[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
Syrian army regains ground against Islamic State in Hasaka city Syrian army repulses strong offensive, in northeastern city of Hasaka, by the Islamic State.
Syria`s two-wheeled lifelines Bicycles are becoming a valuable commodity on Syria’s streets due to the high cost of fuel.
Latakia residents gird for the battle ahead Residents of Latakia give their thoughts on the potential battle ahead, and how opposition taking control in areas close to them has affected their living conditions.
Al-Nusra Beheads Tribal Leader’s Sons Al-Nusra beheads son of Hadedeyin Tribal Leader on charges of smuggling food to Syrian regime forces in Idlib.
Assad’s forces may be aiding new ISIS surge Syrian President Bashar al-Asad is attempting to break the ISIS-FSA truce by getting them to fight one another, a cynical divide and rule tactic.
Syrian insurgent advances put Assad under pressure “We believe in the capacity of Syrian army to restore security for every inch of Syria” says Prime Minister Wael Halaki.
The Peril of Taking Taxis in Raqqa Leen Ahmad shares Hayat’s experience in the public space under the rule of ISIS.
Incredible moment elated Syrian women rip off strict Islamic robes and headscarves after escaping religious persecution under ISIS Exclusive video shows women removing robes after escaping from ISIS and arrived into Kurdish-controlled territory in Syria.
For an IS fighter, a paid honeymoon in caliphate`s heart This article provides insights into ISIS welfare system to help settle and create lives for the jihadis, men and women, who join the group in Syria.
Syria: Isis advance on Aleppo aided by Assad regime air strikes, US says The US has accused the Syrian government of providing air support to an advance by ISIS militants against opposition groups north of Aleppo.
Regional and International Perspectives
What an estimate of 10,000 ISIS fighters killed doesn’t tell us “If [10,000 killed] is accurate, then that means all the estimates of ISIS strength from the fall were wildly inaccurate.”
Syrian-born entrepreneur who taught himself how to read named best entrepreneur on the planet Mohed Altrad, Syrian-born, moved to France over 40 years ago and has been awarded the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year.
A university for Syrian refugees: How, when and where? Turkey and Qatar have agreed to open an international university for Syrian refugees in Turkish province, Gaziantep.
Terror trial collapses after fears of deep embarrassment to security services “The prosecution of a Swedish national accused of terrorist activities in Syria has collapsed.”
Isis executes three gay men by dangling them from top of 100ft building and letting go ISIS has recently murdered three gay men in Mosul by dropping them from the top of a 100 ft building.
Hezbollah`s media machine changes gears Ali Hashem discusses Hezbollah’s media strategy in supporting its cause in Syria.
Jordan`s Azraq Syrian refugee camp stands largely empty Scalding temperatures, a lack of electricity and soaring food prices have created harsh conditions in the desert Azraq camp.
Tweets as weapons: How `Islamic State` is fighting its battles... digitally This article discusses ISIS usage of the internet as a propaganda tool. and its social media strategy.
Policy and Reports
An Internal Struggle: Al Qaeda`s Syrian affiliate is grappling with its identity Charles Lister claims that the coordination between the Western-backed FSA, Islamists, Jabhat al-Nusra and jihadists has increased significantly.
ISIS`s Military Operations during Ramadan: A Forecast for 2015 “The purpose of this intelligence forecast is to outline ISW’s assessment of the most likely and most dangerous courses of action for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to pursue during Ramadan (June 17, 2015 to July 17, 2015)”
Will Aleppo Be the Next Capital of ISIL? “ISIL’s sweeping attack on the positions of the Army of Conquest (AC) in the north of Aleppo in Syria recently has left many question marks about the eventual course of developments in that region. This was not “just another” attack in the daily war in Syria. It was a moment when all players came to recognize both their limitations and their potential. It deserves, therefore, a closer look.”
After Palmyra: Military and Economic Targets of the Islamic State Yezid Sayigh and Aron Lund analyze the new strategic possibilities available for ISIS after the taking of Palmyra, the central hub of Syria’s desert road network connecting southwest to northeast.
Why Hasn`t America Admitted More Syrian Refugees? Sean Lyngaas investigates the reasons behind the U.S. low number of admitting Syrian refugees (less than 1,000 refugees since the war began).
Jordan: Syrians Blocked, Stranded in Desert Human Rights Watch analyzed satellite imagery and interviewed international aid workers confirming that Jordanian authorities have severely restricted informal border crossings in the eastern part of the country since late March, 2015.
A related article in Arabic can be found here: الأردن يقر بترحيل لاجئين سوريين خالفوا القوانين
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Dream Film Series As part of the Dream Film Series, this video shares the story of Muhammad a Syrian child painter in Aleppo.
Among the warriors: Extraordinary photos portray the lives of the Kurdish volunteers resisting Isis in Syria and Iraq These portrait photographies aim to humanize Kurdish guerrilla groups.
المرأة السورية .. رغم الواقع المرير والنزوح لها دور بارز في تحمل أعباء الاسرة This AlAanTV video highlights Syrian women`s role within their families during displacement.
Arabic:
«لابشر ولا حجر».. تدمر وسرديات الحرب على الاثار Basileus Zeno criticizes the narratives that justify the war on Syria’s archaeological sites by creating a false moral dilemma, or a false dichotomy between “people” and “stones”.
"داعش" يشكل وزارة للآثار ISIS has recently formed a ministry of archaeology.
آسيا الوسطى "تسقط" في غواية تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" This article demonstrates ISIS recruitment of and popularity among jihadists from Central Asia.
سوريان يفوزان بجائزة سمير قصير لحرية الصحافة Two Syrians win 2015 Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press. Syrian national Ayman Ahmad received the award for the opinion article category. Palestinian-Syrian Mohammad Nour Ahmad won the award for the audiovisual report category.
نساء الغوطة الشرقية تنتفضن في وجه الجوع والاعتقالات This article reports demonstrations by women in Douma and Eastern Ghouta against Jaysh al-Islam.
معركة كسر العظم.. تبدأ في مارع Hasan Arfeh writes about the battle of Mare`, a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Aleppo Governorate, between the city citizens and ISIS.
لتكن الأقاليم السورية بداية الحل... لا نهايته Ibrahim Hamidi comments on a "Federal regions" solution for the Syrian conflict.
"سيلفي" يتسبب بتدمير موقع لتنظيم "الدولة" في سوريا US intelligence in Florida was able to identify and struck an ISIS location in Syria after an ISIS member post a selfie picture on social media.
هل يكون الحديث القادم للجولاني من على كرسي الرئيس.؟.... بقلم : نضال معلوف Nidal Maalouf comments on Al Jazeera recent interview with Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
مشاورات حول “الاندماج” سبقت لقاء “الجولاني” Usama abu Zayd, legal adviser to the Syrian Free Army, revealed the details of recent consultations between the Syrian Free Amry and al-Nusra Front.