Archive: syria
26th August 2013
There's now little doubt that the US is planning air strikes in Syria in response to last week's chemical attacks near Damascus – and that the strikes will go ahead with or without approval from the UN Security Council. The US will be supported in this politically, if not militarily, by a number of… Read more
25th August 2013
In a rare moment of international consensus over Syria, everyone now seems to accept that chemical weapons were used near Damascus last Wednesday. The continuing dispute is about who used them, with Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime claiming that rebel fighters were responsible.
Regardless of who… Read more
22nd August 2013
At an emergency meeting last night the UN Security Council in effect gave the Syrian regime a green light for chemical attacks on its citizens.
The council issued a feeble call for “clarity” in response to the deaths of hundreds of people near Damascus yesterday – deaths that appear to have been… Read more
21st August 2013
The obvious question raised by today's claims of chemical weapons attacks near Damascus is what the Assad regime could expect to gain, if indeed it was responsible for them.
Many are asking this question out of scepticism about the reports. Why do it when UN weapons inspectors are sitting in their… Read more
9th July 2013
Syrians from more than 40 different organisations met in Beirut last month to consider what role civil society might play in resolving the country's crisis. With no sign of a swift end to the armed conflict, and with many governments uncertain how to respond to it, the conference also sought to… Read more
7th June 2013
The British government's policy on Syria stems from wishful thinking, Rosemary Hollis, professor of Middle East Policy Studies at City University London, told BBC Radio 4 listeners this morning.
The question of selectively arming some of the rebels (i.e. those deemed worthy of British support) may… Read more
30th May 2013
Hizbullah's public confirmation of its military intervention in Syria continues to make waves. Here are some of the latest developments:
The United States yesterday described the intervention as "an unacceptable and extremely dangerous escalation" and called on Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters… Read more
30th March 2013
In an article for Syria Comment, Matthew Barber discusses a rare moment of realism this week in the Syrian parliament. During a televised session, MP Walid al-Zou'bi spoke about rebel gains in the province of Dera'a, next to the Jordanian border.
Zou'bi told the parliament that he had alerted the… Read more
23rd March 2013
To anyone who has followed events in Syria over the last 12 months it ought to be obvious that there's a popular struggle under way for liberation from a brutal and oppressive regime. The regime, meanwhile, is battling to hold on to power and the privileges of the clique around it. Lacking… Read more
9th March 2013
Let's suppose, just for the sake of argument, that the Americans had not invaded Iraq in 2003 and that Saddam Hussein were still in power there now. How would he view the conflict in neighbouring Syria? Would he be supporting the Assad regime, or not?
I began wondering about this a few days ago,… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
