S Y R I a I N T E L L I G E N C E R E P O
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A B O U T I N T E G R I T Y U K Integrity UK is an organisation committed to preventing extremism through innovative approaches to promoting integration, cohesion and social reconciliation within the MENA region and the UK. S Y R I A I N T E L L I G E N C E R E P O R T 14th November 2019 Despite numerous tensions, Wednesday's meeting between the United States' President, Donald Trump, and the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, appears to have taken place in a cordial environment, albeit one that did not resolve much of the differences between the two countries, especially over Syria. In a joint press conference following the meeting, Trump praised the ceasefire, noting that it is working well and that the Syrian Kurds are very satisfied with the outcome. In the meeting, Trump also noted that US troops are in Syria “only for the oil”. Trump also expressed satisfaction of Turkey's handling of the Islamic State (IS) militants. While Erdoğan remained quiet during the meeting, he was reportedly highly active in the meeting with Trump and a number of US senators and, at one point, showed the senators a video about the crimes of Mazloum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In the aftermath, Erdoğan noted that Trump was impacted by the video but the senators less so, and suggested that anti-Trump politicians are deliberately trying to sabotage US-Turkey relations. Indeed, numerous senators described the video as “unpersuasive” and said that Senator Lindsey Graham had a brief spat with Erdoğan over it. However, despite the tense exchange with Erdoğan, Graham nevertheless blocked a resolution that would have formally recognised the Armenian Genocide. The meeting suggests that Erdoğan remains adept at appealing to Trump but this comes increasingly at a cost with the wider relations between the Turkish and US governments. Given that Trump’s own hold of the presidency has grown shaky in recent months, the current of US-Turkish relations are unsustainable in the long-term. Meanwhile, Abdi issued a statement, rejecting Trump’s assertions that the ceasefire is going well, pointing to the on-going clashes around Tal Tamr. The Russian Military Police (RMP) and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), meanwhile, continue to expand their influence in northern Syria. Overnight, local news outlets reported that the RMP entered the Sarrin Airbase near Kobani/Ain al-Arab following the evacuation of the base by the US forces from the area. In Qamishli City, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that it is setting up a helicopter base in the Qamishli Airport. A number of air-defence systems were also deployed in the area. Local outlets also reported that the SAA has started moving towards Derik/Malikiyah, east of Qamishli City, as part of the last phase of the agreement with the SDF to secure the Turkish-Syrian Border. These developments come amidst continued joint patrols between the RMP and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The sixth and latest patrol took place around the town of Dirbesiyeh on Thursday morning and was accompanied by helicopters. By all accounts the patrol was conducted rapidly, likely on account of the bloodshed in the last two patrols. Commenting on the matter of IS deportees, the Turkish Ministry of Interior announced that seven German citizens have now been deported to Berlin while one United Kingdom citizen has been deported to London. The Ministry also announced that the IS militant of US origin, who has been stuck between Greece and Turkey since earlier this week, will be deported to the US. For further information, contact Integrity UK on: [email protected] or +44 207 879 9979 Turkish police have announced that the death of James Le Mesurier, who was instrumental in the founding of the Syrian Civil Defence - also known as the White Helmets - is being treated as a suicide. Citing police sources, Turkish media reported that Le Mesurier had sought help for stress and was using sleeping tablets and antidepressants. According to his wife, Emma Hedvig Christina Winberg, he had also suffered from suicidal thoughts. Despite the apparently-unsuspicious circumstances around his death, Turkish police have nevertheless barred Winberg from leaving Turkey until the investigation is complete. Amidst these developments, clashes across Syria have continued. On Thursday morning, the SAA launched a ground offensive in southeastern Idlib, capturing the villages of Weibdeh and Tal Khazna, with some clashes and shelling around the nearby Zarzour, Mushayrifah, Tal Dam and Oum al-Khalakil. Since the clashes started, Opposition factions have moved to confront the offensive whose exact scope remains unclear so far. Shelling and airstrikes in southwestern Idlib also continued, with the towns of Kafr Nabl, Hazarin, Ma'arat Hurmah, Kafr Sajnah, Sheikh Mustafa and Arinaba, and Bidama in eastern Idlib targeted. Heavy fighting between the SDF, backed by the SAA, and the Syrian National Army (SNA), backed by the TSK, continues. Overnight, the SDF announced that it recaptured the village of Semila north of Tal Tamr. In turn, the SNA announced that it captured Arisha, Darbu, Qasimiyah, Mahmoudiyah, northwest of Tal Tamr, while reaching the main road north of the town. Renewed fighting was also reported near the villages of Yashli and Oum Adase in the Manbij region. TSK shelling in the area was also reported. No gains or losses around Manbij were reported. These clashes took place amidst on-going attacks and assassinations targeting the SNA across northern Syria. In Ras al-Ain/Serekaniye, an explosion took place on Wednesday evening at a building used by the SNA, with activists claiming that 15 were killed or injured. In Afrin, three SNA fighters were killed by unknown gunmen overnight. In Deir ez-Zour, suspected IS militants attacked an SDF checkpoint near the village of Shaqra. No casualties were reported. Local outlets also reported that a number of oil ferries used to transport oil from SDF to SAA held areas of Shuhail and Buqrus were struck by unknown airstrikes. These strikes were likely conducted by US aircraft, which conducted strikes against oil smuggling ferries before. Southern Syria remains tense amidst continued insurgent attacks. Activists reported that overnight, the police station and a checkpoint near the cultural centre in Jassim in northern Daraa were attacked by insurgents with light weapons and bombs. No injuries were reported and no group claimed responsibility. In the neighbouring Suweida, students from the Faculty of Arts held a sit-in after a student was killed by a militia member who was a former rebel fighter. Students have since demanded increased security measures, as well as moving the Faculty to Suweida City centre. Meanwhile, the Lebanese al-Modon newspaper claimed that both Daraa and Suweida have witnessed an increased spate of kidnappings, including retaliatory kidnappings. The report claimed that criminal gangs, militias and security agencies were all involved in these events. Authorities in Jablah, Latakia, have launched a widespread arrest campaign against the National Defence Forces (NDF) militias in the area, arresting numerous fighters including its commanders, Rami Saad and Samuel Muna, on charges of theft and corruption. The head of the NDF in Jablah, Ayat Barakat, who was known for theft of property and receiving money to acquit criminals, was also targeted but he managed to escape to Lebanon. According to local activists, the arrests, as well as the on-going dissolution of the NDF in Jablah, was enacted by the Syrian Government to show its ability to fight corruption among loyalist militias while re-instating itself among Syrian state institutions that have been steadily taken over by the NDF and other militias over the course of the war. Given the endemic corruption across Syria, the NDF arrests are likely to be of limited impact. However, they will still likely receive support from the populace due to militia impunity and corruption being a top complaint even among loyalists. For further information, contact Integrity UK on: [email protected] or +44 207 879 9979 .