News Week – Donald Trump Must Talk to Russia and Syria If He Wants U.S. Out of War, Allies Say

Original Article by Tom O'Conner, News Week, 17 Sept 2020 The United States has fought in Syria for more than six years, and has been involved in the country's near-decade-long civil war for even longer. Now, ahead of a national election,…

National Interest – Rapprochement with Turkey Requires Ankara’s Respect for Religious Freedom

Original Article by Toufic Baaklini and Michael Rubin, National Interest, 09 Sept 2020 Throughout the Cold War and for a decade after, Turkey was perhaps America’s top partner in the region. U.S. presidents and secretaries of state spoke…

Summary: UN report on war crimes, atrocities committed by Turkish and other forces in Syria

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Turkish-backed militias are found culpable of an "onslaught" of war-crimes often conducted in the presence of Turkish officers An "onslaught of violations" against civilians including "war crimes" of "hostage-taking, cruel treatment, torture,…

Just Security – Despite US Veto, Desperate ISIS Suspects and Families Remain at Risk

Original Article by Letta Tayler, Just Security, 04 September 2020 There is good news and bad news from the Aug. 31 United Nations Security Council vote on a dangerously flawed draft resolution on so-called “foreign terrorist fighters,”…

Fox News – ISIS launched more than 100 attacks in Iraq in August, a sharp uptick from previous month

Original Article by Hollie McKay, Fox News, 04 September 2020 The remnants of ISIS in Iraq claimed 100 attacks across the embattled country over the past month alone, according to an assessment by the Terrorism Research and Analysis…

Syria Direct – ‘A ticking time bomb’: COVID-19 spike catches northeast Syria unprepared

Original Article by Will Christou, Syria Direct, 31 August 2020 AMMAN — “It’s a ticking time bomb; we’re maybe a month behind Damascus in terms of the COVID outbreak.” This is how a western aid worker involved in the COVID-19 response…

al-Monitor – COVID-19 cases increasingly rapidly in northeast Syria

Original Article by Al-Monitor Staff, Al-Monitor, 28 August 2020 COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in northeast Syria. The war-torn region is susceptible to an outbreak due to the effects of recent conflicts and the closure of an aid…

Al-Monitor – Turkey starves Syria’s northeast of water as virus death toll mounts

Original Article by Amberin Zaman, al-Monitor, 24 August 2020 The outcry over Turkey’s continued disruption of potable water supplies to the Hasakeh region of northeast Syria is growing louder. Humanitarian aid agencies…

The Jerusalem Post – Why is the US still helping Turkey sabotage its role in Syria?

Original article by Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post, 27 August 2020 Washington sent its most pro-Turkey diplomat to Ankara this week as Turkey’s regime hosted Hamas leaders in a red-carpet ceremony in Istanbul. Former US ambassador…

Syria Direct – Turkish dams threaten northeast Syria with ecological and economic blight

Original Article by Will Christou, Syria Direct, 11 August 2020 AMMAN — Last month, a sweltering heatwave hit Syria, with temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius), and in the sprawling camp of al-Hol in the…