Syria – The Free

Trump to control Syria by Sanctions waivers and could protect Syrian Kurds against Turkish/ Damascus/ISIS/ SNA / Irani and Israeli enemies

In a surprise move Trump declared an “end” to the Sanctions throttling Syria, thus taking power of ‘instant reinstatement’ over ‘interim’ ruling ex Al Qaeda terrorists. Reversing the pullout of US bases he also quietly ordered air and logistic support to the Kurdish led SDF battling Turkish led and ISIS attacks

on May 14, 2025 By Khalaf Ma’o at North Press Agency and thefreeonline at https://wp.me/pIJl9-GWi Telegram t.me/thefreeonline/3139

SDF confirms ongoing ‘Coalition partnership’ in Northeast Syria

Trucks of the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS loaded with logistics in the city of Hasakah in NE Syria on May 8, 2025 – North Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – https://npasyria.com/en/125557/– The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed on Thursday that cooperation between the SDF and the U.S.-led Global Coalition remains active and effective.

Mahmoud Habib, spokesman for the North Democratic Brigade operating under the SDF umbrella, highlighted joint operations carried out against ISIS sleeper cells over the past two days.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook account, Habib noted that both parties have conducted day and night training exercises aimed at enhancing operational and field capabilities.

He also reported the establishment of new positions, including in the town of Sirrin, with further deployment planned soon in the Tishrin Dam housing area in southern Kobani.

Habib emphasized that additional military and logistical reinforcements have been sent to support Coalition bases in northern Syria, rejecting reports of an imminent U.S. withdrawal as “baseless illusions.”

On May 3, a source from the Global Coalition told North Press that the U.S.-led forces are conducting their largest military exercises in Syria to date, starting from their bases in the country’s east.

According to the source, the drills are being carried out from the al-Omar oil field base and its surrounding areas in the east of Deir ez-Zor, extending to the Iraqi border.

The source described the upcoming maneuvers as the most extensive since Coalition forces first entered Syria, signaling the start of a new phase of operations against what he termed “malicious organizations.”

By Khalaf Ma’o https://npasyria.com/en/125557/

US sanctions/Tariffs Hegemony wins partial control of HTS led regime in Syria

thefreeonline at https://wp.me/pIJl9-GWi

This will likely be the final end of the Syrian “revolution” with the devastated country parceled out to neoliberal profiteers funded by oil dictators and western corporations.

However it does open the option of the coercive ‘Trump Deal’ ordering an end to the regime permitting mass sectarian massacres, especially of Kurdish, Druze and Alawite minorities.

US coercive control of the economy via sanctions ‘instant renewal’ could in principle curb the ‘bad for business’ persecution of Kurds, Christians, Azeris, Syriacs, ex Assad era workers, LGBTQs… as well as the moves to return women, over half the population, to Al Qaeda/ISIS style servitude.

Sanctions lifting could also be good news for the embattled AANES/SDF area of NE Syria. It seems the US has reversed its policy of partial withdrawal from its bases there which, though only a few thousand troops, maintain Air and Logistical protection against the social revolution’s many sworn enemies.

Latest reports suggest the US has also modified its ‘look the other way’ policy and is now actively resisting Turkey’s genocidal invasions and terrorist attacks, despite it being a NATO partner.

Such reports point to a US deal to enforce a ceasefire in Manbij to curb the killings and looting by Turkish backed SNA mercenaries, as well as the quiet installation of a US post in Kobani to thwart the Turkish backed offensive to destroy the iconic Kurdish city as well as the deal to stop the Turkish sponsored bombing and killing of civilian protestors at the Tishrin Dam.

North Press also reported that the SDF spokesperson Mahmoud Habib has confirmed the establishment of new US positions, including in the town of Sirrin’s Turkish backed massacre, with further deployment planned soon in the Tishrin Dam housing area in southern Kobani.

As the Turkish state continues its genocidal campaign against North-East Syria, which has escalated since the fall of the Assad regime, targeted attacks against civilians have left dozens of people dead or wounded in recent weeks. On January 28, a Turkish UCAV (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) bombed the public market in Sirrin, leaving 12 civilians dead and 13 others wounded.

The Rojava (AANES/SDF) revolutionary example of multi-ethnic local administration and defense, for gender equality, environmental sustainability, and economic governance including communes is an obvious though much hated template for pacifying the current chaotic mess under the new Syrian rulers .

The SDF 80,000+ decentralised coalition of dozens of Kurdish led local, minority, women’s and anti -jihadi, militias are paid by the Autonomous Administration (NOT by the US).

Moves to disband the SDF by integration into the new Damascus state army have been accepted in principle, but the appointment by Jolani of a US condemned HTS war criminal as ‘commander’ to take control of Rojava has raised outraged resistance. The plan to disband may be delayed and reformed indefinitely. ( read 7 May, 2025 ..Outrage as Hevrin Khalaf’s killer made Army Leader to destroy Rojava -‘securing the provinces of Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor’-. – The Free )

(read..Beyond the Nation-State.. Anticolonial Resistance and the Paradigm of the PKK.. )Rojava Information Center @RojavaIC US-sanctioned Hatem Abu Shaqra, leader of Ahrar al-Sharqiya (Hevrin Khalef’s killers) spoke at the “Victory Conference,” announcing Ahmed al-Sharaa as “transitional phase” Syrian president. Today, women in Qamishlo marched to condemn Abu Shaqra’s presence in the new government. 12:52 p. m. · 1 feb. 2025 2.197 Visualizaciones

Similarily the Trump Sanction Deal and reported reversal of withdrawal from bases raises questions on other concessions by AANES/SDF to the HTS-led ‘interim’ government in Damascus. For example the agreement to withdraw the SDF from the key Tishrin dam defense as SNA Turkish mercenaries in theory come under HTS control.

Any extension of US protection could also delay forced SDF agreements to grant the central government control of the Iraqi border, isolating them completely, as well as transferring control of the limited oil well production, etcetera.

The final surrender of the PKK resistance, while a likely disaster for Kurdish rights in Turkey and abroad, does at least invalidate the Turkish regime’s excuse that it was a banned terrorist organisation, which it always uses to jail tens of thousands for its suspected support and to justify its own terrorist bombings and invasions of suspected PKK supporters in Syria and Iraq.

(read..Turkish Repression of Kurds continues amid Depraved Bombing /Shelling of civilians in Rojava –)

octubre 7, 2019 Trump betrays Rojava: allows Erdogan to Bomb, Invade and Genocide anti ISIS defenders

Outrage as Hevrin Khalaf’s killer made Army Leader to destroy Rojava -‘securing the provinces of Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor’-.

The Syrian regime has chosen Ahmad al-Hayis (Abu Hatim Shakra) a brutal misogynist mass murderer of women and Kurds, as head of the Army Division tasked with taking over the Rojava Autonomous Area (DAANES)

on 7 May, 2025 by ANHA /.Al Mayadeen /via thefreeonline at https://wp.me/pIJl9-GQq

Turkish-backed militias fighting in Syria raping and torturing Kurds … independent.co.uk ..Kurdish politician and 10 others killed by ‘Turkish-backed militia’

WORLD-Middle East WOMAN The decision by Damascus to appoint the killer of Hevrin Khalaf as the leader of a military division has sparked widespread condemnation and rejection, with growing calls for justice and accountability for crimes against women.

social media outrage over appointment of Hevrin Khalaf’s killer to lead 86th Division

“This is an unacceptable decision that perpetuates murder,” said Huda Ali, a citizen from the city of Jil Agha. “As women, we strongly condemn and denounce this arbitrary decision to appoint a war criminal ..”

The appointment of Turkish paid mercenary Hatim Abu Shakra, responsible for the assassination of Future Syria Party Secretary-General Hevrin Khalaf, as the head of Division 86 has ignited a storm of anger, particularly among women, activists, and journalists. Many are demanding that he be held accountable rather than rewarded with a promotion.

The Syrian interim government has appointed Ahmad al-Hayis, known as Abu Hatim Shakra, a former commander of the Ahrar al-Sharqiya faction, as head of the newly formed 86th Division, tasked with securing the provinces of al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor.

The decision, issued by interim Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, also grants al-Hayis the rank of brigadier general in what is being called the “new Syrian army.”

“In response to this murder and other documented abuses, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Ahrar al-Shakra in 2021, citing extrajudicial killings and gross human rights violations… The group’s connections to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) were also underscored in the sanction’s announcement, which named al-Shakra as a central figure in facilitating abuses and maintaining extremist ties”.

Kurdish activist Hevrin Khalaf was brutally murdered by Turkish-backed armed opposition groups and her body defiled for the world to see.- Video 2021- Now her killer Abu Shakra ( Ahmad al-Hayis) has been made commander of a force charged with destroying the Rojava autonomous area

Abu Shakra, whose real name is Ahmad Ihsan Fayadh Al-Hayes, is a leader of the “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” mercenaries. He was involved in the brutal assassination of Hevrin Khalaf and her driver Farhad Ramadan in October 2019, a crime that drew widespread international condemnation at the time.

The appointment of Abu Shakra to dismantle the Rojava Democratic Social Revolution destroys any hope that the radical concessions made to the ‘interim’ ex Al Qaeda regime would allow the mainly Kurdish DAANES area to maintain its horizontal multi-ethnic community based economy, and especially its unique and inspiring women’s revolution.

With the hope of being part of national reconciliation the leadership of the DAANES administration agreed to integrate their multi ethnic 100k strong SDF defense forces into the ‘new Syrian Army’ now commanded by ex Al Qaeda war criminals who are now committing ongoing massacres with total impunity against the Alawite, Druze, other minorities and ex Assad era officials, as well as eliminating women’s rights.

With the hope of finding a place in a ‘New Syria’ and escaping annihilation by the genocidal Turkish offensives (as the US coalition forces pull out) Rojava even agreed to cede control of their Iraqi border to the new Damascus regime, thus totally isolating themselves, as well as control of the limited oil deposits….

The appointment of Abu Shakra, a proven mercenary, murderer, rapist and ethnic cleanser as ‘commander’ of their homeland, ‘tasked with ‘securing’ the provinces of al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor’, makes these concessions in hindsight appear naive and suicidal”.

Feminist and international condemnation

In an early response, Roxan Muhammad, spokesperson for the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), strongly condemned the decision, describing it as “a legitimization of impunity and an endorsement of violence against women and indigenous peoples.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she stated: “We will continue our struggle until justice is served.”

Israel won’t allow Syria military forces south of Damascus: Netanyahu

Netanyahu has demanded the ‘full demilitarisation’ of southern Syria, where Israel has illegally expanded its forces.

from Al Jazeera via https://wp.me/pIJl9-Gar at https://wp.me/pIJl9-Gar on 24th Feb 2025

Israel expands Gaza ground invasion,

Published On 23 Feb 202523 Feb 2025

Israel will not allow the new Syrian government’s military forces to operate in territory south of Syria’s capital Damascus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned.

Addressing a military ceremony in Israel on Sunday, Netanyahu demanded the “full demilitarisation of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa and Suweyda provinces”.

Syria’s leader, Russia’s Putin make first contact since al-Assad’s fall

“We will not allow forces from the HTS organisation or the new Syrian army to enter the area south of Damascus,” Netanyahu said, referring to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which spearheaded the offensive that toppled longtime Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad last December.

Israeli soldiers take up positions near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

He also warned that Israel would not accept any threats to the Druze community in Syria, who live in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory illegally occupied by Israel, and other parts of southwestern Syria.

Israel has taken advantage of al-Assad’s fall to expand into a buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Syria, breaching a United Nations agreement brokered in 1974.

The Druze are a religious minority found across several countries in the region. In Syria, many have expressed their opposition to Israeli expansion into the southwest of the country, and thousands living in the occupied Golan Heights have refused to take Israeli citizenship.

Thousands attend funeral for slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

Israel occupies approximately two-thirds of the Golan Heights, with the UN-administered buffer zone spanning a narrow, 400-square-kilometre (154-sq-mile) area. The rest has been controlled by Syria.

In 1974, Israel and Syria struck a ceasefire agreement that determined the Golan Heights would be a demilitarised buffer zone.

But shortly after the fall of al-Assad last December, the Israeli military moved within the buffer zone and has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian military assets.

Border Clashes: Israel-Syria Violence |

Israel has justified its attacks on Syria for years by claiming it is eliminating Iranian military targets. However, Iran has said none of its forces are currently in Syria, and the new Syrian government has indicated it has no desire to fight Israel.

Israeli forces have currently established two posts on Syria’s Mount Hermon and seven others in the buffer zone, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said that Israeli forces would remain on Mount Hermon and in a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights for “for an indefinite period to protect our communities and thwart any threat”.

Is the END of Rojava coming? – you can help save a unique human experiment in real time!- Help expose Turkey’s new fascist invasion!

Recent rumors suggest that the U.S. may be preparing to withdraw its more than 2,000 troops deployed in Rojava, SDF-AANES, in north and eastern Syria

on 2nd February 2025 from thefreeonline at https://wp.me/pIJl9-FTZ Tgram https://t.me/thefreeonline/2126.

Banner shows 11 of the civilian ‘human shield’ protestors murdered in cold blood by Turkey at Tishreen Dam

Such a move could weaken the SDF to the point of collapse and we hope the reports are mere rumors.

The revolutionary AANES constitution reflects the democratic principles, communal work, human rights, ethnic and religious tolerance, Woman-Life-Freedom, gender equality, and the decentralization of power already being implemented with great enthusiasm in their liberated area..

The revolution, unique in the middle east if not the world, follows the teachings of Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned forever on a Turkish island. It began in Turkey in where there are over 20 million repressed Kurds, when Ocalan organised the PKK defenders to make a 2nd successful truce with Turkey, until the Erdogan regime forced the collapse of the agreement in 2015 and drowned the civil revolution in blood, even bombing Kurdish cities in Turkey like Nusaybin to rubble to stamp out Kurdish horizontal democratic practices . see photo.

City of Nusaybin in Turkey after Erdogan’s ‘Peace Police’ operation. Zehra Dogan was jailed for painting a picture based on this photo.

The revolution survived however in NE Syria. The Assad regime had to abandon the area due to almost losing the civil war.

The Turkish armed jihadi ISIS Caliphate had been sweeping north Syria, but the Kurdish defenders defeated them in the epic Siege of Kobanî (Sept 2014 to Feb 2915) despite the destruction of the city, with the International Coalition (mainly the USA) finally intervening with some air support.

After the Kobani victory the Kurdish defenders (YPG men and YPJ women) went on to organize the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces, now over 100k strong) as a host of other militia groupings joined them, Arabs of all sorts, Yazides, Womens militias, Christians, Syriacs, Turkmen, Armenians, etc

The rest is history, the SDF defeated ISIS in Manbij and set up a vibrant unique multi cultural multi religious city following the communal liberation agenda and continued east.

(However in January 2025, taking advantage of the fall of the Assad regime, Manbij was finally conquered by Erdogan’s horde of Turkish backed jihadi mercenaries in an orgy of looting and rape, even executing the injured SDF defenders in their hospital beds.(videos)

Serekaniye in Rojava, Syria was seized and ethnically cleansed by Turkey in part of its 3rd invasion labeled ‘Operation Peace Spring’, thousands of residents are still surviving in internal refugee camps

The SDF went on to defeat the ISIS Caliphate, finally taking over their capital of Raqqa (2017) with air support (which is now rebuilt and a thriving, free, minority Kurdish multi-ethnic city) and driving them out of all NE Syria, including the Arab area in Deir Ezzor, where most of the limited oil reserves are located.

Feb 2025 – Is the END of Rojava Looming? – you can help save a unique human experiment in real time –

Trump is rumored to be planning to withdraw the 2000 US troops and cancel its support for the SDF/AANES in suppressing and guarding ISIS.

The region’s ethnic and religious diversity is its defining feature, which the AANES authorities often highlight as part of their political platform promoting coexistence and tolerance among the different groups.

AANES/SDF would objectively be better with almost any other guarantor than the genocidal predator capitalist USA, which reduced Syria to starvation levels since 2019 under Trump’s orders under the draconian Caesar Act Sanctions (now paused) as revenge for its proxies not winning the civil war.

How can we save the Rojava Revolution?

The best thing we can do is to promote International support. The Kurdish Diaspora is strongly behind AANES/SDF, also the Kurds in Turkey, though heavily suppressed.

There are dozens of support groups especially in Europe as well as some ONGs and Human Rights Groups who could try to deliver some aid in the event of a US withdrawal and major Turkish invasion.

However there is extensive Rojava support media, also international and multilingual, and one of the chief ways you can help defend the revolution is by sharing these media reports, including many videos and trying everything to make mainstream media include them.

Rojava Information Center
#Riseup4Rojavahttp://www.riseup4rojava.org https://t.me/RiseUp4RojavaEng
ANHA ENGLISH https://t.me/enhawarnews
https://t.me/International_Rev
https://t.me/sdf_press
Medya News

Donate now to Hevya Zor for 75K destitute refugees EMERGENCY AID FOR ROJAVA! – heyvasor.com
Rojava resists! 200,000 Saved! International anarchist and leftist groups declare their support for SDF thefreeonline.com/2024
Situational update Rojava Information Center- 5th Dec 2024

It is possible to volunteer, especially if you have medical or military experience, and there still are international groups that can organize the trip. Many international comrades have been killed defending Rojava.

Unfortunately Rojava is blockaded on three sides, for the moment aid can enter via Iraq where there is some Yazidi and Kurdish support but this could be blocked if/when the US leaves Syria and/or keeps its promise to leave Iraq.

What are most needed perhaps are thousands of lightweight drones which could even stymie NATO’s 2nd largest army in guerrilla warfare. Turkey has always been wary of committing its own troops, mostly forced draftees and prone to a bad image and some embarrassing losses.

Other options look unviable or unlikely:

Trump abhors the local ideology of course. He betrayed the SDF back in 2019 and let Turkey invade and ethnically cleanse the border area. He also declared in a macho rave that the US was only there for the oil. Ever since then the entire Arab media always repeats that Rojava exists to help the USA steal their oil (though the quantity is insignificant and there is no modern refinery).

Turkiye

Meanwhile every single report in the Turkish (95% indirectly state controlled) media reminds us that all Kurds are ‘PKK terrorists’ and must be eliminated. Erdogan boasts at killing Kurds, genocide is an ultra-nationalist tradition and imperialist expansion inspires support despite the dire ecoinomy.).’- PKK are NOT terrorists! Erdogan rejected Ocalan’s Peace Plan, sabotaged their Truce. bombed their cities… –

New Syrian Govt

As for the new HTS “inclusive” regime in Damascus – it’s looking grim. Jolani, now named Syria’s ‘President’ has declared all militia groupings are being integrated under his control into the State army, except the SDF which is happy to be an autonomous part of the new “inclusive” State – but refuses to disband and face destruction and likely genocide.

There’s a fundamental contradiction between the brilliant Constitution of Rojava and the ideology of President Jolani, former leader of the Al Qaeda ‘head choppers’.

The AANES Constitution represents a region where various ethnic and religious communities coexist peacefully, where women and minorities are guaranteed equal rights, and where local governance is based on the principles of autonomy and self-determination.

Iran

Then there is Iran, could it help Rojava survive? Unfortunately ‘Woman-Life-Freedom’ is anathema to the present clerical regime. Indeed several women in Irani Kurdistan are right now facing the imminent Death Penalty for their Jineology views. –Iran: Two Kurdish Women at Risk of Execution

Russia

Could Russia intervene to stop the Turkish invasion destroying Rojava?. – It’s true that Russia has played the peacemaker, sometimes limiting Turkish atrocities against Syrian Kurds in the past, although they betrayed them by gifting the Afrin area to Turkey,by allowing their ongoing invasion, occupation and ethnic cleansing, in exchange for an oil pipeline. In any case Russia is now out of the picture, being the main backer of the defunct Assad regime.

Also there is Israel, now grabbing a slice of southern Syria… It’s doubtful whether the SDF would accept aid from the genocidal zionist settler regime even to save their own lives, and very unlikely that Israel would ever offer.

Israel

Finally there is International support. The Kurdish Diaspora is strongly behind AANES/SDF, also the Turkish Kurds, though heavily suppressed. There are dozens of support groups especially in Europe as well as some ONGs and Human Rights Groups who could try to deliver some aid in the event of a US withdrawal and major Turkish invasion.

Turkey’s jihadi mercenaries are now better trained, well armed and supported, nevertheless they are an unstable conglomeration of many authoritarian militias whose base loyalty is to Turkish promises of looting and women.

SDF local support is at it highest ever with daily demonstrations and displays of local organisations, especially youth, declaring they will fight to the death.

This is also evidenced by the continuing convoys traveling to the Tishreen Dam frontline , despite daily Turkish massacres, to act a human shields.

At the Tishreen Dam crossing of the Euphrates tens of thousands of multi ethnic civilians have traveled in convoys from all over the AANES area, taking turns at an ongoing day and night demonstration in freezing conditions, with the hope of shaming Turkey before international opinion into halting the invasion.

2025.. Is the END of Rojava Looming? – you can help save a unique human experiment in real time!- Help expose Turkey’s new fascist invasion!

Recent rumors suggest that the U.S. may be preparing to withdraw its more than 2,000 troops deployed in Rojava, SDF-AANES, in north and eastern Syria.

on 1st February 2025 from thefreeonline at https://wp.me/pIJl9-FSp Tgram https://t.me/thefreeonline/2126

Such a move could weaken the SDF to the point of collapse and we hope the reports are mere rumors.

The revolutionary AANES constitution is reflects the democratic principles, communal work, human rights, ethnic and religious tolerance, Woman-Life-Freedom, gender equality, and the decentralization of power already being implemented in their liberated area..

The revolution, unique in the middle east if not the world, follows the teachings of Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned forever on a Turkish island. It began in Turkey in where there are over 20 million repressed Kurds, when their Ocalan organised the PKK defenders to make a 2nd successful truce with Turkey, until the Erdogan regime foced the collapse of the agreement in 2015 and drowned the civil revolution in blood, even bombing Kurdish cities in Turkey like Nusaybin to rubble.

City of Nusaybin in Turkey after Erdogan’s ‘Peace Police’ operation. Zehra Dogan was jailed for painting a picture based on this photo.

The revolution survived however in NE Syria. The Assad regime had to abandon the area due to almost losing the civil war.

The rest is history, the SDF defeated ISIS in Manbij and set up a vibrant unique multi cultural multi religious city following the communal liberation agenda and continued east.

Feb 2025 – Is the END of Rojava Looming? – you can help save a unique human experiment in real time –

Trump is rumored to be planning to withdraw the 2000 US troops and cancel its support for the SDF/AANES in suppressing and guarding ISIS.

How can we save the Rojava Revolution?

The best thing we can do is to promote International support. The Kurdish Diaspora is strongly behind AANES/SDF, also the Kurds in Turkey, though heavily suppressed.

There are dozens of support groups especially in Europe as well as some ONGs and Human Rights Groups who could try to deliver some aid in the event of a US withdrawal and major Turkish invasion.