[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 Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
“Our Enemy Is Bashar al-Assad”: An Interview with Ahrar al-Sham’s Mohammed Talal Bazerbashi Mohammed Talal Bazerbashi is interviewed and gives his take on Ahrar al-Sham and why they have become a pivotal to the current struggle in Northwestern Syria.
Al Qaida’s Nusra Front captures more towns, villages in northern Syria Nusra Front continues to advance with the unequivocal support among local residents.
UN says Islamic State imposing rule of terror in Syria Islamic States continue to cause public intimidation, actively promote abuses and crimes, and impose “rule of terror” in areas it controls.
Why is FSA dying in the North and expanding in the South? The circumstantial differences in the Free Syrian Army in the North and South and the major differences in success.
Fear in Raqqa, under the rule of the Islamic State Citizens in Raqqa continue to fear ISIS as public intimidation remains a constant threat.
Moderate Syrian rebels say U.S. airstrikes helped extremists seize province If America’s motive in Syria continues, the real danger is that they will become “the enemy.” “And there’s the danger” that the Syrian people will turn to Nusra or the Islamic State “in order to target American interests even before those of the regime.”
Regional and International Perspectives
Syria conflict: `Door closing` on refugees, say NGOs Syria’s neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey are rapidly reducing the number of Syrian refugees into their borders.
Russia proposes formation of Syrian transitional government Russia to host conference in Moscow and attempt to bring together the Syrian regime and opposition.
A Syrian Story: moving Syrian refugees into Europe Syrian’s now represent the world’s largest group of refugees, and they continue to be either internally displaced or fleeing the country in search for stability.
By removing Assad, Obama may be declaring war on China “President Obama is not the only actor with a red line on Syria.” In attempt to remove Assad, the U.S. and its motives could be perceived to disregard China.
Inside the CIA`s Syrian rebels vetting machine Concerns about the CIA’s vetting system are reopened with Syria’s civil war.
The Road of a Refugee: `Looking for a Place to Start Over` Syrian doctor Nizar al-Idlibi shares his story on the current Syrian refugee crisis that even the most educated of individuals are facing.
Sources: Obama seeks new Syria strategy review to deal with ISIS, al-Assad Without a political transition in Syria, ISIS will not be abolished, as a result, Obama seeks review of U.S. policy toward Syria
Policy and Reports
Don’t bank on tribes rising up to combat ISIL Hassan Hassan states “Over the past few weeks, the governments in both Baghdad and Damascus seem to have found allies in groups inside ISIL-controlled territories.”
US Syria envoy: We believe in the unity of Syria U.S. special enjoy for Syria proposes local ceasefire around Aleppo and continues to search for a political solution to bring conflict to a halt.
U.N. envoy to Syria formally proposes cease-fire in Aleppo If properly implemented, a cease-fire in Aleppo could be possible and could create a broader solution to the Syrian conflict. Aleppo has symbolic value to Syria.
ISIS and Al Qaeda ready to gang up on Obama`s rebels Jaime Dettmer reports on a merger between, terrorist rivals, ISIS and Al Qaeda and the ramifications this will have for the West.
Economy and Agriculture
Syrian families face winter food crisis Families in Syria are facing yet another famine as UN expects severe food shortages.
Strikes by U.S. blunt ISIS but anger civilians Insights from Raqaa on Isis & American airstrikes and their disapproval of U.S. intervention.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
ولو كره الكافرون
Operatic revenge violence in new IS film against US & Shiites. *Warning* Graphic Content.
مشروع أحزاب أم مشروع شعوب ?
Short clip that gives a broader perspective on the impact of a group or party on an entire nation.
Syrian Diary, Part 16 - My First Day at University A young teenage girl from one of Syria’s besieged cities continues to tell her day to day story in pursuit of her education.
Arabic Links:
سوريا تواجه معارك حاسمة في الشمال والجنوب
Edward Dark writes about recent development on ground as the "rebels are making gains in the south while government forces are closing on Aleppo city, and the outcomes of these battles may determine how final negotiations proceed".
The English Translation of this article:
Syria faces decisive battles in north, south
الحياة في الرقة في ظلّ حكم داعش
"The faceless young Syrian behind the “Raqqa is being slaughtered silently” campaign and website tells Al-Monitor columnist Ali Hashem, about life in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold".
The English Translation of this article:
Life in Raqqa under IS
إلغاء تعدد الزوجات والمهر والزواج المبكر للفتيات في مناطق الإدارة الذاتية
The Kurdish authorities of the “self-ruling democracy of Jazira province” have passed a decree granting equal rights to women.
توقى للسلام: إيجابيات ومحاذير الهدن واتفاقات وقف إطلاق النار المحلية في سورية
Carnegie Middle East Center, in partnership with Oxfam, presented the new report Hungry for Peace: Positives and Pitfalls of Local Truces and Ceasefires in Syria, an in-depth academic analysis of local peace initiatives by the Syrian organization Madani and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
The English Translation of this article:
Hungry for Peace: Positives and Drawbacks of Local Truces and Ceasefires in Syria
العنصرية المتنقلة: العنف يتطور
Eva Choufi discusses the increasing racism and violence against Syrians in Lebanon.
ماذا تريد "النّصرة" من إدلب؟
An Al-Monitor Correspondent in Syria provides his insight on Jabhat al-Nusra plans in Idlib after routing Syrian rebels from the area.
The English Translation of this article:
Jabhat al-Nusra eyes Idlib for Islamic emirate
المختفون في سوريا
Lucy Rodgers and Faisal Irshaid investigate the complexity of enforced disappearances in Syria.
النظام السوري يعتقل المعارض لؤي حسين
The Syrian security forces arrested Louay Hussein, opposition figure and the president of the Building The Syrian State, on November 12, 2014 on the Lebanese-Syrian border.
الشبكات الاجتماعية في سورية: ناقل تعبيري أم صانع حدث
Hamzeh Moustafa examines the role of social networks in the Arab uprisings and focuses on cases of the Syrian uprising. He argues that social networks were the only space, outside the control of the Syrian authorities, where Syrians could interact freely.
The English Translation of this article:
Social networks in Syria: between mediation and mobilisation
هيثم مناع: بالنسبة للأسد كانت المعادلة بسيطة جدا: أنا أو الفوضى.. “ألنصر” العسكري يعني ألانتقام.. والانقسام في المجتمع سيبقى
An Interview with Haytham Manna who discusses al Assad policy to confront the uprising, and provides his perspective on Syria`s future.
”الجيش السوري الحر“ أكبر خاسر من اتفاقيات وقف النار
Lina Khatib discusses the challenges that face the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and what are the strategies that can support FSA.
The English Translation of this article:
The Free Syrian Army Between Airstrikes and Ceasefires
نساء مزايا ردا على المعتدين: لم تحرقوا إلا أوراق وكراتين
This report discusses a recent attack against Mazaya Centre in Kafr Nabl (a town in northwestern Syria). The center was established by Syrian women to promote women`s economic empowerment.
تقهقر سورية المركزية وصعود «أمراء الحرب»
Ibrahim Hamidi provides an insight about the rising of warlords and local actors with the collapsing of the central state in Syria.
هل ستشرق الشمس من موسكو؟
Ahmad Moath Al-Khatib, the former president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, explains why he visited Russia and he emphasizes the necessity of negotiation between the Syrian regime and the opposition to stop the bloodshed.
الامارات تعتمد قائمة التنظيمات الإرهابية بينهم اكثر من 20 فصيلا مقاتلا في سوريا
The United Arab Emirates blacklists 82 world-wide Islamist organizations as “terrorist”, of which several militant groups fighting on both sides in the Syrian conflict.
مقال عن «المواطنة»... أودى بلؤي حسين إلى سجن عدرا
Marah Mashi writes about the detention of Louay Hussein, which was an article about "citizenship". Hussein is an opposition figure and the president of the Building The Syrian State.
كيف اصبحت عامودا ( عامودا بافي محمد ) الذكرى 52 على حريق سينما عامودا
Hozan Amin writes about the 51 annual memory of the tragedy of Amouda Cinema in Al-Hasakah District of Syria. On 13 November 1960 hundreds of Kurdish schoolchildren perished in a blaze at a cinema in Amouda.
شيوعي بعد 12 عاما في سجن "صيدنايا" يروي قصته وفرحة سقوط "تشاوشيسكو"
Mohammed Saleh, better known as Abu Ali Saleh, provides his testimony as a political prisoner for 12 years in Sednaya Prison until 2000.