[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
Syria`s Mercenaries: The Afghans Fighting Assad`s War Bashar al-Assad is running out of support and is forced to rely on mercenaries, some of which come from Afghanistan.
Bashar al-Assad`s spy chief arrested over Syria coup plot Ali Mamlouk, the head of the country’s National Security Bureau, has been removed as the regime of Bashar al-Assad begins to show divisions over the role of Iran.
Syria Is Using Chemical Weapons Again, Rescue Workers Say Anne Barnard and Somini Sengupta investigate the use of chemical weapons such as chlorine in the Syrian conflict.
Banned in Syria, Muslim Brotherhood members trickle home Dasha Afanasieva reports about the movement of Syrian Muslim Brotherhood members who have returned from exile to Syria and their competition with other Islamist movement like of Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam.
Mortars hit Red Crescent convoy in Douma Mortar shells originating from an unknown source targeted a humanitarian convoy entering the regime-encircled city of Douma, killing a volunteer associated with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).
The "Gang of Girls" Risks Their Lives to Report From Inside a War Zone Amid the rubble of Syria, a band of women are risking prison, or worse, to report, write, and edit the civil war`s paper of record.
Under Siege in Yarmouk Janine di Giovanni writes about Starvation Death List in Yarmouk refugee camp to report about the suffering of Palestinian refugees there.
Syria `chlorine attacks`: Dozens reported suffocated as regime `drops chemical barrel bombs` on Idlib Sarah El Deeb reports about new suspected chemical chemical attacks in the northwestern province of Idlib.
Regional and International Perspectives
Israel prepares for a post-Assad phase in neighboring Syria “Israel military command more cautious of sudden fall of Syria regime.”
Saudi effort isn’t the beginning of the end of Assad Hassan Hassan explains some of the current events within the Syrian regime and the impact of these events on the army.
Syrians toppled the state and left the Assad regime Hassan Hassan on the mindsets inside the Syrian Army, or what is left of it.
Syria rebels cast doubt on US training program Syrian rebels claim that they are fighting both the Islamic State groups and Bashar al-Assad’s army. "But to say that we are training you to fight Daesh and not Bashar is an insult.”
Saudi Arabia to Washington: A royal snub Bruce Riedel claims, “Saudi Arabia smells blood in Syria.” They want to assist the U.S. in removing Assad from power, but instead, “sense ambivalence” in D.C.
Experts weigh in (part 3): How does ISIS approach Islamic Scripture? ISIS has written a new security contract for the Christians under its rule.
UN: 36,000 newborn Syrians stateless in Lebanon Thousands of displaced newborn Syrians are stateless, and essentially denied basic human rights.
Tikrit: Iraq’s Abandoned City After the liberation of Tikrit by Iraqi forces backed by US warplanes on April 3, Zaid Al-Ali explores how did ISIS take over Tikrit so quickly and what does Tikrit’s experience reveal about the way ISIS rules.
Here`s How Syria`s Opposition Government Essentially Went Broke Xanthe Ackerman sheds light on the financial crisis at Syria`s Opposition Government (SIG) which "has essentially gone unanswered by its Western allies, bringing into relief the perception that the US does not fully back the Syrian opposition politically or militarily."
Archive of Islamic State Administrative Documents Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi continues his series on ISIS administration by providing an archive of translated ISIS documents in provinces such as Deir az-Zor Province, Raqqa Province, Aleppo Province, Mosul, and Ninawa Province.
US begins training Syrian rebels to fight ISIL group US defence secretary says 90 moderate Syrian rebels have begun training in Jordan to fight against ISIS armed group and the US plans to train 15,000 rebels.
A woman was forced to restore her virginity 20 times after abuse before marriage to Isis fighters Zainab Bangura, special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, states that ISIS "have institutionalized sexual violence and the brutalization of women as a central aspect of their ideology and operations."
Policy and Reports
Statement on a Syrian Policy Framework Bassam Khabieh projects that the Syrian war will worsen if continued on its current trajectory, while no side is winning.
Why Assad Is Losing Charles Lister analyzes the offensive pushes that Syria’s rebels are making in Syria to topple Assad. The regime has become significantly weaker, but the war is long from over.
169 Civilians including 42 Children and 30 Women have been Killed by the International Collation Forces This report, by the Syrian Network For Human Rights, documents the targeting of Ber Mahli village in Aleppo suburbs where 64 civilians were killed. Full report can be found here.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Syria: New spate of barrel bomb attacks Syrian government has carried out numerous attacks that have had devastating impact on civilians. Link provides video and images showing the damage dealt.
Kite Runner author, Khaled Hosseini, on life for Syria`s refugees Hosseini shares his experiences on his visit to the refugee camps in Jordan.
Samantha Power: `Assad Must Go` (May 5, 2015) | Charlie Rose The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations tells Charlie Rose that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad must leave power before the problem of ISIL can be addressed in Syria and elsewhere in the middle east.
شركاء في الحياة ،،شريكين في تحمل الم الحرب In this audio episode from White and Black program at Radio Souriat, a Syrian woman shares her refugee story to Erbil, Iraq.
بالصور: عناصر من تنظيم الدولة يتنزهون مع السبايا الإيزيديات في الرقة This article shares photos of ISIS fighters promenading with Yazidi abducted women and children.
Arabic:
عودوا من حيث أتيتم الطريق مقطوعة Lubna Mohammed shares her story during the beginning of the liberation of East Ghouta.
سورية مناطق نفوذ ... وإيران تلوّح بـ «الخطة ب» Ibrahim Hamidi comments on Iranian withdrawal from supporting Syrian regime`s troops in Idlib.
مشافي كفرنبل تعمل بطاقتها القصوى Maha Rabah writes about the reality of hospitals in Kafr Nabl.
"داعش" يبدأ تجميل الموصل احتفالاً بذكرى تأسيسه ISIS started a beautification campaign of Mosul city in order to prepare to celebrate the anniversary of establishing the Islamic State.
النظام السوري و«داعش»... و«حزام الأمان» المترنّح في جنوب دمشق Mahmoud Sarhan comments on recent development between conflict parties in Southern Damascus.
سوريا: في النموذج الطائفي؟! Moataz Hiso explores the applicability of the Sectarian Model in the Syrian case.
“توبا” تجسّد قصة سورية في غابات اسطنبول Turkish actress Tuba Büyüküstün plays a role in short movie that portrays a story of a Syrian refugee family in Turkey.
الإحتواء المزدوج للثورة السورية Najm Samman writes about the consequences of the double containment of the Syrian Revolution.
"طلعنا عالحرية" من سوريا إلى الأردن This article reports about a play in Jordan that was performed by 25 Syrian refugee children.
«باب الحارة» مفتوح على فتاوى تكفير ويهود This article reports about the new season of Bab Al-Hara which will introduce new themes concerned with historical authenticity and Damascene jewish population.
لماذا يتزوج المهاجر من فتاة سورية ؟ Noor Mahdi explores marriage manners under the rule of ISIS and the increasing marriages between Syrian women and immigrant Mujahidin.