[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
Arabs in Syria’s Deir Az Zor protest against Kurdish forces (30 June, 2019) As discontent increases in eastern Syria, as lack of jobs and government services in Deir ez-Zor, under the control of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Arab residents have continued to escalate resistance.
Rights group says Syria co-opting humanitarian efforts (28 June, 2019) A ninety-one-page Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has accused the Syrian government of taking advantage of humanitarian aid efforts to solidify repressive policies. According to HRW, the Syrian government has developed a legal and policy framework to divert donated resources to its bases of support.
Thousands of students take primary and secondary school exams on northwest Syria amidst bombing campaign (27 June, 2019) After a two-week delay due to the difficulties faced by the Education Ministry of the oppositional Syrian Interim Government (SIG), thousands of students in Idlib sat down to take final exams amidst the chaos of increased fighting and displacement.
Damascus explosion wounds pro-government analyst’s wife, son (27 June, 2019) Syrian media has reported a car-bomb attack in Damascus, targeting a pro-government political analyst, believed to be Taleb Ibrahim. Ibrahim was not in the car at the time of the explosion, though his wife and son were wounded.
No flour left in al-Rukban: Around 70% of camp’s residents have forcibly left (25 June, 2019) As a result of the Syrian government’s tightening siege, the desert refugee camp of Rukban along the Jordanian border is left without flour and basic necessities, forcing the twelve thousand remaining residents to rely on smugglers for food.
Fires consume thousands of hectares of farmland in northeast Syria; No end in sight (24 June, 2019) More than forty thousand hectares of farmland in northeastern Syria have been consumed by raging fires, continuing now for a second month. Despite the efforts of local Autonomous Administrations to contain the disaster, several civilians have died in recent days trying to fight the blaze.
UN warns of humanitarian disaster in Syria’s Idlib (24 June, 2019) Since launching its offensive to regain control of Idlib province, the only remaining opposition-held territory in Syria, the Syrian government has been accused of employing scorched-earth policies. It is estimated that nearly five hundred civilians have been killed since the offensive began nine weeks ago.
Syrian photojournalist Amjad Hassan Bakir killed in suspected regime missile strike (21 June, 2019) Ahmad Hassan Bakir, a Syrian photojournalist who was embedded with opposition group Free Idlib Army, was killed in a missile attack in Kafr Houd, Idlib. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Bakir’s killing and urged all parties involved to guarantee journalists’ safety.
One year after reconciliation, why are southern Syria’s residents paying out of pocket for public services? (20 June, 2019) Residents of Daraa’s countryside in southern Syria, a year after returning under the control of the Syrian government, have been left without services from the municipality, forcing them to fund their own reconstruction efforts.
Aleppo beekeepers no longer feel sting of war (18 June, 2019) Beekeeping, one of the oldest professions in the countryside of Aleppo, is an industry that has suffered over eight years of civil war, though now it shows signs of recovery.
Syrian higher education system facing ‘complete breakdown’ after eight years of war - study (18 June, 2019) Researchers from the University of Cambridge, in working with Syrian academics in exile, have found that Syria’s higher education system is “fragmented and broken,” as a result of years of politicization and militarization of universities.
Idlib’s ‘relentless’ onslaught vs. northeastern Syria’s ‘fragile stability’ (14 June, 2019) An interview with Hassan Hassan and Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on the recent onslaught by the Syrian government and Russia on Idlib and the challenges faced by populations living in former Islamic State (IS) territory.
Ex-FSA fighters recruited by Damascus to fight opposition in northern Syria (13 June, 2019) Former-rebel militants, who had reached settlements with the Syrian government in various territories reclaimed by the regime, have begun fighting on behalf of the government against rebel militants in northern Syria. These fighters have largely been recruited from Dar’a and Quneitra, though many from Homs and Damascus have joined the fight as well.
Intel: How Russia is trying to calm Turkey-Syria relations (13 June, 2019) As tensions continue to rise between Turkey and the Syrian government, Russia has negotiated a ceasefire in opposition-controlled Idlib, to take place in the entirety of the de-escalation zone. This comes as the international community braces for an impending humanitarian crisis in the last rebel-held territory in Syria.
Russia military reports cease-fire in Syria (12 June, 2019) In an attempt to halt the upsurge of violence over the last month in northwestern Idlib, the Russian military reports that a cease-fire had been negotiated between the Syrian government and Turkey, which controls much northern territory in Syria and backs the opposition.
Distrust of SDF, unclear future divide Syrian tribal massacre area (10 June, 2019) Al-Monitor traveled to the Shaitat area of Deir ez-Zor, scene of a 2014 massacre in which up to a thousand mostly men and boys were killed within a few weeks after the tribe rose up against the Islamic State, to understand how the people there are dealing with the Kurdish-led SDF.
Syrian rebel town buries goalie who became ‘singer of the revolution’ (9 June, 2019) Abdelbaset Sarout, the former goalkeeper who became an icon of the uprising, was laid to rest in the border town of al-Dana after dying of injuries sustained while fighting for Jaysh al-Izza in northern Hama. Thousands attended the funeral.
Syrian soccer goalie who became rebel icon dies in battle (8 June, 2019) Abdelbaset Sarout, who rose to fame as a goalkeeper for the national team before becoming in icon of the 2011 rebellion, has died of wounds suffered in battle while fighting Syrian government forces in northern Hama.
American women and children who lived under ISIS in Syria returned to U.S. (7 June, 2019) The Syrian government is sending two women and six children with ties to the Islamic State (IS) back to the United States. They are among the thousands of foreign nationals who are detained in camps across Syria.
Syrian attacks on civilians continue amid rebel counterattack (7 June, 2019) The opposition in Idlib, dominated by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a counterattack on government forces, making strategic advances in the last rebel enclave, resulting in dozens of casualties for both the government and the rebels.
Syrian farmers suffer as Kurds' crops set ablaze (7 June, 2019) Kurdish authorities in eastern Syria say politically motivated arsonists are setting fire to agricultural lands, destroying thousands of acres of farmers' crops. Believing the arsonists are related to the Islamic State (IS), Kurdish authorities urged locals to take precautions to protect their crops.
Syria’s new Assad statues send a sinister message: ‘We are back’ (7 June, 2019) After retaking cities and territories previously lost during the 2011 uprising, the Syrian government has replaced the statues of figures of the Assad family torn down during the uprising, cementing the perception that all resistance is futile.
In Syria, an orphanage cares for children born to Yazidi mothers enslaved by ISIS (6 June, 2019) As a result of the Islamic State’s (IS) genocidal campaign against the Yazidi communities, hundreds of children born to Yazidi women raped by IS fighters are in limbo, abandoned by traumatized mothers and rejected by Yazidi communities.
Kurdish security forces detain reporter Tawfiq al-Saghir in northern Syria (6 June, 2019) Kurdish security forces in the northern Syrian city of al-Hasakah should immediately release journalist Mohammad Tawfiq al-Saghir, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Al-Saghir's employer and the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency stated that his arrest was due to his coverage of fires in wheat fields in Qamishli, which have become a point of political tension between the local Kurdish administration and the Syrian government.
Syrian air defences respond to rebel drones in Hama province: state TV (4 June, 2019) Syrian state TV has reported that rebels launched a drone attack on a helipad in Hama province, though no further details were made available.
Doctors in Idlib will no longer share coordinates of hospitals with UN after repeated attacks from Russian and Syrian forces (3 June, 2019) Doctors working in rebel-held northern Syria will no longer share the locations of medical facilities with the United Nations after doing so failed to stop them being targeted by airstrikes. The move reflects a growing desperation on the part of doctors and medical staff working inside Idlib, as they struggle to treat patients while dealing with an unprecedented level of attacks on their facilities.
Syrian troops take village in last rebel stronghold (3 June, 2019) Syrian troops captured a village in the last rebel stronghold in the northwest province of Idlib, while a government airstrike killed at least three people, opposition activists and state media said.
Hundreds of ISIS relatives leave camp in northern Syria (3 June, 2019) A total of 800 Syrian women and children left al-Hol camp in Hasakeh province. The departure is the largest since the Islamic State’s (IS) territorial defeat in Syria in March, when the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces captured Baghouz, the last village controlled by the militants near the Iraqi border.
More Arab protests expected against Kurdish SDF in Syria (3 June, 2019) Weeks of Arab protests against Kurdish control here have mostly quieted during Ramadan but are expected to resume after the holy month ends 4 June. Deadly incidents in early May left a decidedly tense atmosphere. The residents are wary of speaking to the media and refuse to use their real names, citing fear of being killed or arrested.
Car bomb kills 13 in rebel-held northern Syrian town (2 June, 2019) A car bomb killed at least thirteen people Sunday night near a mosque in a northern town held by Turkey-backed fighters, and wounded dozens of people, Syrian opposition activists said. The town, which was once controlled by rival Kurdish fighters opposed to Turkey, has been hit by similar attacks in the past.
Syrian NGOs warn of mass displacement in last rebel-held area (1 June, 2019) Syrian NGOs decried the inaction of the international community amid mounting violence in the last rebel-held stronghold of Idlib, saying it had triggered the biggest wave of displaced people since the war began. The recent bombardments by Syrian government and Russian forces in the country's northwest have killed dozens of civilians and pushed three hundred thousand people towards Turkey's border.
Regional and International Perspectives
Israeli missile strike kills civilians: Syrian state media (30 June, 2019) Syrian state media has reported four civilian casualties, in addition to twenty-one injuries, in an attack by Israeli warplanes. Israeli missiles, believed to have been launched from Lebanese airspace, targeted Syrian military positions in Homs and Damascus outskirts.
Turkey says observation post in Syria’s Idlib attacked, no casualties (29 June, 2019) Turkey has accused the Syrian government of launching mortar attacks from its territory, targeting a Turkish observation post in northwestern Idlib province, though without any casualties. There have been similar Syrian government attacks on Turkish positions recently.
Netanyahu presses superpowers to remove Iranian forces in Syria (25 June, 2019) In a meeting between national security advisors from Israel, Russia, and the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu pressed the officials present to pursue ridding Syria of foreign forces, especially Iranians and their proxies. This comes as tensions continue to rise between Iran and the United States.
The other big story: With world’s eyes on Iran, Putin moves to avert conflict between Turkey and Syria (21 June, 2019) Russian President Vladimir Putin is rushing to contain a conflict between Syria and Turkey in Idlib province, as UN humanitarian officials warn of an impending humanitarian disaster in Idlib, with over 330,000 Syrians displaced.
Syria says it doesn’t want to fight with Turkey (18 June, 2019) The Syrian foreign minister says that Syria does not seek hostilities with Turkey, after the Turkish government reported attacks launched from territory controlled by the Syrian government on an observation post in Idlib.
Congress expands Pentagon aid in Syria to cover Islamic State prisoners (17 June, 2019) The US Senate has passed legislation granting the Pentagon more resources to help in its assistance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria. This legislation would give the SDF more leeway in building infrastructure for housing Islamic State (IS) detainees.
UN asks Russia for answers about bombed Syrian hospitals (16 June, 2019) The UN aid chief has asked the Russian government to explain its use of data regarding the location of Syrian hospitals. More than twenty hospitals have been targeted by attacks since Syrian government forces, aided by Russia, launched an offensive in Idlib in late April.
Turkish post in Syria’s Idlib hit by mortar fire; 3 wounded (13 June, 2019) Turkey’s Defense Ministry has accused the Syrian government of launching mortar attacks against a Turkish observation post in Idlib, wounding three Turkish soldiers. Though Turkey has threatened the Syrian government with retaliation, Russia insists that militants in Idlib were responsible for the attack.
Lebanon asks Syrian refugees to demolish their houses (13 June, 2019) International agencies have criticised Lebanese authorities for threatening to demolish homes of thousands of Syrian refugees, if they do not remove the constructions themselves by the deadline in July.
The UN Made a List of Hospitals in Syria. Now They’re Being Bombed. (13 June, 2019) Many of the hospitals in insurgent-controlled territories have voluntarily shared their GPS coordinates with Russia, Assad’s ally, under a UN-run system referred to as “humanitarian deconfliction.” It does not seem to be helping. Some officials and activists now wonder if the “no-strike list” is being used to locate and destroy hospitals—the very opposite of what the United Nations intended.
Syria says it ‘thwarted’ Israeli missile attack (12 June, 2019) Syrian Air Defenses has reported a missile attack by Israel on Tal-Hara, considered a strategic hill which overlooks the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. This comes a week after Israeli warplanes attacked positions in southern Syria, killing three Syrian soldiers.
Up to two million Syrians could flee to Turkey if clashes worsen: U.N. (10 June, 2019) Up to two million refugees could flee to Turkey if fighting intensifies in northwestern Syria as aid funds run dangerously low, the United Nations said on Monday. The Syrian government and Russia have aimed to conclude the civil war in a final assault on Idlib, the last opposition-held territory.
Syrian Kurds hand over French, Dutch Islamic State orphans (10 June, 2019) Authorities in northeastern Syria have handed twelve French and two Dutch orphans whose fathers were killed fighting for the Islamic State group back to their countries, according to Kurdish and European officials. Thousands of IS members and their families are in camps and detention centers in northern Syria, including around 74,000 people who are being sheltered at al-Hol camp in Hasakeh province.
Tensions force evacuation of Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon (9 June, 2019) In the aftermath of a brawl with Lebanese local firefighters, dozens of Syrian refugees in Deir al-Ahmar in eastern Lebanon had to evacuate their tents on orders of local authorities. Officials say the decision was intended to prevent revenge attacks from residents in the town.
US Syria envoy says ‘no role’ for Europe in proposed safe zone (6 June, 2019) The United States has a “general” deal in place to establish a safe zone in northeastern Syria, the Trump administration’s top Syria policy official said, but the effort will not include European countries. The revelation comes after the United States tried for months to cajole the United Kingdom and France to put troops into the proposed safe zone.
What is Russia’s strategy in Idlib? (5 June, 2019) Russia is playing the long game with Turkey in the battle for the Syrian province of Idlib. The Syrian army assault in Idlib, supported by Russia, has been expected since last summer, yet it has only gradually materialized over the last couple of months. Russia is interested in helping President Bashar al-Assad retake control of all Syrian territory, including Idlib and the northeast. This, however, doesn't mean Moscow is happy about doing so militarily.
Armenia sends more mine-clearing experts, doctors to Syria (5 June, 2019) Armenia has sent a new team of experts to help clear mines and to provide medical services, said the Armenian Defense Ministry. Before the war, Aleppo in northern Syria was home to 110,000 ethnic Armenians, one of the world's largest Armenian diasporas. About twenty-two thousand have since moved to Armenia.
Why Turkey is closing down Syrian refugee camps (4 June, 2019) Since late 2018, Turkey has been closing down its refugee camps built for Syrians escaping the war-torn country. The Turkish government cites the high costs of the camps and the integration problems of Syrians to justify its decision. However, according to experts and human right activists, the real reason is an effort to encourage repatriation.
Russia halts UN Security Council statement on Syria’s Idlib (4 June, 2019) Russia blocked the UN Security Council on Monday from issuing a statement sounding alarm about the increasing fighting in and around Syria's Idlib province and the possibility of a humanitarian disaster.
UN: Syrian fighters burning vital farmland is ‘weapon of war’ (4 June, 2019) Thousands of hectares of vital crops and farmland have been set on fire by fighters in northwest Syria in a campaign that has turned food supplies into a "weapon of war," the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said. Both rebels and the Syrian government have blamed each other for the destruction.
What does Trump’s Golan proclamation mean for UNDOF? (3 June, 2019) Sometime in June the UN Security Council will vote to approve another six-month renewal of the mandate of the thousand-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) deployed in the Golan Heights. The US move changes everything. It removes the United States from an international consensus that Washington itself once led and that put an end to the October 1973 war, established a ceasefire that still holds, and enabled UNDOF’s establishment one year later.
Up to 10 fighters killed in Syria in Israeli airstrike (2 June, 2019) As many as 10 fighters were killed when Israel fired rockets at military sites in Syria early Sunday after rockets launched from Syria struck near a ski resort in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said that a military source reported three Syrian troops were killed and seven wounded in the Israeli airstrike.
Turkey, Russia face conflicts over Syria’s push into Idlib (1 June, 2019) Ankara and Moscow are again facing an escalation of violence in Syria's last rebel-held territory. An all-out offensive by Syrian government forces to capture Idlib in northwestern Syria from insurgents could unleash an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, for the area is home to three million people.
Policy and Reports
Pro-Assad Regime Forces Locked in Battle of Attrition in Idlib Province (28 June, 2019) The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) finds that the fighting in Idlib between the Syrian government and allied forces and the Syrian opposition has come to a stalemate, with the Syrian government unable to secure any major near-term gains.
Syria Situation Report: June 10 - 25, 2019 (27 June, 2019) The following Syria Situation Report (SITREP) Map summarizes significant developments in the war in Syria during the period 10 – 25 June 2019. The SITREP highlights include the reinforcement of pro-Bashar al Assad regime forces in Northern Hama Province, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces' restructuring of military councils, and Saudi Arabia's support for stabilization efforts in Eastern Syria.
Syrian Higher Education post-2011: Immediate and Future Challenges (18 June, 2019) This report, published by the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), examines the effects of the war since 2011 on Syrian higher education, investigating fragmentation, corruption, and politicization in Syrian universities.
The State of Higher Education in Syria Pre-2011 (18 June, 2019) In a collaboration between the British Council, the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), and faculty of education at the University of Cambridge, this report examines the state of Syrian higher education before the outbreak of the uprising in 2011.
Syria Situation Report: May 27 - June 11, 2019 (14 June, 2019) The following Syria Situation Report (SITREP) Map summarizes significant developments in the war in Syria during the period 27 May - 11 June 2019. The SITREP highlights include the reported use of anti-aircraft missiles by al-Qa‘ida's affiliate in Syria, Iran's further consolidation of power in a key town along the Syria-Iraq border, and a new recruitment opportunity for ISIS in Northeast Syria.
June 2019 Monthly Forecast The Security Council Report, working with the UN Security Council, forecasts the month of June by discussing key recent developments, human rights-related developments, and key issues and options for the Syrian crisis.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Ancient Mideast treasures looted on Facebook (26 June, 2019) Ancient relics, antiquities and treasures from the Middle East are being looted and trafficked on Facebook, according to a new report by the ATHAR Project. It found extremist groups and criminal organizations are selling pieces of history like mosaics, statues and historical architecture online. The project's co-directors, Amr al-Azm and Katie Paul, joined CBSN to explain how they infiltrated the illicit black market and Facebook's role in the trafficking.
“Facebook's Black Market in Antiquities: Trafficking, Terrorism, and War Crimes.” (June, 2019) An analysis of ninety-five Arabic Facebook groups developed for antiquities trafficking indicates that the administrators (“admins”) managing groups are highly interconnected and have a global reach. There are 488 individual admins managing a collective 1,947,195 members across ninety-five Facebook groups. Twenty-three of the admins managing four or more groups. Their influence extends as far as the United States, where an American antiquities dealer is Facebook friends with at least one admin who runs multiple trafficking groups and pages on Facebook.
FACEBOOK’S BLACK MARKET IN ANTIQUITIES: ICOM RED LIST ARTIFACTS OFFERED ON FACEBOOK (June, 2019) A selection of artifacts offered in antiquities trafficking groups on Facebook from 2014 onward have been compiled in this catalogue to provide a window into the range of items matching those found in ICOM Red Lists for Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen
BEHIND THE LINES (June, 2019) Shane Bauer writes about his observations in Syria: “There are four main types of Americans fighting on the ground in Syria: special forces soldiers, CIA agents, Islamic extremists, and anarchists. As I putter in a motorboat across the Tigris River one afternoon in May 2018, I have no idea which of these, if any, I will encounter in the weeks ahead. The Pentagon already told me I couldn’t tag along with its troops; the CIA doesn’t publicly admit to having anything to do with Syria; the extremists would be happy to see me dead; and the anarchists tend to be cautious about tipping off the feds that they are fighting in a foreign country.”
Maps
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 17 – 23 JUNE 2019 Attacks against military forces were recorded in the northeast, while attacks against government-aligned personnel continued in southern Syria. Five underwater oil pipelines were attacked near Baniyas in western Syria.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 10 – 16 JUNE 2019 Government and opposition forces solidified gains made from the previous week in Idlib, while attacks against government-aligned personnel in the south and ISIS ambushes in central Syria continued.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 3-9 JUNE 2019 Syrian government forces made advances in southwestern Idleb, while attacks were recorded in Turkish-controlled territories. ISIS claims several low-level attacks against the Syrian government in central Syria, and small skirmishes against the SDF took place in eastern Syria.
Syria Conflict Mapping Project | WEEKLY CONFLICT SUMMARY | 27 MAY – 2 JUNE 2019 Advances by the Syrian government against Hayyat Tahrir ash Sham (HTS) in Idleb stalled again, while ISIS and Israeli activity were recorded in central and southern Syria. Additionally, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) conducted several security operations in eastern Syria.
Arabic Links
(29 June, 2019)
اليوم، على رغم حدوث تطورات لافتة وخطيرة على صعيد الملف السوري، انتقل هذا الملف بشكل أو آخر إلى مكانة ثانوية، خاصة مع تصاعد ضجيج الملف الإيراني في الأسابيع الأخيرة
سوريا: شركات الصرافة تمتنع عن بيع الدولار
(28 June, 2019)
يفرض النظام على السوريين في الداخل تسلم حوالاتهم بالليرة السورية وفق السعر الرسمي البالغ 435 ليرة للدولار، كما يفرض على شركات الصرافة تسليم المبالغ الواصلة إليها من الدولار إلى المركزي بسعر 438 ليرة
رابطة العمل الشيوعي في سورية بعض ما لها وما عليها
(27 June, 2019)
أما الآن، فيبدو أن الناشطين في الحقل السياسي من الشخصيات التي لعبت دوراً في تأسيس الرابطة، أصبحوا يمثلون تيارات وتوجهات متناقضة فكرياً وسياسياً: فالبعض غادر الماركسية إلى غير رجعة، لاجئاً إلى الفكر الليبرالي، في حين يرى آخرون أن الماركسية لم تنهر بانهيار جدار برلين بل البيروقراطيات الاشتراكية هي التي انهارت. وفي السياسة يصبح التمايز أشد وأقسى ، حيث تتناقض المواقف من مسائل عديدة : الموقف من التدخل الغربي في سورية، الموقف من الحوار مع النظام، الموقف من الحوار مع فصائل المعارضة الفاعلة وخصوصاً المسلحة منها.
النساء السوريات يكسرن القيود ويقدن المجتمع المدني
(27 June, 2019)
خلال سنوات الحرب تبدلت الأدوار الجندرية في مجال العمل بالتعليم والصحة والإعلام نتيجة غياب الرجل لأسباب متعددة مرتبطة بالنزاع المسلح؛ فبرز دور المرأة السورية في مجالات شتى، فقد كانت المراسلة الحربية والمعلمة والطبيبة والمقاتلة الصامدة في وجه الظلم. كان للمرأة أيضاً مشاركةً ملحوظةً في بناء المجتمع المدني وصنع القرار على أسس علمية وديمقراطية عبر مشاركتها وانتسابها لمنظماته النسوية، إضافة إلى دورها في تأسيس بعض المنظمات بهدف حماية المرأة من آثار الحرب والصراع الحاصل وتوعيتها بحقوقها ودورها في المجتمع، والعمل على تنمية قدراتها بشتى المجالات كي يكون لها دور فاعل ومؤثر في صناعة السلام بالمستقبل. وفي الشمال السوري، حيث تعمل معظم المنظمات المدنية المحلية في مجال التنمية، مارست النساء دوراً ريادياً في هذا المجال ووجدت المنظمات المدنية بيئة مناسبة لتنمية قدراتهن
اليسار التائه بين شعارات متنافرة
(25 June, 2019)
فقد اليسار بوصلته ومعاييره التي نشأ عليها، وأهمها مناهضة الغرب الاستعماري ومركزه الرئيسي الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وباقي الحواضر الغربية، والدفاع عن الفقراء والمهمشين والاستقلال الوطني في حالة تغريبية عجيبة ، وأصبح حلم معظم هذه القوى –وحتى الأفراد– العمل كوكلاء مؤجرين وأحيانا بالمجان عن مصالح تلك البلدان بوجه شعوبهم المقهورة والمسحوقة، والجزء الثاني التحق بالإسلام سواء السياسي أو الدعوي، ولم يبق خارج الاتجاهين سوى تجمعات وأفراد يتعثرون في قناعاتهم.
الأردن يمنع استيراد الخضار والفواكه من سورية
(24 June, 2019)
قررت وزارة الزراعة الأردنية، منع استيراد الخضار والفواكه السورية عبر المعابر الحدودية للأردن.
وحسب بيان صدر عن الوزارة، جاء هذا القرار حرصاً على صحة وسلامة المواطنين، وذلك بسبب احتوائها على متبقيات المبيدات بمستويات عالية وحماية المزارعين المحليين من المنافسة غير العادلة لانخفاض أسعارها
(20 June, 2019)
لماذا ينضم بعض مقاتلي المعارضة السورية إلى صفوف قسد؟ أية أسباب وأهداف؟ وما أثر ذلك؟ وبالمقابل، مالذي تفعله قسد قد تتمكن من جذبهم؟ وإلام ترمي؟ هنا تحقيق لمراسلنا في ريف إدلب الشمالي، يسلط الضوء على هذه المسألة
بعد مرور عام على المصالحة، لماذا يدفع سكان جنوب سوريا أموالهم الخاصة مقابل الخدمات العامة؟
(20 June, 2019)
تختلف الظروف المعيشية ومستوى الخدمات من مدينة إلى أخرى في جنوب سوريا، وجزء من هذا التباين هو نتاج اختلاف مخرجات المفاوضات من بلدة إلى أخرى، وبعضها لا يزال في حالة تفاوض مع الحكومة، وقد يكون إهمال تقديم الخدمات من الحكومة بهدف الضغط على الأهالي لإجلائهم من مناطق استراتيجية كـ"حوض اليرموك.
The English version of this article can be found here:
عبد العزيز الخير، تجارب متنوعة ومصير واحد
(18 June, 2019)
اتضح جيداً أن النهج السياسي للهيئة، التي كان عبد العزيز الخير ناطقاً باسمها، قام على مبدأ، قد يبدو عقلانياً ولكنه غير فعال في الثورة، وهو إمساك العصا من المنتصف، ما همّش الهيئة مع الوقت وجعلها ضعيفة في تمثيل الثورة. من البديهي إنه لا يمكن رفض العسكرة بصورة جزئية، الشيء نفسه ينطبق على التدخل الخارجي. وحين يفتح الباب أمام العسكرة سوف ترافقها الطائفية بحكم الضرورة، لأن العسكرة تتطلب الحشد وهذا يتحقق جيداً بالتعبئة الطائفية، وتتطلب السلاح والتمويل وهذا تؤمنه دول تنظر إلى الصراع في سوريا نظرة طائفية وترعاه دول كبرى تتبنى النظرة نفسها.
من هو “الأوليغارشي السوري” الذي أوقعته واشنطن في شباك عقوباتها
(17 June, 2019)
“الأوليغارش السوري” وصفٌ أطلقته الإدارة الأميركية على رجل الأعمال السوري سامر الفوز، المقرّب من نظام الأسد، بسبب حيازته استثمارات كبيرة خلال سنوات الحرب الثمانية.
التعهدات الدولية "مجرد كلام".. إجلاء لاجئي "دير الأحمر" إلى أرض نائية دون خدمات
(13 June, 2019)
الحديث عن أوضاع اللاجئين السوريين في لبنان ودفعهم للعودة إلى ديارهم ليس جديداً، ولكنه أخذ منحاً أكثر قسوة، تزامناً مع اجماع سياسي متزايد حول مصير اللاجئين بين الأحزاب المسيحية والشيعية، ووسط أزمة اقتصادية تلوح في الأفق، وتشكيل حكومة تضم العديد من السياسيين المؤيدين للأسد في وقت سابق من هذا العام
(13 June, 2019)
يبدو استشهاد الساروت اليوم وكأنه قد فتح نافذةً لنا جميعاً على ذاكرتنا عن 2011، عن أنفسنا وتصوراتنا في تلك اللحظة التي غيرتنا جميعاً، تلك اللحظة التي شعرنا فيها أننا نمتلك قرار تحديد مصيرنا، ونمتلك أصواتنا العالية والمبحوحة.
عن الساروت الذي أنار الطريق ومضى
(12 June, 2019)
أثار مقتل عبد الباسط الساروت، في ريف حماه، في معركة مع النظام والميليشيات المتحالفة معه، جدالات كثيرة في وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، على رغم أنه حظي بإجماع وباحتفاء بين السوريين لم يسبق أن حظي به أحد قبله، منذ بداية الثورة، إلا أن ذلك لم يسلم من وجهات نظر حاولت أن تطرح رأياً آخر، أو مختلفاً، في شأنه.
قبيسيات في السويداء: “الست بتلة” وأتباعها
(11 June, 2019)
“الست بتلة” هو اللقب الذي اختارته “سلطانة عامر” لنفسها منذ عشرات السنين لتشتهر به السيدة التي تحظى باحترام وتقدير واسع في أوساط المتدينين، وتشير بعض الشائعات المحلية إلى أن للست نفوذاً كبيراً لدرجة أنها باتت الآمرة الناهية في مجتمع السويداء.
عن عبد الباسط الساروت الّذي يعيد إنتاج نفسه
(10 June, 2019)
الركون إلى الترهيب لجعل المكوّنات السورية “تقبل” بعضها سينتج مجتمعاً يتظاهر بالإلفة، لكنْ ما إن تغيب سلطة الشرطة/ الدولة، حتّى تعومَ الأصولية على سطح المشهد
من رعب الحرب الى رعب الحدود السورية التركية
(10 June, 2019)
تعتبر القرى الحدودية شمال سوريا مكانا مؤقتا لمئات العائلات التي تستقر لفترات متفاوتة قد تصل إلى شهر أو أكثر في محاولتها العبور إلى الطرف التركي. العديد من العائلات حاولت قطع الحدود أكثر من عشر مرات ولم تتمكن من ذلك، بينما تمكنت عائلات أخرى من قطعها من المحاولة الأولى.
(9 June, 2019)
بلغت قيمة ودائع الزبائن في المصارف الإسلامية (3 مصارف) نحو 243.7 مليار ليرة سورية، ما نسبته 23.1% من إجمالي ودائع الزبائن، محققة زيادة بنسبة 36.36% عن العام السابق (2017)
في المقابل، بلغت القيمة الإجمالية لودائع الزبائن في المصارف التقليدية (10 مصارف من أصل 11) نحو 810.86 مليارات ليرة سورية، بزيادة نسبتها 20.9% عن العام السابق، وتشكل تلك الودائع 76.9% من إجمالي الودائع
من يحرق حقول القمح والشعير في المناطق الكردية ؟؟؟
(7 June, 2019)
- أخمدت فرق الإطفاء بالتنسيق مع قوات الأمن الداخلي في شمال وشرق سوريا التابعة للإدارة الذاتية الكردية يوم السبت 1 حزيران , النيران التي التهمت ٦٠٠ دونم من حقول القمح في قرية "خربة بستان " في ريف مدينة "عامودا" شمال محافظة الحسكة واحترقت 10 هكتارات من قرى" الشلهومية" في مدينة "تربه سبيه" شرق مدينة " القامشلي " فيما تستمر الحرائق بالتهام آلاف الهكتارات في مناطق "الطبقة " و"الرقة" و"دير-الزور" و"كوباني" و"الحسكة" و"القامشلي" و"منبج" منذ 20 أيار.
The English version of this article can be found here:
Syrian farmers suffer as Kurds' crops set ablaze
حوار مع محمد (أبو علي) صالح (١): حزب العمل الشيوعي والاعتقال وربيع دمشق (6 June, 2019)
حوار مع محمد (أبو علي) صالح (٢): الطائفية ومجزرة الساعة في حمص (14 June, 2019)
يعد محمد صالح، المعروف بأبو علي صالح، أحد أهم شخصيات الحراك السلمي الأهلي والمصالحة في مدينة حمص، ومن الشاهدين على أحداثها من ثورة وحرب، وفي هذا اللقاء من جزئين، الذي أجراه عمر عباس لصالح صالون سورية يتحدث أبو علي عن تجربته في المعتقل كسجين سياسي وذكرياته حول تطور الأحداث التي خبرها هناك، وتحديداً الوضع في حمص في أعقاب الحراك الشعبي الذي بدأ في درعا.
لماذا فشلت قوات النظام في اقتحام منطقة كبانة في ريف اللاذقية الشمالي؟
(6 June, 2019)
تقع منطقة كبانة في ريف اللاذقية الشمالي، وغربي محافظة ادلب، وتتوسط منطقة جبلية وعرة التضاريس، وتحيط بها التلال المرتفعة من كل جانب ما يؤمن حماية لقوات المعارضة المتمركزة فيها من القصف ومن هجمات قوات النظام، ولدى المعارضة في كبانة تحصينات عسكرية جيدة مثل الخنادق، والأنفاق تمكنها من التصدي للهجمات التي تستهدف مواقعها
The English version of this article can be found here:
US investigating claims that Syria again used chlorine gas
حرب على غابات الساحل السوري... من يحرقها عمدا؟
(5 June, 2019)
في يوم 3 تشرين الثاني عام 2016، اندلعَ خمسة عشر حريقاً في جبال ريف اللاذقية في وقت واحد، بعد مغيب الشمس بساعات قليلة، كان أكبرها في محيط قرية إبراهيم، الأمر الذي طرح أسئلة كثيرة: هل هي حرائق بفعل "الطبيعة" أم حرائق متعمدة؟ وإن كانت كذلك؟ فمن يقف وراء ذلك؟ وكيف يفعل ذلك؟
The English version of this article can be found here:
War on The Forests of The Syrian Coast
محاكمة رفعت الأسد في باريس تبدأ في ديسمبر المقبل
(5 June, 2019)
بعد تحقيقات استغرقت خمس سنوات، أمر القاضي رينو فان رويمبكي... بفتح محاكمة بحق رفعت الأسد، لكشف ما إذا كان مسؤولاً عن تبييض أموال واختلاس أموال عامة سورية، وعن تشغيل عمال في منزله بشكل غير مشروع والدفع لهم نقداً.
(2 June, 2019)
تبلغ نسبة العاملين بأجر من إجمالي عدد المشتغلين 66.5 بالمئة، ونسبة أصحاب الأعمال 3.7 بالمئة ونسبة العاملين لحسابهم الخاص 29.8 بالمئة، أي أنَّ العاملين بأجر يشكلون الغالبية العظمى ممن يُعوّل عليهم شراء السلع والخدمات المُنتجة.
"يونيسف": 125 ألف طفل نزحوا من المنطقة المنزوعة السلاح في سورية
(1 June, 2019)
134 طفلاً قتلوا ونزح 125 ألفاً، من جراء قصف قوات النظام السوري وروسيا للمدن والبلدات الواقعة في ريفي حماة الشمالي وإدلب الجنوبي، منذ بدء الحملة العسكرية على المنطقة المنزوعة السلاح حتى 27 من شهر مايو/ أيار الماضي