Syria Media Roundup (November 25)

[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.]

           
Inside Syria

Damascene band ‘Nabad’ thriving despite war Syrian band “Nabad” had their performance interrupted by a car bomb as they sing about Syria and the country’s remains.  

In Syria, struggling to shine a light on victims of sexual violence Mass rape allegations have become prominent in Syria, however, documenting this sexual violence has been challenging. 

Echoes of a once famed nightlife in Syria's ravaged Aleppo Repeated power cuts in Syria have some people going out to cafés and clubs rather than sitting at home in the dark.  

Syria's descent into a public health nightmare Dr. Annie Sparrow discusses the continuous attrition of Syria’s doctors and the effect this has on Syria’s public healthcare. 

The ICRC on Syria: we are in a constant emergency The International Committee of the Red Cross’s Simon Schorno talks about their goal in Syria and how they plan to meet their humanitarian aid expectations with the current conditions in Syria.  

Why ISIS coverage sounds familiar Damaris Colhoun criticizes media coverage of ISIS and the lack of nuance in much of the current reporting as a reminiscent of the narrative of war on post 9/11 and the Iraq War in 2013.

Why is the Syrian regime afraid of Louay Hussein? Talal Al-Mayhani writes about the detention of Louay Hussein, the leader of movement Building the Syrian State (BSS), to take BSS out of the new political equation.

Only the Syrian Army is able to fight ISIL: so let’s back it? Kamal Alam writes about the necessity to support the regular Syrian Army to defeat ISIS as the Syrian Army "remains the only capable, inclusive, multi-ethnic and religious force in the whole Arab world" 

US air strikes in Syria driving anti-Assad groups to support Isis Mona Mahmood reports that "US air strikes in Syria are encouraging anti-regime fighters to forge alliances with or even defect to Islamic State (Isis)". 

Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz: A Caucasus Emirate Group in Latakia Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi provides his insight on Jamaat Jund al-Qawqaz in northeast Latakia province. 

Syrian army retakes al-Shaer gas field Khaled Atallah writes about the strategic and symbolic importance of recapturing al-Shaer gas field in Homs by the Syrian army.

The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
استراتيجيّة "داعش" واستماتة النظام في الدفاع عن حقول الغاز في حمص

'Conflict freeze' desperately needed in Aleppo Edward Dark reports about the divided opinions in Aleppo over the 'Conflict freeze' proposal. 

Archaeological site uncovered by Lawrence of Arabia to be opened under the eyes of Isil Richard Spencer reports "ancient biblical city of Carchemish, once at the heart of the Ottoman Empire, is being excavated and opened to the public amid the backdrop of war"
 

Regional and International Perspectives

US stops flow of weapons to moderate Syrian rebels, considers vetting new groups In south U.S. halt weapons aid for moderate rebel groups in Syria as they rethink their strategy in the region. 

Iraqi forces retake territory from ISIS, as peshmerga try to win back Sinjar In efforts to recapture territory, Iraqi security forces seek the Sinjar mountain, and prevent ISIS to advance further.  

US air strikes in Syria driving anti-Assad groups to support ISIS“Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and several Islamic military groups say Isis is gaining allies or truces due to US bombings.” 

Routing terrorism demands serious efforts: Assad“The Russian delegation reaffirmed Russia's commitment to continuing to support the Syrian people and bolstering their steadfastness in the face of the terrorist war targeting them.” 

Syrian artists find bittersweet success in exile in Beirut  Alia Malek reports about Syrian artists in exile in Beirut and the role of gallery owners and others from Beirut to Dubai in supporting them.
 

Policy and Reports 

What Will Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State Do Next in Syria? Yezid Sayigh analyzes Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS strategies following the recent gains they attained at the expense iof both the Syrian regime and the armed opposition.

The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
الخطوة التالية لجبهة النصرة والدولة الإسلامية في سورية 

Geopolitics of Kurdish Peace Serhun Al analyzes the different political strands (regional/international/intra-Kurdish) towards Kobani, "although Kobani has spurred a KRG-PYD strategic rapprochement, Kurdish unity across borders remains elusive."

The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
السلام الكردي وأبعاده الجيوسياسية

 Economy and Agriculture 

A bitter winter ahead in Syria Rising fuel prices are one of the many problems that Syrians are encountering this winter as the economy takes a serious hit. 

Syria economy 'set back decades' by war Sara Hussein on Syria’s drastic economic setback and the government’s declining revenues, before the conflict and after. 

The blood antiquities funding ISIL Stephennie Mulder criticizes the role of auction houses in the Middle East, Europe and the United States, which encourages the illicit trade of "blood antiquities" looted from Syria and Iraq.

Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media 

'Syrian hero boy' video hoax by Norwegian filmmaker “A viral video showing a Syrian boy rescuing a girl under gunfire, watched online by millions of viewers, was faked by a Norwegian film crew, according to its director.”  

Social networks in Syria: between mediation and mobilisation Hamzeh Mousafa provides an insight on the "roles Facebook and Twitter play in how the uprisings across the Arab world began and continue to develop".
 

Arabic 

دي ميستورا ينقلب على صيغة جنيف                  
According to Al-Hayat, de Mistura, the U.N. envoy to Syria has ditched the Geneva negotiation framework and is pursuing a bottom-up approach.

«حل الدولتين» قنبلة أميركية توحد السوريين... موالاة ومعارضة
Joshua Landis' proposal that partition is the only way left to save Syria united Syrians who emphasize the unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

المعارضة المعتدلة هي الأقوى في سورية
Munir al-Khatib writes that by reducing the meaning of "moderate opposition" into its military aspect, moderate civilian opposition was eclipsed by Islamists. 

منع الاختلاط ومناهج جديدة في مدارس دير الزور
Schools in Deir Ezzor banned all school subjects except Islamic education and Arabic language and imposed gender-segregation. 

فيديو «الطفل السوري البطل»: القانون لا يحمي المُغفلين
Suhaib Anjarini criticizes the misleading Norwegian hoax video about the "Syrian hero boy" and the easily-deceived public. 

 عن "الثوراوية" السورية و"صف الكلام الثوري"
Tariq Aziza criticizes the usage of "revolutionary" dogmatic cliché by Syrian opposition regardless the reality on the ground. 

محمد ديبو.. مساعي توثيق ذاكرة الثورة السورية
Haitham Hussein reviews Mohammad Dibo's testimony about the Syrian revolution in his book "Like He Who Witnesses His Own Death." 

كيف يحصل السوريون على الجنسية التركية؟
Ghazwan al-Masri, a Turkish-Syrian Businessman and a member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, gives a lecture about the new Turkish Immigrant law.  

الانتفاضة وإعادة تشكيل الذاكرة الجمعية في سوريا
Yazan Badran writes about the role of the Syrian uprising in reconstituting collective memory and public space.

The English version of this article can be found here:

The uprising and Syria’s reconstituted collective memory 

داعش.. الرعب والإتقان الإعلامي
Ibrahim al-Basri writes about how both ISIS and the Syrian regime utilize terror and propaganda as tactics.

افتتاحية الملف: الانتقال إلى السلام، الاتحاد والمصالحة في سوريا (1)
Hrair Balian, Director of Conflict Resolution Program at The Carter Center, writes an introduction for Syria Untold encouraging debates over Options for a Political Transition towards an inclusive vision of a future Syria.

The English version of this article can be found here:

Introduction: Transition to Peace, Reunification and Reconciliation in Syria 

في خيارات الانتقال السياسي (2)
Jad al-Karim Jaba'i provides his perspective on The Carter Center's project for political transition in Syria, "Syria Transitions Options Initiative." 

هل من خيارات لانتقال سياسي دون إزاحة بشار الأسد؟(3)
Salameh Kaileh provides his perspective on The Carter Center's project for political transition in Syria, "Syria Transitions Options Initiative." 

في خيارات الانتقال السياسي (4)
Ammar Dayoub provides his perspective on The Carter Center's project for political transition in Syria, "Syria Transitions Options Initiative."