Reportage
Collapsing Into Order
The Assad regime purposely withdrew from Damascus hours before the arrival of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. They wanted Damascus to be looted and torched. Yet this did not happen, and those now in charge of the country have been keeping order and reopening businesses and schools, as Syria begins to move forward.
Border Stories
Since the fall of the Assad regime, the movement of people into Syria from Jordan has surged. Many arrive at the Jaber-Nasib crossing hoping for news about loved ones long imprisoned or disappeared in Syria, a lucky few reuniting after long years of torment.
How the Battle of Algiers Made Jean-Marie Le Pen
In the first three months of 1957, Jean-Marie Le Pen, later the founder and president of France’s far-right National Front party, participated in the battle of Algiers as a paratrooper. Witnessing France’s dying empire in Algeria inspired his unlikely — and precipitous — political rise.
The Fall of ‘Mr. President’s Province’
Decades of Assad family rule ended abruptly, leaving Syrians in shock, disbelief, jubilation and confusion. As opposition forces filled the power vacuum, and amid lingering sectarian fears and competing visions for the future, Syrians faced an uncertain path toward rebuilding and potential political transformation.
Kurdish Musician Hozan Cane Recalls Her Political Imprisonment in Turkey
In 2018, Kurdish musician Hozan Cane traveled from her home in Germany to northwestern Turkey to sing for a pro-Kurdish election campaign. The Turkish authorities swiftly arrested and imprisoned her on trumped-up charges. Her ordeal encapsulates a worrying trend in the country, where human rights abuses are on the rise.
Inside Israel’s Shadow War Against Iran in Syria
The newly surfaced “Moses” documents, apparently written by an Israeli operative, shed light on the dynamics between Assad and Iran. While Assad may have tried to limit Iran’s activities where possible, Tehran likely operated independently of Damascus, maintaining a firewall to ensure secrecy and prevent infiltration.
Colombia’s Long Road to ‘Total Peace’
After more than six decades of conflict, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro pledged to achieve “total peace” in the country. But shifts in the nature of armed conflict, the proliferation of criminal gangs and the absence of meaningful reforms have impeded his goal.