Wladimir van Wilgenburg is an analyst of Kurdish politics for the Jamestown Foundation and a freelance journalist. He is currently reporting from Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan and is currently co-writing a book on Syrian Kurds based on months of field research in northern Syria. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/wladimir-van-wilgenburg/rss en Displacement ISIS Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:25:42 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/20/inside-ain-al-issa-hunting-for-isis-in-the-north-raqqa-idp-camp https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/20/inside-ain-al-issa-hunting-for-isis-in-the-north-raqqa-idp-camp In the second of a two-part series, we report on Kurdish-led forces’ rigorous security screening procedures at the Ain al-Issa IDP camp that aim to weed out potential ISIS fighters from the thousands of civilians fleeing militant-held territory every day. Displacement ISIS Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:33:25 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/01/inside-ain-al-issa-waiting-room-for-displaced-in-battle-against-isis https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/01/inside-ain-al-issa-waiting-room-for-displaced-in-battle-against-isis Thousands of internally displaced Syrians arrived in Ain al-Issa camp nearly 11 months ago, when the Syrian Democratic Forces began its anti-ISIS campaign. In the first of a two-part series, we report on the struggles of those who live in the camp in Raqqa province. Religious & Ethnic Groups Fri, 14 Jul 2017 12:36:37 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/07/14/analysis-shift-in-rhetoric-among-kurdish-politicians-in-syria https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/07/14/analysis-shift-in-rhetoric-among-kurdish-politicians-in-syria Kurdish political officials in Syria are taking an increasingly anti-Iranian and pro-Saudi Arabia stance amid the rising tensions between Washington, Tehran and their proxies, and the rift between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, writes journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs ISIS Mon, 19 Jun 2017 13:52:19 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/06/19/analysis-future-of-post-isis-raqqa-remains-unclear https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/06/19/analysis-future-of-post-isis-raqqa-remains-unclear With the caliphate crumbling under the swift advances of U.S.-backed forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces have put forth a plan for local governance after ISIS. Yet, without a financial backer, the city may have to rely on the state to restore services. Religious & Ethnic Groups Fri, 12 May 2017 14:59:40 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/05/12/kurds-trump-turkey-in-the-fight-against-isis-in-raqqa https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/05/12/kurds-trump-turkey-in-the-fight-against-isis-in-raqqa The U.S. decision to directly arm Kurdish units of the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting ISIS could harm U.S. relations with Ankara and cause further instability within Syria and Turkey, but it was a “necessary” step against ISIS, Kurdish politicians and fighters said. Religious & Ethnic Groups Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:27:34 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/04/27/syrian-kurds-call-for-no-fly-zone-after-20-die-in-turkish-air-strike https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/04/27/syrian-kurds-call-for-no-fly-zone-after-20-die-in-turkish-air-strike The Kurds in Syria have called for a U.S. no-fly zone in the wake of a Turkish air strike on Kurdish fighters. The Kurds say Turkish attacks could threaten the ongoing U.S.-backed operation to take Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS in Syria. Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Government & Pro-Government Forces Religious & Ethnic Groups Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000 Wladimir van Wilgenburg https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/02/18/washington-unlikely-to-renege-on-kurdish-support https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/02/18/washington-unlikely-to-renege-on-kurdish-support The YPG has taken advantage of military support from the U.S. and a wave of Russian bombardment to make advances on the ground in recent weeks, drawing concern and artillery shelling from Turkey. But with a Syria agenda focused on defeating ISIS, the U.S. isn’t likely to renounce its support for the Kurds.