Bio
Walid Al Nofal
Walid Al Nofal is a journalist with Syria Direct originally from Daraa province in southern Syria. He worked as a field reporter shortly after the Syrian revolution began in 2011 until he moved to Jordan in 2013. Today, Walid’s work focuses on documenting humanitarian violations committed by various actors in the Syrian conflict.
Latest Articles
Baath Party eyes a comeback in Daraa
The Baath Party is working to restore its activities and role in Syria’s southern Daraa province, while its headquarters remain closed in many cities and towns six years after the return of regime institutions.
Dumayr: Basic services covered by ‘modest’ community initiatives
In Dumayr, a town northeast of Damascus that returned to regime control under a settlement agreement six years ago, residents are asked to donate to fund basic public service projects in place of the state.
Murhij al-Jarmani assassinated: A ‘turning point’ for Suwayda’s uprising?
The assassination of Murhij al-Jarmani, the commander of a local faction in Suwayda and a strong supporter of the ongoing protests, could be a turning point for the Druze-majority province’s nearly year-long uprising. The Assad regime is accused of orchestrating the killing.
The short arm of the law: Daraa police absent or constrained
Most of Daraa’s cities and towns have no police stations nearly six years after returning to Damascus’ control. Where police are present, they have limited powers or work under the watchful eyes of settlement factions.
Anti-Syrian riots serve Ankara’s goal of refugee returns
While Ankara condemns anti-refugee riots and makes arrests in the wake of “the most violent wave of hatred” to date, Syrians in Turkey say the attacks indirectly serve the government’s goal of refugee returns as it signals normalization with Assad.
Hostages and siege: Daraa frees detainees by any means necessary
For several months, local armed groups in Daraa have resorted to a strategy often used in neighboring Suwayda province: taking hostages and besieging regime security headquarters to force the release of detainees when attempts at civil mediation fail.
Daraa communities foot the bill for public education
Facing a teacher shortage and little government support, communities in Daraa are turning to alternative solutions: providing financial bonuses to keep underpaid teachers in classrooms and repairing school buildings themselves.
‘Resurrection’: HTS returns to southern Syria
Six years after HTS forces left southern Syria, the hardline faction is back in Daraa province in the form of small groups made up of former fighters and new local recruits.
‘A government job is a burden’: Syrian regime institutions bleed staff
Increasing numbers of Syrian public sector employees left their jobs due to low pay and high living costs over the past three years, despite the fact that quitting without permission is a criminal offense.
Daraa residents turn to clan reconciliation over the court system
People in Syria’s southern Houran region have long turned to clan reconciliation processes to resolve thorny disputes. The practice increased after 2011, and peaked over the past three years, with residents choosing the clans over the courts with the encouragement of regime legal representatives.