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Turkey
- After the car bomb attack that targeted Turkish soldiers in Kayseri city, mob attacks targeted the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) offices in Kayseri, Izmir, and Istanbul. Last week a man with shot fires at HDP office in Ankara. A splinter group from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed the car bomb attack. The HDP condemned the attacks, and its jailed Co-chair Selahattin Demirtash blamed the Turkish ruling party for the bombs. He said:” The AKP [Party of Justice and Development] has the political responsibility for the bombs that are exploding, and should be held accountable before the public.” He also called upon the AKP to release the arrested Kurdish politicians. Since July 15, more than 6000 Kurdish officials have been arrested including elected mayors.
Syria
- Elham Ahmed, the Co-President of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), held a meeting with the head of the Arab tribes in Til Berek to discuss the latest developments in Syria. Ahmed praised a democratic federalism for future Syria. Ahmad stressed that the federal system aims to keep strong ties among Syria’s people. She said they would hold meetings with all the components of Syria in the near future to discuss their project.
- Wrath of Euphrates: The second phase of the campaign to liberate Raqqa continues its 11th Until December 19, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) liberated 45 villages before Raqqa reaching to the east side. Total of 54 villages are now sounded by SDF before the city of Raqqa. The campaign led by the international coalition is providing air support and ammunition.
- More about 184 Iraqi families reached to Al-Hol refugee camp in Syria. The displaced families arrived due to the ongoing operation by the Iraqi Security forces to liberate the city of Mosul. Al- Hol camp in managed by the Kurdish authorities of Rojava and Northern
Iraq
- A delegation from the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) has visited Sulaymaniyah city and held meetings with the Patriot Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Change party (Gorran). The meetings discussed solutions to end the political crises in Kurdistan region. The results of the meetings are not clear, while the parties announce talks will continue. KDP’s delegation initiated talks with the political parties after its President Massud Barzani called the Kurdish parties to meet and designate a new Speaker and President.
- Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim said that there are preparations by Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army to liberate Haweja district, but they are waiting for the Iraqi government to launch the operation. Kirkuk governor also said the 26 thousand families have fled from Haweja and surrounded areas recently. He described the situation of the internally displaced people (IDP) as “inhumane and tragic” due to the cold weather and lack of food and medicine while trying to flee from ISIS controlled areas to Kirkuk.
Iran
- After finishing his sentence in an Iranian prison, a Syrian Kurdish activist was transferred by the authorities to an unknown An Iranian human rights organization said that the Kurdish Syrian activists enjoys close relations with the Kurdish parties and originally is from Kobani, Syria.