White earth: Soil salinization threatens farming in Raqqa’s Euphrates river basin
Soil salinization is a complex and expanding crisis in rural Raqqa, where fields are becoming unusable and farmers have limited means to respond.
‘We lost everything’: How Israeli herbicides destroyed Quneitra crops and pastures
Israeli aircraft sprayed large areas of Syria’s southern Quneitra province with herbicides at least three times in late January, killing crops, devastating farmers and damaging trees.
How olive oil exports exacerbate Syria’s water crisis
Even as Syria suffers an acute water crisis, thousands of cubic meters of groundwater are flowing into the global market in the form of olive oil, an export that represents both national pride and a silent depletion of resources.
Syrian Jews and allies seek a place in the country’s future, divided over Israel
As Syrian Jews and their allies in the diaspora work to reestablish ties and revive Syria’s ancient Jewish heritage, politics bubble beneath the surface. One thorny question—whether and how Israel fits into the picture—has opened a divide.
Denied for decades, Syria’s stateless Kurds edge towards recognition
As stateless Syrian Kurds begin applying for citizenship under a recent presidential decree, hopes of restoring long-denied rights are tempered by bureaucratic hurdles and past disappointments.
Why did Germany keep a report used to justify deportations to Syria a secret?
Germany kept a report used to justify post-Assad deportations to Syria confidential for nearly a year before quietly releasing it last week. It appears to contain inaccuracies.
Rushed justice won’t bury Syria’s past
Syria’s death sentences may satisfy a thirst for justice, but rushed verdicts cannot substitute for accountability, truth-telling and the long, difficult work of confronting the crimes of the Assad era.
The Plunder of Syria: Syria’s greatest archaeological losses came after IS
A new study reveals how Syria’s antiquities became a currency of war, as widespread looting devastated archaeological sites and the country now seeks to reclaim its heritage through reconstruction.
From Exile to Damascus: Our new chapter begins
Syria Direct is coming home. After years in exile in Amman and Berlin, it is returning to Syria and evolving into a multi-format media development organization built for the country's next chapter.
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