Image is of Assad and his family.
After less than two weeks of retreating with few shots fired and little resistance, the SAA has retreated into, well, a state of non-existence. This thereby ends a conflict that has been simmering for over a decade. With the end of this conflict, another begins: the carving up of what used to be Syria between Israel and Turkey, with perhaps the odd Syrian faction getting a rump state here and there. Both Israel and Turkey have begun military operations, with Israel working on expanding their territory in Syria and bombing military bases to ensure as little resistance as possible.
Israeli success in Syria is interesting to contrast against their failures in Gaza and Lebanon. A short time ago, Israel failed to make significant territorial progress in Lebanon due to Hezbollah’s resistance despite the heavy hits they had recently taken, and was forced into a ceasefire with little to show for the manpower and equipment lost and the settlers displaced. The war with Lebanon was fast, but still slow enough to allow a degree of analysis and prediction. In contrast, the sheer speed of Syria’s collapse has made analysis near-impossible beyond obvious statements like “this is bad” and “Assad is fucking up”; by the time a major Syrian city had fallen, you barely had time to digest the implications before the next one was under threat.
There is still too much that we don’t know about the potential responses (and non-responses) of other countries in the region - Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Russia, for example. I think that this week and the next will see a lot of statements made by various parties and an elucidation of how the conflict will progress. The only thing that seems clear is that we are in the next stage of the conflict, and perhaps have been, in retrospect, since Nasrallah’s assassination. This stage has been and will be far more chaotic as the damage to Israel compounds and they are willing to take greater and greater risks to stay in power. It will also involve Israel causing destruction all throughout the region, rather than mostly localizing it in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Successful gambles like with Syria may or may not outweigh the unsuccessful ones like with Lebanon. This is a similar road to the one apartheid South Africa took, but there are also too many differences to say if the destination will be the same.
What is certain is that Assad’s time in power can be summarized as a failure, both to be an effective leader and to create positive economic conditions. His policies were actively harmful to internal stability for no real payoff and by the end, all goodwill had been fully depleted. By the end, the SAA did not fight back; not because of some wunderwaffen on the side of HST, but because there was nothing to fight for, and internal cohesion rapidly disintegrated.
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The bulletins site is here!
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Last week’s thread is here.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel’s destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia’s youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don’t want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it’s just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists’ side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR’s former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR’s forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster’s telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a ‘propaganda tax’, if you don’t believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Unidentified Iranian drones, reportedly the size of small cars, have been flying over American airspace to monitor U.S. military installations and critical infrastructure, including ‘Picatinny Arsenal’, an army base which houses the Headquarters of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (CCDCAC) – the drones are said to be ‘technology that the U.S. does not possess’ – Newsweek
‘The drones are not Iranian, but they are also not part of the U.S. military or any foreign government’
‘The drones seem to have some sort of advanced stealth capability’ – Congressman Van Drew (R-NJ2)
‘One month ago, Iran launched a mothership near the U.S. East Coast, from where Iranian military drones have been entering U.S. airspace, including New Jersey, to monitor residences of the President & American military movements. These drones should be SHOT DOWN. The U.S. military is on full alert regarding this.’ – Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-2), citing high-ranking intelligence sources
The Pentagon has denied that Iranian drones are operating in U.S. airspace, and states there is ‘no official explanation’ for the unidentified drones. However, Congressman Van Drew & other high-ranking government officials within the sub-commitee of Aviation of the U.S. House of Representatives insist that their information is truthful.
They say the Pentagon is denying the news in order to prevent mass panic among the U.S. population. ‘These are not American drones, we don’t even have anything like this. I have it from extremely reliable sources that these are Iranian drones, launched from a mothership near the East Coast’, Van Drew said.
In core news:
apparently
lady returned from vacations for thisBrazilian Conservative Right Presidential candidate loses ally and political rights due to Bolsonaro.
Governor Ronaldo Caiado (União), Sandro Mabel (União) and Cláudia Lira (Avante), mayor-elect of Goiânia, were convicted by the Electoral Court of Goiás for abuse of political power. Their candidacy records were revoked and they were declared ineligible for 8 years.
The three were indicted for holding events at the Esmeraldas Palace (Goiás Governor Palace) with an electoral political character after the first round of the elections. The complaint was filed by the Electoral Prosecutor’s Office and pointed to abuse of political power, which motivated the court’s decision.
For now, the decision is provisional and does not prevent Mabel and his deputy from taking office, which is scheduled for January 2025. Mabel’s defense said he was surprised by the conviction and denies any irregularities. Fines of up to R$60,000 were imposed.
The Liberal Party, Jair Bolsonaro’s party, filed the lawsuit after its candidate was defeated in this year’s municipal elections. And perhaps to remove a possible right-wing rival from the next elections.
More people are indicted for attempting a coup d’état in Brazil.
The PF (Brazil’s FBI) has indicted three more military personnel for attempting a coup: Aparecido Andrade Portela (reserve), Reginaldo Vieira de Abreu (colonel) and Rodrigo Bezerra de Azevedo (major). The total number of people indicted has now risen to 40. The charges include coup d’état and criminal organization
According to the PF, Portela brokered contacts between the Bolsonaro government and funders of actions in Mato Grosso do Sul. Abreu spread fake news about ballot boxes and tried to influence the Ministry of Defense. Bezerra took part in discussions about a plan to kidnap Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
Portela and Abreu remained silent in their testimonies, while Bezerra denied involvement. The case is moving forward in the STF (Supreme COurt) and expands the investigation into anti-democratic acts and the participation of military leaders.
Mexican President Sheinbaum Grants Legal Status to 68 Indigenous Peoples - Telesur English
Article
This Latin American country is home to approximately 23 million people who identify themselves as Indigenous. On Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree recognizing the rights of Mexico’s Indigenous peoples and establishing the Presidential Commission for Justice Plans for Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples.
During the morning press conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum emphasized the significance of the reform to Article 2 of the Constitution, which was approved in September under the presidency of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) and declares Mexico a “multiethnic nation.”
“Today, we will publish the reform in multiple languages, celebrating this International Human Rights Day,” she stated, referencing a law that recognizes 68 Indigenous groups as subjects of public law, granting them legal personality and their own patrimony. Additionally, the reform to Article 2 mandates consultations on projects that may impact the communities of the Indigenous peoples.
The constitutional reform was translated into over 50 indigenous languages thanks to the joint work of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), the University of Indigenous Languages of Mexico (ULIM) and the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI), the outlet Quadratin reported.
Currently, Mexico is home to approximately 23 million people who identify themselves as Indigenous. Around 7.4 million of them speak a native language, with Nahuatl, Maya, Tzeltal, and Zapotec being the most common. The creation of the Presidential Commission aims to oversee justice plans for Indigenous peoples initiated during AMLO’s administration. To date, Mexico has implemented 17 justice plans benefiting 26 Indigenous peoples across 12 states, reaching approximately 420,000 people with a total investment of US$1.4 billion.
Sudan: Brutal Assault in Omdurman Left at Least 60 Deads - Telesur English
Article
The Government of Sudan reported on Tuesday that more than 60 people were killed by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR) in Omdurman, a town located in the northern area of metropolitan Khartoum (capital).
According to a statement by the Sudanese Ministry of Health, “the terrorist militia committed the largest human massacre by shelling against citizens in the town of Karari, north of Omdurman”. The entity also stated that hundreds of wounded are counted, and that hospitals near the town are full.
A bus carrying 22 people was also targeted as it moved through a busy market in the Karari area, recently recovered by the Sudanese army, and all those inside were killed.
The health authority of the African country detailed that «the 22 people who were inside were torn apart». The FAR paramilitary group frequently attacks the area of Omdurman, controlled for the most part by the Sudanese army.
The conflict in Sudan started three and a half years ago, causing thousands of deaths and more than eleven million displaced people, making that African country the scene of the biggest displacement crisis on earth, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration.
In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the prolongation of the conflict could lead to outbreaks of disease and the collapse of the health system.
Lula will undergo a new surgery this Thursday morning.
The procedure will be a complement to the previous surgery and will be an “endovascular artery embolization procedure”. The medical bulletin states that Lula is well and without complications. On Wednesday 11th, the president did physiotherapy, walked around the ICU and received family members.
According to a medical bulletin released today, he is lucid, oriented and progressing well in the post-operative period. President Lula will undergo further surgery on Thursday to block the flow of blood to his brain.
Meanwhile, the dollar fell and the stock market rose. The Congress, under the control of the far-right, voted and approved the idea of the printed ballot (used to question elections, since the vote, even if it is in an electronic ballot box, is already printed) and a law that obliges the police to remove people who enter occupied land, even without a court order. Both laws are expected to be overturned by the Supreme Court due to their unconstitutionality. It is believed that the Far-Right know it will be vetoed and will use this to claim that they are being attacked by the Supreme Court.
Article
On 10 December 2023, Javier Milei assumed the presidency of Argentina. 12 months later, the far-right outsider who campaigned by lifting a chainsaw over his head arrives at his first year in office with relative economic stability at the expense of millions of new poor and medically retired.
The “chainsaw” model involved cuts that led to tens of thousands of students taking up university studies; social organizations constantly denounced the implementation of hunger policies against vulnerable sectors; the staff of clinics and hospitals mobilized in demand for decent wages and the departure of hundreds of thousands of Argentines to the streets that was appeased through repression, Arbitrary arrests and physical and digital persecution of those who express criticism of the official discourse.
To date, according to the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), at least two people lost their sight during repressions when exercising the right to protest and in a single day 31 people were arrested, without any crime against them being bought at this time. However, the financial sectors are looking favourably on their management and certain economic indicators show a slight improvement, such as a sustained fall in the inflation rate and a matching of parallel dollars to the dollar sold by the State through the central bank.
Inflation: After a peak of 25.5% in December 2023, inflation managed to slow down to 2.7% in October 2024, the lowest figure in three years.
Economic activity: The Argentine economy suffered a strong recession and many sectors such as tourism, industry and commerce suffered significant declines in sales and production.
Wages: Workers’ incomes are below the November 2023 levels, with a 6.8% drop in real terms in the public sector.
Unemployment: The unemployment rate grew to 7.7% in the first quarter of 2024, marking an increase of almost 2% compared to the same period of 2023.
Poverty: Poverty increased to 52.9% in the first half of 2024, reaching almost 25 million people, with this number increasing by four million from 2023.
Retirees: Retirees with minimum assets experienced a 6.6% loss of purchasing power, while those with higher incomes received real increases.
Trade balance: The trade balance recorded a surplus of US$ 21 billion in the first 10 months of 2024, after more than ten years of negative accounts. Since 2008, under the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina has not closed the year with a positive trade balance.
Country risk: The country risk, which is used as a benchmark for borrowing and rating of a nation’s bonds, has declined to less than 1,000 basis points, indicating improved access to international debt markets.
Exchange gap: The gap between the official dollar and the parallel has narrowed to less than 5%, the lowest level since 2019.
Consumption: Private consumption fell by 8.2% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, with indicators such as sales in supermarkets and food consumption showing a sharp decline.
Can they go back to blaming aliens, cause this is beyond nonsense, beyond desperate
Former officers and soldiers of the SAA 25th Special Mission Forces Division (Tiger Forces) have gathered themselves in mountainous areas near the Lebanese border, vowing to keep fighting
They say they have fought against terrorists for years, and will continue to do so, despite the ‘betrayal’ of the SAA high command. They will start fighting as resistance groups to the incoming HTS / SNA government.
The commander in the video says they are ready to sacrifice themselves, he even says they have suicide bombers among them and that his pistol’s last bullet will be for his head (he won’t let himself be captured).
They have also replaced their chant. Instead of saying: ‘Our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for Bashar’, they now say ‘our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for Syria’.
I guess if the new goverment becomes hostile to Iran and Russia, these guys will become the rebels that Russia and Iran will suport?
PYM statement on Syria:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJsytMboJXg
Jadaliyya is doing a live stream regarding the collapse of Assad’s Syria, they are also giving a history of the socio-economic situation of the country until now
HTS militants have broken into Hafez Al Assad’s mausoleum in Qardaha, Latakia, and destroyed it. The whole place was looted and then set on fire, the graves of both Hafez al Assad and his son Bassel were completely destroyed.
