Tag Archives: Syria

Sunni Islamism Stirs in Lebanon

Posted on July 7, 2012 by jonathanspyer

As the civil war in Syria grinds on and assumes an increasingly sectarian character, echoes of the strife are being heard across the border in Lebanon. The main beneficiary of the Arab uprisings of the last year has been Sunni … Continue reading →

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Tensions between FSA rebels, Kurdish Separatists in Syria

Posted on June 29, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 29/6. At a recent meeting in London, I asked a Syrian Kurd whose affiliations are close to the nationalist PKK why the Kurds of Syria remained on the sidelines in the uprising against Bashar Assad. The Kurds of … Continue reading →

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Defections reflect doubts among Assad loyalists

Posted on June 26, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 26/06/2012 Analysis: Syrian rebels, having begun as an uprising against recognized authorities, are beginning to look more like a rival center of power in country. The defection this week of a Syrian general, five other officers and 33 … Continue reading →

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Syrian Rebels Gaining Ground

Posted on June 19, 2012 by jonathanspyer

As the UN Observer Mission in Syria ceases its activities, there are indications that the Syrian rebels are beginning to gain the upper hand against the Assad regime. The rebels have scored notable achievements against government forces in recent days. … Continue reading →

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Interview on ABC News

Posted on June 1, 2012 by jonathanspyer

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-31/20120531-worldiv-raw/4045298

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Syrian Kurdish dissident: ‘Break Syria into Pieces’

Posted on May 16, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post 16/05/2012 Sherkoh Abbas, a veteran Syrian Kurdish dissident, called on Israel this week to support the break-up of Syria into a series of federal structures based on the country’s various ethnicities. Speaking from Washington, Abbas was also critical … Continue reading →

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The Killing Grounds of Idlib

Posted on May 6, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 4/5. Human Rights Watch released this week a report that offers a devastating picture of the activities of the Syrian regime in suppressing the revolt underway against it. The report also stands as an indictment of the impotency … Continue reading →

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Tragedy and farce in Syria

Posted on April 7, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 05/04/2012 Recent developments show that the West appears to have acquiesced to the continued rule of the Assad family dictatorship. The supposed acceptance by the regime of Bashar Assad of UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan represents … Continue reading →

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Among the Insurgents

Posted on February 22, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Last Thursday afternoon, in the town square of Bini’ish in Idleb Province, northwest Syria, a small group gathered to protest against the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. It was drizzling, and the protesters, about 200 of them, were mostly schoolchildren. A … Continue reading →

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Inside Free Syria

Posted on February 18, 2012 by jonathanspyer

The mountains outside Antakya were wrapped in black clouds the day we crossed the border from Turkey into Syria. The smugglers said this was a good sign as the Syrian Army patrols don’t care for rain and mud, and would … Continue reading →

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