[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
Conversations: In Raqqa, Pharmacists Take an ISIS `Re-Education Course`
Syrian Pharmacist gives his opinion on the rulings and practices of ISIS and how this has effected life in Raqqa, especially for pharmacists.
Prisoners in Their Own City: ISIS Bans Women Under 45 from Leaving Raqqa
ISIS bans women under 45 to leave the city of Raqqa for the purpose of forcing women to marry ISIS fighters.
`Unprecedented Devastation` Continues in Southern Damascus
Famine and an unforgiving winter hits Syria hard, and the humanitarian crisis becomes more and more devastating countrywide.
Assad`s Crumbling Presidency
“Assad is more marginalized than ever and an increasingly irrelevant political actor on a stage dominated by others.”
Maarouf says Islamist groups unable to eliminate moderate rebels
Jamal Maarouf claims the FSA has not deviated from its plans to overthrow Al-Assad, and it does not intend to change that.
Sunni-Alawite couples in Syria defy sectarianism
Syrian couples use their love and affection for each other as an expression or tool to face the current hostility of Sectarianism.
Sectarianism hides truth that ‘people have no role in their destinies,’ says Alawite dissident
Alawite: “If you find me an alternative to Nusra and ISIS, Asad wouldn’t find a single person behind him.”
Exclusive: ISIS Gaining Ground in Syria, Despite U.S. Strikes
This article illustrates that despite 800 airstrikes by the American-led campaign against ISIS, the latter continues to gain substantial ground in Syria and controls now one-third of the country’s territory.
Syrians See Migration to Europe as Only Hope
Manaf Hashash writes about the displacement choices and movements of the people of Talmans, a village in southern Idlib province.
When a Revolt Goes Wrong
Anne Barnard reviews Mohammad Ali Atassi`s documentary “Our Terrible Country,” which suggests that intellectuals have failed to guide the Syrian Uprising.
Months of Airstrikes Fail to Slow Islamic State in Syria
“Militant Group Has Gained Territory Despite U.S.-Led Strikes, Raising Concerns of the Obama Administration’s Mideast Strategy.”
Regional and International Perspectives
ISIS executes pigeon and bird breeders in Diyala, Iraq
ISIS executes 15 pigeon and bird breeders in Diyala, Iraq for being “unislamic.” ISIS seeks to force individuals to join them.
Hezbollah in Golan Heights to prevent Israel normalization: MP
Hizb, Syria and Iran trying to create “resistance” on Golan Heights to prevent Israeli normalization with rebels.
Charlie Hebdo attack: Taking the heat out of the conflict with Assad may help to turn the jihadi tide
Patrick Cockburn argues that "bringing to an end, or even just de-escalating the war in Syria, would begin to drain the waters in which violent jihadism flourishes."
Don’t believe the hype, ISIL is still on the offensive
Hassan Hassan argues that the new analysis that indicates that ISIS has lost 10% of its territory does not mean that ISIL is retreating. In fact, Hassan emphasizes: "ISIL is still in full control of its territory and sometimes on the offensive in enemy territory."
The Small Miracle You Haven`t Heard About Amid the Carnage in Syria
Malcolm Harris discusses the political project in Rojava as a successful democratic leftist example.
Weather Makes Bad Situation Worse for Syrian Refugees
This news article sheds light on the January snowstorm consequences on the lives of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
Storm causes hypothermia among Syrian refugee children
The Daily Star reports about the consequences of January snowstorm on the lives of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Regime and Opposition Meet in Geneva
In recent Geneva meeting between the Syrian opposition and representatives of the regime Bouthaina Shaaban said: "I can be considered an opposition supporter and regime supporter, if we take into consideration that the criticism practiced by some opposition invitees like Randa Kassis.."
US to send 400 troops to train Syrian rebels
The BBC reports that the US is sending 400 troops and hundreds of support staff to train moderate rebels against ISIS aiming to train more than 5,000 rebels annually for three years.
The military-industrial complex in Iraq
Peter Van Buren argues that "Radical Islam has proven, with Washington’s help, a worthy successor to the Soviet Union, a superb money-making venture and great way to build a monumental national security state."
Kurdish leaders say they know who pushed ISIS to attack Kurdistan
Kurdish leaders reveal that they know who encouraged ISIS to begin attacks on the Kurdistan Region last summer.
America needs to develop a consistent policy in Syria
Hussein Ibish argues that the coalition against ISIS "cannot have a plausible strategy to defeat ISIS in Iraq without simultaneously having one in Syria."
Policy and Reports
Don’t believe the hype, ISIL is still on the offensive
Hassan Hassan sheds light on the reality of the resilience of ISIL, going against what the statistics have been claiming.
Exclusive Report Aleppo City, Back to Life
Exclusive footage on the current state in the city of Aleppo and the daily lives of the residents in Aleppo.
UN report: 5.5 million displaced by war in first half of 2014, setting record
The UNHCR new Mid-Year Trends 2014 Report shows that three million Syrian refugees account for 23%t of all refugees being helped by UNHCR worldwide.
7 Million Syrian Children Face Sub-Zero Temperatures Without Clothing, Heat: Report
Eleanor Goldberg discusses the situation of Syrian children in light of a new UNICEF report.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
The Smallest Victims
The Syria’s Children project documents the story of many Syrian youth and how they’re dealing with Syria’s ongoing civil war.
مدينة الملاهي
This short movie by Nanda Dollani portrays the story of Mohammad a Syrian child who works in the alleys of Hamra Street in Beirut.
يوم و زر
In this short film, Azza Hamawi explores the multifaceted aspects of the identity of the place and the personal identity in the divided city of Damascus.
Arabic:
"داعش" يعيد افتتاح مدارس الرقة باسماء جديدة
This article reports that ISIS reopened schools in Raqqah under new names and conditions.
متى يعتزل المقاتلون السوريون الجهاد
Salam al-Saadi shares his opinion about the future of Syrian jihadists and the power dynamics that they are caught within it.
سوريا: الحكومة تتنصل من دعم المازوت؟
Bilqis Abu Rashid writes about the suffering of many Syrians from the consequences of a recent government decision to increase the prices of Mazzot, a fuel that is largely used by Syrians in their heating system during winter.
جنود النظام القتلى لا يشيعون في مناطق المعارضة
This article discusses the reality of not allowing the mourning of Syrian regime dead-soldiers in opposition-held areas.
مراصد المعارضة لإنذار المدنيين والعسكريين
Omar Al-Hussein reports from Kafr Nabl about opposition observatories system to alarm civilians and armed groups regarding the regime troop movements.
قمع استراتيجي وثورة مرتجلة
Rateb Shaabo discusses the strategic techniques of the Syrian regime to oppress the Syrian uprising and the impromptu aspect of the uprising.
الثورة وضرورة المؤسسة
Ghazi Dahman advocates for institutionalizing the Syrian Uprising and criticizes the mistakes that restricted such efforts.
طوق حلب... موسكو محطة إجبارية؟
Suhaib Anjarini writes about the obstacles that prevented the Syrian army from completing its plan to fully besiege the rebel-held areas of Aleppo.
تجارة الحرب تطاول الإيجارات: موافقات أمنيّة... وفرزٌ «ديني وطائفي»!
This article highlights the reality of how factors such as religion, sect, and political opinion play significant role in rental housing admission and rate in Damascus.
الحزب يستنفر وإسرائيل تتجنب التعليق: غارة في القنيطرة السورية تقتل ستة من قادة حزب الله بينهم نجل مغنية
This news article reports that an Israeli air strike has killed six members of Hezbollah in the Syrian Golan Heights, including Jihad Mughniyeh the son of a late military leader.