Syria Conflict

War over economic routes heats up in Syria 

Syria’s economic collapse is stoking the struggle over commercial routes between government-held areas and US- and Turkish-backed enclaves, fueling also disagreements on humanitarian aid.

Turkey

Tribes in east Syria resort to their own judiciary over lack of trust in official courts

Tribes in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah agreed to set up a tribal judiciary system as an alternative to the official judiciary affiliated with the Kurdish-led authorities running the area.

Syria

Syria donor conference raises $6.4B, far short of UN target

Of the more than $6 billion raised during the pledging conference, $4.4 billion is set aside for this year.

Syria

Intel: US pledges nearly $600M in humanitarian aid to Syria

The Biden administration is also calling on the UN Security Council to allow the free flow of aid to opposition-held parts of Syria.

Syria

Kurdish forces in northeast Syria conduct security raid in al-Hol camp

The United Nations said the operation in al-Hol interfered with humanitarian services, but the US military, which supported the operation, said the disruption was minimal. Violence has increased greatly in the camp this year.

News Brief

Eastern Syrian region seeks stability, local control through division

After years of calls for greater local decision-making from the Arab majority in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor, the part of the region under the Kurdish-led SDF plans to divide the territory into four sections. What appears to have possibly been an attempt to assassinate the highest civilian authority in the region has meanwhile raised serious concerns.

Syria

In rebuke to Russia, Blinken presses UN to quit politicizing Syria aid

Blinken called on the UN Security Council to reauthorize a cross-border aid operation into Syria despite Russian and Chinese opposition.

Syria

Tribes in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor back Assad in upcoming elections

Tribal sheikhs in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor, some of whom are said to have been previously associated with the Islamic State in the province, attended a caucus in support of President Bashar al-Assad for the upcoming presidential elections.

Syria

Why is opposition arresting Kurds in northeast Syria?

A Kurdish civilian was tortured and killed after he was kidnapped by an armed opposition faction in north Syria, days after the United Nations condemned the detention of civilians in Syria.

Syria

Several dead in northwest Syria fighting

Civilians were killed in both government and rebel territory on Sunday.

News Brief

Syrian opposition hopeful on Qatari role in Russia, Turkey diplomacy

Speculations soared recently about signs of a political solution in Syria, as some parties in the opposition hope the Russian-Turkish-Qatari meeting would usher in a new chapter in the Syrian crisis.

Syria

Erdogan makes urgent appeal to West on grim 10-year mark of Syria’s war

Ankara desperately needs options to get out of the Syria quagmire, but the Turkish president's offer is likely to fall flat with the Biden administration.

Syria