DOCSLIB.ORG

Special Briefing, Kurdish Affairs, February 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Special Briefing, Kurdish Affairs, February 2019 Special Briefing, Kurdish Affairs, February 2019 US policy in Syria has shifted back in favour of the Kurdish-led administration, which has been seeking to secure international support as it completes the territorial defeat of the Islamic State but faces a developing insurgency. Kurdish parties in Turkey face further state pressure in the build up to local elections next month. A new administration has been formed in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq amid continued tension between the two dominant political parties. Meanwhile, further steps have been taken to limit trade between the Kurdish regions in Iraq and Iran. Syria US set to retain presence in Kurdish-led Syrian region The US has signalled its intention to keep around 400 troops deployed in Syria, seemingly reversing President Trump’s announcement on December 19 that a full military withdrawal would be complete with 100 days. The decision, initially released by the White House on February 21 and confirmed by US officials during a delegation to the Kurdish-led autonomous region in north-eastern Syria on February 26, paves the way for the creation of a US-backed buffer-zone along the Turkey- Syria border. Under the current US proposal, 200 US troops would be stationed in Syria’s north-east, with 200 deployed in the strategically significant military base known as al-Tanf which lies close to the Iraqi border in the country’s south-east. In north-east Syria, US troops would form the basis of a larger international force tasked with overseeing a demilitarized area between Turkey and the area now controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a multi-ethnic coalition of militias. With the support of the US, the SDF has successfully rolled back the Islamic State (ISIS) across Syria (see below) and now controls around 30 per cent of the country. However, Turkey regards the SDF as a security threat due to the leading role played within it by groups associated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara has been pushing Washington to allow its local proxies in the Syrian opposition to replace the SDF once ISIS has been defeated, repeatedly threatening a new cross-border military operation unless its demands are met. Until recently, this lobbying appeared to have been successful, with a complete US withdrawal likely paving the way for a Turkey to take control of SDF areas by force. Pressure from senior figures in the US congress and military to maintain support for the SDF now appears to have made the Trump administration row back on its initial pronouncement. However, there are significant questions about what a continued US military presence in north-east Syria would look like in practice, with a much-reduced deployment unlikely to be able to oversee the complex frontline between Turkey and the SDF. Crucial will be the attitude of the UK and France, which would both need to significantly increase their military commitments in Syria to compensate for the US’ pare down. The US has also not yet confirmed that it will seek to continue to dominate the region’s airspace, which the French and British do not have the capacity to maintain alone. Although unlikely, a lack of US aircover would leave the SDF vulnerable to unilateral Turkish military action. Kurdish administration seeks international support With US policy in flux, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure their preferred outcomes in Syria. The SDF’s political wing, known as the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) recently sent delegations to Washington, Paris and London. These visits were headed by Ilham Ahmed, chair of the SDC’s executive committee, which has been tasked with negotiating on the SDF’s behalf. In private discussions with Western officials, Ahmed has offered a 5km SDF withdrawal from the Turkish border, creating a buffer-zone to be overseen by an international force of around 1,200. Crucially, this would need to exclude cities, with most of the Kurdish-dominated urban centres located within 5km of the border. The proposal has met a muted reception, with the UK particularly conscious of damaging its relationship with Turkey. However, SDC officials are confident they have secured support for moving towards a negotiated settlement backed by the international community, thereby significantly reducing the existential threat posed by a Turkish military incursion. Key to this has been the issue of Western nationals detained by the SDF during operations against the Islamic State (ISIS). There are around 900 European citizens in SDF custody; this does not include an unknown number of family members currently in refugee camps. Western governments are under domestic pressure to not repatriate former ISIS members. But the SDC has reiterated that it does not have the capacity to handle such large numbers of prisoners, raising the risk they will escape or be released unless the international community provides further support. Looking forward: After the unanticipated blow to their ambitions from the US’ decision to withdraw, the SDF/SDC have regained much of their negotiating position. Although the its stance remains volatile, the Trump administration appears to have accepted the principle of retaining a deployment. Any US presence in north-east Syria acts as a significant guarantee for the SDF against a Turkish military operation, while helping to retain the involvement of other countries such as France and the UK. The SDF/SDC will likely come under US pressure to make concessions to Turkey, but the existential threat to their administration has been significantly reduced. At the same time, US-Turkey relations continued to be marked by a myriad of other factors, with recent indications that these are unlikely to be resolved soon, hindering any potential cooperation in Syria at the expense of the SDF. Kurdish forces begin final operation against Islamic State militants The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have besieged the last remaining territory controlled by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s southern-eastern province of Deir ez-Zor. On February 9, the SDF announced a ‘final offensive’, pushing the remaining ISIS fighters back to the outskirts of the town of al-Baghuz Fawqani and confining the jihadi group to a built-up area and adjacent camp encompassing around 700m2. Advances have since been slowed by the significant number of civilians seeking to leave the area, 5,000 of which are believed to have crossed the frontlines since the start of the offensive on February 9. This follows the more than 30,000 people who have exited formerly ISIS controlled territory since the resumption of the SDF’s campaign in December 2018. Civilians are being evacuated through a humanitarian corridor in carefully controlled predetermined periods before undergoing security screening. Women, children and those deemed not a threat are then being transferred north to a camp for internally displaced persons near the town of al-Hawl. The high density of people contained within in a small locale in al-Baghuz Fawqani is being facilitated by a network of tunnels. It is estimated that between 300 and 1,000 ISIS fighters remain in the area alongside as many as 2000 of their family members. These are believed to predominantly be foreign elements who, unlike their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts, have little chance of escaping disguised as local civilians. Tensions between foreign and local fighters in ISIS has led to repeated reports of infighting over whether, or on what terms, the group should seek to negotiate. With ISIS’ senior leadership believed to have crossed into Iraq, what remains of the group appear to be split between seeking safe passage, most likely to the last rebel-controlled territory in Syria’s Idlib province or refusing to surrender. Alongside the continued presence of civilians, ISIS is also seeking to leverage the smaller number of SDF and foreign prisoners it continues to hold. On February 27, a negotiated deal saw food supplied to the enclave in return for the release of around 20 SDF fighters. Several similar agreements have taken place in recent weeks, underscoring the dire situation facing the jihadi group. Looking forward: SDF sources indicate that they expect to complete the territorial defeat of ISIS within days. However, the SDF now faces a growing humanitarian crisis impacting those displaced by the fighting, many of whom maintain an affinity with the jihadi group. This is only one part of a large challenge involved in ‘winning the peace’, with much of the population under SDF control lacking access to basic services and sceptical of the group’s political project. With few resources of its own, the SDF will now need non-military support if it is to successfully combat ISIS’ attempts to use local grievances to fuel a low-level insurgency. Growing insurgency in areas now under control of Kurdish-led forces With the Islamic State facing territorial defeat in al-Baghuz Fawqani, the jihadi group has stepped up insurgency activity in the surrounding Deir ez-Zor region. On February 13, an improvised explosive device killed local Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Ahmad Musallam al-Kardush as he travelled between al-Harijiya and al-Hejjnah in northern Deir ez-Zor. On February 15, a suspected ISIS assassination attempt targeted the head of the local SDF affiliate known as the Deir ez-Zor Military Council (DMC). Small arms fire was directed at the car of Ahmad Abu Khawlah on the road between Deir ez-Zor and the SDF stronghold of al-Hasakah, with SDF spokeswoman Lilwa al-Abdullah being targeted in a similar incident in the same area on February 14. ISIS sleeper cells have also been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in the region.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Deir Ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested During SDF's “Deterrence
    Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign www.stj-sy.org Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign This joint report is brought by Justice For Life (JFL) and Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) Page | 2 Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign www.stj-sy.org 1. Executive Summary The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) embarked on numerous raids and arrested dozens of people in its control areas in Deir ez-Zor province, located east of the Euphrates River, during the “Deterrence of Terrorism” campaign it first launched on 4 June 2020 against the cells of the Islamic State (IS), aka Daesh. The reported raids and arrests were spearheaded by the security services of the Autonomous Administration and the SDF, particularly by the Anti-Terror Forces, known as the HAT.1 Some of these raids were covered by helicopters of the US-led coalition, eyewitnesses claimed. In the wake of the campaign’s first stage, the SDF announced that it arrested and detained 110 persons on the charge of belonging to IS, in a statement made on 10 June 2020,2 adding that it also swept large-scale areas in the suburbs of Deir ez-Zor and al-Hasakah provinces. It also arrested and detained other 31 persons during the campaign’s second stage, according to the corresponding statement made on 21 July 2020 that reported the outcomes of the 4- day operation in rural Deir ez-Zor.3 “At the end of the [campaign’s] second stage, the participant forces managed to achieve the planned goals,” the SDF said, pointing out that it arrested 31 terrorists and suspects, one of whom it described as a high-ranking IS commander.
    [Show full text]
  • S/2019/321 Security Council
    United Nations S/2019/321 Security Council Distr.: General 16 April 2019 Original: English Implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2258 (2015), 2332 (2016), 2393 (2017), 2401 (2018) and 2449 (2018) Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction 1. The present report is the sixtieth submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), paragraph 10 of resolution 2165 (2014), paragraph 5 of resolution 2191 (2014), paragraph 5 of resolution 2258 (2015), paragraph 5 of resolution 2332 (2016), paragraph 6 of resolution 2393 (2017),paragraph 12 of resolution 2401 (2018) and paragraph 6 of resolution 2449 (2018), in the last of which the Council requested the Secretary-General to provide a report at least every 60 days, on the implementation of the resolutions by all parties to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. 2. The information contained herein is based on data available to agencies of the United Nations system and obtained from the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and other relevant sources. Data from agencies of the United Nations system on their humanitarian deliveries have been reported for February and March 2019. II. Major developments Box 1 Key points: February and March 2019 1. Large numbers of civilians were reportedly killed and injured in Baghuz and surrounding areas in south-eastern Dayr al-Zawr Governorate as a result of air strikes and intense fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. From 4 December 2018 through the end of March 2019, more than 63,500 people were displaced out of the area to the Hawl camp in Hasakah Governorate.
    [Show full text]
  • Massive Leishmaniasis Outbreak in the Syrian Spring Samer Alasaad1,2,3
    Alasaad Parasites & Vectors 2013, 6:94 http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/6/1/94 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Open Access War diseases revealed by the social media: massive leishmaniasis outbreak in the Syrian Spring Samer Alasaad1,2,3 Abstract Social media introduce pivotal changes to communication between individuals, organizations and communities. A clear example of the power of social media is the spread of the revolutionary outbreaks in the Arabic countries during 2011, where people used Facebook, YouTube and Skype to communicate, organise meetings and protest actions. Here I report how Doctor-Activists use these social media as an alarm system for ‘war disease’ outbreaks in the Syrian Spring. Social media are used as an alarm system to attract the attention of international organizations, which should assume their responsibilities and play their part in controlling the outbreak of such war diseases. Keywords: Social Media, Facebook, YouTube, Syrian Arab Republic, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Leishmania tropica complex, Arab Spring, Revolution, Deir Ezzor Social media are usually defined as the means of freedom, democracy and their right to live in dignity. interactions in which people create, share and ex- During the revolution, they have used these means to change ideas and information based on virtual com- communicate attacks on civil populations and are now munities and networks [1]. Nowadays, mobile and using these same means to publicize the grave health web-based technologies are the motor of social media, situation that they are facing, with a lack of hospitals, in which people create interactive platforms where doctors and medicines. In this Letter, I report for the they discuss, co-create, share and modify content with first time, how social media are being used by Doctor- a user-generated character.
    [Show full text]
  • Spotlight on Global Jihad (January 8-2, 2020)
    ( רמה כ ז מל ו תשר מה ו ד י ע י ן ( למ מ" מ( ה ש ל מ כרמ ז מה י עד מל ו ד י ע י ן ו רטל ו ר ט ןיעידומ ע ה ר Spotlight on Global Jihad January 8-2, 2020 Highlights of the events The dramatic events that occurred this week, especially the elimination of Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and the firing of missiles in response at two US bases in Iraq could, in the ITIC’s assessment, impair the effectiveness of the US-led campaign against ISIS. This is reflected in this week’s announcement by the US army that it has suspended military activity against ISIS because it is now committed to prioritizing the defense of the Iraqi bases that host the Coalition forces. Despite US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper saying that the US will continue its efforts against ISIS, pressure exerted on the forces of the US and the Coalition countries in Iraq could eventually lead to a withdrawal of the forces from Iraq, thus harming the campaign against ISIS. On the other hand, removing the forces or, alternatively, having them concentrate mainly on defending themselves, is expected to raise the morale of ISIS operatives and provide it with an opportunity to accelerate the process of restoring its military capabilities and increase the scope of its terrorist activity, mainly in the Iraqi arena. In the Syrian arena, there was no change in the situation on the ground this week. The Syrian army has not yet resumed the ground offensive in the Idlib region, which was halted on January 5, 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Spotlight on Global Jihad (April 8 – 14, 2021)
    ( רמה כ ז מל ו תשר מה ו ד י ע י ן ( למ מ"ל ןיעידומ כרמ ז מה י עד מל ו ד י ע י ן ו רטל ו ר ט ןיעידומ ע ה ר Spotlight on Global Jihad April 8 – 14, 2021 Main events of the past week ISIS’s activity in Africa was noteworthy this week as well. In Nigeria, ISIS operatives attacked, for the third time in the past month, the town of Damasak, near the border between Nigeria and Niger. After attacking a military base in the town and setting fire to the soldiers’ barracks, they spread throughout the town and set fire to government buildings and buildings belonging to international organizations. In another incident, ISIS operatives attacked a Christian village close to the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. They killed and abducted inhabitants, and set fire to churches, houses and government buildings. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ISIS attacked military camps and a truck convoy of Christian residents. In Chad, 16 soldiers were killed when ISIS ambushed several boats carrying soldiers along the coast of Lake Chad. Syria witnessed a decrease in the scope of ISIS’s activity this week. ISIS operatives released 46 people abducted in the Aqirbat region. Police officers and several civilians suspected of collaboration with the Syrian regime are still held by ISIS. Russian fighter jets attacked ISIS targets in the area. In the Deir ez-Zor-Al-Mayadeen region, ISIS operatives continued their attacks against SDF fighters and forces supporting them and against their headquarters.
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - Reference Map
    SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - Reference Map `Ayn Diwar ] Crossing points ^! Capitals ! ! Dayrik U Airports Cities and towns A ll K a m ii s h ll ii ! Reabaria Hâjji Hâroûn C r o s s i n g ! ! Amuda C r o s s i n g Ash Shaykh Ibrahim ! ! Î Seaports Darbasiyah ! K a m ii s h ll y A ii rr p o rr tt Qamishly ! Aateïchâne Al Qamishli Aâbra ! ] ! Arada As Salam 'Alayk Aali Farro Al Hilwah ! ! Guir Khâled ! ! ! A y n a ll A rr a b ! U Aaoueïna Choueïra Bichrîyé Al Malika C rr o s s ii n g ! ! TURKEY Aafrîte Abou Jélâl Highways, primary and secondary roads Aralik ! ! Balunah ! ! Al 'Ulyaniyah Baïramîyé Aazzâm ! ! ! ! ] Bcheïrîyé Bal Zuzan al FawqaniAaniss Tall Hadi Mamayt ! ! ! ! ! Ceylanpinar Perennial and Intermittent Rivers Guiri Nâf ! Qu!amishli Garrâya Aoukhâne ! Abou Qassâyeb ! ! Ra's al 'Ayn ! Saykar at Tahtani Carablus ! ! Hasawiyah Fawgani Moujâbra Aarab Khâne Abou Kbâra ! Bali Keuy Boulaqi ! ! ! Aâqoûla Al Fakhkhariyah ! Shuyukh al Fawqani ! ! ! ] ! Bâloûja Daffah Abou Hajeïra Zawghar ! ! Dibchîyé ! Rivers and Lakes ! Bal Wiran Qanntara Abu Hujayrah ! Tall Dardarah ! ! Al Buwaydah Guir Keftar ! ! Aalamdâr Billi Achbâch ! Al Madinah ! A ll Y a '' rr u b ii y a ! ! ! Tall Al Abyad ! Hadj Yélane ! Boûra ! Aq Keuy ! ! Aanntârîyé C rr o s s ii n g Aarab Vîrâne Aamârné Ain Al Arab ! ! ! ! ! Forests Al Harjalah Jarablus Zérik Zinnar el Qal Abou Hajar ChâmîyéTall Tamir As Sabakh ! !Aarab Hassane Kébîr Mandik ! ! ! Karri ! ! Ambarli ! Dahal Saluq Jâmoûs Al Bouâb Wuguf Sanndi ! ! ! ! Aarab Ouchârhi Qatma A'zaz ! ! Ad Dandaniyah Aannzaouiyé 'Arnah Châch
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia Iraq
    40°0’0"E 42°30’0"E 45°0’0"E 47°30’0"E Yalnizbag Gasankend Sovetlyar Chakhar Gëkharli Te rc a n Anitli Balik Golu Suveren DZHERMUK Martuni Moranly Cayirli Hacibekir Eleskirt Eleskirtcilikân Karaköse Igdir Ararat Ararat Kyarki Vayots Dzor Gndevaz Pichanis Nagorno-karabakh Bejladjan Imamverdili Vtoroye Erzincan ERZINCAN Tepsicik Ahura Ger-Ger Saatly Sädäräk Malishka Armenia Zhdanovsk AkhmedliChakhirly Areni Ghai-kend Borisovka Minkend Armenia Bozoglak Alpkoy Pencirikkomu Te km a n Karayazi Tasliçay Golyuzu Golu Soylan Shusha Farsabad Frunze Tanyeri Günesgören Girberan AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Latchin Imichli Öztürkân Azatek Azizbekov Kargin Magara Haciomer Ilich Dyg Kemah Erzincan Caglayan Gokoglan Tutak Almalu Angekhakot Sisian AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Ordzhonikidze Bilesuvar Agri Diyadin Charchibogan Bartsruni Karacan Dogubayazit Zarkatun Kirovka Pulumur Erzurum Cherur Goris Aslanduz Novograzhdanovka Eskigedik Kasikli Karaseyidali Kagnili Khandek Fizuli Chalmeh Sürbahan Bazargan Pus’yan Karabaglar Chakhbuz Tazagyukh Syunik Goradiz Eleskirt Babash Kandi Pushkino Agalykend Ovacik Balpayam Aktuzla Pirzeynel Sust Dzhagry Kargapazar Qendeal Shakhtakhty Shakhbuz Dastakert Tatev Kubatly Bilesevar Hinis Binpinar Maku Kubatly Moradlu Tazakend Sowf’ali Arafsa Djebrail Larijan Balkiri Karaoglan Holik Bileci Baglarpinari Çatma Bebek ArmeniaArmenia Caylar Patnos Vodokhranilishche Gidrouzla Araks Khanlyk Soltanly Djalilabad Novogolovka Nazimiye Karliova Bayro Tujipazar Alikeykhaly Var to Malazgirt Bayazitaga Dash Feshel Nakhichevan’ Djulfa Shabadin Kafan Tunceli
    [Show full text]
  • Insecurity Grips Deir Ez-Zor
    Empty paper for the cover photo www.stj-sy.org Insecurity Grips Deir ez-Zor: Locals Concerned Following a Series of Disturbing Murders In this joint report, Justice for Life (JFL) and Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) provide an extensive account of the murders of Sa’da al- Harmas, Hind al-Khdair, and Aboud Ali al-Mhaimeed. Page | 2 www.stj-sy.org Background The Islamic State (IS), locally known as Daesh, has been ramping up its activities in parts of Deir ez-Zor’s countryside and al-Hasakah’s southern areas, where the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remain in power. In January and February 2021, assassinations perpetrated by IS sleeper cells increased, targeting civilians, including two local female officials of the Autonomous Administration and a local activist. In this report, Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), in cooperation with Justice for Life (JFL), provides the details and circumstances surrounding the murders of the Joint President of the Tal al-Shayer Town Council, Sa’da al-Harmas, and her deputy Hind al-Khdair. The bodies of the two women were retrieved on 22 January 2021, hours after a raid into their homes in Tal al-Shayer town, administratively affiliated to al-Dashisha district, south of al-Hasakah province. Eyewitnesses and relatives of the victims recounted that the two women were led out of their homes by force, kidnapped, shot, and killed by an IS-affiliated group who presented themselves as SDF intelligence personnel. IS claimed responsibility for the two murders on 24 January 2021, sending shock waves through the ranks of Autonomous Administration workers and the local community.
    [Show full text]
  • The PYD's Separatist Project
    The PYD’s Separatist Project in the Syrian Euphrates Region Abdullah Al-Najjar Political research Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies Hermon Center for Contemporary Studies is a non-profit organization, focused mainly on producing studies and research on the Syrian situation, implementing and managing projects, activities and initiatives to rebuild Syria on the foundations of democracy, freedom, social justice, human rights, human dignity and equal citizenship values. For Contacts: e-mail: [email protected] Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies The PYD’s Separatist Project in the Syrian Euphrates Region January 2020 Abdullah Al-Najjar Authors This study was conducted by Abdullah Al-Najjar, with the help of former col- leagues and acquaintances who assisted him in collecting and verifying the infor- mation. Three of them had submitted three background papers: two on education, and one on the oil issue. In light of the positions of these individuals where they live, we will not be disclosing their names, but would like to thank them very much. Abdullah Al-Najjar is a former officer at the Political Security Directorate, with a degree in law. He worked in Hasakeh Province for 12 years, including nine and a half years in Qamishli district, as an assistant and head of the Qamishli police station, and head of the Amuda police station. He defected from the Political Se- curity Directorate in 2012 with the rank of major. He currently works in the field of studies and research related to east of the Euphrates, and on issues related to security
    [Show full text]
  • Spotlight on Global Jihad (August 5-11, 2021)
    ( רמה כ ז מל ו תשר מה ו ד י ע י ן ( למ מ"ל ןיעידומ ש ל מ כרמ ז מה י עד מל ו ד י ע י ן ו רטל ו ר ט ןיעידומ ע ה ר Spotlight on Global Jihad August 5-11, 2021 Main events of the past week Syria: This week, the downtrend in ISIS’s activity in the various provinces in Syria continued. The main incident of the week was an attack in west Damascus, against a bus carrying members of the Syrian Republican Guard. Nineteen of the bus passengers, including officers, were wounded or killed. The Hurras al-Din Organization (Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria) claimed responsibility for the IED explosion. The Syrian regime described the incident as a "short circuit" that left the bus driver dead and three passengers wounded. Iraq: ISIS’s activity continued in the various provinces, albeit on a relatively small scale. Most of this week's activity was concentrated in the Makhmur region (about 70 km east of Mosul), where ISIS operatives carried out a relatively large number of attacks. A senior commander in the Kurdish forces in Iraq (the Peshmerga) noted that ISIS had reestablished its presence in the Makhmur region, south Kirkuk, and on the outskirts of the Diyala and Mosul provinces. It should be noted that these areas, adjacent to the Kurdish region, suffer from a lack of effective governance by the Iraqi central government. The forces of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have announced the pullback of one of its units to Kuwait (OTH).
    [Show full text]
  • Database: Former Isis Members Now Part of Turkish-Backed Forces in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad October 2020
    DATABASE: FORMER ISIS MEMBERS NOW PART OF TURKISH-BACKED FORCES IN SERE KANIYE AND TEL ABYAD OCTOBER 2020 DATABASE: FORMER ISIS MEMBERS NOW PART OF TURKISH-BACKED FORCES IN SERE KANIYE AND TEL ABYAD 9 OCTOBER 2020 1 DATABASE: FORMER ISIS MEMBERS NOW PART OF TURKISH-BACKED FORCES IN SERE KANIYE AND TEL ABYAD OCTOBER 2020 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION (P. 3) 2 METHODOLOGY (P. 5) 3 TACIT TURKISH SUPPORT FOR ISIS (P. 6) 3.1 SHELTERING ISIS (P. 7) 4 THE SYRIAN NATIONAL ARMY (P. 8) 4.1 TURKISH CULPABILITY: COMMAND AND CONTROL OF SNA (P. 8) 4.2 ABUSES AND WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE SNA (P. 9) 4.3 COMPARING ISIS AND THE SNA (P. 10) 5 DATABASE (P. 15) FORMER ISIS MEMBERS NOW PART OF TURKISH-BACKED FORCES IN SERE KANIYE AND TEL ABYAD 2 DATABASE: FORMER ISIS MEMBERS NOW PART OF TURKISH-BACKED FORCES IN SERE KANIYE AND TEL ABYAD OCTOBER 2020 1 INTRODUCTION Turkey justified its 2019 invasion of North and East Syria (NES) with anti-terror rhetoric, claiming that the presence of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on its southern border constituted an existential threat to the Turkish state. In fact, it was Turkish forces that launched over 30 cross-border attacks against NES from January 2019 up to the invasion in October.1 While these Turkish attacks killed and injured scores of civilians, primarily farmers and shepherds tending land near the border, Turkey itself experienced only one cross-border attack from NES in the same time period, with the perpetrator captured by SDF.
    [Show full text]
  • Conse Ejo De S Egurida Ad S
    Naciones Unidas S/2016/631 Consejo de Seguridad Distr. general 20 de julio de 2016 Español Original: inglés Aplicación de las resoluciones del Consejo de Seguridad 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) y 2258 (2015) Informe del Secretario General I. Introducción 1. El presente informe es el 29º que se presenta en cumplimiento del párrafo 17 de la resolución 2139 (2014) del Consejo de Seguridad, el párrafo 10 de la resolución 2165 (2014) del Consejo, el párrafo 5 de la resolución 2191 (2014) del Consejo de Seguridad y el párrafo 5 de la resolución 2258 (2015) del Consejo, en que el Consejo solicitó al Secretario General que lo informara, cada 30 días, sobre la aplicación de las resoluciones por todas las partees en el conflicto de la República Árabe Siria. 2. La información que aquí figura se basa en los datos a disposición de los organismos de las Naciones Unidas sobre el terreno, así como en datos del Gobierno de la República Árabe Siria, otras fuentes sirias y fuentes públicas. La información de los organismos de las Naciones Unidas sobre sus entregas de sumiinistros humanitarios corresponde al período comprendido entre el 1 y el 30 de junio de 2016. También se han incluido los datos más recientes que estabban disponibles. II. Principales acontecimientos A. Acontecimientos sobre el terreno 3. Durante el período sobre el que se informa, las actividades militares siguieron amenazando la viabilidad del cese de las hostilidades. Las actividades militares, incluidos ataques aéreos, continuaron, principalmente en la paarte septentrional del país, así como en la provincia de Damasco Rural y otras provincias.
    [Show full text]