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Image is of Assad's presidential palace in 2013. There's more images of it in this article, though the words in it aren't worth reading.
Here is Assad's version of events. I like to imagine he's making one of those Youtuber apology videos where they sigh at the start and talk in a chastised yet somewhat defensive tone of voice.
As terrorism spread across Syria and ultimately reached Damascus on the evening of Saturday 7th December 2024, questions arose about the president's fate and whereabouts. This occurred amidst a flood of misinformation and narratives far removed from the truth, aimed at recasting international terrorism as a liberation revolution for Syria.
At such a critical juncture in the nation’s history, where truth must take precedence, it is essential to address these distortions. Unfortunately, the prevailing circumstances at the time, including a total communication blackout for security reasons, delayed the release of this statement. This does not replace a detailed account of the events that unfolded, which will be provided when the opportunity allows.
First, my departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed. On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday 8th December 2024. As terrorist forces infiltrated Damascus, I moved to Latakia in co-ordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations. Upon arrival at the Hmeimim airbase that morning, it became clear that our forces had completely withdrawn from all battle lines and that the last army positions had fallen. As the field situation in the area continued to deteriorate, the Russian military base itself came under intensified attack by drone strikes.
With no viable means of leaving the base, Moscow requested that the base’s command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday 8th December. This took place a day after the fall of Damascus following the collapse of the final military positions and the resulting paralysis of all remaining state institutions.
At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught.
I reaffirm that the person who, from the very first day of the war, refused to barter the salvation of his nation for personal gain, or to compromise his people in exchange for numerous offers and enticements is the same person who stood alongside the officers and soldiers of the army on the front lines, just metres from terrorists in the most dangerous and intense battlefields. He is the same person who, during the darkest years of the war, did not leave but remained with his family alongside his people, confronting terrorism under bombardment and the recurring threats of terrorist incursions into the capital over 14 years of war. Furthermore, the person who has never abandoned the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon, nor betrayed his allies who stood by him, cannot possibly be the same person who would forsake his own people or betray the army and nation to which he belongs.
I have never sought positions for personal gain but have always considered myself as a custodian of a national project, supported by the faith of the Syrian people, who believed in its vision. I have carried an unwavering conviction in their will and ability to protect the state, defend its institutions, and uphold their choices to the very last moment.
When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose, rendering its occupation meaningless. This does not, in any way, diminish my profound sense of belonging to Syria and her people – a bond that remains unshaken by any position or circumstance. It is a belonging filled with hope that Syria will once again be free and independent.
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Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel's destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Apparently the attacker in Magdeburg was a Saudi doctor living in Germany since 2006. Things are about to get ugly in Germany, especially given they currently don't have a government and there are elections in February. Fully expect the AfD to take advantage of the rampant Islamophobia latent in all Germans, and pair that with "it's time for Syrian refugees to go home to a Safe Syria." Grim.
Source: https://www.barrons.com/news/saudi-man-arrested-after-magdeburg-attack-state-premier-7df18630
A twitter account from the alleged attacker suggests he’s a major zionist. @drtalebjawad is the account but I can’t find a good source that helps confirm that that’s actually him. If you look at the account you see some wild takes though.
Of course the suspect is from Saudi Arabia... How many terrorists have come from there by now? Majority of 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, so many senior Al Qaeda members and splinter group leaders from Saudi Arabia... Seriously what's happening over there?
Seriously what's happening over there?
wahhabism + money + cia
Apparently this suspect was an ex Muslim guy who moved to Germany, and believed Germany was persecuting ex Muslim refugees. Incredibly weird and unhinged.
There is a attack on christmas markets every year this point. Maybe they will use to "encourage" all those syrian doctors to return now, so they can do a UK/USA and dismantle the healthcare system.
A guy attacked a government official? Is this something new in europe?
As far as I can tell there's no indication this was a targeted attack on a government official, what source did you see that from? Regardless no, if it was a targeted attack on a government official there are plenty of examples across Europe, and plenty in Germany in particular. There's been a few heavily publicised ones this year in Germany alone: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/08/olaf-scholz-condemns-attacks-on-politicians-after-third-assault-in-a-week
The latest from Justin Podur talked in depth about one aspect of the Syrian War that IMO has become a bit of an elephant in the room. This is one war where sanctions played an important role, albeit with massive caveats.
There was a civil war that ruined the country, and then a part of it was occupied. That part was permitted some rebuilding and was supplied by the occupying force. Either financially (Americans buying the SDF's oil in the northeast) or directly (Turks sending their oligopolies to rebuild and supply the local economies in Idlib and Afrin). The portion of the country that remained under control of the central government more or less failed to rebuild - wether that's an indictment of Assad's government, Russia's and Iran's financial werewithal, the power of the sanctions themselves, or all of the above is up for discussion.
The truly bleak statement from Justin is that while the sanctions architecture might create a real demand for acquiescence, the moment the country bends the knee slightly it doesn't get rewarded for it. Western policy seems all stick, no carrot. Assad is gone. Yet Syria went from being bombed 3 times a week by the Israelis to 300 times in 3 days. The entire security infrastructure of the country is just gone. And still the Europeans and Americans are dithering on wether they'll even remove sanctions imposed on a new regime which, by and large, is giving them everything they ever asked for and then some.
So in my view this is a cautionary tale to the likes of Venezuela and Cuba. Juan Guaidó could have taken over the former and turned PDVSA into a Chevron subsidiary. Something tells me the Americans would still never forgive these countries for mildly inconveniencing them.
People who legitimately thought the West would lift sanctions are fucking fools, useless gullible rubes so in other words, liberals. The only way for Syria to no longer be sanctioned is if Syria no longer exists.
It's a great example of how sanctions are a form of aggression, not a tool to coerce. They merely masquerade as a tool of coercion, because in that way they are even more effective at their true purpose - aggression.
It is akin to strangling a person to death, with the promise that if the victim only stop struggling, they will be released. However, this is a false promise. When they stop struggling, the attacker uses the lack of resistance to strangle them even harder.
It's human nature that people will not fight as hard if they think surrender is an option. The West exploits this mercilessly.
At this rate, nothing less than the complete fall of Israel will free Syria.
Something similar happened to an extent with the Soviet Union in 1991 I would say? US got everything they wanted, but they still kept an aggressive posture towards Russia.
Denmark Imposes Harsh Welfare Reforms Targeting 'Non-Western' Immigrants
Denmark’s rubber-stamp parliament, has approved welfare reforms imposing strict conditions on welfare recipients, disproportionately targeting racialized minorities. The new laws require some welfare recipients to work 37 hours per week for a paltry DKK 6,553 (USD 917) monthly before taxes—an amount woefully inadequate in one of the world’s priciest nations.
The reform, presented by the ruling Social Democrat-led right-wing regime, was passed with the support of regime-loyal far right parties. A spokesman from the fascist Danish People's Party, gleefully embracing the prospect of forcing unpaid menial labor on non-white minorities, declared, "We don't just see this as a political victory; we see it as a victory for Denmark, for Danes, and for fairness".
The reforms, championed by the Nordic hermit kingdom's minister of employment, the Social Democrat hardliner Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, claim to link "rights and responsibilities" but explicitly target 'non-Western' immigrants, particularly immigrant women. White refugees from Ukraine are explicitly exempt from the new punitive measures. The legal framework carefully avoids overt racial language, relying instead on conditions such as residency and employment history—criteria that disproportionately disadvantage minorities—thus providing a thin veneer of legality for the regime’s actions.
People targeted by the new reforms will be required to work full-time doing activities that includes doing menial public sector work, unpaid internships with private employers, employment in subsidized-wage positions or attending language classes. Tasks proposed for the work obligation include cleaning public toilets and sweeping sidewalks. Failure to comply could lead to even lower payments.
Critics from the moderate pro-democracy opposition, like Victoria Velasquez from the Red-Green Alliance, argue that the reforms fail to address barriers like health, education, or language and could cause even more people to end up working as unpaid labor in jobs that should be filled by paid workers earning fair wages under collective agreements. The nation's independent labor movement shares these concerns.
An estimated 10,000 individuals—90% of them non-Western immigrants—will also see their welfare payments slashed under tightened eligibility rules. These cuts will help finance modest subsidies for children’s activities and medications, presenting the reforms as a zero-sum game where the most marginalized are made to fund improvements for others.
germany's gonna be a scarier country than the usa in a year and that's saying a lot
dont bet
Jackson Hinkles Chinese social media got banned lmao
: Nooooo, I hate the baizuo just like you!
: Baiyou says what?
what did he think of china? Honestly weird (or glad) I didn’t think of this until now. Probably is turning on china as we speak
Glad to see 
take care of its people and not air out his brainrot tripe
lmao
If you want to see what happens when Government doesn't do stuff, look at Greece. 
These countries (Portugal, Greece) are literally examples of what happens when the Government isn't there to constrain capitalism and private debt is allowed to explode without control.
Yeah "has no government" does not mean the government bureaucracy shuts down, it just means there's no parliament doing new laws and shit. Only in the United States does "no government" mean the entire state apparatus just stops working. The best example of "no government" is like Somalia, which is a fucking nightmare. (not trying to be a dig at anarchists, since obviously Somalia exists in this capitalist hellscape and there's no on the ground actors attempting anything resembling anarchist organizing)
Grim scenes from Magdeburg
Some brief news from Denmark:
Bartenders Fired Over Pro-Palestinian Stickers
In Copenhagen, two bartenders at a music venue were fired for wearing stickers featuring the Palestinian flag and the name of the organisation Antifascist Action. In a statement William Weiss, one of the bartenders, tells how the dismissal infringes on his freedom of expression. Management argues that the termination complies with a company policy prohibiting political messages at work.
Six additional staff members have resigned in protest. Weiss contends the venue’s policies shield problematic customers rather than employees.
Private Care Homes Shut Down
Over four years, Danish authorities have forcibly closed 19 private care homes due to severe abuse and mismanagement affecting vulnerable children and adults. Violations include violence, illegal restraints, and misuse of public funds, according to Denmark's social supervision authorities.
Eva Naur, a welfare law lecturer, criticizes a lax approval processes that allow underqualified operators to run care homes. These homes often generate significant profits; a review of 81 private care homes found that in the past five years, owners have paid themselves dividends totaling 155 million DKK (€20.8 million).
Danes Firmly Reject Switching to the Euro
A majority of Danes (55%) remain opposed to adopting the euro, as shown by a recent poll. This resistance mirrors the outcome of Denmark’s 2000 referendum, when voters first rejected the single currency.
Despite increasing pro-European sentiment in Denmark since Brexit, younger Danes are not overwhelmingly pro-euro. Among Danes aged 18–34, 56% oppose replacing the krone, Denmark’s current currency. Although not part of the Eurozone, the Danish krone is closely pegged to the Euro.
Danish Investment in Weapons Stocks Surges
Private investment in military-related stocks has increased tenfold in Denmark since 2021, with holdings in these stocks now valued at 2.1 billion DKK (€281 million).
The shift in attitudes follows the Ukraine war, which has reshaped views on military spending and defense and ramped up militaristic propaganda. Arms manufacturing stocks face no regulatory barriers in Denmark.
Industrial Unions Gear Up for 2025 Contract Talks
Danish industrial unions have concluded nationwide preparatory meetings for the 2025 labor agreement negotiations. CO-Industri, a coalition of unions representing Danish industrial workers, collected over 500 proposals for improvements to working conditions.
The first negotiations, scheduled for January 2025, will set the tone for labor agreements across Denmark’s private sector. The collective agreements for the industrial sector is often used as a reference for negotiations in other sectors of the labour market.
Fascist Party Advocates Use of Cluster Bombs And Landmines
Alex Ahrendtsen, defense spokesperson for the far-right Danish People’s Party (DF), has called for Denmark to withdraw from treaties banning cluster bombs and landmines.
Ahrendtsen argues Denmark should have access to such weapons for defense purposes. However, Liberal Party Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen is not ready to go against the current consensus among western states and has reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to international conventions prohibiting their use.
Universities Introduce 'Anti-Harassment' Policies In Response To Pro-Palestinian Activism
The Moderate Party-controlled Ministry of Education and Science has introduced a new so-called 'anti-harassment' policy for universities. Violators risks suspension. The regime claims the policy is necessary as some students feel they're being harassed "in connection to a current political agenda", ie. pro-Palestinian activism.
In one incident activists had painted the slogan "Zionists should be afraid" on buildings at the university campus in Roskilde. Zionists claimed that this message made all Jewish students feel unsafe. Discourse on harrassment on campuses has not mentioned zionist hate speech in support of the American-Zionist genocide against Palestine.
Controversial Cleaning Company Loses Key Contract
The cleaning company Renell has lost its contract with Næstved Municipality. Earlier this year the municipalities of Vejle, Køge and Hørsholm has cancelled contracts with the comapny although it recently won back the contract with Hørsholm.
The company is part of a collective agreement with the organization "Det removedlige Hus" trough its membership of the "Christian Employers' Association". "Det removedlige Hus" is a so-called yellow union or company union that renounces the right to strike and has no affiliation with the Danish labour movement. Calculations show that Workers at Renell earn significantly less than unionized counterparts covered by agreements with Denmark’s legitimate unions.
Social Democrats Accept Royal Honors
A large number of current and former Social Democratic ministers has been offered knighthoods by Denmark's unelected monarchy. A handful refused to accept the decorations but most, including Danish leader Mette Frederiksen, accepted.
Earlier this year the Social Democrats, who leads the Nordic hermit kingdom's ruling right-wing regime, decided to abandon a century-long policy of refusing to accept royal honors. A century ago the Social Democrats were a republican party but as the former labour party gained influence they shed their radical beliefs and became enamored to the institutions of the bourgeois state, including the monarchy.
Today the social democrats are as monarchist as any, using the royal cult of personality to further a reactionary nationalist agenda and embracing the royals in the hope that their popularity rubs off on the social democrats. This January Danish leader Mette Frederiksen was strutting with joy as she faced crowds gathered in Copenhagen to proclaim the accesssion to the throne of hand-picked successor Frederik Glücksburg, who took over the reins from his aging mother in a bloodless transfer of power. Since then the social democrats were a leading force in awarding the monarchy substantial budget increases.
Idk where else to put this but our local Amazon plant is striking. I work nearby for a subcompany so I drive by every day to work and this morning I saw like 12-20 people out front with signs. I'm reaching out to my local org to see what I can do to help even though my branch isn't fully established yet.
Join the picket line if you have time. Order pizza/coffee or whatever else if it can lift morale. See if you can organize a teach-in about labor rights, about Amazon/Bezos abuses, or historical Teamsters Ws.
Morale is the most important thing on a picket line, and it is also the place where people learn solidarity and raise their class consciousness the most. Any amount of support means a ton.
I will always stand with teamsters and join their pickets if they are in my town. The teamsters stood with my union and didnt make deliveries to our boss when we were on strike and i will never forget that.
According to Ukraine's Air Force Command, Russia fired five ballistic missiles at Kyiv at around 7 a.m. on Friday. Ukrainian air defenses shot down all five missiles. In addition, 40 UAVs were shot down, and another 20 drones did not reach their targets, according to the command
And this was just with Iskander-M (or even North Korean Kn-23) ballistic missiles and Geran-2 drones. Not even Oreshnik or Kh-69 missiles. And these missiles got through, contrary to Ukraine's claims.
The Patriot AD system has always had trouble intercepting ballistic targets, against Iraqi Scuds fired at Israel during the Gulf War the interception rate was estimated between 1-10%. This was supposed to be fixed by kinetic interceptors and updated radars, but Israel did not buy this, they were once bitten and twice shy, so they developed their own domestic ABM (anti ballistic missile defence) systems in Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 (Germany has also recently received Arrow 3), and want to phase out the Patriot for David's Sling. Independent data from Ukraine reports a 4% interception rate for Iskander-M (no information on Kn-23). The Patriot is not a dedicated ABM system, and only a significant change to the Patriot will change that. It's meant to shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles.
THAAD is the dedicated mobile ABM system from the USA, it actually has an appropriate radar and kinetic interceptors instead of the half hearted modifications to the Patriot, and Ukraine will not be getting those.
A simulated Oreshnik strike was also carried out later today, according to air raid monitoring channels.