Syria Media Roundup (October 20)

[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 

Power cuts lead shopkeepers to protest in ISIS country After U.S. targeted ISIS-controlled oil supplies, ISIS replied with electricity cuts in Raqqa, forcing shopkeepers to protest.

Kidnapped Christians, local priests become targets of jihadi groups “Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber on why Christians are being targeted in Syria and how the attacks impact the country as a whole.”

Islamic State Militants And Kurdish Fighters Battle In The Streets Of Syria`s Kobani Lefteris Pitarkis and Zeina Karam report about the ferocious street fighting between ISIS and Kurdish fighters in Kobani.

Rebels in Aleppo stretched thin between regime, IS Mohammed al-Khatieb reports about the challenges that confront the opposition, who fight simultaneously against government forces and the Islamic State in Aleppo’s northern countryside.

The Arabic translation of this article:
في العيد... معركة مصيريّة بين الثّوار والنّظام في حلب

Syrian regime takes advantage of coalition strikes Edward Dark writes about the advances of the Syrian army in Damascus and Aleppo at the time the world focuses on the Islamic State.

The Arabic translation of this article:
النّظام السوري يستغلّ ضربات التحالف

Syrian rebels eye capital after gains in south Khaled Atallah reports about the recent advances of the Syrian opposition in southern Syria in an attempt to gain access to Damascus, whereas the Syrian government focuses on key battles in Damascus.

The Arabic translation of this article:
المعارضة واستراتيجيّة الوصول إلى العاصمة

Qamishly journalists demand that attacks against them stop Piroz Perik reports about the continuous  attacks and violations of journalists rights in Qamishly.

Volunteers Help Children of Kfar Nabel Smile Again Mustapha al-Jalal reports about local project in Kfar Nabel that "uses art and drama to provide youngsters with respite from the effects of war." 

Regional and International Perspectives

Let them eat bombs: The cost of ignoring Syria’s humanitarian crisis The Syrian refugee crisis is becoming increasingly alarming, and shouldn’t be neglected. A more robust and firm humanitarian course of action must be taken before it results in social collapse.

Will ISIS `weaponize` foreign fighters? While the potential threat from foreign fighters returning on the playing field is low, there is still possibility.

Kobani fight is an opportunity to blunt ISIS, general says As the fighting continues in efforts to seize Kobani, this gives the U.S. a golden opportunity to target ISIS.

Jordan prevents Palestinian refugees from entering its territories “What the Palestinian refugees have faced
escaping from Syria to Jordan is the clearest example of the inhospitality of the neighboring countries.”

France - Syrie : révélations décapantes sur un raté diplomatique Wassim al-Ahmar interviews the co-author of "Les chemins de Damas - Le dossier noir de la relation franco-syrienne", Georges Malbrunot who demonstrates how France, despite having the "best access" to dictatorial power in Syria, failed in her policy towards Syria.

UN urges Arabian Gulf to take in Syrian refugees Preeti Kannan reports that “The UN has urged Arabian Gulf countries to take in Syrian refugee families and give access to education, health and welfare.”

The Plight of Syria’s Refugees is Another Security Crisis in the Making Christopher Phillips and Neil Quilliam write about the necessity to prioritize the crisis of Syrian refugees.

Islamic State Officially Admits to Enslaving Yazidi Women Matthew Barber writes about the kidnapped Yazidi women by ISIS. According to Barber, the number of kidnapped Yazidis is almost 7,000 individuals.

How to defeat Islamic State`s war machine? Metin Turcan analyzes the factors that contribute to IS’ military efficiency, particularly at the tactical level.

The Arabic translation of this article:
كيف نهزم آلة حرب داعش      

In battle against Kurds, is it AKP`s policy to back IS?  Cengiz Çandar writes about the increasing tension in Turkey following ISIS offensive on Kobani.

Turkey to train Syrian rebels, but at what cost? Fehim Taştekin analyzes the Turkish policy towards Syria and the Islamic State,” as talks continue for the use of Turkish bases in airstrikes against the Islamic State, Ankara agrees to train Syrian rebels in a move that increases the risk of Turkey’s Pakistanization.

Policy and Reports 

No Syrian rebels allowed at ISIS war conference There will be no Syrians allowed to attend the U.S. meeting to discuss the fight against ISIS.

Sectarianization: Steven Heydemann & Joshua Landis on the Trajectory of the Syrian Nightmare  Steven Heydemann and Joshua Landis on the bigger picture in Syria and the impact the Syrian Crisis has on the Middle East.

Qatar and the Arab Spring: Policy Drivers and Regional Implications Kristian Coates Ulrichsen provides a comprehensive analysis about Qatar’s foreign policy and its role in the context of the Arabic uprisings.

The Arabic translation of this report:
 قطر والربيع العربي: الدوافع السياسية والمضاعفات الإقليمية

Estimating the Cost of Operations Against ISIL Todd Harrison, John Stillion, Eric Lindsey, and Jacob Cohn provide a report in which they estimate the cost of U.S. military operations against ISIL through September 24 " is likely between $780 and $930 million."

Is There an Answer for Syria? Jessica Tuchman Mathews reports that "the drastic shift in priorities for every country in the Middle East occasioned by the frighteningly rapid rise of ISIS over the past several months may have made it possible to do just that in Syria."

Erdogan`s Syria policies spark riots in Kurdish cities “Turkey’s Syria policies spark massive protests in Kurdish cities, with at least 30 protesters killed; no relief for Syrians in Homs and Aleppo; Jabhat al-Nusra attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

The Arabic translation of this report:
سياسات أردوغان في سوريا تثير أعمال شغب في المدن الكردية
 

Economy and Agriculture

Cold Winter Coming: Syria’s Fuel Crisis Aron Lund on the increasingly overwhelming economic instability in Syria, and with gas and oil shortages, a war economy has emerged while the country disintegrates.  

Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media

مؤلف "دروب دمشق": هكذا أخطأت فرنسا تقديرها في سوريا       
Wassim al-Ahmar interviews the co-author of "Les chemins de Damas - Le dossier noir de la relation franco-syrienne", Christian Chesnot to discuss how French politicians failed to understand the Syrian Uprising. 

وزير الخارجية التركي:"لا يمكن لتركيا أن تسلح مدنيين لمواجهة تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية" 
France 24 interviews Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, who explains why Turkey prevented Kurdish fighters from joining the fighting in Kobane. 

Lives Uprooted by War: ‘A Requiem for Syrian Refugees,’ About Fleeing Conflict Anita Gates writes about "Requiem for Syrian Refugees,’ About Fleeing Conflict", a new documentary about Syrian refugees by Richard Wolf.      

Joshua Landis on ISIS, Syria & the “Great Sorting Out” in the Middle East – Interview with Danny Postel Joshua Landis on ISIS, Syria & the “Great Sorting Out” in the Middle East In conversation with Danny Postel of Denver University’s CMES.This discussion is an elaboration of a short article, “The Great Sorting Out: Ethnicity & the Future of the Levant,” that Elias Muhanna published on his blog, Qifa Nabki.” 

معركة كوباني.. البلدة الكردية التي رفضت الاستسلام لداعش
From the Turkish-Syrian borders, Jenan Moussa reports about the battle of Kobani. 

Arabic  

جميلةٌ صورة المقاتلة الكرديّة
Sahar Mandors writes about the phenomenon of female Kurdish fighters and the meaning behind their presence in the battlefield.

من يربح سوريا يربح العالم           
Samih Saab writes about the importance of Syria for regional and international powers.

 نصر الله يفاجئ مقاتلي "حزب الله" ليلاً بالزي العسكري
Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary organization Hezbollah, visited Hezbollah`s combatants in the Eastern front. 

آلاف اللاجئين السوريين بالأردن مهددون بالجوع
Thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan would be vulnerable to famine conditions 

 طائفية طارئة وعلمانية طائفية في سورية
Hazem Nahar between sectarianism under the umbrella of the "secular regime" in Syria and sectarianism that have emerged in the context of the Syrian uprising. 

سورية " الكيان الثقافي المنكوب" إلى أين؟                     
Moustapha Al-Skaff writes about dangers caused by the ongoing conflict on the Syria`s heritage and cultural treasures and what are the necessary procedures to stop this catastrophe.

 مهرجان سوري لأفلام الموبايل... في البدء كانت الكاميرا!
Videos were and still are a crucial tool for journalists covering Syria, Absi Smesem reports about "Syria Mobile Festival." A link to Syria`s Mobile Phone Film Festival. 

من هم أعضاء الدائرة الضيقة المحيطة بالأسد؟       
Al-Hayat reports about President Bashar al-Assad`s circle of trust and power. 

شاعرة “داعش” السعودية “احلام” تتزوج من ابو اسامة الغريب في الرقة السورية
Ahlam, a Saudi female poet of ISIS, got married to the Jihadist Abu Usama al-Gharib who came from Germany to join the fighting in Syria. 

ماذا قال بشار الأسد لهمام حوت.. وكيف احتفل الإعلام السوري بالجميلات الكرديات
Rachid Issa criticizes how Media praises Kurdish female fighters and ignores others. Issa also criticises the Syrian comedian Houmam Hout who was very close to President Assad before joining the opposition. 

 مقاتلو ألوية العمري يقتلون ناشطاً إعلامياً في مشفى بمدينة درعا
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the media activist Qaisar Habib have been shot dead at a hospital in revenge for the death of captain Qais al Qata’ne, the commander of al- Omari Brigades. 

The English translation of this article:
Al- Omari Brigades fighters assassinated the activists “Qaisar al- Habib”. 

هل تدع الحرب في سوريا مجالا للسلام بين تركيا والأكراد؟
Daren Butler and Humeyra Pamuk write about the consequences of the ISIS’ offensive on the Turkish-Kurdish peace.

The English translation of this article:
With Syria at war, can Turkey and Ocalan still bring Kurds peace?

باتريك كوكبيرن عن «داعش»: الوريث الشرعي للوهابية
Yazan El-Haj reviews Patrick Cockburn`s book, The jihadis return: ISIS and the new Sunni uprising.