A mass grave outside Damascus contained the bodies of at least 100,000 people killed by the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, according to the head of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. Mouaz Moustafa said the site at al-Qutayfah 40km (25 miles) north of the Syrian capital, was one of five mass graves that he … Read more
Damascus, Syria – Nizar al-Madani, 34, stood with tears in his eyes as he looked around Qaboun. After seven years of displacement, he returned on Tuesday to his neighbourhood in Syria’s capital, Damascus, only to find it levelled. “We’d heard that the regime demolished the neighbourhood, but seeing it with my own eyes was utterly … Read more
NewsFeed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed the Biden administration is in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the armed Syrian opposition group – designated a ‘foreign terrorist organisation’ by the US – that overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Blinken made this statement at a news conference in Jordan where regional and Western diplomats met … Read more
Syrians demand justice for crimes committed during the Assad regime. Syria’s new administration is pledging accountability for crimes committed during the al-Assad family’s rule. About 150,000 people were detained and forcibly disappeared since the crackdown on pro-democracy rallies in 2011 that set off the war. Many are believed to have been killed. Those who survived … Read more
With the end of the al-Assad regime and half a century of dictatorship, Syria’s media space is undergoing tumultuous changes. State TV and social media users are weaving new narratives, while the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham continues its rebrand. Contributors:Ibrahim Olabi – Lawyer, Guernica 37Kholoud Helmi – Co-founder, Enab Baladi NewspaperRasha Elass – Editorial Director, … Read more
Ahmed al-Sharaa is promising justice, stability and unity. Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, says he will set the country on a path to development. But it’s no easy task. Nearly half the population is displaced. The World Bank estimates more than a decade of war has destroyed infrastructure to the tune of $11bn. Parts of … Read more
After 13 years of war, an offensive by Syrian opposition groups ousted Bashar al-Assad as Syria’s president in just 11 days. What happened? Who’s running Syria now? And what could happen next? Start Here with Sandra Gathmann explains. This episode features: Wafa Ali Mustafa | Syrian activist and daughter of Ali Mustafa, who was detained … Read more
Several European countries pause Syrian asylum requests days after the al-Assad dynasty collapsed. More than a million Syrians have sought asylum in Europe in the past 13 years. But the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad is raising questions about the future of about 100,000 refugees. At least eight nations have frozen Syrian asylum applications. What … Read more
Paris and Berlin that make up almost half of the eurozone economy face political and economic woes. France and Germany have long been deemed the main axis of power in the European Union. But, both are now facing serious political and economic turmoil. The uncertainty has come at a critical moment, with US President-elect Donald … Read more
Years of war and sanctions have left much of the country in ruins. Years of war and sanctions mean Syria is in dire need of reconstruction. Foreign funding is essential, along with political stability so work vital to the country’s future can begin. So how can this be achieved? And who will pay? Presenter: Nick … Read more