ICAD disclosed the identities of Alawite fighters, some described as remnants of the Assad regime, who have repositioned under the Syrian Democratic Forces banner and enjoy complete freedom of movement in strategic SDF areas in northeast Syria, over the past 59 minutes to 3:45 PM UTC on January 2, 2026, according to X posts by EekadFacts. The network of fighters moves comfortably within civilian sites, restaurants, and public facilities without restrictions in SDF-controlled territories, as tracked by ICAD and reported in the posts published during the reporting window from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM UTC. Alawite fighters within SDF areas sent greetings to the Syrian Coast and Druze in Suweida province while threatening HTS terrorists, stating "We do not forget the blood of our martyrs and await instructions," according to a Telegram post by Kurdish Front News shared within the same period. Separately, an X post by AyKarT0 highlighted an Assadist claim that if Ahmed al-Sharaa remained in power after January 1, 2026, the individual would give up 5 kg of gold, noting "That aged horribly," in reference to recent political shifts.
