بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أكتوبر 19, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundup Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Director-General praises Dr Maamoun Adbulkarim’s commitment as Director General for Antiquities and Museums of Syria between 2012 and 2017 (4 October, 2017) UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova commended Dr. Maamoun Abdulkarim at the end of his 5-years’ mandate as Head of the Directorate General for Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM). She praised his unfailing commitment, tenacity and outstanding contribution to the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Syria since 2012.
‘We’re staying out of it’: Syrian Arab Army soldiers in Suwayda defy military command (4 October, 2017) After serving for three years in the Syrian Arab Army, from 2012 to 2015, Abu Sari was ready to go home.
Conservation completed on Lion of Al-lāt statue from ancient city of Palmyra, damaged by ISIL (5 October, 2017) The 2000-year old statue Lion of Al-lāt, that once watched over the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, stands proudly once again, thanks to UNESCO’s Emergency Safeguarding of the Syrian Cultural Heritage project.
Syria’s reconstruction: Winners and losers (10 October 2017) There is a growing debate about reconstruction in Syria in Western and regional policy circles. The European Union has been closely studying options for reconstruction, while some Western (and non-Western) governments are positioning themselves so that they can play a role in the reconstruction process.
Turkey’s Operation in Idlib May Not Bring All-Out War With al-Qaida (10 October 2017) Turkey’s discussions with al-Qaida-linked militants ahead of its deployment in Syria’s Idlib province indicate that a wide-scale offensive against the militant group may not be Ankara’s primary objective, according to Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute.
Sarin gas attack-linked Syria air base to be visited by UN investigators (11 October 2017) UN team will visit Syria’s Shayrat airfield, which was targeted by US after Khan Sheikhun sarin gas attack
US-backed rebels withdraw from eastern desert with no clear mission ahead (12 October, 2017) The capture of new desert territory appears to illustrate a major shift of military control in Syria’s east that is months in the making, despite rebel assertions that they withdrew in order to protect the nearby Rukban displacement camp located within the American-run military zone.
Inside ISIS’ Dysfunctional Schools (13 October, 2017) Kinana Qaddour reports on how ISIS educational system evolved over the years and its failure to function (or even exist) in most ISIS-controlled areas.
After fall of Mayadeen, Syrian Arab Army expands campaign against Islamic State in Deir e-Zor (16 October, 2017) The capture of Mayadeen is part of a wider regime offensive to drive IS from the province, where both US-backed Kurdish-majority forces and pro-government fighters continue to capture towns and villages previously controlled by the militant group in the Deir e-Zor countryside.
What next for Raqqa? (16 October, 2017) The truth is that Western countries want to fight ISIS, especially foreign fighters, that may present risks to their own societies in the future. But what happens to the civilians that get crushed in the process, seems to be no one’s responsibility.
Drought Not the Only Environmental Problem in Syria Before 2011 (17 October, 2017) It is misleading to view the case of the Syrian drought as an example of climate-induced conflict. There were many socio-economic and political factors at play at the same time, and it is unrealistic to try to identify a single root cause of the uprising.
Regional and International Perspectives
Qatar’s Pragmatic Syria Gamble (4 October, 2017) Doha’s policy is aligned with the West, and not the ideals of the Islamic State or Al Qaeda.
Syria’s destruction revives a dream of rebuilding Lebanon’s railway (5 October, 2017) Firms from the Gulf and China are eyeing investments that seek to capture some of the $200bn needed to rebuild Syria. A railway from Lebanon’s ports to Syria’s cement-hungry cities might encourage them. But even if the war ends it will take years before work on a new rail network can begin.
EU Officials Urging Syrian Opposition to Accept Assad Remaining (9 October, 2017) Zaman al-Wasl reports that European officials are pursuing normalization with Assad through the diplomatic and security fields.
Hezbollah leader says US actions aiding Islamic State in Syria (8 October, 2017) Comments come after US official says president is considering sanctions on Iran for its support of Hezbollah.
Turkey intervenes in Syria: What you need to know (9 October, 2017) After months of speculation, Turkey has launched an intervention – with the help of rebels it supports – in northwestern Syria. But what exactly is Turkey hoping to do, and how will the jihadis who control the province react, not to mention the civilians who have taken shelter there?
‘People no longer care’: Damascus accepts Assad victory as fait accompli (9 October, 2017) Shortages have eased, rebel attacks have reduced – and desire for change has evaporated as many in Syria’s capital just want the killing to end.
Crushed but for 120 minutes united: qualifier lets Syrians forget war (11 October, 2017) The national team’s progress into a World Cup play-off was a chance to focus on something other than division and destruction.
Idlib city in state of lawlessness as hardline rebel coalition’s police force fails to maintain order, residents say (11 October, 2017) Hundreds of residents of opposition-held Idlib city closed their businesses and took to the streets in a city-wide general strike this week, amid what residents and local business owners described … as lawlessness and ineffective rebel policing.
C.I.A. Study of Covert Aid Fueled Skepticism About Helping Syrian Rebels (14 October, 2017) The still-classified review, one of several C.I.A. studies commissioned in 2012 and 2013 in the midst of the Obama administration’s protracted debate about whether to wade into the Syrian civil war, concluded that many past attempts by the agency to arm foreign forces covertly had a minimal impact on the long-term outcome of a conflict.
How Assad’s Enemies Gave Up on the Syrian Opposition (17 October, 2017) There is no longer any serious international support for the opposition’s original raison d’être, the idea that still animates its members and leaders: namely to rid Syria of the Assad dynasty.
Policy and Reports
Did some media play into ISIS’s hands? (2 October 2017) Some conservative outlets hyped the terror group’s claim that it was responsible for the Las Vegas shooting.
Jordan Says Hosting Syrian Refugees Has Cost $10 Billion (10 October 2017) Authorities in Jordan estimated at more than $10 billion the cost of hosting thousands of refugees displaced from neighboring Syria since the civil war broke out there in 2011.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here: كلفة استضافة اللاجئين السوريين في الأردن تجاوزت عشرة مليارات دولار
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
نورا الصفدي خرطبيل في المشهد (October 3, 2017) An interview with Noura Ghazi Safadi, a Syrian human rights lawyer, who shares the story of her husband, a well-known internet activist, Bassel Khartabil who was executed by the Syrian regime.
The agony of absence: Wives of disappeared detainees face uncertainty, social pressures (9 October, 2017) “For friends and families, disappeared detainees exist in a space between life and death. Prolonged absence forces a difficult choice—assume loved ones to be dead and move on with life, or wait, perhaps for years, in the hope that they are still alive.”
‘‘How can I support this team?’ Divided loyalties for Syrians haunted by civil war (10 October, 2017) Like the country itself, feelings about Syria’s national football team, who play Australia tonight, are complex.
Syrian women will sing Big Ben’s missing bongs to remember loved ones ‘disappeared’ by Assad regime (10 October 2017) An estimated 200,000 have been jailed or disappeared by the Assad regime since 2011.
Maps
MOSCOW PRESSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN (10 October, 2017) Moscow’s expanding footprint in Tartous underscores the Kremlin’s intent to use its positions on the Syrian coast to establish Russia as a permanent regional power and challenge the Unites States and NATO in the longterm.
What is left of ISIL in Iraq?(11 October 2017) More than three years since its dramatic capture of Mosul, ISIL is a group in rapid decline, despite the ongoing threat of attacks.
SYRIA SITUATION REPORT: SEPTEMBER 27 – OCTOBER 10, 2017
Syrian Civil War Map (15 October 2017) A map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after years of fighting.
MAPPED: The battle against ISIL (15 October 2017) In the past year and a half, ISIL’s territory has been shrinking steadily.
Arabic Links:
«التتريك» يزدهر في الشمال: لواء إسكندرون جديد Turkey pursues a policy of turkification as part of the Shield of Euphrates operation in Syria.
حميرة: “أنا أشحد”.. ولهذه الأسباب يرفض الخليجيون تمويل أعمالي Fouad Humeira, a well-known Syrian scriptwriter, reveals the reasons that forced him to stop writing and how a production company in the Gulf refused to finance his work for sectarian reasons.
“التعليم العالي” تنفي رفع الاعتراف بالشهادة السورية Higher Education Minister Atef Naddaf refutes rumors about Syrian degrees obtained from Syrian universities as being unrecognized internationally.
ماذا لو اشتكت لاجئة من العنف ضدها؟ What if a refugee woman filed a complaint for being subjected to violence?
مع استمرار التعديات عليها غابــات اللاذقيــة تضيــع بيــن التحطيــب والتفحيــم .. فمــن يوقــف الحــرائق؟Fires destroy many forest areas in the countryside of Lataki.
من “زهرة الصحراء” إلى “شوكة الصحراء” … أسماء الأسد مرة أخرى!Asma al-Assad, A Rose in the Desert, as Vogue magazine described her once, remarketing her image through her frequent appearances and visits to the poor in Syria.
طعن بالسكين .. محاولة اغتيال المخرج السوري محمد بايزيد في اسطنبول Syrian film director Mohamed Bayazid was subjected to an assassination attempt by unknown assailants in Istanbul.
باص الحرية يبدأ رحلتهActivists drove a ‘Freedom Bus’ around the British capital to draw attention to tens of thousands of detained and missing people in Syria.
منذر مصري يكتب: من أجل ماذا خرج الشعب السوري؟Monzer Masri criticizes Syrian opposition figures who forgot why Syrians revolted against the regime.
دروس البوسنة لسوريا: لا يمكن لمجرمي الحرب أن يكونوا جزءاً من الحل Syria Untold interviews Dr. Goran Šimić, a Professor of Criminal law and Transitional justice at the International University of Sarajevo, about justice and reconciliation in post-conflict societies, as well as similarities between Bosnia and Syria.
The English version of this article can be found here: Bosnia’s Lessons for Syria: War Criminals Cannot Be Part of the Solution
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أكتوبر 5, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundups Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Countryside Dwellers and City Dwellers… About the Syria that we Know very well (10 September 2017) “Munira says that countryside dwellers have started to feel they are proud of their belonging to their small towns and villages only after the revolution.”
As War Rages, Tabqa Schools Offer Hope to Syrian Children (12 September 2017) “Local officials face numerous challenges as they struggle to get students back into the education system while the war continues, but several Tabqa schools are set to reopen for Syrian children this week, just months after the city was liberated from ISIS.”
Hundreds of Isis defectors mass on Syrian border hoping to flee (12 September 2017) Several dozen former fighters have already crossed into southern Turkey in recent weeks as terror group loses territory.
Turkey deploys 80 military vehicles near Syrian border (17 September 2017) Deployment comes after Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to send ‘de-escalation’ forces to Syria in the coming weeks.
SOHR: Israeli warplanes hit near Damascus airport (22 September 2017) The air raids reportedly struck sites controlled by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, says UK-based activist group.
Syrians vote in Kurdish-led regions of north (22 September 2017) Syrians voted in an election organized by the Kurdish-led authorities of northern Syria, the start of a three-phase process to set up new governing institutions that aim to shore up regional autonomy.
Syria to consider granting Kurds greater autonomy (26 September 2017) Discussions on extended powers for Syrian Kurds to begin once Assad government defeats ISIL, foreign minister says.
British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria (27 September 2017) Mehmet Aksoy, from London, was working as a press officer for Kurdish forces in Raqqa when military base was attacked
Behind the story: Meet the journalists who risk the wrath of all sides to cover Syria’s south (27 September 2017) Five journalists, two from Suwayda province, two from Daraa and one from Quneitra, who cover the Syrian conflict on the ground at great personal risk share their stories and talk about challenges they faced.
Suwayda residents, citing weak government authority, turn anew to tribal laws to resolve civil, criminal matters(27 September 2017) “Residents of regime-held Suwayda province in Syria’s south are turning to centuries-old tribal practices to combat lawlessness, solve familial disputes and handle marriages in the absence of an effective civil authority, residents and local leaders on the ground tell Syria Direct.”
Joshua Landis: Syria on track ‘to go back to what we had before’ (28 September 2017) In this interview, Joshua Landis says that the way forward is an economy revitalized by regional transportation, trade routes and tourism.
‘New Baghdadi tape’ posted by Islamic State group (28 September 2017) Islamic State militants have released what appears to be an audio recording of their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Rare Islamic State victory in rural Homs splits displaced families apart (2 October, 2017) If confirmed, the capture of Qaryatayn is a rare victory for IS as the group’s forces suffer major losses in eastern Syria’s Raqqa and Deir e-Zor provinces, amid separate campaigns by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the regime to eradicate the group from its remaining territory.
Deadly bombing hits Damascus police station (3 October, 2017) ‘Terrorist explosion’ in al-Midan area kills more than 10 people, including civilians and police, in continued violence.
Syrian Soldier Is Guilty of War Crime, a First in the 6-Year Conflict (3 October, 2017) “For the first time, six years into a war that began with Syria’s secret police accused of torturing teenagers and has escalated in brutality ever since, a member of the Syrian military has been convicted of a war crime.”
Regional and International Perspectives
The best weapon to de-radicalise Isis returnees? Our own humanity (15 September 2017) Extremists coming back from Syria must not be seen as one-dimensional, Bond-movie bad guys. Our task is to remember that perpetrators can be victims.
US funding cuts and the impact on Syrian refugee women (20 September 2017) How the US went from all to nothing at a maternity clinic in the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp.
Exclusive: Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria’s Idlib – Erdogan (22 September 2017) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s northern Idlib region as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia last month.
Has the Syrian opposition lost the war? (23 September 2017) Journalist Patrick Cockburn and Syrian American Council adviser Mohammed Ghanem offer differing views on the Syrian war.
Moscow clashes with EU over aid to Syria (23 September 2017) Russia clashed with the EU over Syria, accusing the bloc of politicizing aid by linking reconstruction funds to a political transition that would end the war.
Evicted Refugees in Lebanon Have Nowhere Left to Run (28 September 2017) Lebanon wants to evict 12,000 refugees who live near an air base where foreign military assistance is delivered. The evictions, which began in spring and recently resumed after a short respite, have left refugees more vulnerable amid rising demands they return to Syria.
Expert Views: Is Jordan Headed Toward Detente With Damascus? (29 September 2017) Syria Deeply’s expert community weighs in on a possible rapprochement between Amman and Damascus and the drive in some quarters for improved relations between the two states.
Do Russians care about Syria? (30 September 2017) Two years into the Russian intervention in Syria, we ask what Russians think of the war.
Saudi king heads to Russia, with oil, investment and Syria on agenda (3 October, 2017) The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s biggest oil exporters, are expected to discuss cooperation on oil production and differences over Syria and Iran on Thursday during the first visit to Moscow by a reigning Saudi Monarch.
Policy and Reports
EU launches “Brussels process” for Syria, Mogherini announces at UNGA (21 September 2017) The EU is ready to contribute to the stabilisation and early recovery of areas where violence has decreased, and will hold a second conference on Syria in Spring 2018. In parallel, the EU continues to support the Geneva talks with the aim of a credible and inclusive agreement.
The socio-economic roots of Syria’s uprising (21 September 2017) While the outbreak of revolution in 2011 took many by surprise, the pre-conditions for such an upheaval had accumulated for decades.
German justice handed 27,000 images of ‘torture and killings by Assad regime’ (22 September 2017) More than 27,000 images of torture and killings allegedly perpetrated by the Assad regime in Syria have been handed to German prosecutors who are investigating possible abuses, a rights group said on Friday.
Intolerable Living Conditions in “al-Rukban Camp” on the Jordanian-Syrian Border (25 September 2017) “Tens of Thousands of Displaced Persons have Difficulty Accessing Potable Water and Health Care”
Syria: Coalition Airstrikes Killed Dozens Near Raqqa (25 September 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that two aerial attacks near Raqqa, Syria in March killed at least 84 civilians, including 30 children, and raise concerns that US-led coalition forces fighting the ISIS did not take adequate precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
Post-ISIS Governance in Jarablus: A Turkish-led Strategy (26 September 2017) Turkey’s capacity to ensure the sustainability of its successes against ISIS depends largely on improving governance in Jarablus.
Will the U.S. Abandon the Kurds of Syria Once ISIS is Destroyed? by Landis, Itani, Simon (1 October 2017) Joshua Landis, Faysal Itani, Steven Simon shares their perspectives on whether the United States would stand by the Kurds of north Syria once ISIS is destroyed.
Jordan: Syrian Refugees Being Summarily Deported (2 October 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that Jordanian authorities have been summarily deporting Syrian refugees – including collective expulsions of large families.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here: الأردن: ترحيل مستعجل للاجئين سوريين
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Campfire songs in a war zone: Syria’s girl scouts earn their stripes (19 September 2017) Arabic could become the fourth official language of the world Girlguiding movement, as Syria’s girl scout network wins international recognition
We felt so lucky to foster a young refugee. Don’t let Parsons Green tarnish a proud tradition (20 September 2017) Fostering a teenager from Syria has been a privilege and given us a new perspective on our lives. I hope this horrific attack does not deter future carers.
Syrian opposition activist and her journalist daughter murdered in Turkey (22 September 2017) 60-year-old Orouba Barakat and 22-year-old daughter Halla were found overnight in their apartment in Istanbul’s Uskudar neighbourhood.
How One Syrian Fought to the Death for a Free Internet (27 September 2017) Della Ratta says. “We should take it very seriously when the international community is dealing with Bashar al-Assad like he’s not doing what he’s doing, which is killing his people and executing people like Bassel. It’s a very sad story but it deserves to be told. Otherwise an entire chapter of this situation in Syria will be lost.”
Fatal Attraction: The Islamic State’s Politics of Sentimentality (28 September 2017) “The ability of the Islamic State (IS) to gain virtual and literal ground in terms of recruitment throughout the world is very much linked to its politics of sentimentality.”
5 amazing ways #MeWeSyria is helping young Syrian refugees (1 October 2017) The work that #MeWeSyria is doing to support and facilitate young Syrians in telling their stories is a fundamental part of the effort to bridge the gap between educational and emotional needs.
The 13-year-old Syrian refugee who became a prizewinning poet (1 October 2017) A year after learning to speak English, Amineh Abou Kerech has won this year’s Betjeman prize. She tells us how she found her voice.
Review: ‘The Impossible Revolution’ in Syria (3 October 2017) Lebanese writer Joey Ayoub reviews Yassin Al-Haj Saleh’s The Impossible Revolution: Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy.
Maps
Mapping the Battle Against ISIS in Deir Ezzor (26 September 2017) Syria Deeply examines the pitched battle for Deir Ezzor, including advances by both the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Assad government against the so-called Islamic State in the oil-rich province.
The city fit for no-one (26 September 2017) A collection of maps and visuals that shows aspects from inside Raqqa, the ruined ‘capital’ of the Islamic State group
Mapping out Syria’s remaining battles (26 September 2017) Battles intensify as fighting in Syria now focused on three key areas.
Syria’s civil war explained from the beginning (1 October, 2017) The Syrian civil war is the deadliest conflict the 21st century has witnessed so far.
Deir Azzour Tribal Mapping Project (2 October, 2017) Deir Azzour is in the strategic eastern region of the country, on the border with Iraq, and the governorate is approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Damascus.
Arabic Links:
إصبعٌ على الكيبورد.. وآخرُ في عين الكارثة Ola Hosamow writes about the growing number of Syrian artists who use digital arts as an expression of the Syrian tragedy.
إزاحة رأس النظام السوري وتناقض التصريحات This article examines the contradictory statements made by Western officials towards whether Assad should stay in power or leave.
بعد اعتقال دام 4 سنوات ..”حازم الحريري” قتيلاً في سجون النظام Family of Hazim Alhariri was informed that Hazim (22 years old) was executed in 2014. Hazim was a Law school student at the University of Aleppo and a musician.
الوجود الكردي في سورية تاريخيًا واجتماعيًا Abdulbaset Sieda, a Kurdish-Syrian academic and politician, writes about the socio-historical existence of Kurds in Syria.
أغاني العرس الفلّاحي في العراق والشام Anas Al-Asaad analyzes peasant wedding songs in Syria and Iraq.
المثقف النذل Gassan Jebai criticizes Arab intellectuals who supported oppressive regimes against their own people.
نص المداخلة الشفهية لرئيس المركز السوري للإعلام وحرية التعبير مازن درويش، خلال جلسة “بناء أسس العدالة في سوريا” The intervention of Mazen Darwish, Director of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), “Accountability High Level Event” at the United Nations General Assembly, 72nd session
The English version of this article can be found: here.
إطلاق سراح لاعب سوري بعد وساطة من عمر السومة؟ Upon a personal request made by Syrian football player Omar Somah, Mohammad Kunis, a Syrian football player, was released from the regime’s prison.
حمودة صباغ .. رئيسا لمجلس الشعب السوري Hammouda Sabbagh was elected as the new Speaker of the People’s Council of Syria.
ما بعد السيطرة على جسد المرأة Jad Al Karim Jebaei criticizes the patriarchal structures and Arab/Islamic culture which control the body and deny individual freedom.
المرأة السورية ومنظمات المجتمع المدني! Syrian Women’s Network organized a workshop in Gaziantep to empower Syrian women.
لقاء مع مالك جندلي An interview with Malek Jandali, a Syrian-American pianist and composer.
14 الجاري.. “يوم الغضب السوري” في العالم Syrian activists call for “a day of rage” worldwide on October 14.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | سبتمبر 30, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundups Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Seven Experts to Watch on De-Escalation Zones in Syria (August 31) Proposals to create safe zones inside Syria have been at the center of international diplomatic efforts in recent months. Syria Deeply highlights seven experts monitoring the proposals for safe zones in Syria and the foreign powers pushing for their creation.
How Jabhat al-Nusra Hijacked the Syrian Revolution (August 31) Battles between opposition groups in northern Syria have threatened the Syrian revolution and left Jabhat al-Nusra (now part of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) in control of Aleppo and Idlib; how did that happen?
Baghdadi alive but coalition does not ‘have a clue’ where he is: US general (September 1) US-led coalition against IS claim that Baghdadi likely to be in hiding in border area between Iraq and Syria.
Idlib Local Councils Face Crisis of Trust Under Difficult Circumstances (September 3) There is no doubt that local councils have filled a huge gap following the retreat of the state. But there are still many obstacles that challenge their work, some stemming from limited support, others from the lack of experience, and from traditional and anti-democratic patterns of thought.
Militias and Crony Capitalism to Hamper Syria Reconstruction (September 4) Despite the small economic impact of the Fair and a mortar attack which resulted in several deaths and confirmed the fragility of the security situation, the regime’s message through the organization of Trade Fair to local, regional and international actors was clear: Asad is here to stay and this is the beginning of the Syria’s reconstruction period.
Holocaust Museum Pulls Study Absolving Obama Administration for Inaction in Face of Syrian Genocide (September 5) A major United States Holocaust Memorial Museum study of the Obama Administration’s Syria policy was put on hold … after portions of the study given to Tablet were greeted with shock and harsh criticism by prominent Jewish communal leaders and thinkers.
Syria forces behind Khan Sheikhoun gas attack: UN probe (September 6) Investigation also confirms that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons more than 20 times during the war.
Israeli airstrike targets Syrian military site as tensions rise (September 7) Syria accused Israel of bombing a military site that has been linked to the production of chemical weapons, as well as missiles bound for the Hezbollah militant group, marking an escalation of cross-border incursions by Israeli jets.
Aid trucks enter Deir e-Zor city for first time in three years (September 7) The regime victory earlier this week ended the siege of the western, and more populous quarter, allowing food and supplies to enter for the first time in more than three years. Roughly half of the city still remains occupied by the Islamic State.
ISIL holds 11,100 blank Syrian passports: report (September 10) German authorities fear the passports could be used to bring potential attackers into Europe, Bild am Sonntag reports.
In eastern Syria, fears of revenge killings, tribal clashes after defeat of Islamic State (September 13) In Deir e-Zor, IS is not merely an invading, alien force. Since conquering the oil-rich, eastern desert province in 2014, IS has successfully exploited the region’s tribal order, co-opting local tribes with cash, weapons and positions of authority.
Quneitra farmers lose sole income as regime tariffs upend fragile agricultural balance: ‘I haven’t even begun to harvest’ (September 13) Farmers in rebel-held parts of Syria’s Quneitra province say they are losing thousands of dollars since regime forces introduced a tariff on their produce in recent months, disrupting a fragile economic balance in place between government and opposition territory in the country’s far southwest.
To achieve ‘dream’ of education, woman regularly risks dangerous journey out of Islamic State territory(September 14) When Wilaa goes to class, she must travel from a town controlled by an Islamic State affiliate and cross multiple enemy lines to reach Damascus University’s Daraa campus in the regime-held northern half of the provincial capital.
Divided Syrian opposition tries for unified army again (September 15) As the Syrian opposition faces major setbacks on the battlefield, the Syrian Interim Government and FSA factions have been discussing the formation of a unified national army in hopes of changing the tide.
Will China Get the Lion Share in Syria Reconstruction? (September 16) The ongoing development of China-Syria relations could have a significant impact on post-war Syria and the influence of Western governments and donors on the country’s future.
The Aga Khan wants to rebuild Aleppo’s Great Mosque (September 16) Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has funded major renovations from Lebanon to India, “but it will be difficult … we agreed with Syrian government and opposition, religious and civil authorities.”
President al-Assad: Syria is a homogeneous country; Christians are the basis of homeland (September 17) The meeting… dealt with the necessity of the Christian existence in Syria, in general, and the Syriac presence, in particular, as they are a basic element in the Syrian national structure with assertion on their deeply-rooted role in the face of the continued displacement attempts they have encountered by terrorism and its supporters.
Suwayda residents react to increased Russian presence on the ground (September 19) Beyond previous sporadic visits for aid distribution, today Russian personnel are based near and reportedly becoming a more familiar presence in Suwayda villages.
Trapped: The Desperation of Syria’s Displaced Civilians (September 19) By sealing their borders, Syria’s neighbors have blocked the escape routes of millions.
Regional and International Perspectives
A Move to Restore Dignity to Syria’s Victims ( September 15) Pursuing accountability for violating the dignity of a dead body may strike some as marginal in the carnage that is Syria. The opposite is true.
ISIS’s Expanding Campaign in Europe (September 17) ISIS’s attack campaign in Europe is expanding despite ISIS’s losses of terrain and senior leadership in the Middle East and North Africa. ISIS continues to plan, resource, and execute attacks from its remaining safe havens in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.
Policy and Reports
Syria’s Reconciliation Agreements (August 30) Raymond Hinnebusch & Omar Imady discuss local truces in the Syrian conflict and what the regime called reconciliation (Muslaha) agreements and the great powers later termed de-escalation or deconfliction zones.
To end a war: Europe’s role in bringing peace to Syria (September 12) European members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) should push for an approach that focuses on national politics hand in hand with de-escalation efforts, moving away from an approach that only phases the national angle in after a ceasefire takes hold.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Chemical weapons’ attacks documented by the Commission (Infographic) (6 September 2017) Infographic by Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic documents when and where chemical attacks took place as of September. 6. 2017.
The Carter Center: Weekly Conflict Summary. September 7-13, 2017 Pro-government forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition backed by the US) have each advanced further against ISIS on their respective frontlines…The Syrian government awarded a large reconstruction contract worth 130 million Euros (~155 million USD) to Mabna, an Iranian company that specializes in electrical power plants and infrastructure.
The Carter Center: Weekly Conflict Summary. August 31-September 06, 2017 Pro-government forces made major advances eastward from their foothold south of Raqqa city. These gains led to the end of a years-long ISIS siege of Deir Ezzor…Russian negotiators reached an agreement with opposition leaders in northern Homs countryside that would allow the reopening of the road between Homs and Hama.
Syrian Refugee Children’s Uncertain School Aid (September 15) According to Human Rights Watch, more than 530,000 Syrian schoolchildren in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, the three countries with the largest number of Syrian refugees, were still out of school at the end of the 2016-2017 school year because of the lack of timely, transparent funding.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here: المساعدات المدرسية للأطفال السوريين اللاجئين يلفها الغموض
فدوى محمود في المشهد (September 15) On the fifth anniversary of the abduction of Dr. Abdul-aziz al-Khayer, a prominent member of ‘National Coordination Body for Democratic Change’, along with Maher Tahan and Iyas Ayash, on the way back from the airport to Damascus, Fadwa Mahmoud, a lifelong leftwing political dissident, shares what she knows about her husband (al-Khayer) and her son (Tahan).
شباك تذاكر: كفاح علي ديب تحكي لراديو الآن عن ملتقى المتحف في ألمانيا ودورهم كسوريين وعراقيين فيه(September 13) Kefah Ali Deeb, reflects on her experience as a volunteer tour guide involved in Multaka, a project in Berlin aims to provide newly- arrived Arabic-speaking refugees free tours of museums in Germany’s capital.
)18 (September د. دارم طباع مدير المركز الوطني لتطوير المناهج التربوية 18-09-2017 صباحنا غير
An interview with Darem Tabbaa, Director of The National Center for Curriculum Development, who responds to criticism raised by many Syrians on social media who criticized the new Syrian education curriculum.
Maps
Syrian Civil War Map (September 6) A map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after five years of fighting.
Syria Situation Report: August 31 – September 14, 2017 This graphic depicts significant developments in the Syrian Civil War from August 31 to September 14, 2017. The control of terrain represented on the graphic is accurate as of September 14, 2017.
Arabic Links:
بمشاركة 164 شركة من 23 دولة عربية وأجنبية.. انطلاق فعاليات معرض إعادة إعمار سورية.. عرنوس: دليل على قوة سورية- فيديو
Activities of Rebuild Syria 2017 exhibition kicked off with the participation of 164 companies from 23 Arab, European, Asian and African states. The exhibition will be held from 19 to 23 September at Damascus International Fairgrounds.
أن تعيش الحرب “Living War,” the sixth chapter of Wendy Pearlman’s new book “We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled”
الجيش الحرّ ينشىء ثكنات عسكريّة في منطقة درع الفرات تمهيداً لإخلاء المدن من المظاهر المسلّحة “Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions in areas liberated during Operation Euphrates Shield in the Aleppo countryside are making significant efforts to eliminate their military checkpoints and armed presence in the small cities and towns under their control”.
The English version of this article can be found here: FSA relocating to outside Syria’s liberated areas
مسيحيو سورية This research traces the history of Christian communities in syria and their position after the Syrian uprising.
أغلفة الكتب المدرسية الجديدة تثير جدلا بين السوريين.. ما معانيها؟! Photos of the new Syrian education curriculum went viral on social media causing harsh criticism and Darem Tabbaa, Director of The National Center for Curriculum Development, responds.
استبدال قصيدة وخريطة بشكل فوري.. وزير التربية يشكل لجنة لدراسة كافة الملاحظات على المنهاج المطور Following a wave of criticisms to the new Syrian education curriculum, Education Minister Hazwan al-Waz issues a decision to replace a poem, written by a pro-opposition poet, and a map of Syria.
See also: قرار بتشكيل لجنة لدراسة الملاحظات على المناهج وآخر هفوات المناهج المطورة نشر قصيدة بدون علم مؤلفها
«داعشيان» من العراق وسوريا يرويان رحلتيهما مع التنظيم Two ISIS fighters from Syria and Iraq share their stories with the group.
يحاول صناع الفسيفساء في سوريا الحفاظ على الحرفةAfter years of war, however, many of the country’s ancient mosaics have been destroyed or looted. Contemporary mosaics, the work of Syrian craftsmen who struggle to keep up the craft of their grandfathers, find few if any buyers.
The English version of this article can be found here: Ancient Syrian mosaics crumble under weight of war
دفتر التلفونات السوريAmre Sawah writes about the telephone book and the nostalgic memories it brings to many Syrians.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | سبتمبر 5, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Editors. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Offensives target ISIL on Lebanon-Syria border(19 August 2017) Lebanese army starts operation near Ras Baalbek while separate Hezbollah-Syrian army offensive begins in Qalamoun.
Syria: Bashar al-Assad rejects security cooperation with west (20 August 2017) Assad praises Russia, Iran, China and Hezbollah for supporting government as shell kills several at international fair.
ISIL mine kills three Lebanese troops on Syrian border (20 August 2017) Lebanon army advances against ISIL in border battle and has recaptured two thirds of the territory, says military.
Living in a void: life in Damascus after the exodus ( 22 August 2017) During six years of civil war in Syria, novelist Khaled Khalifa has watched wave after wave of friends and family flee his home city. But despite everything, he has decided to stay.
Civilians in Raqqa under fire ‘from all sides’: Amnesty (23 August 2017) Rights group says civilians are at a greater risk as the battle to remove ISIL from its de facto capital intensifies.
“Spent Eid Holiday While the Father Detained” ( 24 August 2017) Account of the Disappeared Journalist Barzan Liani by Pro-Autonomous Administration Asayish Forces.
Syrian army surrounds Islamic State enclave in central Syria ( 24 August 2017) The Syrian army and its allies have surrounded Islamic State forces in a second large enclave in the center of the country, a military media unit run by Hezbollah said.
Lebanon, Syria declare ceasefires in fight against ISIL (27 August, 2017) Lebanon declares truce to pave way for release of ISIL-held troops as Syrian army and Hezbollah halt separate campaign.
Entire Families Are Being Killed by U.S.. Airstrikes in Raqqa, Syria (28 August 2017) As the battle for Raqqa moves into the heart of the city, coalition airstrikes and artillery fire have been blamed for attacks that have resulted in civilian deaths.
US-led air attacks block ISIL evacuation deal (31 August 2017) Jets carry out two sets of air raids to block ISIL evacuees from reaching area held by the group near Syria-Iraq border.
Regional and International Perspectives
Rules for reconstruction in Syria (24 August, 2017) Steven Heydemann writes: “For the Assad regime…reconstruction is not seen as a means for economic recovery and social repair, but as an opportunity for self-enrichment.”
Netanyahu: Iran building missile production sites in Syria, Lebanon (28 August, 2017) Netanyahu said that Iran is building sites to produce precision-guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon, with the aim of using them against Israel.
After Syria fall-out, Hamas ties with Iran restored: Hamas chief (28 August, 2017) Hamas and Iran have patched up relations, the Palestinian militant group’s new leader in Gaza said on Monday, and Tehran is again its biggest backer after years of tension over the civil war in Syria.
Moscow’s mercenaries reveal the privatisation of Russian geopolitics (29 August, 2017) Further revelations regarding the role of Russian private military contractors in Syria exposes how, under Putin, “state” and “private” are often one and the same thing.
Victory for Assad looks increasingly likely as world loses interest in Syria (31 August, 2017) States that were until recently committed to toppling the Syrian leader are now resigned to him staying.
When did protest against the Assad government turn to war in Syria? (31 August, 2017) Instead of serious political advice, the West, especially the US and their proxy Arab allies in the Gulf, then poured weapons into Syria – enough arms to destroy Syria but not enough to overthrow the regime, as one ex-rebel told me.
Policy and Reports
Reports of Khaled Sharrouf’s death ‘reliable’, defence minister says (18 August, 2017) Marise Payne says Australia has power to ‘red flag’ coalition attacks but declines to comment further on death of Sharrouf’s two sons in the airstrike.
Syria: ‘This case is about saving humanity’ (20 August, 2017) A group of Syrian torture victims, now refugees in Germany, have taken a key step on the long road towards justice.
Russia says 200 ISIL fighters killed in Syria air raid (21 August, 2017) Russia has intensified an air campaign this month to help drive ISIL out of its major stronghold of Deir Az Zor.
Two North Korean shipments to Syria intercepted in six months, UN told (22 August, 2017) Security council reportedly investigating suspected chemical and conventional arms cooperation between two countries.
U.N. calls for pause in air strikes to spare civilians in Syria’s Raqqa (24 August, 2017) The United Nations called on Thursday for a humanitarian pause to allow an estimated 20,000 trapped civilians to escape from the Syrian city of Raqqa, and urged the U.S.-led coalition to rein in air strikes that have caused casualties.
Report: Saudi, UAE weapons end up with armed groups (27 August, 2017) Investigative journalist says Azerbaijan-owned carrier used to move large quantities of heavy weapons to conflict zones.
Syria: Talks Should Address ‘Disappeared’ (29 August, 2017) Human Rights Watch demand that international backers of negotiations to end the conflict in Syria should ensure that any transitional process includes a robust independent body to investigate thousands of “disappeared.”
The Arabic version of this article can be found here:سوريا: يجب أن تعالج ملف “المختفين”
Tortured and abused: hidden horror of ‘disappeared’ women in Syrian prisons (30 August, 2017) On International Day of the Disappeared, campaigners are calling on the UN to bring the world’s attention to the terrible plight of Assad’s detainees
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Syrian actress who became icon of the rebellion against President Bashar Assad dies at 46 (17 August, 2017) Fadwa Suleiman, an outspoken Syrian actress who took center stage at anti-government protests in the early days of the uprising against President Bashar Assad, has died after battling cancer, Syrian opposition groups and friends of the actress said Thursday. She was 46.
The evolution of war photography (19 August, 2017) From Lebanon’s civil war to ISIL’s takeover of Mosul and Aleppo, how has war photography changed over the years?
‘Dragon’s Den’ for migrant entrepreneurs (23 August, 2017) An initiative is trying to turn Middle Eastern migrants in Europe into technology entrepreneurs.
Fairouz in Exile (Fall, 2017) How hellish could it be after the horrors of Syria? Until Ahmad got to Germany, he could never fathom the warnings from these lucky Syrians in Europe.
Is Hezbollah stronger after its involvement in Syria? (28 August, 2017) ISIL fighters moved from northeast Lebanon to Syria as part of deal with Hezbollah and Syrian government forces. Kamel Wazne, Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, Sami Nader discuss with Richelle Carey what will this mean for Hezbollah’s future and the power dynamics in the region.
Zakaria Tamer: “On the side of the Syrian people” (31 August, 2017) Syrian writer Zakaria Tamer, 86, gives a unique interview reflecting on the current situation in Syria.
World Cup qualifying: Syria beat Qatar to keep hopes alive (31 August, 2017) Syria earned a vital 3-1 win against Qatar to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for a first ever World Cup.
Maps
MAPPED: The battle against ISIL (20 August, 2017) In the past year and a half, ISIL’s territory has been shrinking steadily.
What is left of ISIL’s ‘caliphate’? (31 August, 2017) The armed group used to control one third of Iraq’s territory and a large part of Syria, but now it has lost most of it.
Arabic Links:
صور من الحياة في وادي النصارى Laial Hanna describes different scenes from daily life in Wadi al-Nasara, an area that is mostly populated by Christians.
حمص 2017: انحسار الطائفية وامتعاض الموالين من الإيرانيين Through interviews with different people from Homs city who have various political affiliation, this article shows people’s tiredness from sectarianism and the Iranian presence.
فدوى سليمان.. الموت قهرًا Mohamad Dibo reflects on the death of Fadwa Soliman, a Syrian actress who was one of the most recognized faces of the Syrian Uprising.
أي سوريّة هذه يا فدوى؟ Ammar Daioub reflects on the death of Fadwa Soliman, a Syrian actress who was one of the most recognized faces of the Syrian Uprising.
فدوى سليمان: فارق الأنثى وتنميط الطائفة Subhi Hadidi reflects on the death of Fadwa Soliman, a Syrian actress who was one of the most recognized faces of the Syrian Uprising.
وقف الديانة التركيّ يرمّم المساجد في منطقة درع الفرات في ريف حلب The Turkiye Diyanet Foundation embarked on a mission to rebuild and renovate a large number of mosques in Aleppo province that were destroyed by fighting that raged between the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the Turkish army and the Islamic State (IS).
The English version of this article can be found here: Turkish foundation helps Syrians recover from devastation of war
المنظّمات النسائية السوريّة بين الواقع والمأمول This article explores the rise of several Syrian civil society organizations that focus on women’s issues since March 2011 and the opportunities and challenges that face such organizations.
حوار مع ميّة الرحبي: النسوية والإسلام Rehab Shaker interviews Dr. Maia Al-Rahbi about her book “Woman and Islam” and her contextual, historical reading of this topic.
انتصار نظام الإبادة السياسية In an interview, Yassin al-Haj Saleh describes how Syrians have been denied any meaning for their suffering.
The English version of this article can be found here: The Triumph of Politicide
عاصي: المواطن السوري يعيش يومه بأقل من 50 سنتاً من الدولار Former Syrian minister of Economy says most of Syria’s population lives on less than 50 American cent a day.
تركيا تدعم المجلس المحليّ في مدينة الباب للنهوض بالمدينة وإعادة إعمارها In a bid to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees in Turkey to their homes, the Turkish government has been making considerable efforts to reconstruct and rehabilitate the destroyed Syrian areas that were liberated during Operation Euphrates Shield.
The English version of this article can be found here: Why is Turkey so invested in rehabilitating Syrian city of al-Bab?
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أغسطس 16, 2017 | Media Roundups
This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Editors. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.
Inside Syria
Syrian army bombs ‘safe zones’ killing civilians(10 August, 2017) Government bombs “de-escalation zones” while regime forces capture 30km border with Jordan from rebel control.
Idlib Residents Split Over Support for Al-Qaida-Linked Militants (10 August, 2017) Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s military dominance in Idlib has not been translated into total popular support. Today, the province is split between those who accept the extremist group and those who are pushing back against its rise to prominence.
Seven White Helmets medics killed in Syria’s Idlib (12 August, 2017) Armed attackers stormed the Sarmin office of the Syrian paramedic group that is active in opposition-controlled areas.
Syrian government doubles territory under its control (13 August, 2017) Russia says Syrian government forces have seized thousands of square kilometres from ISIL in the centre of the country.
Thousands of refugees and militants return to Syria from Lebanon (14 August, 2017) Hezbollah escorts more than 3,000 across border in latest phase of repatriation that aid groups say fails to guarantee welfare.
Syria’s White Helmets protest against killings of rescue workers (14 August, 2017) Civil defence volunteers hold vigils for seven colleagues shot dead by unknown perpetrators in Sarmin on Saturday.
I am a civilian in Raqqa. Surviving the siege is becoming harder every day (15 August, 2017) As well as the airstrikes and lack of food, those of us left here endure the severe mental strain of hiding our true personalities from Isis and the religious police.
Inside Aleppo: Residents return to rebuild Syria’s shattered city (15 August, 2017) With the permission of the Assad government, CNN reports from Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods that used to be strongholds of the opposition.
Regional and International Perspectives
The two Syrias and the shrinking grey category (9 August, 2017) Ola Rifai comments on two pictures coming up from Syria painting a secular Syria ruled by Assad vs. an Islamic Syria led by rural Salfists stand as a solid fact.
A Deadly Delusion: Were Syria’s Rebels Ever Going to Defeat the Jihadists? (10 August, 2017) Sam Heller writes that “the counter-terrorism case for backing Syria’s rebels was bogus — an implausible claim by the Syrian opposition that was uncritically and irresponsibly repeated by opposition backers.”
Syria’s Assad has become an icon of the far right in America (13 August, 2017) Assad’s emergence as a popular hero for the right appears to have followed a series of tweets in March by the former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, in which he lavished praise on the Syrian president, describing him as an “amazing leader” — and more.
In 1939, I didn’t hear war coming. Now its thundering approach can’t be ignored (14 August, 2017) As a teenager I would just laugh at newsreels of Hitler and other fascists. I hope what happened next is not witnessed again by my grandchildren’s generation.
Turkey might seek more than mere reconstruction in northern Syria (14 August, 2017) Turkey’s ambitious and costly reconstruction projects in the Jarablus/al-Rai/al-Bab triangle of northern Syria suggest comprehensive society-building.
Why Syrian Constitutional Debates Are Unlikely to Bring Political Reform (14 August, 2017) Russia’s power broker role in Syria negotiations means that any future debates around a new constitution will be an attempt to solidify Moscow’s proposal for the de facto partitioning Syria, while maintaining Assad’s position, writes journalist Lorenzo Trombetta.
Policy and Reports
Inside Turkey’s NGO Purge (3 August, 2017) The Turkish government is targeting aid workers with intimidation tactics, inane red tape, and senseless deportations.
Syrian feminists: ‘This is the chance the war wave us – to empower women’ (7 August, 2017) Activists in Syria are challenging patriarchal norms, to ensure they have a place not just at the negotiating table, but in rebuilding the country after the war.
The Education Information Gap Facing Syrian Women Outside Syria (7 August, 2017) A major barrier to Syrian women’s education – both inside and outside the country – is the information gap that makes applying for asylum and finding education opportunities a labyrinth of confusion.
UK defence contractor billed US more than $50m in expenses (9 August, 2017) Expenses included luxury cars and salaries paid to ‘significant others’ of company’s top executives, according to Pentagon.
We Must Ask Refugees What They Feel About Returning to Syria (11 August, 2017) The founder of the consultancy behind the annual Arab Youth Survey explains why they did their first-ever poll of Syrian refugees and what the young refugees surveyed in Lebanon and Jordan said about the conflict and their attitudes toward going home.
US-led anti-Isis campaign in Raqqa ‘failing to avoid civilian deaths’ (11 August, 2017) Hundreds of residents in Syrian city reportedly killed by airstrikes on Isis stronghold amid changes in targeting policy under Drumpf.
Alleged Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash receiving consular help from Australia (12 August, 2017) Coalition says ‘basic’ assistance being given due to hopes alleged conspirator will share intelligence on terrorist group.
UN says nearly 50,000 stranded at unsafe Jordan-Syria border (14 August, 2017) Nearly 50,000 people, most of them women and children, are stranded at Syria’s southern border with Jordan, an increasingly unsafe area where air strikes were reported in the last few days, the United Nations said Monday.
Syrian Businesses Around World Aim to get ‘Syrians to Help Syrians’ (14 August, 2017) The chairman of the newly established Syrian International Business Association, Samer Chamsi-Pasha, says the Syrian diaspora needs to mobilize to help countries hosting Syrian refugees.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
The Sound of Syria (9 August, 2017) Syrian qanun virtuoso Maya Youssef explains why – to her – music is “the opposite of death” in this powerful and poignant talk.
We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled review – voices from Syria (12 August, 2017) Wendy Pearlman’s remarkable collection of testimonies from Syrian refugees offers a strong anti-Assad narrative.
Can Iraq’s Kurdish region gain independence? (13 August, 2017) Iraq’s Kurds say they are going ahead with plans to hold a referendum on independence in September.
The battle for Raqqa – in pictures (14 August, 2017) The final phase of the campaign to reclaim Islamic State’s de facto capital was launched two months ago by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – a confederation dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Arab auxiliary militia – and backed by a US-led coalition.
Requiem for Aleppo: ‘I couldn’t keep watching the news. I had to do something’ (14 August, 2017) A hard-hitting new dance show uses the stories of Syrians to capture the horrors of Aleppo – and the hope that will not die.
Maps
Displaced Syrians heading home in larger numbers: IOM (11 August, 2017) IOM says over 600,000 Syrians set off for their cities and villages in first seven months of 2017 amid new displacement.
Already displaced Syrians flee as airstrikes reach within 100 meters of remote camp (15 August, 2017) A military offensive by pro-regime forces along Syria’s southern border sent dozens of people in a remote displacement camp fleeing deeper into the desert for a fifth consecutive day Tuesday, sources told Syria Direct, days after regime airstrikes reportedly hit “only 100 meters” from the settlement’s tents.
Arabic Links
الأمانة السورية للتنمية، من الوجه المدني إلى البزة العسكرية Karam Mansour discusses the history of the Syria Trust for Development and the effects of the Syrian war on its structure, image, and finance.
هيئة تحرير الشام تخطط لخطوتها التالية في شمال سوريا Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is consolidating its influence in northern Syria, mainly in Idlib, and trying to position itself as a de facto interlocutor in political agreements reshaping the country.
The English version of this article can be found here: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham plots its next move in northern Syria
أتباع الشيطان Iraqi forces have killed thousands of Islamic State fighters. In death, what do they deserve? Seeking answers in the ruined city of Mosul, Kenneth R. Rosen unearths a terrible crime.
The English version of this article can be found here: The Devil’s Henchmen
الرقة وحرب المياه Feras Hanoush highlights the impacts of water insecurity on residents of Raqqa city and the surrounding countryside and how their inability to access drinking water forced them to rely on wells or untreated water drawn directly from the Balikh river.
The English version of this article can be found here: Raqqa’s Water War
بيان من عائلة باسل خرطبيل صفدي الى الرأي العام The family of Bassel Khartabil writes in their statement: “We, as a family, who’s been affected declare to the world that we stand for all of the detainees and we are terrified of the thought that another syrian family is having to go through what we suffered.”
The English version of this article can be found here: A statement from the family of Bassel Khartabil (Safadi) to the public opinion
هل تكون الفيدرالية الحل للصراع في سوريا؟ Hosam al-Jablawi discusses the federal solution for the Syrian conflict that was proposed by Russia and welcomed by the Kurds.
The English version of this article can be found here: Could Federalism Work for the Syrian Crisis After Years of Conflict?
مليار ليرة لترحيل أنقاض الدمار في داريا The Syrian regime’s reconstruction committee approved 17.8 billion Syrian pound to rebuild affected areas in Syria like Darya.
أرقام رسمية سورية “صادمة” لعدد ضحايا الحرب! The head of forensic medicine department at the Faculty of Medicine at University of Damascus says that more than 400 thousands victims have been documented in Syrian hospitals.
مقاربة روسية لتعزيز «الاستقرار المحلي المؤقت» والتنسيق مع دمشق Ibrahim Hamidi discusses a Russian proposal based on documents and correspondence between Staffan de Mistura and former US experts and officials.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أغسطس 9, 2017 | Media Roundups
This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Editors. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.
Inside Syria
What will happen to Raqqa after ISIL? (1 August, 2017) As ISIL is being driven out of its de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa faces an uncertain future.
Ryan Lock death: Soldier ‘turned gun on himself’ while fighting IS (2 August, 2017) A “heroic young man” who fought with Kurdish forces in Syria killed himself to avoid falling hostage to Islamic State (IS) militants, an inquest heard.
First on CNN: Russia & Syrian regime seeking to poach US-backed fighters (3 August, 2017) So far the coalition says there has only been “less than a handful” of defections. Last week CNN reported hat a US-backed rebel group had balked at the coalition’s insistence that it only fight ISIS not the Assad regime.
From fighting regime to anti-IS, Syria rebel traces US policy shifts (4 August, 2017) From special forces officer to brigade-hopping rebel, Abu Jaafar has seen Syria’s uprising from all angles. But after years of setbacks, culminating in cuts to US support, he feels disillusioned.
What Happened to Life in Hama City After the Regime Removed its Security Checkpoints? (4 August, 2017) The removal of security barriers might have resulted in a return to normalcy in Hama. But for others the checkpoints provided a source of income and a means to avoid the fighting fronts, Sada al-Sham writes.
Syrian fighters, refugees arrive in rebel-held Idlib (4 August, 2017) Buses carrying fighters and refugees arrive in Idlib and Hama provinces from Lebanese border town of Arsal.
Syrian army takes ISIL-held town of al-Sukhna in Homs (5 August, 2017) Monitor says government troops have taken last ISIL-held town in Homs as army advances towards ISIL strongholds in east.
Rebel groups weigh options in Syria’s east (7 August, 2017) Armed opposition groups from Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor are working on how to retake their city from the Islamic State before the Syrian regime does without having to ally with Kurdish forces.
US-led coalition air raids kill 29 civilians in Raqqa (8 August, 2017) The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 out of 29 killed by US-led air strikes were members of the same family.
Regional and International Perspectives
The dragon and the lion: China’s growing ties with Syria (2 August, 2017) China has benefitted from the bickering between Russia, US and Turkey – emerging as a dominant player in Syria in terms of political and economic diplomacy.
Why One of Syria’s Biggest Rebel Groups Reordered Its Leadership (3 August, 2017) Ahrar al-Sham’s decision to replace its top command this week offers a glimpse at how the outgunned rebel group is adjusting to the ascendancy of al-Qaida-linked factions in Syria, and the changing nature of the insurgency against president Bashar al-Assad.
Khan Sheikhoun, and the Persistence of Conspiracy Theories and Sarin (3 August, 2017) Much like the August 21, 2013 Sarin attacks in Damascus, the April 4, 2017 Khan Sheikhoun Sarin attack has given birth to a range of theories about what did or did not happen.
Opinion: Its End Has Come, But Where Will ISIS Go? (4 August, 2017) Al-Araby’s political analyst Salama Kila paints ISIS as an imperialist tool used as by the powerful as a pretext for invasion and conquest.
Burning Raqqa (5 August, 2017) Laura Gottesdiener writes that US military operations in Syria are looking less like a battle against ISIS and more like a war on civilians.
Rouhani: Solution to Syria Crisis is Through Dialogue, Eradicating Terrorism (7 August, 2017) SANA reports on swearing in ceremony for Iranian leader’s second presidential term in the capital Tehran.
How a Free Syrian Army Unit Uncovered the Rebels’ Israeli Connection and Switched Sides (8 August, 2017) Rania Khalek writes that before the Golan Brigade was targeted for destruction by Israel and Al Qaeda, it was allied with them.
Policy and Reports
Isis: UN study finds foreign fighters in Syria ‘lack basic understanding of Islam’ (4 August, 2017) Research shows economic factors and ‘lack of meaning’ in life makes warzone attractive.
Decolonising Syria’s so-called ‘queer liberation’ (5 August, 2017) Razan Ghazzawi writes on Rojava’s new international LGBTQI brigade, the “war on terror” and the Western left’s erasure of local struggles.
The US Is Far More Deeply Involved In Syria Than You Know (6 August, 2017) The Drumpf administration has increased its military and political support for Syrian forces as they fight their way into the ISIS-held city of Raqqa. But many fear what will follow when ISIS is eventually ousted.
Veteran prosecutor to quit UN Syria human rights probe (6 August, 2017) Carla del Ponte said a lack of political backing from the UN Security Council had made the job impossible.
The Men Who Trade ISIS Loot (6 August, 2017) The middlemen who buy and sell antiquities looted by Islamic State from Syria and Iraq explain how the smuggling supply chain works
U.S.-Led Coalition Hit Raqqa Hospital with Phosphorus Bombs: Red Crescent Deputy (7 August, 2017) Local activists have also backed relief worker’s claims over the coalition’s use of internationally banned weapons.
Syrian National Coalition President to Resign: Sources (7 August, 2017) Opposition leader Riad Seif will surrender his role as chief of the Istanbul-based political bloc, sources reveal to Zaman al-Wasl.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham plots its next move in northern Syria (7 August, 2017) Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is consolidating its influence in northern Syria, mainly in Idlib, and trying to position itself as a de facto interlocutor in political agreements reshaping the country.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Laughing at ISIS to defeat them (21 July, 2017) Deep in the outskirts of Mumbai, India, tucked away in a small conference room among dozens of buildings known as Bollywood’s “Film City,” the US government is implementing a unique, and until now, unknown counterterrorism program aimed at diminishing the online influence of terror groups like ISIS – by making fun of them.
A Play About Syria as a Country in a Coma (23 July, 2017) In the play “While I Was Waiting,” Omar (Mustafa Kur), a former telecom worker from the less affluent and besieged Damascus suburbs, gives us the sum of his life in days—10,749 to be precise.
Bribes, graft and the cost of moving cash in Syria’s war economy (27 July, 2017) International aid organizations can no longer fund more than a dozen hospitals and medical centers in the east Damascus suburbs because of rebel infighting that is paralyzing money transfer operations into the encircled opposition enclave.
Abandoned zoo animals from Syria’s Aleppo find refuge in Turkey (1 August, 2017) Animals have increasingly also become victims of the war in Syria that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and displaced millions of others.
Syrian refugee graduates as a doctor in London after 10 years and four countries in medical school (2 August, 2017) “One day I might go somewhere where there is war because I understand how difficult it is to lose everything.”
Escape from Syria: Rania’s odyssey – video (2 August, 2017)Rania Mustafa Ali, 20, filmed her journey from the ruins of Kobane in Syria to Austria. Her footage shows what many refugees face on their perilous journey to Europe.
Turkish soldiers arrested after video shows horrific beatings and abuse of Syrian refugees (4 August, 2017) Rights groups have consistently criticised Turkey’s army for inhumane treatment and shooting people trying to cross the border
Syria’s doll-makers: ‘I protect my children’s dreams’ (5 August, 2017) Handmade dolls carry the stories of Syrian families, both devastating and hopeful, to the world.
Turkish Language ‘a Must’ if Syrians Hope to Improve Jobs Options (7 August, 2017) The Turkish language requirement is one of the main problems faced by the Syrian job seeker in Turkey, Iqtissad writes.
Syria: Idlib locals try to regain normality (8 August, 2017) This report shows that a de-escalation agreement aimed at ending hostilities between government and rebel forces is having an effect. But the fear of attack is never far away.
Maps
How many bombs are dropped on Raqqa daily? (1 August, 2017) Since the start of the operation to retake Raqqa from ISIL, an estimated 400 civilians have been killed.
The battle for Raqqa: Who controls what (3 August, 2017) Raqqa is the capital of ISIL’s so-called caliphate, and it’s probably where the group will make its last stand.
SYRIA – Interactive conflict map (4th of August 2017) The map presents main military events since June 12, 2017 (last release of interactive map) to August 4, 2017.
Syria’s civil war explained from the beginning (5 August, 2017) The Syrian civil war is the deadliest conflict the 21st century has witnessed so far.
Arabic Links:
المعاناة في ريف حلب تدفع المئات من مهجري الوعر إلى العودة إلى حمص Hundreds of people displaced from al-Waer neighborhood in Homs, Syria, have now left the Zoghra camp outside of Aleppo and returned to the governed-controlled Homs.
The English version of this article can be found here: Syrian regime says it’s time for the displaced to return
أمن الأسد يستولي على منزل الصحفي فايز سارة بدمشق Syrian security forces invaded recently the house of Syrian opposition leader Fayez Sara asking his family to leave it within 24 hours.
تحرك تركيا والرأي العام السوري This article explores Turkey’s possible role in Syria after Erdoğan’s new statement that the Turkish army is ready to launch new military campaigns.
هرمنا يا دمشق Zaina Shahla reflects on her daily life observations in Damascus and the recent news of the death of journalist Khaled Al Khatib and software developer Bassel Khartabil.
باسل.. جرحنا المفتوح Fatimah Yassin reflects on the recent news that Bassel Khartabil had been executed by the Syrian regime shortly after his disappearance in 2015.
“تقبرني يا حبي”… مأساة اللجوء السوري في لعبة فيديو A new mobile video game “Bury Me, My Love” tracks a Syrian refugee’s journey to Europe through text messages.
اتّفاق وقف إطلاق النار في الغوطة الشرقيّة بمهبّ الرياح Civilians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta was recruited for a full implementation of the cease-fire and access to humanitarian aid, but regime forces have continued missile strikes under the pretext that extremist groups remain.
The English version of this article can be found here: Despite cease-fire, shelling continues in Eastern Ghouta
خيبات ترامب، أحلام بوتين، وأوهامنا Marwan Kabalan discusses the new sanctions that the US Congress imposed on Russia and policy implication in the Middle East.
