Archive: syria

27th April 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
It is now abundantly clear that the Syrian regime was responsible for the Sarin attack that killed dozens of people in Khan Sheikhoun earlier this month.  A declassified intelligence assessment released by the French government yesterday establishes beyond any reasonable doubt that the type of… Read more
23rd April 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
Since leaving the diplomatic service Peter Ford, a former British ambassador in Damascus, has become an outspoken critic of western policies towards Syria and has described calls for President Assad to step down as "child-like". During the conflict Ford has also repeatedly disputed evidence of… Read more
7th April 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
One of the more effective examples of international cooperation has been the outlawing of chemical weapons. With just a few exceptions, the world has been remarkably successful in moving towards the completely eliminating them.  To date, only three countries – Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan –… Read more
27th January 2017
By: Brian Whitaker
In an apparent policy shift, Britain's foreign secretary has suggested that Bashar al-Assad could be allowed to contest a future presidential election in Syria. Since the start of the conflict in 2011, Britain has insisted that there can be no sustainable peace while Assad remains in power, though… Read more
21st November 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
Visiting Syria in 2004, Brad Hoff, an ex-Marine from Texas, went looking for cheap beer and chanced upon a bar where – to his surprise – most of the customers were gay. The existence of such a bar in Damascus, Hoff writes after visiting it again recently, is "symbolic of the nuance and… Read more
13th July 2016
By: Brian Whitaker
A visit to Syria last weekend by three members of the European Parliament has given the Assad regime a useful propaganda boost. Ahead of the visit the Syrian government news agency, Sana, reported: "A delegation from the European Parliament headed by Vice-President for the Committee on Foreign… Read more
27th November 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
1. Because everyone else seems to be doing it 2. Because we are already bombing in Iraq 3. Because it looks bad if the French are doing it and we aren't 4. Because the Russians are doing it and we don't like that 5.… Read more
23rd November 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
Later this week prime minister David Cameron will set out a new British strategy for Syria which is expected to include airstrikes on Syrian territory. Although Britain, as a member of the anti-ISIS coalition, is currently bombing in Iraq it is prevented from bombing in Syria because of a … Read more
10th August 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
There are few things more likely to infuriate Arab citizens than blatant abuse of privilege – when those with powerful connections behave as if the law does not apply to them. This is what led to a rare public outburst at the weekend in the Syrian city of Latakia in the Assad regime's heartland.… Read more
8th August 2015
By: Brian Whitaker
Rather belatedly, the United Nations has taken its first concrete step towards ending impunity for chemical attacks in Syria. Although any criminal charges are still a distant prospect, the move may be aimed more immediately at halting the use of chlorine as a weapon.  On Friday the Security… Read more