Category: Blogs

Unintended Consequences of Safe Zones in Fighting the Islamic State

By Ghaith al-Ahmad

“The sound of gunfire outside makes me forget the hunger pangs,” says Um Mohamed, trembling with fright. This was after the battle intensified between Syrian regime forces and fighters from the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh) in the city of Deir Ezzor. Military experts predicted that ISIS would fall back towards Deir Ezzor city […]

NAFTA in Need of an Update

Former US, Canadian, and Mexican officials make pitch to keep strategic trade deal US President Donald Trump has called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) “the worst trade deal,” but former US, Canadian, and Mexican officials, speaking at the Atlantic Council on February 22, warned against abandoning the strategic deal that binds their three […]

China Taking Clean Energy Leadership from the United States

By Madison Freeman

With commitments to clean energy and combatting climate change wavering under the new US administration, leadership in renewable energy is quietly shifting away from the United States across the Pacific, where China is rapidly building its dominance. US President Donald Trump has been clear about his support for fossil fuels. Though his stance on renewable […]

Which Muslim Brotherhood?

By H.A. Hellyer

The Trump administration does not fail to disappoint those that expected a raucous and riotous White House. It has only been a few weeks since President Donald Trump took office, and already his tenure is connected with scandals and resignations. Against the backdrop of that, nevertheless, two policies in particular have attracted a particular amount […]

Former NATO Commander Breedlove: Putin Feels Emboldened

By Philip M. Breedlove, Washington Times

[O]ur concerted focus on Russia’s interference in our election, as egregious as it was, puts us at risk of focusing on the wrong things.

Report Summary: The Local Administration in Deir Ezzor

By Husayn Hosoda

This summary based on the Justice for Life Organization report which describes a number of potential reforms for the governorate of Deir Ezzor in Syria once a political solution allows it to reintegrate into the state. The future of the Syrian state remains unclear, but in its current form is no longer the centralized power it […]

The Syrian Economy Post 2011

By Rashad al-Kattan

Nearly six years of conflict have dramatically altered Syria’s economy. To better understand these changes, SyriaSource interviewed Rashad al-Kattan, a researcher on Syria, about the state of Syria’s economy. His responses give insight into how, even as the Syrian regime is winning on the military front, the long-term economic challenges paint a more complex picture […]

What is the Significance of the Fight in Southern Syria?

By Haid Haid

On February 12, rebel groups launched an offensive named Almawt Wala al-Muzaleh [Death Rather than Humiliation] targeting regime-controlled areas in Daraa. The ongoing operation is reportedly an attempt to prevent pro-Syrian regime troops from gaining control of a strategic border crossing with Jordan. The attack — which followed a long period of decline in fighting since […]