Orientul Mijlociu

In an unexpected move, the Turkish political establishment has once again sent signals of openness to the Kurdish armed struggle. But what are the deep reasons behind this strategy? We asked sociologist Mesut Yeğen

In early October, Devlet Bahçeli, secretary general of the nationalist MHP party, shook hands with several MPs from the pro-Kurdish DEM party, formerly HDP. This unusual gesture was followed by a groundbreaking speech on October 22, in which he called on PKK leader and founder Abdullah Öcalan to declare the end of the armed struggle from the parliament podium. How do you assess this development?

On November 4, 2024, the Istanbul-based Syria.tv network, which supports the Syrian opposition, reported that Lebanese drug lords linked to Hizbullah and listed on U.S. Treasury’s OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, have moved to resume operations in Syria following the breakout of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese Hizbullah in southern Lebanon.

Also Known As: al-Imam Hussein Brigade; Imam Hussein Brigade militia;

Country Of Origin: Syria

Leaders: Amjad al- Bahadli, the first commander

Key Members: Feras al-Mahdawi, Abu Ali al Assad

Operational Area: Syria, Iraq

Involved In: The “al-Imam Hussein Brigade” is a militia made up of sub-units (militias) primarily made up of Syrian operatives (Sunnis, Druze, and Shiites) and Iraqi operatives (of Shi’ite background).

Established In: 1983;

Also Known As: Badr Brigade, Badr Brigades, Badr Corps, Badr Organization of Reconstruction and Development, Badr Organisation Iraq, Martyr Mohamed Baqir al-Sadr Forces, Martyr Muhammed Baqir al-Sadr Forces, Munathamat Badr, Quwet Shahid Baqir Sadr;

Country Of Origin: Iraq;

Key Members: Hadi al Amiri;

Operational Area: Iraq;

Involved In: Assasinations, Armed Attacks, Bomb Attacks;

Established In: 1981

Established By: Fathi Shaqaqi, Abd Al Aziz Awda, Ramadan Shalah, Bashir Moussa

Also Known As: Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine

Country Of Origin: Palestine

Leaders: Ramadan Shalah

Key Members: Ramadan Shalah, Abd Al Aziz Awda

Operational Area: Palestine

Number Of Members: 8000

Involved In: Suicide attacks, Suicide car-bomb attacks, Terrorist attacks, Kidnapping, Rocket attacks

Also Known As: BATTALION OF THE SAYYID’S MARTYRS; a.k.a. KATA’IB ABU FADL AL-ABBAS; a.k.a. KATA’IB KARBALA; a.k.a. THE MASTER OF THE MARTYRS BRIGADE; a.k.a. “KSS; Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada

Country Of Origin: Syria

Leaders: Abu Mustafa al Sheibani;

Key Leaders: Abu Mustafa al Sheibani; Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji; Falih Khazali – Spokesman;

Operational Area: Syria, Iraq

Involved In: Iranian proxy, and is one of the original militias that formed the Popular Mobilization Forces in 2014

Established In: October 2003

Established By: Unknown

Also Known As: Hezbollah Brigades

Country Of Origin: Iraq

Leaders: Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (Jamal al-Ibrahimi)

Key Members: Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (Jamal al-Ibrahimi), Jafar al-Hussaini

Operational Area: Iraq, Syria

Number Of Members: Over 30,000

Involved In: Armed Attacks, Bomb Attacks, Suicide bomb attacks

In its resolution 2178 (2014), adopted unanimously on 24 September 2014, the Security Council expressed
particular concern over the acute and growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs),1 in particular those recruited by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Da’esh), the Nusrah Front and other cells, affiliates, splinter groups or derivatives of Al-Qaida. It also expressed concern over the increased use of communication technology for the purpose of, inter alia, financing and facilitating the travel and subsequent activities of FTFs and underlined the need to disrupt financial flows supporting FTFs, while respecting international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law. In that resolution, the Council also directed CTED to identify issues, trends and developments related to FTFs.

Two Israeli airstrikes struck Damascus and its suburb Qudsaya on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 16, as reported by AP via SANA, coinciding with Iranian official Ali Larijani’s visit to the capital. Israel stated the strikes targeted Islamic Jihad’s infrastructure, allegedly involved in recent conflicts with Israel. These airstrikes reflect escalating tensions, especially given the Syrian regime’s claims of civilian casualties and property damage in Mazzeh and Qudsaya. Meanwhile, Syria TV and SANA reported further Israeli operations on Hezbollah’s smuggling routes in Al-Qusayr, impacting supply chains into Lebanon and emphasizing Israel’s broader campaign against Iranian influence in Syria. Iran, denying reports of force reductions in Syria, reaffirmed its presence through senior advisor Ali Asghar Haji. This came after Russia’s envoy Alexander Lavrentiev clarified that Moscow opposes Israeli actions in Syria and denied the use of Russia’s Khmeimim base for weapons transit to Hezbollah. The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington published a report highlighting U.S.-led sanctions’ unintended effects, reinforcing Iran’s foothold in Syria and increasing Gulf-U.S. policy divergences. The report outlines regional frustration over sanctions that have deepened Syria’s economic crisis without shifting political conditions. In a separate development, CNN reported UN concerns over Israel’s activities along the Golan Heights buffer zone, where IDF excavation has breached a demilitarized area. The UN’s warning underscores the risks these operations pose to the longstanding ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Syria, maintained since 1974.