Syria Monthly Report

Summary

In south and central Syria, Syrian government forces besieged the last stronghold of the anti-government armed group, the Counter Terrorism Forces (CTF), in Khazmeh village southeast of As-Sweida governorate. Government forces stormed the village killing and capturing CTF fighters with few reportedly managing to escape. The government’s decision to eliminate the group is likely motivated by their overt cooperation with the US-backed Maghaweir al-Thowra located in al-Tanf and rumored outreach by the Military Operations Center in Jordan to interconnect anti-government groups in southern Syria.

Communities within Syrian government areas continue to suffer from an ongoing bread crisis due to significant wheat shortages. Government officials have stated that domestic wheat cultivation did not meet its expected goals with local sources stating that strategic wheat reserves are running dangerously low. This has prompted the government to continue procuring allegedly stolen Ukrainian wheat in an attempt to delay the onset of the ongoing collapse of Syrian wheat supply.

In the northwest, demonstrations in protest of the increasing costs and decreasing service hours of electricity recurred during June, with protestors also issuing a list of demands that include but are not limited to requests such as the restructure of the Jindairis local council, military and police shooters being held accountable, and citizens exemptions from local council taxes.

Additionally in the northwest, clashes between the HTS and SNA erupted after the former entered Afrin following Failaq al-Sham’s closure of the Ghazawiya-Daret Azza crossing, a vital trade route in northern Aleppo. HTS and al-Jabha al-Shamiyah also took control of several villages in and around Jindairis district, with HTS then withdrawing following a ceasefire agreement, with a subsequent agreement conducted under the supervision of Turkey.

In northeast Syria, talks of a potential Turkish operation prompted the SDF Commander in Chief to announce his willingness to potentially operate with the Syrian government as SAA aircrafts and military vehicles continued to arrive at Tal Refaat and Menbij, the two most vulnerable areas to a Turkish operation.

Moreover, this month’s report sheds light on the taxation program implemented by the Autonomous Administration which also affects humanitarian aid workers present in northeast Syria. The taxation law was put into effect last year, causing an outcry across different sectors.