Weekly Conflict Summary

Syria Weekly Conflict Summary 31 May - 6 June 2021

Syria Mapping Project, The Carter Center

Figure 1: Dominant actors’ area of control and influence in Syria as of 6 June 2021. NSOAG stands for Non-state Organized Armed Groups. Also, please see endnote 1.

Summary

·     The predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) cracks down on anti-conscription protests in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate.

·     The Government of Syria (GoS) offers to defer military service for people wanted in southern Syria.

·     ISIS assassinates a prominent religious leader in Deir-ez-Zor city.

Northwest Syria

01 / 05
1

Conscription in Northwest Syria

In 2019, the Kurdish Autonomous Administration (KAA) issued a controversial conscription law for territories under its control. [1]  in February, the Syrian Network For Human Rights claimed that the conscription of teachers deprived half a million students of a proper education. [2]  People in the region argue that the forcible recruitment and arrests by SDF have disrupted economic life. [3]  In late May, the SDF escalated its recruitment effort. [4] 

Figure 2: Anti-conscription protests and related events in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate between 31 May – 6 June. Data from The Carter Center and ACLED.

2

31 May

Demonstrations against the SDF’s forced conscription was held in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate. [1]  After the protests, the Manbij Civil Council imposed a 48-hour curfew in the area. [2] 

Video Source: https://twitter.com/mohmad_rasheed/status/1399705205705478153

3

1 June

Despite the curfew, protests continued in Hudhud, Aleppo Governorate. Kurdish security forces opened fire on the protesters, killing four. [1]  KAA accused the Government of Syria (GoS) armed forces of open fire at the SDF. [2]  On 3 June, the Manbij Civil Administration extended the curfew. [3] 

Video Source: https://twitter.com/mohmad_rasheed/status/1399707851526918145

4

2 June

Following negotiations between the SDF, the local civil council, and tribal leaders, the Manbij Military Council suspended the military conscription. [1]  [2]  [3] 

5

5 June

The KAA announced the suspension of military conscription for all territories under its control. [1]  The same day, the Manbij civil administration ended its curfew in Manbij. [2] 

South and Central Syria

01 / 03
1

GoS offer to settle disputes in Southern Syria

The military draft has been an ongoing concern for people within GoS-controlled territory. This also has been an important issue for former opposition fighters in southern Syria. In the 2021 presidential election, GoS administrators and Baathist party members faced multiple threats in southern Syria, particularly Dara’a and Quneitra Governorates.

Figure 3: New and proposed settlement deals in south and central Syria between 31 May – 6 June 2021. Data from The Carter Center and ACLED.

2

4 June

Following the presidential election, GoS offered to negotiate a new deal to settle the disputes over military conscription in Quneitra Governorate, [1]  allowing military draftees and other individuals wanted by the GoS to defer their military service. [2]  [3]   [4] 

3

5 June

GoS began a separate initiative to allow military draftees and wanted individuals to settle disputes in Kanaker, Rural Damascus Governorate. Local youth rejected the offer, arguing that the GoS had previously broken agreements to defer military service. [1] 

Northeast Syria

01 / 04
1

The Battle Against ISIS

ISIS continued to be active in the Badia desert region of central and northeast Syria. ISIS has launched high-casualty attacks against the GoS armed forces and its allies. Multiple operations against ISIS have had limited success. At times, SDF operations have exacerbated tensions between the KAA and Arab tribes in the region.

Figure 4: Conflict events involving ISIS in Northeast Syria between 31 May – 6 June 2021. Data from The Carter Center and ACLED.

2

31 May

ISIS claimed responsibility for the killing of an imam in Deir-ez-Zor city due to the he imam’s alleged association with the SDF. [1] 

3

1 June

The SDF arrested an ISIS sleeper cell in Jadeed Akidat, eastern Deir-ez-Zor Governorate. The sleeper cell leaders reportedly confessed to kidnapping local residents for ransom payments. [1] 

4

5 June

The KAA repatriated a Dutch woman and three children from Al-Hol camp. [1]  Thousands of foreign ISIS members and their families are held in the camp. Their countries of origin have refused to take them back. [2] 

Endnotes

[1] Figure 1, the Carter Center’s areas of control map, depicts areas of the dominant actors’ control and influence. While “control” is difficult to determine in a complex, dynamic conflict, territorial control is defined as an entity having power over use of force as well as civil/administrative functions in an area. Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah maintain a presence in Syrian government-controlled territory. Non-state organized armed groups (NSOAG), including the Kurdish-dominated SDF and Turkish-backed opposition groups operate in areas not under GoS control. The area along the junction of the Syrian border with Iraq and Jordan is a 55km de-confliction zone, established by the US-led coalition that also includes a number of aligned local armed groups. Patrols are also depicted in the map to show the presence of actors that may have influence in an area. This is particularly relevant as US and Russian forces regularly have patrolled towns and routes in the northeast. While they do not control local administration or local forces, there is an assumption of a high degree of coordination with local de facto authorities. Data collected is by the publicly available project  ACLED .

[2] GoS-backed militias refer to armed groups that are funded or in some way supported by GoS and coordinate with or fight alongside GoS armed forces, but are not part of the state-run military.

[3] Iranian-backed militias refers to armed groups that are supported by Iran, like Hezbollah, and include militias from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.

Since 2012, The Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program has endeavored to analyze opensource information related to the Syrian conflict in as much detail as possible, with the goal of assisting mediators and conflict responders with up-to-date, detailed analysis of developments on the ground. Using these publicly available resources, as well as information gleaned from regular consultations with stakeholders, the Center has documented and mapped 155,000 conflict events in Syria, with support from ACLED, as well as the ever-changing relations between armed groups. For more information, visit our  Support for Peace in Syria  page on The Carter Center's website. The Center's Syria Project also produces weekly conflict summaries, covering the main developments of the week. To sign up, please visit our website and select "Subscribe Now".

For queries or comments about this report, please contact kate.keator@cartercenter.org

Figure 1: Dominant actors’ area of control and influence in Syria as of 6 June 2021. NSOAG stands for Non-state Organized Armed Groups. Also, please see endnote 1.