Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts

Friday, December 20, 2024

Journeyman Pictures: The Village in Syria Where They Speak Jesus' Tongue

May 25, 2016 | Aramaic (2008): In a village in the Syrian countryside, Muslims and Christians live side-by-side and keeping the language of Christ, Aramaic, alive.

Monday, December 16, 2024

Assad Says He Left Hmeimim Base in Syria on 8 December for Moscow

THE GUARDIAN: Syria’s Bashar al-Assad said on Monday he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base in Syria on the evening of 8 December as it came under drone attacks, after leaving Damascus that morning with opposition fighters closing in. [Read more here.]

Friday, December 13, 2024

Syria: Inside Captagon Drug Factory which Funded Assad’s Brutal Regime

Dec 12, 2024 | It's been called the poor man's cocaine. Captagon: the drug that funded Bashar al-Assad's brutal rule in Syria. It's an amphetamine which - in high doses - induces feelings of euphoria and invulnerability.

Popular with soldiers, they say it offers 'chemical courage' and reportedly suppresses pain. And it's made the Assad family billions - more than 10 billion dollars a year, by recent estimates. Money it used to shore up a crumbling dynasty.

Correspondent: Lindsey Hilsum
Filmed and edited by Soren Munk
Produced by Rob Hodge



Related material here.

My God! And OUR PATHETIC Western politicians and governments worry about people enjoying a smoke: the smoke of a cigarette! It’s a pity that our politicians don’t get their priorities straightened out! They sweat the little things whilst the big things are ignored. Conveniently, of course, because they haven't the courage to tackle problems like this. Unbelievable! – © Mark Alexander

The Syrian Upheaval Has Iranian Leaders Reeling, Too

THE NEW YORK TIMES: For decades, Iran poured money and military aid into Syria, backing the Assad regime in its ambition to confront Israel. Now many Iranians are openly asking why.

People celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in front of the citadel in Aleppo, Syria. | Ivor Prickett for The New York Times

In the days since the abrupt and unexpected obliteration of Iran as a dominant presence in Syria, the government has faced a fierce public backlash over the billions of dollars spent and the Iranian blood shed to back the Assad regime.

The criticism has come from unexpected corners, including conservatives, and is flowing freely on television channels and talk shows, and in social media posts and virtual town halls attended by thousands of Iranians. It also appears on the front pages of newspapers every day.

One former lawmaker, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, said in a social media post that Iranians should rejoice at the fall of Iran’s longstanding ally, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. “No one will be able to waste Iran’s dollars for maintaining a spider web any more,” he said.

While opponents of the government have long bristled at the money Iran has sent all over the Middle East, the sentiment now seems to have spread. Even some who fought on their government’s behalf in Syria or lost family members in the civil war there are asking if it was worth it. » | Farnaz Fassihi | Friday, December 13, 2024

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

CNN Gets First-hand Look at Ousted Syrian President's Palace

Dec 11, 2024 | CNN's Clarissa Ward gets a first-hand look at the luxurious life the Assad family lived while touring the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's palace, taken over by rebel forces after the former president fled to Russia.

Assad’s Fall Has Changed the Middle East Forever

OPINION : GUEST ESSAY

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad not only upends decades of Assad family rule in Syria, it also promises to realign power across the Middle East.

The situation on the ground remains highly uncertain, especially around questions of whether the rebels can consolidate control and how they will govern if they do. But as a new reality in Syria sets in, a reordering of regional power dynamics is already taking shape that dramatically diminishes Iran’s influence and positions Turkey to play a critical role in shaping the future of a post-Assad Syria.

During Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, no fewer than six foreign militaries engaged in the conflict, underscoring the major geostrategic stakes at play. Among them, Iran stands out for its unfettered investment in propping up Mr. al-Assad, reportedly spending billions of dollars to support the regime and mobilizing tens of thousands of proxy militia fighters. For Tehran, Syria was the leading edge of its forward defense strategy, protecting its interests in the region by projecting its power and influence. The fall of Mr. al-Assad dramatically undercuts this influence, depriving Tehran of a key Arab ally and cutting the land bridge to its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. Uprooted from its decades-long strategic posture in Syria, Iran is unlikely to recover from this significant setback for the foreseeable future. » | Mona Yacoubian | Ms. Yacoubian is vice president for the Middle East and North Africa at the U.S. Institute of Peace. | Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Iran's Ayatollahs 'At Risk' as Assad's Ousting Humiliates Tehran | The Story

Dec 11, 2024 | As a new leadership emerges in Syria, disparate groups remain in control of different parts of the country. What action is being taken by the rest of the world, and what does it mean for countries like Iran?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times.

Guest: Mark Urban, Writer and Columnist, The Sunday Times.
Host: Luke Jones.


Tuesday, December 10, 2024

'There Were 59 of Us Locked in a 4x4 Cell': Syrian Shares Horror of Assad's Jails

Dec 10, 2024 | Former detainee Mahmoud Salmon describes the horrors of being imprisoned in Syria, when he was 17-years-old, for taking part in a peaceful protest against the Assad regime.

He told Sky News about his and his other inmates' experience of mental and physical torture.


Mohammed al-Bashir Appointed as Syria’s Interim Prime Minister

Dec 10, 2024 | Syria's new administration has appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as prime minister. He will be tasked with forming a transitional government.

On Monday he met with the former prime minister, and the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, to discuss the transfer of power.

Al-Bashir faces the challenge now of uniting a country that has been at war for more than a decade.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid has more from Idlib, in northwestern Syria.


Monday, December 09, 2024

Syrian Rebels Broadcast First News Bulletin on State Television

Dec 8, 2024 | Syrian rebels have broadcast their first news bulletin on state television, announcing that they have 'won the bet and toppled the criminal Assad regime'.

Sunday, December 08, 2024

Jihadi Terrorists Now Rule Syria

THE TELEGRAPH: Assad’s overthrow is welcome news. But our enemy’s enemy is not our friend

The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria is down to Hamas. The terrorist group’s invasion of Israel on October 7 last year triggered a chain of events that severely weakened Iran and consequently left its Syrian client exposed. Alongside Russia, Tehran had been propping up Assad since the rebellion against his rule that began in 2011. During its defensive war following the October 7 massacres, however, Israel inflicted huge damage on Iran’s two most important proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition Iran itself was revealed to be a paper tiger during the damaging counter-strikes that followed Tehran’s largely ineffective missile barrages against Israel. » | Richard Kemp | Sunday, December 8, 2024

In a very short time, I fear that getting rid of Bashar al-Assad will not be something to celebrate. If I am not greatly mistaken, what will come next will be far, far worse. I believe that it is very naïve to think that all will now be well in Syria just because the Syrians are rid of Bashar al-Assad. Their problems are just beginning. The West is on the wrong side of history on this, yet again. – © Mark Alexander

Who Is the Leader of Syrian Islamist Group HTS, and How Is the Region Reacting to Assad's Downfall?

Dec 8, 2024 | The Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has toppled the regime of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. The group insists it has renounced its ties to al-Qaeda and that it will respect pluralism and the rights of minorities. Since the downfall of Assad’s regime, the Syrian President has reportedly fled the country and been granted asylum in Russia. Meanwhile Israel has seized a buffer zone in the Syrian-controlled area of the Golan Heights. It says this is a temporary but necessary measure since Syrian soldiers had abandoned their positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said their departure means Israel's 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria has collapsed, and Israeli forces must now take over the territory to protect against any potential threats.

Syria: Bashar al Assad Is in Moscow, Says Russian State Media

Dec 8, 2024 | Russian state media says fallen Syrian president Bashar al Assad is in Moscow with his family.

Quoting a source in the Kremlin, Russian state media outlet TASS said Mr Assad and his family members have been provided with asylum in the Russian capital.

There had been much speculation over Mr Assad’s whereabouts after reports he fled Damascus before the rebels arrived there this morning.

Russia, one of Assad's closest allies, confirmed earlier today that he had left Syria, but did not say where he was, or whether Moscow had given him refuge.


Who Are the Syrian Rebels and Where Is Bashar al-Assad? | BBC News

Dec 8, 2024 | Syrian rebel forces in Damascus have declared the capital city "free" of Bashar al-Assad after nearly 25 years of rule, as the former ruler is said to have left by plane for an unknown destination.

The initial offensive to defeat Assad's regime was led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which was set up in 2012 under a different name, al-Nusra Front, and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda the following year.

HTS publicly broke ranks with al-Qaeda in 2016 but is still designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, US, Turkey and other countries.

The US has named the group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, as a specially designated global terrorist and offered a $10m reward for information that leads to his capture.

Jawlani told CNN on Friday that "the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime" and that he planned to create a government based on institutions and a "council chosen by the people".



Frank Gardner’s distinction between Islam and Islamism is shockingly inaccurate. He says the difference between Islam and Islamism is that Islamists do not believe in the separation of politics and religion. This is NONSENSE! Islam itself doesn’t believe in the separation of politics and religion! In fact, no good Muslim should. It is basic to Islam that there be no separation between the spiritual and the temporal. Islam is one indivisible, coherent, organic whole.

These politically correct people working for organisations such as the BBC do their best to confuse people and to obfuscate the truth. But they lie! No good Muslim can believe, is allowed to believe, in the separation of mosque and state.

Christianity allows for a separation of the spiritual and the temporal, the separation of Church and state. Islam adheres to no such concept.

What an Islamist really is, is a person who adheres STRICTLY to the tenets of his faith. He is a fundamentalist Muslim – a Muslim who wishes to re-create an Islamic state that resembles the ideal that the Prophet Muhammad admonished his followers to do. They stray in no way from the tenets of their faith.

The myth of a moderate devout Muslim is just that: a myth! Yes, there are moderate Muslims. But moderate Muslims are Muslims that have strayed from, or are straying from, their faith. Never forget this: Prophet Muhammad is considered the ‘the perfect man’ (al-Insān al-Kāmil [الإنسان الكامل]). This is why many Muslim men try to emulate the Prophet’s behaviour, mannerisms, way of dressing, and facial hair, and so on and so forth. But this is not just for so-called ‘Islamists’. It is also for all Muslim men who revere their religion.

It is high time that Westerners learn the true nature of Islam, and the way of living its adherents are expected to follow. – © Mark Alexander

Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Bashar al-Assad’s immediate location was not initially clear after rebels took control of Syria’s capital. Russia’s foreign ministry did not provide details on where he had gone, saying only that he had resigned and left the country.

President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and left Syria, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Sunday, a stunning fall for the longtime dictator after rebels opposed to his rule stormed across the country and seized control of the capital in less than two weeks.

The foreign ministry’s statement did not offer details on Mr. al-Assad’s exact whereabouts, saying only that he had held talks with “several parties of the armed conflict.”

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian presidency about Mr. al-Assad.

Mr. al-Assad’s departure was an earthshaking moment in the history of Syria, which has been ruled by his family with an iron fist since the early 1970s. It marked a dramatic breakthrough for rebel factions in Syria that have been trying to unseat Mr. al-Assad for more than a decade, much of which was marked by a devastating civil war.

For many in Syria, Mr. Assad’s fall was a moment filled with hope as they no longer feared the regime that has used oppressive tactics to quash their freedoms. But it was also rife with uncertainty over who will rule Syria nextand raised fears of a power vacuum in a country that has been riven with competing factions vying for control of different areas of territory.

“Our hearts are dancing with joy,” Walaa Salameh, 35, a resident of the Damascus area, said in a phone interview. “We can’t predict the future and anything is possible, but the most important thing is we got rid of this oppressive regime.” » | Raja Abdulrahim, Hwaida Saad and Farnaz Fassihi | Sunday, December 8, 2024

THE TELEGRAPH:

Assad has fled country says Russia as plane disappears from radar: Syrian president is said to have fled the country as Damascus fell. US officials believe he was heading for refuge in Moscow »

Assad the tyrant has fallen – some fear what comes next will be worse: The 13-year rebellion against Bashar al-Assad’s regime may be over, but Syria’s civil war may not be »

BBC:

Where is Bashar al-Assad?: Bashar al-Assad has "stepped down" as president and "left Syria", his ally Russia says, hours after rebel forces took control of the capital Damascus. »

'No-one slept in Syria last night' - how news of Assad's toppling spread: Residents in Damascus have told of an anxious wait for news on what was happening in Syria's capital city overnight. »

ZEIT ONLINE:

"Das Ende der Assad-Herrschaft ist eine gute Nachricht": International begrüßen zahlreiche Politikerinnen und Politiker den Sturz des syrischen Diktators Assad. Viele von ihnen mahnen jedoch auch – mit Blick auf die Zukunft. »

LE MONDE :

La chute de Bachar Al-Assad en Syrie : les groupes rebelles promettent une « nouvelle ère » et organisent la transition du pouvoir : Le président syrien a fui, dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, après l’entrée dans la capitale de la coalition menée par les islamistes du Hayat Tahrir Al-Cham (HTC). « Les institutions publiques resteront sous la supervision de l’ancien premier ministre jusqu’à leur remise officielle », a assuré le chef du HTC. »

Saturday, December 07, 2024

Putin's Major Strategic Loss as Assad Teeters on Collapse

Dec 7, 2024 | Russians are leaving Syria en-masse as the Assad regime continues to lose key cities on the road to Damascus. Journalist and author Diane Francis explains the impact on the Putin regime, on Frontline.

Syrian Rebels Near Homs as Government Forces Appear Unable to Stop Them | DW News

Dec 7, 2024 | Islamist rebels are closing in on the city of Homs after seizing Aleppo and Hama. Government forces have appeared unable to mount an effective resistance since the rebels launched their offensive last week. Taking Homs would bring them a step closer to capturing Damascus, and toppling president Assad's government.

What's Next for Syria's President Bashar Al Assad? | Inside Story

Dec 7, 2024 | In just over a week, opposition forces in Syria have seized major cities including Aleppo, and large swathes of territory. They've faced little or no resistance from the Syrian military, apart from air strikes involving Russia. And with Damascus in the opposition's sights, what's President Bashar Al Assad's strategy?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:
Charles Lister - Director of the Syria and Counterterrorism Programs at the Middle East Institute
Marie Forestier - senior advisor at the European Institute of Peace
Sawsan Abou Zainedin - Chief Executive officer of the Madaniya, an independent Syrian-led civil society initiative.


Assad Left 'Alone' and 'Isolated' as Syrian Rebels Close In on Damascus

Dec 7, 2024 | "I would say we’re in the final weeks of the regime."

Rebels are now "on the outer suburbs" of Damascus and there is a "whole new front" being driven in the North making it "harder and harder" for the regime to survive, says a journalist with the Economist in Beirut Gareth Browne.


Syrian Rebels Close In on Damascus as Presidency Denies Assad Has Left Capital | BBC News

Dec 7, 2024 | Syrian rebels are closing in on Damascus from the north and south, and have entered the key city of Homs, according to reports.

The Syrian presidency has denied reports that President Bashar al-Assad has left Damascus.

The leader of the Islamist militant group HTS said their goal is the overthrow of Assad's regime.

Protesters have brought down the statue of the Syrian president's father in the suburb of Jermana, about 10km from Damascus, a witness told the Reuters news agency.