[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
Assad: Most Western Countries Dealing With Syria `Under the Table` President tells Australian interviewers that most Western officials repeat Washington`s views on Syria while dealing with Damascus in secret
Quwat al-Ghadab: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia in Suqaylabiyah Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi reports about Quwat al-Ghadab (‘The Forces of Rage’), which is based in the Christian (specifically Greek Orthodox) town of Suqaylabiyah in northwestern Hama province.
Young female mayor breaks boundaries in Syrian town freed from Islamic State When Islamic State stormed her town, Layla Mohammed fled, but she is now back and determined to rebuild against the odds.
Tunnel explosion kills scores of Jihadists in southern Damascus Dozens of al-Qaeda hardline militants have been literally buried underground when a tunnel they were sneaking through was detonated by the Syrian Army.
Massive convoy of Syrian Army reinforcements arrive in northern Latakia On Saturday (2 July), a large convoy comprised of republican guard soldiers arrived to the Syrian government controlled town of Salma in the northern Latakia countryside.
Imad Khamis Announced as PM Under New Syrian Government Syrian president reveals new Cabinet with former minister for electricity as prime minister.
Nusra captures leader, fighters of Western-backed rebels in northern Syria Syria`s al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front has abducted the commander of the Western-backed Jaish al-Tahrir brigade, along with several of his aides and scores of fighters in coordinated raids in northern Syria, Jaish al Tahrir said on Sunday (3 July).
Scores killed in government raids in Syria`s Jayrud Two-year local truce breaks down after intense air strikes kill at least 43 civilians, including children, in Jayrud.
Chechen Aid Distributed Among Families in Maaloula City Humanitarian aid arrives in the Damascus countryside as part of joint Syrian-Russian initiative to assist cities affected by terrorism.
Cement Prices Spike in Syria After Fuel Price Hike Construction industry affected by jump in prices after government announces massive increase in fuel costs.
Syria`s Charity Economy Proves its Strength in Time of War The work of charitable associations which targeted poverty and those in need prior to 2011 has expanded to include migrants and wounded and families of martyrs
In the Line of Fire — the War Against the UN in Syria Cyrus Mahboubian, an NGO worker in Damascus, responds to The Syria Campaign`s accusations to the UN of collaborating with and supporting the government’s policies.
Regional and International Perspectives
Syria’s war, post-Obama: America unrestrained? Syria’s conflict has doubtless been affected by Obama’s aversion to getting involved. So what happens when he leaves office?
On the Mistakes of the Syrian Opposition "The discourse, which characterized the revolution at the beginning, has become almost absent, and we now have different, backwards discourses unworthy of the sacrifices that Syrians have made for their right to live with freedom and dignity."
Syrian Civil Society Groups Say They Will Leave Geneva Talks “After five years of conflict, our groups want a just peace, not just a peace process,” they wrote.
The West loves IS propaganda. We should listen to Syria’s real journalists instead Instead of obsessively focusing on Islamic State, we should remember that most Syrians are normal people, and not knife-brandishing lunatics.
Iran won`t coordinate with US on Syria: Khamenei Iran will never coordinate with the United States in Syria and other regional conflicts, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in remarks published on his website Sunday (3 July).
Pope Francis Slams Countries Who Talk Peace But Send Arms Into Syria Pope Francis criticizes countries that supply arms in Syria yet speak of peace. “How can you believe in someone who caresses you with the right hand and strikes you with the left hand?”
How the disunity among UN agencies is failing Syria The UN and other agencies in Damascus cowered under the Syrian regime and allowed their relief efforts to be sabotaged.
John Kerry: Entrepreneurs crucial to rebuilding Syria The US Secretary of State and deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes discuss Syria, ISIL & investing in innovation.
Why so-called Islamic State chooses to bomb during Ramadan More than 160 people are now known to have died in Sunday`s appalling attack in Baghdad. It is just one of eight different attacks believed to have been carried out by the so-called Islamic State (IS) over the last month - the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Policy and Reports
Children are Fighting on All Sides of Syria’s War Whether it`s with the Free Syrian Army or the pro-government National Defense Forces militia, ISIS or the Kurds, children across the war-torn country have consistently been recruited to fight in Syria`s war.
Syria: MSF calls for resumption of aid and protection for Syrian refugees stuck in the desert on the Jordanian border Around 60,000 people who are stuck in extremely harsh conditions close to Jordan’s northeastern border with Syria need humanitarian aid to be resumed immediately and international protection has to be offered.
Syria’s Refugee Children Have Lost All Hope Young Syrians living in Lebanon are attempting suicide in ever greater numbers.
SYRIA’S IMPLOSION: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS Jihad Yazigi`s paper explains Syria’s ongoing implosion and analyzes the impact these changes are having on the country and on the terms under which the conflict will be resolved.
The West loves IS propaganda. We should listen to Syria’s real journalists instead Instead of obsessively focusing on Islamic State, we should remember that most Syrians are normal people, and not knife-brandishing lunatics
Honor Killings Increased Fourfold Since Start of Syria Crisis Crisis played large role in increase of honor killings in rural areas, says Damascus countryside attorney general.
Amnesty: Syrian armed groups committing war crimes Amnesty International says five rebel groups have committed atrocities, including summary killings, in Idlib and Aleppo.
You can download a pdf copy of the Amnesty report by clicking here: Torture was my punishment’: Abductions, torture and summary killings under armed group rule in Aleppo and Idleb, Syria
REPORT: A `chilling` wave of torture, abductions, and killings is sweeping across Syria Some Syrian opposition groups have adopted methods of abuse similar to those employed by the government of President Bashar Assad, Amnesty International said in a new report that documents a "chilling" wave of torture, abductions and summary killings in insurgent-controlled areas.
Iraq, Syria Has 30,000 Extremists Ready to Return Home Almost 30,000 foreign extremists are currently in Syria and Iraq and, as radical Islamist groups continue to lose ground to the governments of both countries, the threat of them returning to their home countries to carry out attacks increases, a top U.N. official warned on Tuesday (5 July).
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
When the refugees from World War II were running away to Syria History is constantly repeating, but not necessarily in the same direction. The photographer Sanna Dullaway was commissioned by TIME Magazine to colorize old photographs, documenting the refugees of World War II running away to Syria, trying to reach the camps organized by the MERRA (Middle East Relief and Refugee Administration). Settled in Syria, Egypt and Palestine, these camps offered aid and security to refugees, waiting for the end of the war. A series that offers an interesting perspective on the current situation of Syrian refugees.
ANF: First Joint YPG-FSA Checkpoints These visuals show the first joint YPG-FSA checkpoints following the agreement after 15 days of clashes. The first negotiations for an agreement were started on 6 February.
`We want to change things`: Syrian women begin UK theatre tour Queens of Syria, an adaptation of Euripides’ antiwar tragedy The Trojan Women, will visit London, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: May 27 - June 17, 2016 The following graphic depicts ISW’s assessment of Russian airstrike locations based on reports from local Syrian activist networks, statements by Russian and Western officials, and documentation of Russian airstrikes through social media. This map represents locations targeted by Russia’s air campaign, rather than the number of individual strikes or sorties.
Arabic Links:
التراث الثقافي المادي السوري بين عامي 2011-2015 – مدماك تقرير توثيقي Medmak, Syrian Archaeologist Studies Center, publishes a report that documents the looting of and damage to Syrian cultural property and archaeological sites between 2011-2015
الكرد في روج آفا كردستان وخيارات المرحلة الإنتقاليّة The head of Rojava’s interior committee Kanaan Barakat speaks to Al-Monitor about the achievements of the autonomous administration, the potential for an advance on Raqqa and relations with the Syrian regime.
The English version of this article can be found here: Will Syrian Kurdish forces advance on Raqqa?
صحفي يوثق حياة أسر لاجئة قبل وما بعد إعادة التوطين Many Syrian refugees, like little Aya and her family, live in harsh conditions in Lebanon. Families who managed to escape war tell photographer Giles Duley they are refusing to give up hope.
The English version of this article can be found here: “Aya doesn’t die!” A feisty four-year-old from Syria survives in exile
كيف تعاملت الدراما السورية مع ما يجري في سوريا As Syrian drama series gain popularity in the Arab world, the Syrian regime seeks to promote its vision through these series produced inside the Syrian territory.
The English version of this article can be found here: The politicization of Syria`s soap operas
وفد أمني سوري رفيع زار روما A Western diplomatic source in Beirut informed al-Watan newspaper that Syria`s State Security head Dib Zeitoun has recently visited Italy.
من يستهدف النّظام السوريّ في حلب: "جبهة النّصرة" أم المدنيّون؟ While the Syrian regime claims that its airstrikes are carried out against Jabhat al-Nusra’s military positions, the reality on the ground shows that it is targeting residential neighborhoods.
The English version of this article can be found here: What`s behind Syrian regime`s latest claims on Aleppo strikes?
ألعاب الفيديو تستثمر في الحرب السورية This article highlights the ways in which video-game developers invest in the Syrian conflict.
معركة "منبج" تشعل حرب الحدّود بين تركّيا وأكّراد سوريا The Syrian Democratic Forces are leading the battle to liberate Manbij, close to the Turkish border, which pushed Turkey to warn the Kurds about expanding their influence in their areas of control.
The English version of this article can be found here: Battle for Syria`s Manbij may redraw local alliances
موارد "داعش" غير النفطية..استنزاف رعايا "الدولة" يملأ خزائن التنظيم This report investigates ISIS income from non-oil resources such as ISIS Tax regimentation, bailing out prisoners, illicit excavation and looting of archaeological sites.
سورية في صمت أميركي Ola Abbas reflects on sidelining Syria-related news from the international attention due to the American presidential election season.
جبهة النصرة والمستقبل: جمود مرجح This article explores the roots and future of Al-Nusra Front arguing that the militia will vanish when a political solution of the conflict is reached.