[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
Islamic State frees 270 of 400 people kidnapped from Syria`s Deir al-Zor The civilians released will remain in Islamic State-run villages in Deir al-Zor .
Syria`s Warring Parties Teach Separate Curriculums Four distinct entities are furthering divisions among the younger generations in Syria as each imposes a different education system.
Deir Ezzor: Facing a `Double Blockade` From All Sides ISIS militants and the Syrian government are battling for control of the capital as Syrian citizens are faced with a “double blockade”.
Aleppo: Rebels Take Ground from ISIS, Army of Revolutionaries Rebel forces seize towns of Alqamiya, Yani Yaban and Zeraa following heavy fighting on Sunday.
Hassakeh: American Forces Operate out of Remelan Airport Monitor says US forcers overseeing the widening of airport runway as helicopters begin operations from the facility.
Dozens killed by Islamic State in `massacre` in Syria city of Deir ez-Zor UK-based monitoring group claims 85 civilians have been killed while state media says as many as 300 died in ISIS onslaught.
As regime captures smuggling routes in southwest Hama, thousands of fleeing civilians land in tightening north Homs encirclement “The images of Madaya and other areas under siege are dominating people’s thoughts here in northern Homs.
Humanitarians Struggle to Deliver Aid in Syria After a mountain of obstacles, aid groups finally managed to deliver much-needed food and medicine to three besieged communities last week.
Bearing Witness in a Besieged Syrian Town ICRC Head of Delegation Marianne Gasser speaks to residents of Madaya, a besieged town in Syria, as they gather around an aid convoy, Jan. 11, 2016. The International Committee of the Red Cross, working alongside the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and United Nations, began to deliver aid to thousands of people living in three besieged areas in Syria.
Breaking the Siege: Q&A with The Syria Campaign Syria Deeply spoke with James Sadri, director of The Syria Campaign, to learn more about the prevalence of siege tactics in Syria, the perpetrators, and the charges of U.N. failure to help end the sieges.
Ruqia Hassan: the woman who was killed for telling the truth about Isis The 30-year-old Kurdish woman from Raqqa risked her life by openly criticising the regime on Facebook. Her friends, family and fellow activists remember her determination to tell the world the grim truth about life in Syria.
The Ten Most Important Developments in Syria in 2015 Aron Lund provides a top ten list of Syria’s most significant events in 2015.
Hundreds may be dead after ISIS abductions in Deir Ezzor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday 17 January 2016 that at least 400 civilians -- including families of pro-regime fighters -- had been abducted by ISIS during the latest fighting and taken to the surrounding countryside.
Regional and International Perspectives
Syria peace talks on point of collapse over Kurds Russia demands that Kurds are allowed to participate in the Syria peace talks set for next week, however, Turkey “cannot accept” the firm request.
Air drop food to starving Syrians, UN tells Britain The UN permits Western countries to carry out air drops over besieged Syrian towns without regime permission.
Russia considering airbase in Syria’s Qamishli: monitor The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said Russian officers and engineers have conducted studies on the civilian airport in northeastern Syria.
Putin`s Syria Plans Worry Both His Opponents and His Allies The unpredictability of Russia’s Syria policy troubles both its allies and enemies who worry the Kremlin may be selling empty promises ahead of upcoming peace talks in Geneva.
Starvation ‘as a weapon’ is a war crime, UN chief warns parties to conflict in Syria With United Nations humanitarian teams witnessing scenes in Syria that “haunt the soul,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 14 January 2016 that the situation is “utterly unconscionable,” and warned that the use of starvation as a weapon during conflict is a war crime.
The secret pact between Russia and Syria that gives Moscow carte blanche Michael Birnbaum discusses an unusual document posted this week on a Russian government website that details the terms of its aerial support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russian bombing in Syria `fuels refugee crisis` says US official as airstrike kills 39 Only a third of Russia’s airstrikes in Syria are targeting Islamic State and its imprecise attacks are forcing the population to flee, fuelling Europe’s refugee crisis, a senior US official said on Jan 16, 2016.
Britain accuses Russia of deliberately bombing rescue workers in Syria Philip Hammond says that Russian jets are "deliberately targeting civilians" and the Kremlin must be held accountable for breaking humanitarian law.
Invites to Syria talks on hold, agreement on opposition needed: U.N. The United Nations said on (Monday 18 January 2016) it would not issue invitations to peace talks between Syria`s government and opposition set to begin on 25 January until major powers pushing the peace process reach agreement on which rebel representatives should attend.
Policy and Reports
U.N. says has reports of starvation in Syria`s besieged Deir Al-Zor Unverified reports say 15 to 20 people died of starvation in the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor last year, the United Nations said on Jan 16, 2016, warning that 200,000 residents there face a severe food shortage and sharply deteriorating conditions.
To Get Syrian Kids in School, Let Parents Work in Turkey Bill Van Esveld and Stephanie K. Gee emphasize that "what’s needed to get Syrian kids into school is for their parents to have the chance to support themselves."
Without education, Syria’s children will be a lost generation ‘Double-shift’ schools in Lebanon have shown it can be done. It is imperative that money is found to give all young refugees the hope that education provides.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
First on CNN: Pentagon releases video of U.S. bombing `millions` in ISIS cash The American Department of Defense released declassified video from its January 11 bombing of an ISIS cash depot in Mosul, Iraq.
MAP UPDATE: the situation in Syria as of 18/01/2016 This map by Thomas van Linge shows the changing faces of Iraq and Syria as of 18 January 2016.
Arabic Links:
مظاهرة في معرة النعمان بريف إدلب لدعم الجيش الحر A group of Syrians gathered in Maarrat al-Numan on 15 January 2016 to show support to the FSA.
موقع لبناني: خسائر حزب الله 2000 قتيل.. "شو دخلنا بسوريا؟" Source claims Hezbollah deaths in Syria have surpassed 2000.
كلام على صراعات خفية في دمشق: تنحية بشار مقابل الحفاظ على النظام Mohammed Al-Naser comments on Bashar al-Assad ally with Iran and Hezbollah as well as a series of assassinations that occurred in Syria in the recent years.
تطبيقات تساعد اللاجئين في ألمانيا The German Government launched new smart applications to help refugees to adopt with the new community.
الأمم المتحدة: التجويع الروتيني والمنهجي في سوريا انتهاك جسيم للقانون الدولي Kang Kyung-wha (the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) comments on Madaya starvation and warns that the use of starvation as a weapon in Syria is a gross violation of human rights.
فليرحل غير مأسوف عليه Marwan Kabalan comments on Obama`s last State of the Union speech and on Obama`s general foreign policy during his presidency in regard to Syria and the Arab region.
من التعليم الديني إلى التعليم الجهادي Ammar Daioub discusses education in Syria and the transition from religious education to jihadist education.
"200 ألف سوري" يواجهون نقصا حادا في الغذاء بدير الزور The United Nations warns that around 200,000 Syrian civilians suffer food shortage in Deir ez-Zor.
الإعلام في مضايا: بين سقطة المبالغة وجريمة الإنكار Alia Ibrahim criticizes the ways in which media dealt with the coverage of Madaya starvation.
عضلات بوتين وعقله في سورية Samir Saivan discusses Vladimir Putin`s policy on Syria and Russia`s role in the Syrian conflict.