National Interest – A Clash with Turkey Is Becoming Inevitable

Original Article by Michael Rubin, National Interest, 05 October 2020 Late last month, Mike Pompeo became the first secretary of State to visit Greece twice. While his initial remarks sought de-escalation, the reality is only one side is…

Washington Post – Kurdish-led zone vows to release Syrians from detention camp for ISIS families

Original Article by Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 05 October 2020 BEIRUT — Authorities in northeastern Syria said Monday that they were preparing to release thousands of Syrian families from a detention camp holding civilians displaced…

France24 – Syrie : des prisonnières affiliées à l’EI tentent de s’évader avec des enfants dans un camion-citerne

Original Article by Fatma Ben Hamad, France24, 22 September 2020 Dans cette vidéo diffusée le 11 septembre par une page d'informations locales sur Facebook, un camion-citerne est arrêté par des combattantes syriennes kurdes des Forces…

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…