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
In Syria`s war, Alawites pay heavy price for loyalty to Bashar al-Assad Alawites have seen up to a third of their young men lose their lives because of the Syrian conflict and their unwavering loyalty to Assad and the regime.
Dire situation in Yarmouk refugee camp, and possible future scenarios Yarmouk Camp’s future looks bleak, as Syrians and Palestinians alike pay a heavy price until the Syria Crisis settles down.
Breaking: Aleppo engulfed in explosions and violence Syrian Al-Qaeda group, Jabhat al-Nusra, attacks three Aleppo neighborhoods: Bab Hadeed, Maysaloun and Al-Suleimaniyeh.
New misery in Yarmouk, symbol of Syria’s suffering “Yarmouk is a microcosm of the complexity as well as the anguish of Syria’s war, making solutions elusive.”
“Catastrophe” in Yarmouk as ISIS seizes camp Maureen Clare Murphy comments on the recent reports about ISIS controlling of large areas of Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp and the fears over the safety of the 18,000 civilians trapped there.
‘Beyond Inhumane’: Catastrophe in Yarmouk A brief outline of the history of Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, Syria and the current humanitarian crisis.
Deir al-Zor Suffers Under Islamic State’s Harsh Rules on Aid Hussam al-Jaber reports about difficulties and indignities that people in Deir al-Zor suffer during the distribution of aid packages under the rule of ISIS.
Journey Into Revolution Bana Deeb shares the story of Leila focusing on her involvement with the Syrian Uprising and her marriage to a fighter with the Free Syrian Army.
Idlib waits for zero hour Alaa Halabi reports that the Syrian army prepares to try to retake the northern city of Idlib from Jabhat al-Nusra.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here: إدلب تنتظر «ساعة الصفر»
Regional and International Perspectives
Putin the perfunctory peacemaker: Russia`s half-hearted attempt to end the war in Syria Scott Lassan and Charles Johnson provide a comprehensive analysis of the current peace talks in Moscow for order in Syria, Russia’s influence on Syrian politics and why the peace talks are futile without discussing a more holistic approach.
Syrians in Lebanon: We can neither leave nor stay Syrian refugees that carry restrictions on their visas in Lebanon are caught in a bureaucratic tangle.
Former ambassador attacks Cameron`s ‘arrogant’ Syria policy Peter Ford, former British ambassador to Damascus, identifies David Cameron’s Syria policy as “arrogant” and “reckless”.
Iraq Isn`t the Right Front Hassan Hassan explains why the focus must shift to Syria to defeat ISIS.
No significant breakthrough in Syria talks Syria peace talks in Moscow ends in failure.
Review: ‘ISIS: The State of Terror,’ by Jessica Stern and J. M. Berger, and ‘ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror,’ by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan Michiko Kakutani reviews the book “ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror” by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan, which draws upon the authors’ extensive reporting to give insights at the organization’s evolution and its operations today.
Afghanistan`s changing of the guard: ISIS recruits in Taliban territory Nick Paton Walsh reports that a group of fighters in Afghanistan agreed to be filmed by a CNN cameraman parading their ISIS flags in a valley not far to the south of Kabul.
The hidden hand behind the Islamic State militants? Saddam Hussein’s. Liz Sly writes about ISIS roots in the bloody recent history of Iraq such as the disbandment of the Iraqi army after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and the de-Baathification law.
Assad and the Palestinians: from Tal al-Zaatar to Yarmouk Ibrahim Halawi argues that the emergence of ISIS inside Yarmouk camp has led to simplistic and dangerous impressions that isolate the Palestinians in the camp from the history and geography of the Syrian Uprising.
How microsites are covering global news Jared Malsin writes about websites that challenge international media coverage of Syrian conflict like Syria Deeply that is directed at an English-speaking audience in the West and Syria Untold that focuses on highlighting the voices of Syria’s political opposition, activists, artists, and ordinary people.
The Gender Impact of Explosive Weapons in Syria and Nigeria WILPF International held an event exploring the specific impacts that the use of explosive weapons has on women in the contexts of Syria and Nigeria.
Policy and Reports
A strong Ahrar al-Sham is a strong Nusra Front Maxwell Martin argues that military cooperation between Ahrar al-Sham and Nusra Front has been essential for their success.
Syria`s lost generation: report counts cost of collapse in education system Kareem Shaheen comments on a report by “Save the Children” that says school enrolment has fallen to 50% and is much lower in areas worst affected by conflict.
The full text of the report can be found here: The Cost Of war: Calculating the impact of the collapse of Syria’s education system on the country’s future
Economy and Agriculture
Syrian refugees turn to cooking to make a living Many Syrian refugees have turned to jobs they would have never considered taking in order to survive in neighboring countries.
Isis: Inside the struggling Islamic State economy in Iraq and Syria Orlando Crowcroft on the method through which the Islamic State earns its revenue.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror On Wednesday, April 8th, IPI hosted a Distinguished Author Series event, featuring Michael Weiss, co-author with Hassan Hassan of ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror.
Jusoor Refugee Education Program in Lebanon 2015 A short video looking at Jusoor`s Refugee Education Centers in Lebanon, including interviews with teachers and students.
لمحة داخل حياة المقاتلات الكرديات ضد "داعش" A collection of photos that shows the lives of female Kurdish fighters against ISIS.
ريم تركماني: إذا أرادت قطر أن تفعل شيئا لسوريا فأفضل مساعدة أن لا تفعل شيئا Rim Turkmani criticizes Qatari foreign policy toward the Syrian conflict and calls for the country withdrawal in this regard.
عمّ يتساءلون: حُكُم تدمير الآثار التاريخية والتماثيل Radio Al-Kul hosts a religious debate explaining Islamic provisions in regard to Daesh (ISIS) actions that aim at destroying monuments and statues.
Arabic:
تطوير الهياكل الثقافية في سوريا The research aims to diagnose the cultural infrastructure in Syria before and during the crisis.
مقتل 136 شخصاً بسبب التعذيب خلال شهر آذار 2015 Syrian Human Rights Network documents the death of 136 Syrians due to torture during March 2015.
النصرة بإدلب تحاسب قيادييها لتصريحاتهم حول المسيحيين وتغلق راديو ألوان Asaad Hanna reports about recent developments in Idlib, after the control of Jabhat al-Nusra, regarding Christians and Alwan Radio.
صرخة من أجل اليرموك Dler Yoseph reflects on the recent reports about ISIS controlling of large areas of Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp.
ماذا بعد دخول داعش إلى مخيم اليرموك؟ Ammar Daioub analyzes the situation and future possibilities of Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp after the control of ISIS.
ضحايا الظل في سورية … ممنوع أن تكون حياً Firas Younis reflects on the marginalization of the "Shadow victims" of the Syrian conflict such political prisoners and forcibly disappeared people.
داعش يعدم قيادات حركة النقشبندية في الموصل ISIS executed the leaders of Naqshbandi movement in Mosul accusing them of conspiring against the organization`s members.
سمير العيطة: بشار الجعفري "أهان" آلاف السوريين برفضه استلام قوائم المعتقلين Samir Aita announced that Bashar Jaafari, the current Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, "insulted" thousands of Syrian citizens and their families, when he refused to receive the lists of 8884 detainees and missing people that was presented to him in "Moscow 2" meeting.
الـيرموك.. نكبة الذاكرة Sarah Zaryab reflects on her family refugee experiences in Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp and the collective memory of Palestinians in Syria.
تجارب قاسية لتزويج القاصرات السوريات في لبنان Jumana Hassan shares stories of early/forced marriages of Syrian girls in Lebanon.
حين نبرر وندمر إنسانيتنا Rima Fleihan shares her perspective on Syrian use of Facebook to justify sectarianism and violence by extremist groups.
حدود الأردن مع سورية! Mohammed Barhouma explores the Jordanian government options in dealing with Jabhat al-Nusra`s control of Syrian southern borders.
النساء الايزيديات تعرّضن للاغتصاب الجماعي والعلني على يد "داعش" قبل الإفراج عنهن بمقابل مالي Yazidi women released by ISIS recently were gang-raped in public by fighters and tortured by their captors.