PHOTO: Kurdish fighters in northern Syria


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Analysis: ISIS’s Bombs Expose Assad’s and Russia’s Weaknesses


The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have launched an offensive to take territory north of the Islamic State’s center of Raqqa in northern Syria.

A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, Talal Silo, said the offensive began on Wednesday morning. He emphasized that the operations are focused on captured on capturing areas outside Raqqa, rather than the city, which was taken over by ISIS in autumn 2013.

SDF fighters were reportedly moving from Tel Abyad near the Turkish border toward Ain Issa, about 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Raqqa. A US-led coalition supported the advance with airstrikes.

The SDF, since October 2015, is led by the Kurdish militia YPG but has some Arab and Assyrian units. From its inception, it has been supported by the US, which has provided special forces, weapons, and ammunition.

The Forces have taken territory across northeast Syria from the Islamic State, crossing the Euphrates River in December. However, further offensives have been limited by political considerations, including Turkish objections.

Ankara believes the YPG and its political umbrella, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), are directed by the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK. The YPG has also been battling Syrian rebels in the northwest of the country.

In recent weeks, Turkey and US have been in talks over the political and military situation west of the Euphrates, with reports of an emerging agreement over the campaign against ISIS. Last week, the head of US Central Command, General Joseph Votel, visited SDF positions.


Report: Pro-Assad Forces Have Killed 100+ Civil Defense Workers

Pro-Assad forces have killed 102 civil defense workers since the White Helmets organization was founded in March 2013, according to a new report from the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

The SNHR documented 99 deaths caused by regime attacks, while Russian airstrikes killed three other rescuers. Four White Helmets have been killed by other factions in the civil war.

On April 26, regime warplanes fired five missiles into a White Helmets building in Atareb, west of Aleppo city, killing five volunteers.

See Syria Daily, April 26: 5 White Helmets Rescuers Killed in Russia-Regime Attack


Kurdish Authorities “Arrest Dozens of Young Men” for Evading Conscription

Syria Direct reports that the Kurdish-led administration in Hasakah Province in eastern Syria arrested dozens of young men in pre-dawn raids on Monday, charging them with evading mandatory military service.

Kurdish police raided 10 villages in the Jazira canton.

“I’ve really begun thinking about leaving Jazira to avoid mandatory service,” Alan, a Kurdish resident of Amouda in northern Hasakah Province. “I’m scared I’ll be randomly arrested if I travel from one town to another inside the Jazira canton.”

Other young men said that the upcoming Kurdish-led offensive against the Islamic State center of Raqqa is not relevant to them.

“We don’t have a dog in this fight,” said Hussein from Kobane, near the Turkish border. “There are families selling everything they own just to send their sons abroad so they won’t be used for cannon fodder in the battle for Raqqa.”


Rebels Sign Agreement to End Damaging In-Fighting Near Damascus

Rebel factions have signed an agreement to end in-fighting near Damascus which has weakened defenses and enable a regime advance.

Jaish al-Fatah, the largest faction in the East Ghouta area, reached the accord with Failaq al-Rahman, one of the two groups that it has been battling since late April. The meeting was held in Qatar, which has been brokering discussions

Among the Six Principles in the document were a prohibition on the use of weapons; release of detainees; opening of roads; return of property to owners; and an independent tribunal to look into assassinations.

The factions the coordinator of the Syrian opposition-rebel bloc, former Prime Minister Riad Hijab, thanked Qatari officials for assisting the reconciliation.

There was no word of any agreement with Jaish al-Fustat, which is linked to the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra.

The fighting has reportedly caused heavy casualties on both sides. A tentative ceasefire was reached earlier this month, but it soon broke down. Days later, the Syrian military and Hezbollah claimed almost all of the southern part of East Ghouta.

The two delegations confirming the deal:

JAISH AL-ISLAM FAILAQ AL-RAHMAN MEETING 24-05-16

Removal of barriers and roadblocks:


Russia Delays Its Promised Airstrikes

Russia has delayed the resumption of airstrikes, promised for Wednesday, against Jabhat al-Nusra and “other terrorist groups”, i.e., rebel factions.

The Defense Ministry spokesman, General Igor Konashenkov, gave the pretext that Russian officials in Syria had received a dozen “appeals from leaders of armed formations”, mainly from Aleppo and Damascus, to allow them time to disassociate from Jabhat al-Nusra.

He claimed that that the factions were ready to provide coordinates of “terrorist” positions and to ensure borders of areas were controlled after they were cleared of “terrorists”.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu promised the airstrikes last week, saying that the US had turned down Moscow’s approach a co-ordinated bombing campaign.