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
Syria`s next potential crisis could turn the Middle East upside down The Asad regime is extremely vulnerable and the preparation of contingency plans to deal with the humanitarian crisis is imperative.
Among Syrians, Palmyra is famous for a different landmark — its brutal prison The Islamic State’s capture of Palmyra is significant. ISIS seeks to remove all traces of the past to pave the way for a modern rule.
Religious teaching that drives Isis to threaten the ancient ruins of Palmyra Hassan Hassan argues that western fixation over ruined lives in Syria may prompt ISIS to destroy Palmyra for propaganda, doing more harm than good.
The Islamic State`s schools in Deir Ezzor Deir Ezzor’s schools and education system have been restructured to extremist Islamic curriculums.
Al-Qaeda affiliate nearly gone from southern Syria, opposition says Once numbering thousands, Nusra Front nearly gone from southern Syria.
Syria regime `to accept de facto partition` of country “Weakened by years of war, Syria`s government appears ready for the country`s de facto partition, defending strategically important areas and leaving much of the country to rebels and jihadists.”
Palmyra: Syrian forces trapped civilians, UN says John Simpson reports on the successes of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and what it means for the region.
Islamic State expands its `state` The Islamic State’s capture of Palmyra has great strategic and symbolic value, potentially destroying yet another ancient Assyrian city.
US special forces kill Isil leader in rare raid inside Syria “A US operation in Syria killed Abu Sayyaf, who helped direct the group`s oil, gas and financial operations, captured his wife and freed a young Yazidi woman "who appears to have been held as a slave by the couple."
Besieged students in Syria allowed out to take exams “At least 150 Palestinian students from a besieged refugee camp south of Damascus have been allowed to leave the camp to sit their school exams in the Syrian capital.”
Turkish jet shoots down Syrian aircraft after it ‘violated air space’ “Two Turkish F-16s have shot down Syrian aircraft that allegedly violated Turkey’s airspace in the southern province of Hatay”
ISIS Advance in Syria Endangers Ancient Ruins at Palmyra Anne Barnard reports about the serious dangers posed by ISIS after the advances of militants from the Islamic State into to the outskirts of the historical town of Palmyra.
A Statement, The Syrian cultural heritage in the ancient city of Palmyra is face to face with challenges and risks Prof. Maamoun Abdul Karim, the director-general of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, warns that Palmyra “is facing an imminent threat to its ruins and its very survival, which can lead to a real disaster inflicted on Syria’s history and wipe out its glorious past.”
Regional and International Perspectives
US plans lie in ruins after IS scores stunning successes in Syria and Iraq From Arab Spring to proxy wars, Charles Glass on why Syria is in ruins and that US policy is incoherent.
The ISIS March Continues: From Ramadi on to Baghdad? The Islamic State continues to make new and strategic advances, despite American firepower. Hassan Hassan claims that the idea that the Islamic State is declining is absurd.
Isis in Libya: Families forced to marry girls as young as 12 to fighters for protection as clinics see growing number of miscarriages and STDs Heather Saul reports that "families in Isis` stronghold in Libya are being forced to marry off girls as young as 12 to jihadists in exchange for protection."
Iraq says ISIS demolishes ruins to cover up looting operations According to one of Iraq`s top antiquities officials, the videos of ISIS militants destroying ancient artifacts in Iraq`s museums and blowing up three thousand-year-old temples, are a cover for the systematic looting of Iraq`s cultural heritage.
Pentagon hunts for ISIS on the secret Internet Barbara Starr and Jamie Crawford report that the recent ISIS inspired attack in Garland, Texas, captured the attention of US law enforcement and the military to the role of Deep or Dark Web.
Officials: Islamic State tightens grip on capital of Iraq’s Anbar province ISIS militants tightened their grip on Ramadi capital of the largely Sunni province of Anbar. Police and residents accused ISIS militants of executing dozens of civilians and blowing up homes.
Syria’s passport rules leave refugees stranded Sarnata Reynolds, a senior adviser on human rights at Refugees International, urges that "five years into the war, Syrians need a safe way to document the births of babies born after the start of the conflict and to receive and renew passports."
Let Syrians Settle Detroit David D. Laitin and Marc Jahr propose resettling Syrians in Detroit and suggest commitment and cooperation across different branches and levels of of the US government.
Policy and Reports
2014 Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP) This report provides an overview of the 2014 Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP) strategic objectives and implementation.
An Arabic copy of this report can be found here: شركاء في الحياة ،،شريكين في تحمل الم الحرب
Smuggled Syrian documents enough to indict Bashar al-Assad, say investigators Prosecution cases have been prepared against President Bashar al-Asad and twenty-four senior members of his regime for possible war crimes tribunal based on a three-year operation to smuggle official documents out of Syria.
An Arabic summary of this article can be found here: مشافي كفرنبل تعمل بطاقتها القصوى
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
“Syrians have overthrown Staffan de Mistura:” An Interview with Subhi al-Refai Aron Lund interviews with Subhi al-Refai on the de Mistura talks.
Documenters الموثقون Those at the front lines are the first witnesses to history and the vanguards of the “truth”— but is it enough just to see? Syrian civilian journalists risk their lives to tell their stories to the world.
بورتريه مدينة ثائرة This film was produced in Al-Qusayr, Syria before the Syrian Army regained control of the city.
قتلى الصراع في سورية... أموات أحياء في معرض بلندن This report about Sara Shamma`s recent exhibition at London`s StolenSpace gallery entitled World Civil War Portraits, which deals with the human tragedy of Syrian war.
Arabic:
نكسات النظام تنعش عودة خجولة إلى «المرحلة الانتقالية» و «اليوم التالي» Ibrahim Hamidi argues that Syrian regime recent losses have revitalized political transition initiatives.
لن أسمح باعتقالي مرة رابعة Faten Samih Abu Fares writes about her detention experience by the Syrian regime.
فلاحو سوريا، التاريخ ما وراء حجاب السياسة Rateb Sha`bo discusses Hanna Batatu`s book Syria`s Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics.
في شأن خصائص النقاش السوري حول الطائفية Yassin al-Haj Saleh writes about Syrian public discussion regarding sectarianism.
ربيع الشباب الذي لم يثمر اقتصاديا Mohammad Dibo argues that economic conditions were vital in initiating the Arab Spring uprisings and explores the circumstances that restricted economic-based change.
الطائفية ليست حلاًّ لسورية Lina Khatib argues that sectarianism is not the solution for Syria’s conflict based on analyzing lessons learned from Lebanon and Iraq.
نشأة داعش في كتاب… قوة الأسطورة تكمن في قوة أسرارها Ammar Daioub reviews an Arabic book about the foundation of ISIS by Nabil Almulhem.
سورية أرض تلاقح الثقافات؟ Nasser Rabbat, the Aga Khan Professor and the Director of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT, comments on the recent risks that endanger Syria`s archeology.
شبكة المرأة السورية “نساء شمس” Karima Rashko reports about Syrian Women`s Network recent electronic conference and the network new plans.
لائحة "حدود الله" يوزعها "داعش" في الرقة وتتضمن الجرائم والعقوبات ISIS distributed recently a list of offences and penalties according to Islamic Shariah.
إياد أبو الشامات: غداً نلتقي.. مسلسل ينتمي للمرحلة الانتقالية من عمر سوريا An interview with Iyad Abu Shamat about "Tomorrow we meet" a new Syrian drama series that will be aired in Ramadan 2015.
اليونسكو: "تدمير مدينة تدمر السورية خسارة للبشرية وعلى مجلس الأمن بحث المسألة" UNESCO states that it has serious concerns about the safety of monuments in Palmyra after the city falls under ISIS control.