[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
You probably won’t read this piece about Syria Recently, there has been a rapid decrease in coverage of the Syrian conflict. This article sheds light on the importance of continued internal and external support in Syria.
Syria`s next generation Syria’s children have taken the hardest hit during throughout the conflict, and sadly the traumatic events will forever scar Syria’s future. A group of young Syrians try to pass on hope to the country’s next generation of leaders.
Syrian Islamist merger in northwest counters al Qaeda`s clout “The powerful Syrian Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham has merged with a smaller jihadist faction in a move that could thwart the growing influence of al Qaeda`s offshoot in northwestern Syria.”
UNHCR warns of bleaker future for refugees as Syrian conflict enters 5th year “There are more Syrians under UNHCR’s care today than any other nationality on earth” and this has created serious regional destabilization.
Idlib Druze agree to forced conversion, destroyed shrines under Nusra rule Druze in Idlib are being oppressed by Jabhat al-Nusra and obligated to accept Sunni Islam, and many fear for their life.
Rebels Prepare to Liberate Idleb City Rebels target northern and western regime forces in an offensive in order to take Idleb city.
Syria opposition attacked civilians `indiscriminately`: HRW Syrian civilians are paying the price for continuous belligerence in Syria from armed opposition groups and jihadists.
Exclusive: The spy who fooled the Assad regime Rebels in southern Syria pretended to kill General Mahmoud Abu Araj in action to divert the suspicions of the Assad regime.
Regime and ISIS Agree to Share Electricity in Aleppo Countryside According to this article, an agreement has been reached between the Syrian regime and ISIS to share a power station with over half of the facility`s output going to ISIS-held areas of Aleppo.
Syria: In a besieged hospital, sleeping and resting were an impossible luxury In this article, Dr. S, a young Syrian surgeon, tells the story of his medical journey focusing on his works during the conflict in a makeshift hospital in a semi-rural neighborhood located on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.
The journey to Europe: One Syrian refugee`s story Omar al-Muqdad shares the story of Hamed Shurbaji who fled from the horrors of Syria to save his life, but only reached Europe after almost dying on a sinking people smuggler`s ship.
Syria`s Piano Man Sings The Stories Of The War Charlotte Alfred shares the story of Ayham Ahmad who plays piano and sings the stories of Syria’s war and struggles amid the ruins of his hometown, the Yarmouk Camp on the outskirts of Damascus.
ISIS Syria-Iraq supply lines smashed: coalition According to this news article, US-led coalition forces fighting ISIS "have cut critical communication and supply lines used by the extremists between Syria and Iraq after a two-week operation."
Regional and International Perspectives
What Did Kerry Really Say About Assad? US Secretary of State John Kerry claims that Assad is part of the problem and cannot be negotiated with. However, Kerry then claims that negotiations are inevitable.
Under ISIS, Life In Mosul Takes A Turn For The Bleak The push against ISIS is not making any progress in Mosul or Tikrit, but ISIS is losing support daily.
Islamic State recruits 400 children since January: Syria monitor The Islamic State has encouraged parents to send their children to be trained and recruited by the group. Children are easier to brainwash, and the Islamic State has had difficulty recruiting adults recently.
Despite Good Intentions, Vacancies in Refugee Camp in Jordan for Syrians Rana F. Sweis reports about the surprising shortfall in the number of the Syrian refugees in Azraq camp, Jordan.
What`s distracting us from the Syrian conflict? Omar Imady writes about major events, such as ISIL, effectively distracted "all the major players, and observers from the daily killing, imprisonment, torture, homelessness and psychological trauma of the new generation of Syrians in refugee camps."
Islamism in the IS age Marc Lynch writes about challenges that confront the academics who study Islamic State.
How many more? CPJ remembers journalists killed covering Syria After four years of the start of the Syrian uprising "at least 81 journalists have been killed covering the unrest, making it the second deadliest conflict for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping comprehensive records in 1992."
Turkish FM: `What is there to negotiate with Assad?` “Turkey`s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu criticised US Secretary of State John Kerry`s remarks on the possibility of negotiating with Syrian regime President Bashar Al-Assad to arrange a transition of power.”
34,000 Syrian refugees to no longer receive food vouchers as of April According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), it is estimated that 34,000 Syrian refugees will no longer receive WFP food vouchers as of April.
Policy and Reports
Islamist Mergers in Syria: Ahrar al-Sham Swallows Suqour al-Sham Aron Lund on Ahrar Al-Sham’s expansion strategy and the path to rebel unity.
Syria has long been a country divided Stephen Starr on the amount of blood lost in Syria in the last four years, and why it is not surprising that the conflict lasted this long.
What Does the U.S. Security Establishment Think About Syria? Aron Lund on US intelligence organizations, retired generals and CIA officials on who is winning the war in Syria and whether there is a sustainable solution.
Local ceasefires could be a path to peace in Syria Oxfam highlights Syrian civil society leader and astrophysicist Rim Turkmani’s efforts in exploring how local ceasefires, even in one area at a time, can offer a glimmer of hope for the peace process in Syria.
The Hefty Price of Action and Inaction in Syria According to Lina Khatib, “looking at Syria four years into the conflict, it becomes clear that a variety of stakeholders have been repeating past mistakes, with devastating consequences.”
The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
الثمن الباهظ للتدخل وعدم التدخل في سورية
Economy and Agriculture
Dollar Exchange Rate Exceeds 265 SYP “Unexplained hike in dollar exchange rate confirms currency speculation and black market behind drop in Syrian pound.”
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Graphic: Syria After Four Years of Mayhem"A four-year conflict has dismembered Syria, inflaming the region with one of the world’s worst religious and sectarian wars. Most of its major cities are in shambles, and more than 200,000 people have been killed. Nearly half of Syria’s residents have been forced to flee their homes. "
Graphic: From Syria, an Atlas of a Country in Ruins “Recent satellite image analysis by Unitar-Unosat, an agency of the United Nations, reveals vast devastation in cities across Syria from the civil war that started nearly four years ago.”
حصري وثائقي: "ثائرة من الرقة".. الشابة السورية التي تحدت تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية"
This documentary tells the story of Haya Ali who challenged ISIS by going back to her home city Raqqa between 2013 and 2014 in order to document the daily life of people there under the rule of ISIS.
بالصور .. داعش يبدأ بانشاء نظام اتصالات لاسلكية في مناطق سيطرته
According to Anadolu Agency, ISIS began setting up wireless networks in the areas under their control near the Syrian-Turkish borders, as shown in the pictures.
إنفوغرافيك: هل ندم السوريون على الثورة؟
On the fourth anniversary of the Syrian uprising, with a sample of five hundred Syrians, Hassan Arfa provides an infographic asking participants if they regret having a revolution in their county or not?
Arabic Links:
سنة خامسة ثورة.. البحث عن أفق جديد
Mohammad Dibo writes about the necessity of ending the Syrian war, and how a military solution without politics hinders the objectives of the Syrian revolution.
«العرّاب» السوري في خندق «الربيع العربي»
The Syrian director al-Muthanna Subuh is preparing to shoot a new Syrian drama that adapts Francis Ford Coppola`s timeless masterpiece The Godfather (1972).
فدوى سليمان لأورينت نت: ما أقوله صادم.. لا شراكة مع "الساروت"!
In this interview with the Syrian activist, Fadwa Suleiman provides an insight into her experience during the Syrian uprising and criticizes Abdul Baset al Sarout.
جذور السلطة الراهنة في سورية.. التحالفات القائمة وسوابقها
Samir Seifan, a prominent Syrian Economist, analyzes the revival of capitalist form of economy with the emergence of new class of capitalists under the Assad`s regime.
عسكري أمريكي سابق "حاول الانضمام" لتنظيم الدولة
A former US Air Force veteran has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly trying to join ISIS.
ناشطون سوريون يطلقون "هاشتاغ" ينتقد سياسة "الجزيرة" في إدارة الملف السوري
Syrian activists on Twitter and Facebook have launched an Arabic hashtag campaign to criticize Al Jazeera `s coverage of the conflict in Syria.
تنحّي الأسد لم يعد شرطاً مسبقاً للغرب في ذكرى الثورة
Ibrahim Hamidi writes about the shift in Western priorities regarding the previous demand that Assad be removed from power.
اليونيسف تطالب الحكومات بالتفاوض مع داعش لتوصيل المساعدات
Countries should negotiate with Islamic State to persuade it to let UN children`s agency UNICEF into areas the militants control, says the aid organization’s representative in Syria
أول مظاهرة في دمشق.. جنون الحرية
Omar Youssef Souleimane, a Syrian poet and activist, writes about his experience as a participant in the first protest in Damascus on 15 March, 2011.
المؤتمر الأول للمرأة يطالب بـ: حقها في الهيئة العامة للغوطة الشرقية
A group of civil society organizations held the first conference for women in East Gota.
مُخرج "طربيزة الحوار":عن سوريا الدولار والطائفية.. "ومستِلمين الكلّ"!
"On a Dialogue Table", a short series of black comedy sketches on YouTube that criticize all parties involved in the Syrian crisis by using dark humor.
تفجير «خلية الأزمة» في دمشق: أدوار أميركية ولبنانية - هكذا تبلورت الخطة وتشابكت أجهزة أمن إقليمية ودولية لإسقاط الأسد
Mohammad Ballout provides an insight into the details behind the covert operation that led to the assassination of senior members of Assad`s inner circle—known as the “crisis cell”— in Damascus in July 2012.