Latest Articles and Blog Posts

Iraqi Refugees in North Aleppo Countryside: Interview

February 17, 2019 at 8:56 pm

The north Aleppo countryside, in particular the Azaz area near the border with Turkey, has long been a 'safe zone' to which displaced persons have come, not only from Syria but also from neighbouring Iraq. The Iraqi refugees come from predominantly Sunni areas that were previously controlled by the Islamic State. These refugees made a difficult journey in coming to the north Aleppo countryside with hopes of entering Turkey. While many have entered Turkey, some still remain in the north Aleppo countryside (presently the 'Euphrates Shield' zone under Turkish occupation). Below is an interview I conducted recently with an Iraqi refugee from Mosul who resides in the al-Sina'a camp in the Azaz area.

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Liwa al-Tafuf of the Hashd: Interview

February 15, 2019 at 10:33 am

Liwa al-Tafuf, formed in August 2016, is the 13th brigade on the registers of the Hashd Sha'abi Commission and is formally affiliated with the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala'. Below is an interview I conducted with Hussein Ahmad Jum'a of Liwa al-Tafuf. Born in Karbala' in 1995, Hussein was a student prior to the issuing of Sistani's fatwa to defend Iraq in June 2014. In light of the fatwa and the fact that the Islamic State had seized the town of Jurf al-Sakhr that is near Karbala, Hussein quit his studies and became a fighter. He was 17 years old at the time. Prior to joining Liwa al-Tafuf, Hussein was in Liwa Ali al-Akbar, the 11th brigade of the Hashd Sha'abi Commission and also affiliated with the Imam Hussein shrine.

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An Anglo-Saxon Riddle (Arabic Translation)

February 14, 2019 at 6:36 am

See the link for more.

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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda: Affiliates or Foes?

February 14, 2019  •  Fanack

Much debate about the Syrian insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the West revolves around the nature of its relations with al-Qaeda (AQ). Conventionally, HTS is classed as an AQ affiliate, based on the fact that HTS' core constituents evolved out of Jabhat al-Nusra, which was AQ's official affiliate in Syria. Critics, however, point to extensive disagreements between HTS and AQ that have emerged on social media. The question then arises as to the nature of these disagreements and why, despite them, the classification of HTS as an AQ affiliate remains.

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The Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-al-Qaeda Dispute: Primary Texts (XIII)

February 10, 2019 at 10:06 am

For prior parts in this series, see here.

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