Syria
Captagon’s Legacy
Over four months after the fall of Assad, Syria is still struggling with the pervasive Captagon trade. Despite the new authorities vowing to dismantle drug networks, the illicit business continues, fueled by economic hardship and lingering connections from the previous regime.
Camp Islamic State
The al-Hawl and Roj camps in northeastern Syria house the remnants of the Islamic State group, including many foreign nationals, women and children. Amid uncertainty over U.S. funding for the camps and political change within Syria, fears are growing of some form of resurgence from among the radicalized detainees.
Darayya’s Sacrifice
One Syrian town on the outskirts of Damascus became a byword for peaceful protest during the revolution that began in 2011. Today, after years of struggle and loss, the families of Darayya look to rebuild in the memory of their martyrs.
The Fragile Foundations of Arab-Kurdish Coexistence
A journey from Damascus into eastern Syria — along a busy smuggling route — shows that the desire for a united country remains strong, despite the efforts of factions and external actors to sow discord and fuel sectarian fears.
Sitcom Under Siege
“No problem!” Sami al-Agha says on the phone, mid-scene. A second later, two deafening explosions shake the ground. Regime airstrikes. The power goes out. In the darkness, the cameraman moves closer and switches on the flash. Filming continues as if nothing happened, until the electricity returns 90 seconds later. “Ah!…
Massacres on the Syrian Coast
Firsthand accounts of the recent massacres on Syria’s coast reveal lingering sectarianism and a post-Assad regime that has not yet come to terms with its role as a government for all Syrians.
How Desperation Sowed the Seeds of Rebellion in Syria’s Latakia Province
In Syria’s Latakia province, a stronghold of the former Assad regime, the loss of jobs and opportunities and a feeling of being marginalized by the state are leading Alawites to rebel against the new administration.