Suwayda

The other side of the border: In southern Syria, promise of Naseeb border rings hollow for civilians mired by rising prices

Nov. 28, 2018

A man sells fish in Daraa city in October. Photo by Mohamad Abazeed/AFP. AMMAN: Ahmad* spends his days sitting in a home without windows, which were bombed out during the Syrian government’s blitzkrieg offensive on opposition-held southern Syria earlier this year. The 26-year-old used to work for the Syrian Civil Defense—the group of first responders commonly known as the Whi...

Suwayda protesters demand answers after kidnapping negotiations collapse, second IS captive executed

Oct. 4, 2018

Striking from the desert: Arms expert on how the Islamic State, in retreat, fuels its war effort

Aug. 12, 2018

Behind the story: Meet the journalists who risk the wrath of all sides to cover Syria’s south

Sep. 27, 2017

All through September, Syria Direct has published a series of interviews and reports on the state of southern Syria, by reporters there, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer ...

Women take on a more public role in Suwayda as men stream out of province

Sep. 26, 2017

These days, coffee shops in Suwayda city are full of young women smoking water pipes—once a social taboo. Women are filling the ranks of the wait staff at local restaurants....

Suwayda residents react to increased Russian presence on the ground

Sep. 19, 2017

After an international ceasefire went into effect in southern Syria in July, Russian personnel deployed to several villages in regime-held Suwayda province near frontlines with op...

The state of Syria's south: A month-long reporting series from Syria Direct

Sep. 11, 2017

AMMAN: Half of Syria’s southernmost city, the provincial capital of Daraa, sits in ruins. Thousands of homes and shops lie flattened, the targets of airstrikes and shelling ...

As battles approach, displaced Syrians empty border camp: ‘No stability in our lives’

Sep. 6, 2017

AMMAN: The Hadalat displacement camp along Syria’s southeastern border was “totally emptied out” on Wednesday, two rebel spokesmen and a camp official on the gro...

Rebel-held Daraa loses lifeline after regime offensive cuts flow of smuggled Islamic State oil

Aug. 24, 2017

AMMAN: A smuggling route that is the source of fuel to the rebel-held half of Daraa province remains cut off for a second week on Thursday after regime forces seized territory cut...

New Syrian army campaign in eastern desert displaces ‘hundreds’ of families with almost no water, shelter

Jul. 13, 2017

A fresh campaign by pro-Assad forces in Syria’s southern desert is sending “hundreds” of residents fleeing into the countryside with almost no water or shelter. ...

Syrian army launches new campaign just east of southern ceasefire zone

Jul. 10, 2017

AMMAN: Syrian regime and allied forces launched a fresh offensive in the country’s remote southern desert on Monday, just east of an internationally brokered ceasefire zone ...

Syria Situation Report: June 1 - June 8, 2017

Jun. 8, 2017

Welcome to the latest installment of the Syria SITREP highlighting key developments in the Syrian Civil War. The SITREP Map is made possible through a partnership between the Inst...

Pro-regime forces advance toward base in Syrian desert as US warns: Coalition will 'defend' itself

May. 22, 2017

AMMAN: Pro-regime forces in the eastern Syrian desert are advancing towards a coalition base near the Iraqi-Syrian border, while a US military spokesperson tells Syria Direct that...