Assad: West Is Fueling Syria War, Hoping to Topple Him

The Associated Press Jun 10, 2018 The Syrian president says that Western nations have lied about chemical attacks and supported terrorist groups in his country, while Russia has supported his government against the foreign “invasion.” Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Russia Reaches Syria Cease-Fire Pact With Turkey—and the U.S. Had Nothing to Do With It

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Dec 29, 2016 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that after negotiations in Moscow between his administration and its Turkish and Iranian counterparts, an accord regarding the war in Syria has been reached, establishing a fragile truce that's being hailed as "a potential turning point" in the bloody civil war that has raged for six years. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

What’s Happening in Aleppo Isn’t as Black and White as ‘Our Political Masters’ Make It Out to Be

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Dec 14, 2016 Robert Fisk, The Independent's award-winning correspondent, writes that while the bloody clash in the Syrian city is horrific, many questions remain about American and British involvement and Western media's portrayal of the conflict. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Syria’s Aleppo Falling: Moscow Is a Player in the Region Again

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Dec 12, 2016 Russia’s success in shaping the outcome of the Syrian struggle has made Moscow a player in the region again for the first time since the fall of the old Soviet Union. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

In Donald Trump’s Shadow, Will East Aleppo Fall to the Assad Regime and Its Russian Backer?

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 29, 2016 Since Trump's election, Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin have thrown caution to the wind. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Syria and Russia Push to Take Area in Aleppo as Airstrikes Kill 66 and Wound 200 (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 26, 2016 Only a week after seeming to agree to a cease-fire, Russia and the Syrian regime in Damascus appear to have decided to wipe out the pocket of rebel resistance in East Aleppo. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

A Story of Two Syrian Sieges: Manbij and East Aleppo

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jul 14, 2016 On Wednesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (a mixed Kurdish and Arab group) advanced further into the city of Manbij, a major outpost for Islamic State in northern Syria. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

In Syria, Rebels From East Aleppo Strike Hospital in Government-Held West Aleppo (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig May 4, 2016 Muslim fundamentalist rebels, including al-Qaida, took revenge Tuesday on West Aleppo for the heavy government bombardment of East Aleppo that has killed dozens in the past week, including at a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Winners and Losers in Five Years of Syrian Civil War

Juan Cole / Truthdig Mar 14, 2016 A half-decade after protests began in Damascus and Deraa (mainly Deraa) in Syria, the country is a basket case and its social statistics look like those of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

How the Fate of Syria’s Bashar Assad Divides the GOP Field (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jan 11, 2016 Although many of the Republican presidential candidates probably couldn’t find Syria on a world map, the fate of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad has become a flashpoint issue distinguishing them from one another. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Putin Claims Turkey Was Protecting Islamic State Oil Smuggling as He Urges Kurds to Ally With Assad

Juan Cole / Truthdig Dec 1, 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday in Paris that his government had intelligence that the reason Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet last week was to protect oil smuggling from Islamic State (Daesh) through Turkey. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Rebel Training

Nick Anderson / Truthdig Oct 14, 2015 Dig deeper