Syria

By Allison McCulloch, Brandon University and Dr. Sören Keil, University of Passau (The Conversation) – The end of a half-century of Assad family rule in Syria marked a turning point in the country’s deadly 13-year civil war after rebel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) conquered Damascus. A peace resolution for Syria was long […]

Salafis

Syria’s New Government is already Oppressing Women, Posing a dire Threat to their Future

The Conversation

By Vrinda Narain, McGill University and Fatemeh Sadeghi, UCL (The Conversation) – As the international community celebrates the fall of another dictatorship following the collapse of Syria’s Assad regime, the future of women’s rights remains precarious. Global leaders are commending Syria’s liberation and discussing the return of 5.5 million refugees, but women’s rights advocates are […]

Displaced and Refugees

What challenges do Syrian Refugees face as they return Home?

Global Voices

Written byRami Alhames Syrian and Iraqi refugees arrive at Skala Sykamias Lesvos, Greece. Image by Georgios Giannopoulos via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. ( Globalvoices.org ) – Since the eruption of the Syrian civil war in 2011, millions of Syrians have fled their country, seeking refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. Thirteen years on, a significant number […]

Syria

Syria: Challenges facing Ahmad al-Shara as he Strives for Legitimacy both Inside and Outside the Country

The Conversation

(The Conversation) – Rahaf Aldoughli, Lancaster University The fall of the Assad regime after more than 50 years and the rise of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has brought Syria to a critical turning point. Decades of Ba’athist rule entrenched deep ideological and emotional divides within Syrian society. Aside from the massive job […]

Featured

After Syrian opposition’s Victory, is Türkiye on Verge of Dominating the Middle East?

Volkan Isbasaran

Istanbul (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – Following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Türkiye aims to capitalize on the Syrian opposition’s victory to solidify its position as a key regional player. For over a decade, Türkiye has been a staunch supporter of the Syrian opposition, providing military aid, diplomatic support, and serving […]

Israel

How will the new Syria handle its Greater Israel Problem?

Middle East Monitor

By Muhammad Hussein | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – When Israel’s far-right extremist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged in October his aim for a Jewish state that encompasses not only all of the Palestinian territories, but also extends to Syria, some speculated about how such a goal would be achieved. In Israel’s classic […]

Iran

Syria’s De Facto Leader Wants To Maintain ‘Respectful’ Ties With Iran, Russia

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty

( RFE/RL ) – New Syrian de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa told the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television channel that he wants relations with Iran and Russia, but he insisted any ties must be based on mutual “respect.” Russia and Iran were major allies of Syria under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad until the totalitarian […]

Bashar al-Assad

What is the Drug Captagon and how is it Linked to Syria’s Fallen Assad Regime?

The Conversation

By Nicole Lee, Curtin University (The Conversation) – After the fall of the al-Assad regime in Syria, large stockpiles of the illicit drug captagon have reportedly been uncovered. The stockpiles, found by Syrian rebels, are believed to be linked to al-Assad military headquarters, implicating the fallen regime in the drug’s manufacture and distribution. But as […]

Syria

What next for Syria? The Danger of Violence in post-war Transitions

The Conversation

By Chelsea Johnson, University of Liverpool Images emerging from Syria over the past week have shown jubilation on the streets, as millions celebrate the end of 24 years of repression under Bashar al-Assad. It is rare for rebels to manage to tip the scales in their favour and win a war outright after such a […]