[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
`Road of death` to Aleppo pounded as air strikes cut off rebel areas The opposition-held sector of Aleppo has been cut off from the outside world in recent days, putting hundreds of thousands of people under effective siege.
ISIL’s long game is revealed by Syria’s south Hassan Hassan on the merger of the three extremist forces loyal to ISIL in Dreaa.
Syria civil war: The message from Moscow Facts on the ground show Moscow may be justifying and paving the way for a large-scale offensive against al-Nusra.
Defiant Bashar al-Assad Vows to Retake ‘Every Inch’ of Syria Syria’s president promised to retake “every inch” of the country from his foes on Tuesday in a defiant speech that appeared to reject the humanitarian relief effort and peaceful transition of power that the United States, Russia and more than a dozen other nations have pressed for since last fall.
Regime Recruits Prisoners to Fight ISIS Amid Shortage of Forces Lack of manpower pushes the Assad regime to recruit prisoners from Adra prison for fight against the Islamic State group in Raqqa.
Traditional Ramadan Foods Disappear From Tables as Syrian Families Face Financial Hardship Rising prices and lower incomes mean Syrian families are struggling to find the average 8,000 pounds a day to pay for meals during the holy month of Ramadan.
Women emerge as changemakers in war-torn Syria In war-torn Syria, a growing number of women are taking on the role of changemaker, providing a sliver of hope with potentially lasting ramifications for empowerment.
In Syria`s rebel areas, journalists complain of new censorship Journalists in Syria`s opposition or rebel-held areas say they are being censored and violently intimidated, sometimes as badly as under the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Regional and International Perspectives
Jan Egeland: Education for Syrians ‘Non-Negotiable’ The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Jan Egeland explains that without consistent education, Syrian refugee children risk becoming part of the lost generations – a phrase they have come to loathe.
ISIS rallies lone wolves to the jihadi cause Unlike al-Qaeda, the group regards sympathizers as potential recruits, writes Hassan Hassan.
Former Captive: To Defeat ISIS, Convince Civilians If the war against the so-called Islamic State group is ever to be successful, our tactics must go beyond military ones, says French journalist and former ISIS captive Nicolas Henin.
Assad Hands ‘Kill List’ of Hundreds of ISIS Fighters to British MPs The list targets for assassination 25 Britons whom the Assad regime accuses of joining ISIS.
Suicide Bombers + Secret Tunnels: Extremists’ Tactics On Fallujah’s Frontlines The battle for Fallujah will be long and hard. The Islamic State has prepared for a siege, is relying on foreign fighters and is spreading lies to persuade locals to fight. NIQASH spoke to those on the front line
Guest Writer: How South America became an objective ally of the Assad regime Cecilia Baeza writes that: "One would have expected from young democracies some empathy towards the Syrian uprising. However, South American governments have shown indifference at best, if not explicit support for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad."
ISIS hit list of Arkansas civilians leaves targets, authorities unmoved Just weeks after releasing the details of 3,000 Brooklynites, a hacker collective aligned to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) has disseminated another hit list among its supporters on the privacy app Telegram.
Sharia law will play a greater role in Syria`s future Despite the dangers of oppressive interpretation in a war environment, it is best to understand the inherent potential of Islamic law
Europe ignores Syria at its peril. The country is burning and we must act The continent’s destiny is entwined with that of its Arab neighbor, and US-Russian efforts to secure a lasting peace have failed.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Call for Bombing ISIS After Orlando Shooting That ISIS Didn’t Direct Zaid Jilani writes that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump reacted to the Orlando shooting with evidence that they can agree on at least one thing: bombing people. Both candidates called for an escalation of the U.S.-led bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Policy and Reports
The Sectarianism of the Islamic State: Ideological Roots and Political Context Hassan Hassan provides an in-depth report on the Islamic State’s ideology. He argues that IS is a product of a slow hybridization between doctrinaire Salafism and Islamist currents.
Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War – A Review Dana Moss reviews Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila Al-Shami’s book Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War (Pluto Press, 2016).
Syria: the Strategy of Destruction For the past five years, the population of Syria has been undergoing severe repression at the hands of a regime implementing a policy of mass destruction, forcing over half of all Syrians to leave their homes, and seriously threatening the future of a country that has had the strength drained out of it.
Master Frames of the Syrian Conflict: Early Violence and Sectarian Response Revisited This memo by Reinoud Leenders was prepared for the workshop, “From Mobilization to Counter-Revolution: The Arab Spring in Comparative Perspective,” held on May 3-4, 2016. It addresses Sectarianism in the Syrian conflict.
Traffickers exploiting young refugees in French camps, says Unicef Report says children have been subjected to sexual violence, and open letter calls on UK to act more quickly.
Sieges in Syria: Profiteering from Misery This paper by scholar Will Todman reveals the intricate details of the siege economy, and the challenges facing humanitarian relief providers who are obliged to deal with the illicit siege business in order to prevent widespread starvation among besieged civilians.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Exclusive: Amal Clooney to represent ISIS survivor Nadia Murad and victims of Yazidi genocide Clooney will act as their counsel to hold the Islamic State accountable for the genocide, sexual enslavement and trafficking of thousands of girls and women
Hope Lost in Greece, Some Syrians Pay Smugglers to Get Home Europe seemed like the promised land, worth risking their lives to reach. But in a muddy field on the northern edge of Greece, their dreams died. Now, dozens of Syrian refugees are risking their lives again but in the opposite direction — paying smugglers to take them back to Turkey, and heading home.
What hope is there for Syria`s besieged? After years of siege, Daraya residents get food aid, but attacks on Damascus suburb means relief could be short-lived.
Arabic Links:
من هي أول امرأة تتولى رئاسة مجلس الشعب في سوريا؟ This article introduces Hadiah Khalaf Abbas who was elected recently as the chairman of the People`s Assembly of the Syrian regime as the first woman who holds this position since the formation of the parliament in Syria in 1919.
الابادة السورية Elias Khoury reflects on what he calls "Syrian genocide" and the position of some Palestinian writers toward it.
الأمم المتحدة لشؤون المرأة: تقصي السوريات وتنمط دور آخريات Rula Assad argues that UN Women exclude many Syrian women and construct stereotypes about others.
طريق الرغبة دمشق/ بيروت: مقاومة اليومي للتاريخ Mohamad Dibo writes a comparison about the pursuit of sexual desire in Damascus and Beirut.
المدارس السورية تحت سطوة البندقية Hanin Al-Naqari reports about the situation of schools in Syria during last year including final exams.
أزمة زراعية بنكهة سياسية بين لبنان وسوريا This article addresses a recent agricultural crisis between Lebanon and Syria after a Lebanese decision of banning the entrance of Syrian fruit and vegetables into Lebanon.
الوعي المتأخر للمعارضة السورية Ammar Daiub argues that due to the complexities of the situation in Syria, any political solution to the Syrian crisis will not be a a solution Syria; thus the Syrian opposition certainly should refuse it.
سوريون عالقون في أرض صحراوية لا تخضع لسلطة أحد Bethan Staton writes about some 60,000 Syrians who are currently trapped in Rukban and the smaller Hadalat, makeshift camps in a barren slice of desert at the border between Syria and Jordan. Accounts from the settlements describe a lawless no man’s land where healthcare, food, and water are difficult to access.
An English version of this article can be found here: Syrians trapped in desert no man`s land
انتهاكات جبهة النصرة... حملة توثّق ما يقوم به التنظيم بالسرّ على الرغم من المخاطر A group of young Syrians has been documenting and exposing violations and other activities by Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.
An English version of this article can be found here: Syrians fight Jabhat al-Nusra with cameras, social media