Walid Al Nofal

The release of a former regime soldier accused of abuses against civilians sparked protests in northwestern Syria this week and pointed to “organized corruption” within opposition military and security institutions.

Since Bashar al-Assad issued an amnesty for terrorism charges on April 30, more than 200 detainees have been released. Hundreds of Syrians gathered in Damascus and elsewhere this week, hoping their loved ones are next.

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s forces in Syria have withdrawn and repositioned. Iran is looking to fill the gap.

As Turkish-backed Syrian National Army factions merge and pick sides, a map of the SNA’s near future and its components’ relations with Ankara takes shape.

Following months of investigation into accusations of abuses and violations by Abu Amsha—a Turkish-backed opposition commander—an investigative committee recommended he be dismissed. Local faction leaders agreed. Then, nothing happened.

 Despite international talk of “voluntary return” for Syrians, deteriorating security, economic, and living conditions give them little to go home to, eleven years after the revolution began. 

With the average government salary just $23 a month, losing access to state-subsidies on essentials such as bread and fuel is a heavy financial burden for Syrian citizens.

The economic tools used by the regime are unlikely to bring about positive results for the official Syrian economy, but they will deepen the suffering of civilians who have lost access to subsidized goods and services.

The IS attack on al-Sinaa was a test of its adversary, to find out the SDF response, Through it, IS learned that the SDF was unable to thwart an attack without the participation and support of US forces.

Amid continuing assassinations in Daraa province and the convergence of some parties’ interests against others, the pattern of assassinations remains the same, supporting the idea that the perpetrators, too, remain the same.