[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Perspectives
Mohammed, a Child From Homs to Waste Container in Beirut Dima Wannous on the violent rape and murder of five-year old Mohammed in Lebanon.
Large Numbers of Syrian Children in Lebanon Out of School“Refugee families often prefer to have their children work because they need the income” reports Ramez Antaki
Tricked into going, Indonesian workers struggle to escape Syria Bassel Habbab reports that “Many of them were tricked into going to Syria after the war began, under the impression that they were going to work in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.”
Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of displaced Syrian women Rana Harbi on the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Lebanon Family Planning Association for Development & Family Empowerment (LFPADE)’s efforts to provide sustainable services to refugee women, who, along with children, account for 75% of Syrian refugees.
Palestinians deported to "no man’s land" between Syria and Lebanon AlAkhbar features the story of three Palestinians from Syria deported by the Lebanese General Security Directorate and now stuck at the border.
Iraq Developments
Syria: Can the United States and Iran Reach an Understanding? Frederic C. Hof on the diplomatic developments between the two countries as expressed at the “track-two” discussions that recently took place in Europe.
Breaking Baghdad Commenting on ISIS’s advances in Iraq, Aron Lund claims that “unless the Iraqi army somehow unravels entirely, rebel advances are unlikely to reach far beyond Sunni-populated areas.”
Jean-Pierre Filiu : « La clé de l’Irak se trouve en Syrie » Jean-Pierre Filiu opposes an intervention in Iraq but maintains the need to intervene in Syria.
Khatib blames regional countries for prolonging Syria war Antoun Issa reports that “former Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib says he's open to negotiations with both the Syrian and Iranian governments as a matter of "principle" to help end the bloodshed in Syria.”
ISIS advance in Iraq forces Gulf donors to rethink their patronage reports Elizabeth Dickinson
Two Arab Countries Fall Apart The Economist explains how the attack on Mosul “did not come out of the blue”.
Iraq’s Night is Long Vijay Prashad writes: “Al-Sadr, I am told, is interested in the creation of an Iraqi version of Hezbollah, rooted in the Shia community of Lebanon but with pretensions of being an Arab nationalist force. The creation of such a force would contribute toward a non-sectarian platform from which to combat ISIS. It will be more effective than a bombing campaign.”
Les Lecons de la Chute de Mossul Thomas Pierret argues that arming the moderate segment of the armed opposition remains the only credible solution to the fight against the extremists.
ISIS’s Secret Allies Jacob Siegel suggests that “The Iraqi extremist group didn't conquer a major chunk of the country on their own. They had help – from ex-Saddamites, tribal councils, and other militants.”
Obama 'urgently' considering air assault on targets in Syria and Iraq Spencer Ackerman and Paul Lewis report.
The Fall of Mosul and the False Promises of Modern History Juan Cole explains how “the fall of Mosul to the radical, extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a set of historical indictments.”
ISIS’s War Against Everyone Joshua Keating provides a brief overview of groups with different agendas who, following the recent ISIS gains in Syria and Iraq,“are setting new standards for strange bedfellows”
The Second Iran-Iraq War and the American Switch Juan Cole says “the specter of Iranian troops on Iraqi soil can only recall the first Iran-Iraq War.”
Syria Narratives
Inssurection et Contre-Inssurection en Syrie Fabrice Balanche on the regime’s strategy in Syria
The war in Syria: ISIS’s most successful investment yet AlAkhbar claims that “all facts indicate the war in Syria has been a successful investment for ISIS, one that has helped the al-Qaeda offshoot rebalance its finances, strengthen its combat capabilities, and supplement its ranks with more and more ‘mujahideen.’”
The Syrian tragedy and Hezbollah’s predicament Faraj al-Awar argues that “a real contribution toward a democratic political solution for Syria, in collaboration with all its democratic forces, is the only way for Hezbollah to emerge from its predicament there, and to preserve its bright image as a resistance force that defeated Israel”
All the cards are in Bashar al-Assad’s hands Nahed Hattar says “it has become evident today that Syria is a national, civil state that did not disintegrate, but rather managed to preserve its agencies and operations despite everything that happened.”
Un cavalier ayant battu le frère de Assad libéré 21 ans plus tard After 21 years in jail for winning a horse race against Bashar’s brother, Adnan Qassar was liberated last week.
Homs Rebels 'Preoccupied With Unifying Their Ranks'“As rebels attempt to consolidate control over a sliver of northern Homs, Yaroub Abu al-Ezz, a 23 year-old media activist in northern Homs, tells Syria Direct’s Osama Abu Zeid about why some of Old Homs’s rebels are sitting this battle out.”
Information Indicates Father Paolo Dall’Oglio is Alive and in ISIS Captivity AlAkhbar reports that “when rumors of his killing spread, ISIS leaked reassurances through private channels that the priest is still alive and that ‘the offer is still on the table as long as they do not insult the organization by accusing it of not being serious.’”
A Different View of Syria-The Struggle Yasser Munif speaks on civil organization in Manbij at the Left Forum.
Homs Detainees Sent to Syria Army AFP reports that some one hundred men who had escaped Homs during the siege turned themselves in and will be sent to do their military service, and some fear that they might get assassinated.
ISIS, Regime Close in on Deir E-Zor Rebels Amro al-Dairi discusses the two-pronged siege unfolding in the city as both ISIS and the regime fight for its control.
The War Follows Them: Syrian University Students & Scholars in Lebanon“In June 2014 the Institute for International Education and the Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis released a report that details the situation of Syrian university students and scholars who fled to Lebanon.” Tadween Publishing features an excerpt as well as the pdf of the entire document at the end.
'Take Your Portion': A Victim Speaks Out About Rape in Syria Lauren Wolfe reports.
“Bilal” – by Stephen Boeshaar, an excerpt from his “collection of “Syrian Profiles,” stories of the many lives he encountered along his path.”
Bashar al-Assad: Dialogue is the cornerstone of my third term Reporting from Damascus, Sami Kleib says “At the start of his third term in office, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad seems to be living his daily life as though there is no war in the country.”
Secular Sectarians Fanar Haddad contends that “The emergence of the Arab nation-state, the concepts it supposedly stood for, and the consequent feelings it nurtured—things like citizenship, equality, entitlement, empowerment, and representation—transformed sectarian identities and sectarian relations by adding a layer, namely the national layer, to how sectarian identities were imagined.”
Inside Syria
Aleppo fears new ISIS offensive according to Edward Dark.
Syria: Will “accidental” detainees be covered by the general amnesty? Laith al-Khatib reports from Damascus countryside.
Assad’s Election Gets Short Shrift in Rebel-Held Salqeen Issam Abdel Hamid reports
Syria: New Opposition Umbrella Group in Aleppo Zaid Mohammad on the Aleppo Revolutionary Union, which “brings together several opposition organisations that were working on the ground in Aleppo before the Free Syrian Army appeared there. They deliver development work, media, and medical and social services for opposition fighters.”
Syrian army foils chemical attack on Damascus Racha Abi Haidar reports that “on Saturday, the Syrian army and its allies foiled a plan by al-Nusra Front in collaboration with Turkish intelligence, to stage a sarin gas attack in the Syrian capital during President Bashar al-Assad’s inauguration.”
45 Days in Hell: Syrian Armenians Kidnapped and Tortured by FSA
Regime Sacks Thousands of Public Employees for Political Opposition reports Yahya Alous for the Syrian Observer
In Syria’s Homs, collecting trash to make ends meet UNICEFfeatures 13 year-old Ibaa’ who collects trash to support his family financially
Arts and Social Media
Syrian Artists Set Up Base in Beirut Ginanne Brownell on how artists managed to reconnect with their creative spirit while in the Lebanese capital.
Brave New Words–and Cartoons, Stencils and Graffiti–Come Together in “Syria Speaks” Kanifer Mackenzie reviews the anthopoly “ Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline.” released by Saqi Books.
How Syrians Communicate in Northern Syria“Mohammad al-Kassem writes for The Syrian Observer on how "connected" the opposition-controlled areas are”
Someone is Spilling ISIS’s Secrets on Twitter Jacod Siegel explains how “@wikibaghdady has put ISIS in uncomfortable positions, revealing the true name of the group’s leader and a deeply controversial association.”
Policy and Reports
Syria’s Neighbors Want Assad to Step Down, But No Appetite for Aid to Rebels“After three years of civil war, Syria’s neighbors fear that al Qaeda or other extremist groups could take control of that war-torn land, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.”
Economy and Agriculture
Syria: Drinking water and war profiteers in Aleppo Suhaib Anjarini reports on “a “revolutionary” bomb sabotaged a major water pipeline that pumps drinking water in Aleppo earlier this month” and the negotiations that took place to repair it.
Encouraged by the Regime, Businessmen Come to Beirut for Share in Reconstruction An-Nahar reports that “Preparations are underway for the next stage in Syria”
Events
Syria - Correcting the Narrative, Building Solidarity The event occurred on 21 June at SOAS
Arabic
!الطريقإلىبغداد: كيفوصلتداعشإلىهنا؟
Noon Post on how ISIS moved from the Levant to Baghdad.
الاحتجاجاتالشعبيةفيسورياضدالانتخاباتالرئاسية
Dina Omar on the mass demonstrations of Syrians against the recent elections in the country.
انتخابات"علىبحرمنالدماء"
Ghiyath Naisse on the recent elections in Syria.
سوريا... دستورتحتالطوارئ
Al-Jazeera presents a program about the history of the Assad rule in Syria.
التلامذةالسوريونفيلبنان: ضياعجيلأمسقوطللإنسانية
Waleed Daou on education and the situation of Syrian students in Lebanon.
العفوالرئاسيوصمامالأمان
Rateb Shaabo on presidential pardons and the people’s “safety valve.”
Kamal Deeb and Faisal Turk on the failure of Lebanon to deal with the situation in Syria.
سوريا... معركةالجدارالأخير
Abdel Mouin Zreq on the “danger” of the approach of political Islam in the region.
إلى«رموز» المعارضةالسوريةفيالخارج... كفى
Mataz Hisso criticizes the Syrian opposition that is outside the country.
بغدادو«داعش»: خياراتالمواجهةوالدورالسوري
Mohammad Saleh al-fiteh on ISIS’ recent attacks in Iraq and the role of Syria in this equation.
المأساةالسوريةوورطةحزبالله
Faraj al-Awar on the “Syrian tragedy and Hizbollah’s predicament.”
منسريكانيهإلىخانقين: العدوواحدوالمعركةواحدة
Shehrazad Adel al-Yazidi on ISIS and the danger they pose on the Kurds.
داعش" ورسائلالاعتراضالإقليمي"
Samih Saab on ISIS and the spread of a terrorist entity in the recent political developments in the region.
الانشقاقالسلفيــالإخواني
Mohammad Sayyed Rasas on the history of the split between Salafists and the Brotherhood.
!الأحياءالموتى
Shawqi Baghdadi answers the question that many have been asking him: how are you living in Syria now?