US, Russian Forces Mobilize in NE Syria

Fighters of the Syrian opposition factions loyal to Turkey during training exercises in the countryside of Manbij city in Aleppo (AFP)
Fighters of the Syrian opposition factions loyal to Turkey during training exercises in the countryside of Manbij city in Aleppo (AFP)
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US, Russian Forces Mobilize in NE Syria

Fighters of the Syrian opposition factions loyal to Turkey during training exercises in the countryside of Manbij city in Aleppo (AFP)
Fighters of the Syrian opposition factions loyal to Turkey during training exercises in the countryside of Manbij city in Aleppo (AFP)

In northeastern Syria, US and Russian forces mobilized with the aim to deter Turkey from carrying out a new attack against the Arab-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). While US forces moved on the ground, Russian warplanes scrambled in the air.

A prominent Kurdish official in northern Syria revealed that Kurdish forces are in intensive contact with the countries involved in the Syrian crisis, especially those in the Arab world.

The official explained that they are looking to put an end to Turkish interference in Syrian affairs.

The civil and military administration in the city of Manbij in the eastern countryside of Aleppo governorate has documented the outcome of the attacks on its areas of influence, warning that the Turkish operation will lead to the displacement of the indigenous population and the city’s religious, sectarian and ethnic components.

Turkey’s armed incursion into Syrian territory “will prolong the Syrian crisis and increase its complexity, in addition to destabilizing areas and giving an opportunity for ISIS cells to reorganize themselves again,” Abdulkarim Omar, head of the Kurdish department of foreign relations, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We are communicating with the international community and the countries concerned with the Syrian war, especially inside the Arab world, to play a role in resolving the Syrian crisis at the expense of the growing Turkish and Iranian role,” said Omar.

“Turkey and Iran have special agendas and interests that are far from the interests of the Syrian people, their values, principles and revolution,” he explained.

Omar called on the international community to pressure Turkey to curb its attacks, warning that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's project for Syria will lead to a demographic change in the north of the country.

Turkey plans to resettle a million displaced Syrians after their voluntary return to their country.

As for field developments, a US force toured the front lines in the town of Tamer in the northern Hasakah governorate.

In contrast, the Russian army reinforced the presence of its ground and air forces at the airport of Qamishli city in Hasakah.



Rising Discontent Within Hezbollah’s Support Base over Delayed War Compensation

A girl reacts near a poster of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site damaged by an Israeli airstrike that killed the Hezbollah leader, after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A girl reacts near a poster of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site damaged by an Israeli airstrike that killed the Hezbollah leader, after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Rising Discontent Within Hezbollah’s Support Base over Delayed War Compensation

A girl reacts near a poster of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site damaged by an Israeli airstrike that killed the Hezbollah leader, after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A girl reacts near a poster of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, at the site damaged by an Israeli airstrike that killed the Hezbollah leader, after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Dahieh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Hezbollah has been eager to assure its popular base that it would pay compensation fees for the losses incurred by the war with Israel, but delays in payments and a climate of favoritism has gradually begun to spread among its supporters.
Although some of the party’s inner circle are keen to avoid criticism in public, others have openly expressed resentment on social media pertaining to the way compensation is being distributed compared to the losses suffered by the people of the South, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
That, however, has pushed Hezbollah’s leadership to issue a statement on Monday that compensation for restoration and reconstruction continues based on some technical and logistical details it is working with.
Since a ceasefire went into effect on November 27, Hezbollah Secretary-General, Naeem Qassem, had declared the party’s commitment to providing housing allowances for a period of one year for those whose homes were destroyed. At the same time, the party shifted the responsibility for reconstruction compensation to the Lebanese government.
Housing Allowances and Compensations Ruled by Partiality
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, S.Abdullah, who now lives in a rented house in Beirut, said he has not received “a single dollar” from Hezbollah so far in compensation for his destroyed house in Khiam and another one largely devastated in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Speaking of favoritism he said: “Only party members are receiving the funds and anyone not affiliated with Hezbollah is being ignored, with no benefit from applying on this platform or that”, noting that his parents, brother and sister have also been ignored any compensation so far.
“We are managing our rental payments. But it is unacceptable that we be dragged into war and then promised compensation, only to see that favoritism rules...There are no longer any leaders in the party. Chaos controls the management of affairs, where money is being embezzled”.
Abdullah affirms that his words reflect the sentiments of most of the people in his town and the neighboring villages, “even though some do not dare to speak openly about this issue.
“Clearly the next phase will not be like before regarding Hezbollah’s popular base. Many things have changed and those will show in the future”, Abdullah concluded.
Conditions to Repair Homes before Payments Pose Burden on Low-income Homeowners
Moreover, requirements posed by Hezbollah that houses destroyed or damaged by war be repaired first by homeowners in order to receive compensation has become a burden for many low-income individuals who have no savings.
“My husband’s income is no more than 400 dollars. How can that be enough for us to eat, pay expenses, school tuition fees for my daughter and son, and also pay for the reconstruction”, one woman told the daily.
Another woman, Samia, whose house in south Lebanon was destroyed, said the housing allowance she receives from the party is insufficient to rent a home due to the rise in rental prices.
“I used to pay $300 for rent before the war. Today rent is between $600 and $700, if a house is even available”, she told the daily.
Samia however rejected accusations of betrayal made by some of Hezbollah’s popular base against those expressing concerns. “They shouldn't lecture us, as we have always supported the cause, but it is also our right to express our suffering”, she exclaimed.