Dear Deeply Readers,
Welcome to the archives of Syria Deeply. While we paused regular publication of the site on May 15, 2018, and transitioned some of our coverage to Peacebuilding Deeply, we are happy to serve as an ongoing public resource on the Syrian conflict. We hope you’ll enjoy the reporting and analysis that was produced by our dedicated community of editors contributors.
We continue to produce events and special projects while we explore where the on-site journalism goes next. If you’d like to reach us with feedback or ideas for collaboration you can do so at [email protected].
Exploring the many facets of Syria’s war economy, including trade, real estate, siege economy, foreign investments and new civilian methods of moneymaking.
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Construction has begun in the Basateen el-Razi district in southwestern Damascus, under a government development plan. Experts warn though that construction efforts are not geared towards repair and recovery.
DR. Ahmad Tarakji President, Syrian American Medical Society
E.U. states must take action over putting an end to violence against civilians in East Ghouta by holding the perpetrators accountable and refusing to fund reconstruction efforts until the attacks stop, says SAMS president Dr. Ahmad Tarakji.
In the first Deeply Talks of 2018, Syria Deeply talks with Faysal Itani of the Atlantic Council about the state of diplomatic negotiations, Syria’s economy and the escalation of violence across the country.
Urban activists and residents in Syria’s third-largest city say Assad’s forces have intentionally destroyed traditional buildings in the city center, but not for military reasons – the driving force is a controversial urban planning scheme called ‘Homs Dream.’
We’ve compiled our best coverage of the biggest issues in Syria this year – from safe zones and increasing foreign involvement to new avenues for pursuing justice, and the impact of Syria’s war economy.
The Syrian war has transformed women’s role in the workforce, giving way to opportunities previously reserved for men. As women take on more responsibility and autonomy, for many opportunity does not mean equality.
As the Syrian government and foreign powers look to wind down the war in Syria, we are closely monitoring developments on the ground in the capital for our monthly report from Damascus.
Jihad Yazigi Journalist, Specializes in Covering Syrian Economic Affairs
Although the drive to reconstruct Syria has gained momentum in recent months, the government does not have the funds or strategy to lead the recovery process, writes Syrian journalist Jihad Yazigi.
From infrastructure and urban planning to funding and democratic dialogue, in this next installment of our “Experts to Watch” series we highlight 10 experts who focus on the different aspects of reconstruction in Syria.
Syria Deeply’s expert community weighed in on how the capture of resource-rich territory from ISIS in east Syria could affect competition to control the country’s gas and oil and how it could impact the parties fighting ISIS.
For many Syrians displaced from Homs over six years of war, going home means facing a gap in public services, the absence of social and economic support systems and security risks. Many who have returned have found debris where their houses once stood.
As the Syrian government and foreign powers look to wind down the war in Syria, we are closely monitoring developments on the ground in the capital for our monthly report from Damascus.
Barak Barfi Research Fellow, New America Foundation
Radicalization, attrition and defections mean only questionable partners remain for the U.S. government in the campaign against ISIS in Syria, warns New America Foundation fellow Barak Barfi.
As Syrian and Jordanian officials ponder reopening the Nassib border crossing, Syria Deeply talks with Sam Heller of the Century Foundation about the sticking points and possible negotiations.
Syria Deeply’s expert community weighs in on a possible rapprochement between Amman and Damascus and the drive in some quarters for improved relations between the two states.
Despite the Syrian government’s recent push for reconstruction and economic renewal in the country, most people in Damascus still struggle with low wages, high inflation and an unstable security situation – and will likely be left out of the coming reconstruction boom.
The sale and trade of women in Syria is not a wanton and senseless consequence of war. It is a consequence of a war economy in which nearly all warring parties and even civilians use women to secure profit, weapons, access or leverage in negotiations.
Author Joseph Daher examines the Syrian government’s reconstruction strategy and warns that Assad will use rebuilding to reward foreign allies and consolidate power around a small core of Syrian elite.
The chairman of the newly established Syrian International Business Association, Samer Chamsi-Pasha, says the Syrian diaspora needs to mobilize to help countries hosting Syrian refugees.
In Damascus, war profiteers are leveraging the scarcity of burial spots in the capital to rent out graves as one would apartments, charging as much as $1,000 per year for a plot of land.
Kamal Alam Visiting Fellow, Royal United Services Institute
Over the past two years, China’s approach to Syria has transformed from being motivated by security concerns to pursuing economic interests, writes Royal United Services Institute fellow Kamal Alam.
Lina Sinjab Syrian Journalist and Middle East Correspondent, BBC
The conflict in Syria has given way to a new class of nouveau riche, dominated by warlords and independent businessmen who benefit from the status quo, and may make it difficult for an international deal to be implemented locally, writes Syrian journalist Lina Sinjab.
Haid Haid Syrian Researcher
Due to U.S.-led military operations to counter its finances, the so-called Islamic State is not only changing its military tactics but also adapting its economic practices, writes Chatham House fellow Haid Haid.
A Syrian passport once cost $9 and took only a few hours to issue. As the Syrian conflict enters its seventh year, Syrians in Turkey are paying up to $2,000 and waiting for months to get one of the world’s weakest passports.
Reema Hibrawi Assistant Director, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
The impact of geopolitical dynamics on the economy, potential losses incurred from the ongoing violence and containing the threat of radicalized fighters, are factors pushing countries to invest in Syria, despite the instability, according to the Atlantic Council’s Reema Hibrawi.
A recent government offensive shut down smuggling tunnels rebels used to bring in supplies to besieged Eastern Ghouta. With nearly 300,000 people reportedly on the brink of famine, only a pair of businessmen can provide supplies. But they aren’t cheap.
The increasing use of small-money transfer shops in Lebanon to transfer funds to illicit groups in Syria is a little-known consequence of imposing sanctions on armed groups in the war-torn country.
After enduring four years of government-imposed siege and living under the increasingly authoritarian rule of the armed opposition, residents of the Damascus suburb have no choice but to join Jaish al-Islam if they want to find work.
Muhammad Fares, a Syrian journalist from Wadi Barada, discusses the long history of water as a weapon in the Damascus suburbs and the river valley that contains the larger story of the Syrian conflict.
The predominantly Kurdish district of Afrin in northwestern Syria has been under near-continuous siege for four years but remained relatively calm, attracting hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Now, it is under threat from Turkish military operations in Syria.
In the next installment of our “Experts to Watch” series, we highlight six experts spreading news and analysis about the flow and use of weapons in Syria by all sides fighting in the conflict.
After three years under siege, children in Eastern Ghouta are forced to steal and beg for their survival. To make matters worse, those who are caught are subjected to Jaish al-Islam’s harsh judicial system – where the punishment can be prison or physical labour.
Frederic C. Hof Director, Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Though Russia and the U.S. tout opposing narratives on Syria, both their policies resulted in the ongoing destruction in that country. Eventually, however, someone will have to shoulder the cost of rebuilding, writes Middle East expert Frederic C. Hof.
After nearly five months of total siege, residents in opposition-held Eastern Aleppo are relying on their own creative inventions, such as batteries powered by bicycles, to carry on with their daily lives.
President Bashar al-Assad needs more than a military victory to retake control of the whole of Syria. The country’s devastated economy will prevent him from achieving a total victory, writes Middle East expert Mona Alami.
As ISIS comes under increased attack in some of the region’s most fertile lands, Middle East agriculture researcher Eckart Woertz discusses how the militant group shrewdly chose to export a renewable resource.
Cases of meningitis and malnutrition-related growth deficiencies are increasing in the besieged town of Madaya, where humanitarian aid deliveries are sporadic and insufficient.
In the next installment of our “Experts to Watch” series, we highlight seven experts spreading news and analysis about the horrific conditions inside Syria’s besieged cities.
As 2 million people are at risk of coming under siege in Aleppo, researcher Will Todman speaks to Syria Deeply about the war economy that has taken hold in besieged areas across the country.
Sharif Nashashibi Cofounder and Chairman, Arab Media Watch
Instead of driving a wedge between regional players, the Syrian conflict’s duration and intractability has forced proxy powers to prioritize cooperation over rivalry for their wider interests, according to Middle East analyst Sharif Nashashibi.
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