Freies Politikforum für Demokraten und Anarchisten - Außenpolitik

Türkische Expansionskonzepte und Westliche Interessen schuldig der Kobane angriff

Turkish military officer among commanders of Syrian opposition

Turkey is appointing Turkish military officers as commanders for groups they call “Syrian opposition”. A document has surfaced that shows an officer in the Turkish army has been appointed as commander to a group acting as armed Syrian opposition.
https://anfenglish.com/features/turkish-military-officer-among-commanders-of-syrian-opposition


....The balance of forces in Jarablus may further complicate the next US steps in northern Syria, especially given the role of US special forces in the region. Gurcan reports that “the heavy presence of armored and engineering forces along the border could be a sign of Ankara’s intention to set up a permanent base at Jarablus modeled after the Bashiqa base near Mosul in Iraq.” Candar adds that the Turkish military coordinated “Operation Euphrates Shield” with about 1,500 Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, who have a “miserable record” of holding territory. Many of the FSA forces are composed of Salafists, and Gurcan adds that “their numbers are expected to reach 5,000-strong as they are joined by perhaps a dozen armed groups such as Ahrar al-Sham.” Ahrar al-Sham is allied with the Syrian Conquest Front, the rebranded Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. The SDF and the YPG, unlike the FSA, have so far avoided alliances with the Syrian Conquest Front and other Salafi groups.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/08/biden-diplomatic-triage-turkey-syria-policy-iran.html


Nordsyrien: Türkei-Islamisten-Allianz greift Anti-IS-Allianz an

Absurder kann es nicht mehr werden: Die USA unterstützt den Einmarsch türkischer Truppen im Verbund mit dschihadistischen Gruppen, um angeblich den IS zu vertreiben (Kampflose Eroberung von Dscharablus: Wer an der türkischen Offensive auf Dscharablus beteiligt war). Deutschland sagt der Türkei Unterstützung zu.In einem Propagandavideo zeigen die türkischen Militärs die Eroberung der menschenleeren Stadt Jarablus.
https://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/49/49258/1.html


Occupant Turkish army has launched an attack targeting a position of YPG (People's Defense Units) between Amude and Qamishlo cities of Rojava, West Kurdistan.

The attack has reportedly resulted in injuries.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-army-attacks-ypg-position-on-the-border

.....However, on Wednesday, speaking at a press conference in Turkey alongside the prime minister, US Vice President Joe Biden said that the YPG would lose US support if they continued to spread westwards across the Euphrates river.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-condemns-unacceptable-clashes-between-turkey-and-pro-kurdish-forces-979975202

Demonstrations against Turkish occupation spread in Rojava

Thousands of people in Dirbêsiyê, Til Temir and Zirgan cities of Rojava's Cizîr Canton are protesting the Turkish state’s massacre and invasion in the south of Jarablus.

The people marched to the city center, chanting “Invading Turkish state, leave Rojava and Syria!”. Teacher Nojîn Sîdo read a statement in the name of the people. Sîdo condemned the occupant Turkish army’s massacre of civilians in the south of Jarablus and the international community for staying silent against the massacre and the Turkish state’s invasion.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/demonstrations-against-turkish-occupation-spread-in-rojava

Turkey rejects US claims of ceasefire with Syrian Kurds

Turkish ministers say country does not accept US announcement of 'loose' truce with YPG fighters in northern Syria
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-rejects-ceasefire-officer-syrian-kurds-1907586652

Fighters in Jarablus say they will continue their fight against the Turkish state invasion. Fighters demand international groups to stand against the occupation of Turkish state and their allied gangs.
https://anfenglish.com/features/fighters-in-jarablus-turkish-state-can-t-frighten-us

Deutschland hilft Erdogan bei der Kurdenverfolgung

Kurdische und türkische linke Oppositionelle werden in Deutschland inhaftiert, ohne dass sie Straftaten begangen haben
https://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/49/49299/1.html

A conference titled “The Urgent Situation in Northern Syria, Turkish Invasion, Europe’s Security and An Alternative to the Turkey Deal” has been held in the European Parliament in the Belgian capital Brussels today. The conference hosted by Slovakian EP deputy Branislav Skripek was held in Anna Politikovska Conference Hall. PYD Co-chair Saleh Moslem and David Vergili in the name of the European Syriac Union attended the conference as speakers. Attendance was high in the conference. Branislav Skripek gave the opening speech and said they were there to draw attention to the situation Rojava is in, and that “There is a serious fight against ISIS in Rojava. Everybody should take their part in it.”
https://anfenglish.com/news/saleh-moslem-speaks-at-ep-eu-must-speak-up-about-turkey-s-invasion

Heute, am 30.08.16 wurde der kurdische Aktivist Mustafa Çelik vom Oberlandesgericht Celle wegen Mitgliedschaft in einer „terroristischen Vereinigung im Ausland“ – gemeint ist die Arbeiterpartei Kurdistan (PKK) – nach §§ 129a, 129b StGB zu 2 Jahren und 6 Monaten Haft verurteilt worden.
https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/188773


Hochrangige kurdische Politikerinnen und Politiker kündigen Hungerstreik an, um das Ende der Kontaktsperre zu dem PKK-Gründer zu erzwingen
https://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/49/49305/1.html


According to an IHD report, 1,552 people -who include soldiers, police, village guards, militants and civilians- died in the Kurdish cities during the period from July 24, 2015 to July 24, 2016. 1,683 others were wounded.
https://anfenglish.com/human-rights/ihd-1-552-people-died-in-the-kurdish-region-during-the-past-one-year

Saudi Arabia backs Turkish action against Kurds in northern Syria

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Friday reiterated his country's full backing of Turkish military operations in northern Syria against IS and Kurdish militants, and suggested a military solution remained the strongest option to get rid of Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad.

Adel al-Jubeir dismissed remarks suggesting that Turkey had changed its approach on Syria since Binali Yildirim became Turkey's prime minister earlier this summer.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-backs-turkish-action-against-syrian-kurds-289051176


British YPG fighters 'head to Manbij to face Turkish forces'

A brigade of British volunteers fighting with a US-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria say they are planning to oppose advances by Turkish-backed forces, a day after senior Turkish officials said all would be confronted as "terrorists".

In a series of statements on Twitter on Friday, the Bob Crow Brigade said that its members were leaving the Raqqa front, where they had been fighting the Islamic State (IS) group, to travel to Manbij, a town in northern Aleppo that the YPG took from IS last month, and where pro-Turkish forces now are massing.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-ypg-volunteers-head-manbij-face-turkish-forces-1840728706

Turkish soldiers murder a civilian on Efrîn border and kidnap his body
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-soldiers-murder-a-civilian-on-efrin-border-and-kidnap-his-body

Turkish terror attacks on Rojava land kill 6, wound 6 others

Occupant Turkish military forces have launched an attack targeting the border villages in Raco district of Rojava's Efrîn city starting from 18:00 Wednesday evening.

The ongoing Turkish aggression with howitzers, mortars and heavy weapons has killed 5 Erka Xweparastinê (self-defense forces) members and one member of Asayish (public security) forces. At least 6 other people have been wounded in the ongoing attack, who reportedly include 2 Erka Xweparastinê, 2 civilians and 2 Asayish members.

Reports are also coming through of drone activity over the region targeted by the attacks.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-terror-attacks-on-rojava-land-kill-6-wound-6-others

Turkish PM orders further massacres along the borders

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım addressed the governors of 81 provinces, ordering further massacres along Turkey's borders.

Speaking at the Governors' meeting in Ankara, Yıldırım stated that they have entered a new process with regards to the war policies they call “counter terrorism”. Reiterating the order he recently gave to the troops in Hakkari, Yıldırım said: “This is a process of offensive, not defense”.

The Prime Minister of Turkey instructed new Roboski massacres, saying; "We will secure our border gates. Every crossing from outside the border gates is an enemy crossing that will be retaliated immediately. Such a crossing is an unlawfulness and a crime, against which what is necessary will be done, in the same manner the attacks of enemies are retaliated.”
https://anfenglish.com/news/turkish-pm-orders-further-massacres-along-the-borders


Til Berak people protest Turkish occupation of Jarablus
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/til-berak-people-protest-turkish-occupation-of-jarablus

FSA on the outside, ISIS on the inside

A significant portion of the alliance of gangs Turkey markets as “FSA” are ISIS members. The evidence including confiscated footage and documents show that Turkey camouflaged ISIS members.
https://anfenglish.com/special/fsa-on-the-outside-isis-on-the-inside


....US special forces soldiers were reportedly forced to flee a town in northern Syria after Free Syrian Army fighters threatened to "slaughter" them for their "invasion", according to videos and reports posted on social media on Friday
About 25 US soldiers were reportedly working with Turkish forces as they advanced on al-Rai, Aleppo, in preparation for an offensive against nearby al-Bab, which is controlled by the Islamic State group.

The FSA is allied with Turkish forces and ostensibly supported by the US as a "moderate" rebel group fighting against the government of Bashar al-Assad.

However, Friday's confrontation highlights the complex nature of the war in Syria.

In the video, fighters from the FSA chant that US forces are "pigs", "crusaders" and "infidels".
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-us-fsa-threats-1094894190


Why the battle for al-Bab is pivotal in Syria

“Our troops will advance toward al-Bab city. This will be our next military target. We want to completely liberate this city," said Ahmed Sultan, deputy commander of the Army of Revolutionaries, an affiliate of the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

"We will not allow the regime to advance, and we will also prevent the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army [FSA] factions from taking part in the liberation of al-Bab and its countryside," he told Al-Monitor. "These factions are unable to make any progress without Turkey's support. We are able to clear the area of ​​terrorism.”
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/09/syria-battles-al-bab-manbij-sdf-isis-withdrawal-aleppo.html


Kurds step up attacks as cold war with Iran threatens to spark

For a man lucky to be alive, Kheder Pakdaman is remarkably calm. Speaking on a phone from his party's headquarters in the Iraqi town of Koya, the veteran guerilla commander quietly recounts yet another deadly encounter with Iran's armed forces.

On 6 September, Pakdaman was leading a group of Kurdish fighters into the town of Sardasht in western Iran, when gunfire erupted and his unit was pinned down by a hail of bullets.

"The Iranian regime ambushed us when we were in the town to meet our people. We managed to get out of the ambush after heavy fighting," he tells Middle East Eye.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/irans-cold-war-kurds-threatens-boil-over-696337776

Turkish army attacked Rojava 26 times during September

YPG Press Office announced the balance sheet of war for the months of September. YPG stated that 81 enemy fighters were killed, 4 others were taken as prisoner, and 10 car bombs, 2 military vehicles, 1 artillery and 1 bulldozer were destroyed during September.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/ypg-turkish-army-attacked-rojava-26-times-during-september



Shengal Coordination statement on the murder of two peshmergas

Shengal Coordination issued a written statement about the death of two volunteer peshmergas in their 60s in Shengal, and emphasized that the peshmergas’ bodies were found between two KDP Asayish checkpoints.
In its statement, the Coordination recalled the recent statements Turkey has made on Shengal, and underlined that regional intelligence agencies have planned and carried out provocative actions in the region. Shengal Coordination recalled that the disappeared peshmergas were earth digger operators over 60 years old, and said that it was inhumane and immoral to massacre two people that patriotically serve their land, dump their bodies on the side of the road, and steal their guns and vehicles. Shengal Coordination remarked that the statements that accuse the Coordination for the event, that are mostly made on Rudaw media group, show that the killers had a purpose of blaming the Coordination for the murders.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/shengal-coordination-statement-on-the-murder-of-two-peshmergas


'Settlement schmettlement': Turkish purges target Kurds

Kadri Gursel writes that the Turkish government’s purge following the attempted July 15 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expanded beyond presumed supporters of Fethullah Gulen to include alleged followers and sympathizers of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Interior Ministry this month replaced 24 mayors for supporting the PKK, which is a designated terrorist organization in Turkey, as well as its affiliate, the Kurdistan Communities Union. Half of those removed from office are already in jail awaiting trial. Gursel explains that the mayors “were elected in the March 2014 local elections on the ticket of the Peace and Democracy Party, which soon became the Democratic Regions Party (DBP). The same year, the Kurdish movement, teaming up with some elements of the Turkish left, created the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which aspired for a nationwide outreach. While the DBP focused on local administrations, the HDP won parliamentary representation in the two general elections last year to become the voice of the Kurds in national politics.”

The Ministry of Education then suspended 11,825 teachers for supporting the PKK by “disrupting curfews” and participating in demonstrations that “obstructed the right to education,” Gursel writes.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/09/turkey-gulen-coup-pkk-mayors-crackdown-intellectuals.html


British YPG fighters 'head to Manbij to face Turkish forces'

A brigade of British volunteers fighting with a US-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria say they are planning to oppose advances by Turkish-backed forces, a day after senior Turkish officials said all would be confronted as "terrorists".

In a series of statements on Twitter on Friday, the Bob Crow Brigade said that its members were leaving the Raqqa front, where they had been fighting the Islamic State (IS) group, to travel to Manbij, a town in northern Aleppo that the YPG took from IS last month, and where pro-Turkish forces now are massing.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-ypg-volunteers-head-manbij-face-turkish-forces-1840728706

First IS, then Iran: Kurdish-Iranian leader has eyes on ultimate goal

The PAK group has helped roll back IS in Iraq. Flush with western training, the group's leader has eyes on the future - a homeland in Iran
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pak-leader-first-then-tehran-978014082

In struggle against PKK, Turkey takes flight

As noted Sept. 12 in Al-Monitor, in “Ankara hardening anti-PKK strategy,” the Turkish government, confident in its declaration of a state of emergency and experience gained in its struggle against the Gulen movement, has settled on a strategy of total liquidation of the PKK to the exclusion of attempts at deterrence. In this regard, Ankara last month introduced on the battlefield the Turkish-made medium-altitude, long-endurance Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The drone's manufacturer, Baykar Makina, is owned by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son-in-law Selcuk Bayraktar.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/turkey-pkk-learn-from-isis-drones.html

ISIS emir Abdullah: Turks are the MVPs of ISIS

ISIS emir Ahmet Osman Abdullah, code name Ebu Omer Ceza, who surrendered to the YPG made striking confessions on Turkey-ISIS relations.

ISIS emir Ahmet Osman Abdullah escaped from ISIS in 2015 and surrendered to the YPG and has been arrested for some 10 months. Ahmet Osman Abdullah spoke about why he joined ISIS, what he saw once he was there, the conflicts he experienced, the relationship between ISIS and the Turkish state and why he surrendered to the YPG.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/isis-emir-abdullah-turks-are-the-mvps-of-isis

Shehba people: Turkish army and affiliated gangs force us to migrate

Civilians from Shehba region who have been through a forced displacement due to the attacks of the Turkish state and affiliated gangs spoke to ANHA.

The displaced civilians stated that Turkish jets bombed their villages and made the affiliated gangs attack them with the goal of invading the region.

80-year old mother Meryem from Soran territory of Shehba stated that Turkish jets bombed their village and made their living areas uninhabitable.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/shehba-people-turkish-army-and-affiliated-gangs-force-us-to-migrate


Turkey's invasion from Jarablus to Exterin: 50 villages evacuated
https://anfenglish.com/features/turkey-s-invasion-from-jarablus-to-exterin-50-villages-evacuated


Kurdish protests continue in Iran despite government crackdown

Iranian paramilitary forces arrested dozens of Kurdish activists on Friday amid continuing anti-government protests.

The demonstrations broke out last Tuesday in Iran’s restive Kurdish region. Hundreds of angry Kurds took to the streets in the cities of Mariwan and Mahabad to condemn “suppression by the Iranian authorities.” The protests have now spread to other cities, including Sanandaj, the capital of Kordestan Province.
https://aranews.net/2016/10/kurdish-protests-continue-in-iran-government-crackdown-escalates/

Turkey: Army kills up to 200 YPG fighters in Aleppo

The Turkish military said its fighter jets hit Syrian Kurdish targets in northern Syria, and killed up to 200 fighters, according to state media.

The jets hit 18 targets in Maarrat Umm Hawsh, a region north of the city of Aleppo, the official news agency Anadolu said.

Quoting the army, the report claimed that between 160 and 200 fighters from the YPG (People's Protection Units) group were killed in the raids on Wednesday night.

A Syrian-Kurdish forces leader, however, said that while Turkish jets and artillery were attacking, no more than 10 fighters had been killed so far.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said at least nine YPG fighters were confirmed killed and 26 people were injured in some 20 raids.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/turkey-army-kills-200-ypg-fighters-aleppo-161020070457309.html

Rojava Coordination condemns Turkey’s attacks on Efrîn and Shehba



Rojava Cantons General Coordination has condemned Turkish fighter jets’ intervention and attacks on Shehba and Efrîn in a written statement. The Coordination stated that with these attacks, Turkey has proven once more that they are protecting ISIS.

The Coordination’s statement is as follows:

“Last night, Turkish fighter jets started bombing the Um Al-Qura, Um Al-Hosh and Al-Hesiye villages in the Shehba region liberated from the gangs by Revolutionary Forces intensely. The bombing occurred a few hours after the Revolutionary Forces liberated 5 villages around the Shehba Dam and one cell tower belonging to Syriatel company form the gangs. Bombing of the region and villages in the Efrin Canton continues. Dozens of civilians have lost their lives in the attacks.

As the Rojava Cantons Democratic Autonomous Administration General Coordination, we condemn this intervention by Turkey. We will defend the civilians in Northern Syria with all our means. Turkey has shown once again with these practices that they are protecting ISIS gangs and that they are not in favor of villages in the Shehba region to be liberated from the ISIS gangs.

With these practices, Turkey has trampled international law. We are calling on the peoples of the world, the UN, US, Russia, international law associations and NGOs to break the silence in the face of this situation and pressure Turkey to stop their attacks on Rojava.

We hope the international community won’t stay silent in the face of the Turkish state’s practices, and we call on all cultural structures in Syria to take a stance against the Turkish state’s bombings.”
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/rojava-coordination-condemns-turkey-s-attacks-on-efrin-and-shehba


Nach den Journalisten werden die HDP-Vertreter verhaftet

Nach der Schließung fast aller kritischen Medien stehen nun die Parteibüros und Politiker der HDP/DBP im Fokus. Beim Militär sind es die Soldaten der türkischen Nato-Truppen
https://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/49/49749/1.html

Did Putin give green light to Turkish attack on US-backed Syrian Kurds?

Tukish jets launched a massive assault on People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces in northern Syria on Oct. 20 to prevent the Syrian Kurdish group from taking the strategic town of al-Bab in northwestern Syria.

If the YPG, which is linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), seizes al-Bab, there would be a corridor connecting Syrian Kurdish regions east and west of the Euphrates River — something Turkey has vowed not to let happen.

Amberin Zaman reported that “the strikes mark the second time Turkey has attacked the YPG from the air, raising interesting questions about Ankara’s relations with Russia and with the Syrian regime. YPG sources who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said Turkey is unlikely to have initiated the strikes without informing Russia, whose planes effectively control the skies over northwestern Syria. Russia and Turkey are on opposite sides of the Syrian conflict, but Ankara’s fears of the emergence of a PKK-run Kurdish entity along its borders appear to have surpassed its desire to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. This is one of the main reasons Turkey was so keen to patch up ties with Russia, and some claim with Damascus, after downing a Russian jet over the Syrian border last year.”
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/russia-putin-green-light-attack-turkey-kurds-syria.html

Iraqi Kurds step into Ankara-Baghdad row

The deepening row between Turkey and Iraq took a further turn as Baghdad requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council to review what it considers the illegal presence of Turkish troops at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul, while a top Turkish official claimed the soldiers were there at the request of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/turkey-iraq-row-deepens-mosul-krg-kurds-isis.html

Turkish army attacks YPG positions in border villages of Tirbespiyê
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-army-attacks-ypg-positions-in-border-villages-of-tirbespiye


Joining the fight against ISIS is a moral obligation: French YPG member

Julian is a 23-year-old French fighter who has enlisted in the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). He is known among his Kurdish comrades by his nom de guerre, Heval Shoresh.

Speaking to ARA News, Julian said that his principle motivation for joining the YPG was his desire to safeguard civilians threatened by the Islamic State (ISIS).
https://aranews.net/2016/10/french-member-of-ypg-joining-the-fight-against-isis-is-a-moral-obligation/

Iranian Kurds see no change in Iran, opt for armed struggle

The Iranian Kurds see no difference in the repressive mentality of Iran since the assassination of Sadegh Saharafkani, 24 years ago, and that this is the reason they launched their armed struggle again inside Iran, a senior Kurdish politician from Iranian Kurdistan told ARA News.

On Saturday, Kurds revived the 24th anniversary of the assassination of Sharafkandi, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (KDP-I). He was murdered by assassins at Berlin’s Mykonos restaurant on September 17, 1992, along with two of his deputies.https://aranews.net/2016/09/iranian-kurds-see-no-change-iran-opt-armed-struggle/

Why KRG will remain Turkey’s main ally in Iraq

Turkey is not prepared to take a step back in its spat with Baghdad. The mood in Ankara remains defiant despite Baghdad’s insistence that Turkey not be allowed to participate in the Mosul operation and demands that Turkish troops in Bashiqa near Mosul be withdrawn.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/turkey-iraq-kurdistan-regional-government-main-ally.html

Der Author mein als wäre ganze KRG die Talabani politik unterstürtz, aber wie unten jemand hat geschrieben es gibt bei dem Krg die gegen diesen Politk ist ...

(The article is superficially fine.

The weak point in it is that it equals Barzani (and implicitly his family dominated KDP) with the KRG.

This is patently incorrect.

The PUK and its ally Gorran control Suleymania, Halabja and Kirkuk provinces, both politically and militarily and are closer to Iran and Baghdad and allied to the PKK.

The position of Barzani within the KRG is politically unsure as his present presidency is illegal and disputed by all KRG parties except for his own KRG.)


Kirkuk officials deny displacing Arabs in anti-IS operation

KIRKUK, Iraq — Flags bearing Shiite slogans such as "Ya Hussein" flutter conspicuously every 20 meters or so on Kirkuk’s Republic Street, in a district filled with government buildings and the blackened facades of hotels attacked during an Oct. 21 assault by over 100 Islamic State (IS) operatives.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/11/kirkuk-iraq-kurdistan-islamic-state-arab-sunni.html


A look at battle for Raqqa from a Kurdish perspective

Following the operation launched to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria, an expedited operation code-named Wrath of the Euphrates was initiated to liberate the IS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. Ankara has been perceptibly upset since it became known that the Raqqa operation was initiated by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces despite earlier optimistic predictions that Ankara, which was sidelined from the Mosul operation, would be in partnership with the United States at Raqqa
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/11/turkey-syria-euphrates-from-kurdish-perspective.html


Raqqa: Syrian Arab fighters pull out of Kurd-led offensive

The Syrian Arab component of forces attacking Raqqa have withdrawn from operations, declaring Kurdish forces had broken an agreement to allow them to lead the charge into the Islamic State (IS) group-held city.

In a statement released only days after the "Euphrate's Wrath" offensive began, Liwa Thuaar Raqqa (Raqqa revolutionary brigade) said it would no longer fight alongside the Kurdish YPG militia.

The brigade accused the US of trying to "sideline" its men in favour of the Kurdish forces, placing pressure on the YPG's backers in Washington who had pledged to let Arab forces take the lead in the operations.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-arab-fighters-pull-out-kurd-led-assault-raqqa-941399028



Turkish soldiers attack Efrîn residents resisting on the border: 5 wounded
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-soldiers-attack-efrin-residents-resisting-on-the-border-5-wounded


YPG Press Office stated that Turkish troops have intensified their attacks on YPG forces and Rojava soil since the beginning of the Operation Wrath of Euphrates. YPG said the Turkish state wanted to harm the YPG fighters as they have started an operation to liberate Raqqa from ISIS.

Turkish army carried out two separate attacks on November 8 night.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/ypg-turkish-army-and-gangs-intensify-their-attacks

A total of 120 people including 30 minors have been taken into custody during the raids and demonstrations held in Adana province for the last 5 days. The detainees also include HDP Adana provincial branch co-chair Hüseyin Beyaz.
https://anfenglish.com/news/120-people-including-30-minors-detained-in-adana-in-5-days

HPG releases balance sheet of war for three months

1,736 soldiers and police, including 21 high-ranking, were killed and 214 guerrillas lost their lives in the ongoing war during the months of August, September and October.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/hpg-releases-balance-sheet-of-war-for-three-months-1

News of arrests of YPG-linked Czechs shocks Turkey

Prague is a favorite honeymoon destination for Turkish newlyweds, and the Czech Republic is generally idealized in Turkey as a mecca of beautiful women and febrile intellectuals, all sipping the country’s famous brews. It must have therefore come as something of a shock for many Turks to read the headline news today that two “Czech terrorists” had been arrested in the predominantly Kurdish town of Sirnak, in southeastern Turkey.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/11/turkey-czech-arrest-terrorists-kurdish-sirnak-ypg.html

WATCH: ‘Turkish Soldiers’ Execute 2 Female ‘Kurdish Fighters’
https://heavy.com/news/2016/10/turkey-turkish-soldiers-executing-killing-female-pkk-kurdish-kurds-fighters-women-full-uncensored-twitter-video/

Soldiers and police burn a house: One woman burned to death in Erciş

Turkish soldiers and police raided Ahmet Ataman’s home in Çelibibağı neighborhood in Van’s Erciş district in the middle of the night. The Ataman family stated that the house had been set on fire. Nurettin Ataman said his brother Ahmet Ataman and brother’s wife Hediye Ataman were inside the house and that Hediye Ataman’s burned body was retrieved from the house that was torn down with diggers in the morning.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/soldiers-and-police-burn-a-house-one-woman-burned-to-death-in-ercis-1

Med Nuçe and Newroz TV won, Eutelsat and Turkey lost

Paris Commercial Court ruled in favor of Med Nuçe whose broadcast had been halted by the French operator Eutelsat. Med Nuçe’s lawyer said it was “a great victory in the name of press freedom”.
https://anfenglish.com/freedom-of-the-press/med-nuce-and-newroz-tv-won-eutelsat-and-turkey-lost

Raqqa activist group RBSS under scrutiny for making pro-ISIS propaganda

The activist group ‘Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently’ (RBSS) is coming under increased scrutiny for making pro-ISIS propaganda and ethnic chauvinism, and trying to undermine the SDF-led campaign to capture Raqqa from ISIS.

Sharvan Darwish, spokesman of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday accused the RBSS of distorting events in Raqqa, saying the group is “competing with Nazi propaganda and Turkish government propaganda” instead of focusing on the Raqqa civilians liberated from ISIS terrorists by the SDF forces.

However, the group denied the accusations. “SDF spokesman keep accusing RBSS for being with ISIS because we publish the violations against civilians in the area,” the group said.
https://aranews.net/2016/11/raqqa-activist-group-rbss-scrutiny-making-pro-isis-propaganda/



‘Raqqa’s fall will bring the end of Erdoğan’

Fighters of the Internationalist Brigade that participate in the operation to liberate Raqqa stated that the fall of ISIS capital Raqqa would also bring the end of the fascist AKP-Erdoğan dictatorship in Turkey.
https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/raqqa-s-fall-will-bring-the-end-of-erdogan