Delivering Aid to Syria – An Increasingly Politicized Issue
With no agreement reached the mandate of the mechanism expired as of July 10. A similar situation occurred two years ago, and the UNSC worked to find a solution. This time again a settlement was reached. However, the US, the UK and France abstained. Contrary to the previous Resolutions, the new one extends the mandate only for a six months…
Russia and America: Holding Ground in Syria
As part of its campaign to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the U.S. maintains a minor military presence in north-east Syria. This presence is very small in terms of the number of soldiers deployed and the size of the military bases that exist in the area. The overt purpose behind this deployment, according to US officials, was to counter…
Turkiye, NATO and the YPG
What I witnessed in the YPG camp is a matter of record. That is why I believe that rather than label Turkiye as the spanner in the works on the issue of NATO expansion, it is important to at least try to understand its motives and maybe start addressing them. Only then can the alliance move towards a productive future relationship that will ensure the security of…
Europe: The Continent of Differing Values – Syria vs. Ukraine
According to the most recent data collected by the UNHCR, European countries host over 1 million of the 6.6 million Syrian asylum-seekers and refugees. “Burden” sharing is not equal within Europe. Germany and Sweden host most of the asylum-seekers and refugees, 59% and 11 % consecutively. France, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece host between 2 to 5% of Syrian refugees…
Where are the leaders of the Syrian revolution?
Most of the brave leaders of the Syrian revolution who fought against the regime are isolated and deserted. Those who remained in Syria are impoverished, while others who defected from the regime and fled to Europe as refugees are keeping their heads down for fear of the possibility of being tried as war criminals.
Syria’s Children
The war in Syria has been going on for over a decade. Unfortunately, it is become more and more difficult to find a comprehensive political solution.
How do we break the cycle of impunity in Syria and Ukraine?
Syria in other words uniquely illustrates the rise of impunity to the extent one is forced to ask does international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the laws of war have any real meaning anymore?
The Trial of a Franco-Syrian Islamist in France unveils a story of foreign infiltration
The dramatic story of Imam Ayashi and his role as an informant, forces us to contemplate the extent of foreign infiltration of two other powerful jihadi groups that have emerged during the Syrian revolution
The US pro- Iran policy: A Strategic Mistake
Moreover, even without acquiring nuclear weapons, Iran still poses a danger through its direct support for terrorist proxies which have undermined international peace and security. Iran's extremist propaganda is arguably much more dangerous than its nuclear program, as it is this propaganda which fuels sectarian violence and conflicts throughout much of the region. Therefore, any future agreement with Iran must…
Is the Assad Regime Secular?
Many in the Western media are still describing Al-Assad as “a secular leader.” Some, who want to be fairer, refer to the Syrian leader as “the secular dictator.” Indeed, even in the Arab media, the Al-Assad regime is also defined as a secular regime, while the Islamist media and scholars often use the argument that Al-Assad is secular to justify…
