across the Middle East.
The IRGC is reported to have stationed around 2,000 operatives in Syria, with installations including command centers, intelligence operations, and weapon production facilities to support Shia militias, including Hezbollah.
These militias operate independently of the Syrian government, taking directions from the IRGC. This autonomy within Syrian borders is portrayed as the IRGC holding Syria “hostage,” complicating the civil and regional conflicts.
The narrative also touches on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-affiliated forces in Syria, where Israeli strikes have targeted IRGC positions in response to perceived threats. The tension has escalated to involve significant military engagements, impacting Syrian civilians and infrastructure. The article underscores the precarious position of the Syrian government, caught between Iranian ambitions and Israeli security actions, highlighting the broader regional power dynamics and the direct impact on Syria’s stability and sovereignty.
Stigma of Islamic State haunts fighters’ families
An article by Enab Baladi discusses the enduring social stigma and challenges faced by families of Islamic State fighters in Syria, specifically highlighting the experiences of individuals like Mohamed and Zahra, whose connections to the Islamic State have led to their ostracization by their communities. Despite the defeat of the Islamic State as a territorial entity, the stigma for their families remains profound, affecting their social acceptance and opportunities.
The narrative outlines the societal rejection and isolation faced by these families, with individuals like Mohamed finding it difficult to reintegrate into society, even when attempting to establish honest livelihoods. The situation is further complicated by the tribal nature of Syrian society, where family and tribal affiliations can perpetuate stigma across generations.
The article also touches on the efforts by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to reintegrate these families through vocational training and social rehabilitation programs, although these efforts face significant challenges and are slow in creating substantial change.
Overall, the families of former Islamic State fighters continue to grapple with the repercussions of their relatives’ past actions, with societal stigma likely to linger for generations unless effectively addressed by community and governmental interventions.
The article discusses the complex geopolitical situation involving Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), particularly its Quds Force, in Syria. It highlights the significant influence of the IRGC in the region, detailing its military presence and its implications for Syrian sovereignty and regional security. The IRGC’s involvement in Syria began in 2013 to support the Assad regime during the civil war and has since expanded to establish a strategic corridor through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, enhancing Tehran’s influence across the Middle East.
The IRGC is reported to have stationed around 2,000 operatives in Syria, with installations including command centers, intelligence operations, and weapon production facilities to support Shia militias, including Hezbollah. These militias operate independently of the Syrian government, taking directions from the IRGC. This autonomy within Syrian borders is portrayed as the IRGC holding Syria “hostage,” complicating the civil and regional conflicts.
The narrative also touches on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-affiliated forces in Syria, where Israeli strikes have targeted IRGC positions in response to perceived threats. The tension has escalated to involve significant military engagements, impacting Syrian civilians and infrastructure. The article underscores the precarious position of the Syrian government, caught between Iranian ambitions and Israeli security actions, highlighting the broader regional power dynamics and the direct impact on Syria’s stability and sovereignty.
Iran’s Attacks Bring Long Shadow War With Israel Into the Open
The New York Times published a long article discussing a significant shift in the long-standing covert conflict between Israel and Iran, with Iran’s recent direct missile and drone attack on Israel from its own territory marking a pivotal moment.
This escalation represents the first instance of Iran launching an attack directly rather than through proxies like Hezbollah. The context of these actions includes a history of tit-for-tat strikes across the region, including Israeli airstrikes in Syria and Iraq and Iranian-backed attacks on Israeli interests.
This conflict has also seen high-profile assassinations and military responses impacting U.S. forces in the region. The ongoing violence underscores the deep-seated tensions and the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, involving various state and non-state actors.
