Week in Review: Chemical Progress, Sectarian Revenge and Oil-Fueled Jihad

10/13/13 10:12 PM

This Week in Syria, Deeply

Dear Deeply Readers, Yes, the U.N.-backed chemical weapons inspectors in Syria had only just started work on the ground when they won the Nobel Peace Prize this week. But its worth noting that theyve made steady progress, in a task thats already proven perilous. Inspectors started their work on sites in government-held areas where fighting is relatively calm. But even there, mortar shells landed near their Damascus hotel, killing an 11-year-old girl. To finish the job theyll likely have to cross rebel lines; Friday saw air raids and armed clashes near one chemical weapons facility in Safira, with no sign that either side would respect calls for a cease-fire. Among other flashpoints, the past week the fighting has encompassed rebel-on-rebel clashes in Aleppo, which killed 50 people, and the regime capture of two rebel-held districts south of Damascus. The latter left 70 people dead and gave the Assad government better control of supply lines from Jordan. With the pace of war left unabated, the U.N. predicts that 4 million more Syrians will flee their homes in 2014, half of them refugees pouring out of the countrys borders. The regime and al-Qaida-linked rebels have now been accused of crimes against humanity, with calls for justice but none in sight. In all cases civilians have borne the brunt of the violence. Human Rights Watch issued a report accusing al-Qaida-linked groups of a massacre in August, an indiscriminate attack that killed nearly 200 people in Alawite coastal areas. In addition to the loss of life, it was noteworthy in marking an escalating sectarian revenge cycle the exchange of atrocities between Shiites on one side, and Sunni extremists on the other. Before the war, Syrians werent prone to seeing the world through a SunniShiite lens they were believers and beneficiaries of a diverse religious society. But now that sectarian dividing line has come to define a brutal conflict, tearing the fabric of a unified Syrian identity.
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Week in Review: Chemical Progress, Sectarian Revenge and Oil-Fueled Jihad

10/13/13 10:12 PM

To fix it, Syria will have to push out an al-Qaida presence and the extremist ideology that has spread with it. There is a civilian backlash against extremism the Economist holds out the possibility of a popular, moderate uprising against al-Qaida groups, akin to the sahwa movement in Iraq. But as of now there are factors working in al-Qaidas favor including the fact that it now controls Syrian oil fields, selling crude to fund its operations. That makes for an independent revenue stream, in a country where many people are now impoverished and desperate for aid. Highlights from Syria Deeply: Arts + Culture: Painting Ghoutas Massacre, in 140 Characters Syrians React to Rebels Slaughter of Latakia Alawites Via Soap Operas, Syrians Follow a Different Narrative Conversations: A Weekend Game of Tennis in Damascus Meet Hazem: A 13-Year-Old Teacher in Azaz Q+A: Ninette Kelley, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon For Detained Syrian Journalist, A New, Bleaker Story Searching for a Political Settlement to the Conflict Scrounging for Firewood, Aleppo Prepares for Winter We featured a range of stories on our Syria Deeply podcast. And as always, to help you review, heres our day-to-day roundup of Syria headlines last week: Monday: U.S. Credits Syria for Chemical Arms Progress; Russia and U.S. Push for Peace Talks; Turkey Building Wall on Syrian Border Tuesday: 100 Specialists to Carry out Syria Disarmament; U.S. Russia Reach Chemical Arms Understanding; Airstrikes Target Rebel Assault on Key Bases Wednesday: Second Team of Weapons Experts Heads to Syria; Mortars Hit Syria Central Bank; Iran Rejects U.S. Condition for Joining Syria Peace Conference Thursday: Chemical Weapons Inspectors Urge Truce, Finish Visit to 3 Sites; Hezbollah, Iraqi Militia Capture Damascus Neighborhood Friday: Human Rights Watch Report Cites Rebels War Crimes; Syrian Child Refugees Face Exploitation; Sunni Rebels, Shiite Militia Clash Near Damascus Headlines From the Week:

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Week in Review: Chemical Progress, Sectarian Revenge and Oil-Fueled Jihad

10/13/13 10:12 PM

AFP: Key Syrian Opposition Groups Reject Peace Talks AFP: 1,500 People Evacuated from Besieged Damascus Suburb LA Times: At Border, Israelis Watch Syrias Civil War Through a Fortified Fence Al Jazeera: U.N. to Boost Syria Weapons Inspection Team The Guardian: Homs: A Tale of Two Cities AP: Al-Qaida Urges Rival Rebel Groups to Unite, Rally Around Goal of Islamic State The Irish Times: Kafranbel: A Small Towns Witty Banners and Viral Videos AFP: Iraqi Kurdish Chief Barzani Ready to Hit Militants in Syria Reuters: Europe Eases Syrian Government Sanctions to Allow Food Deals France 24: A Christian Soldier in Syria: We Have to Defend Our Community Were fielding your feedback on how to better serve you and cover the story. You can reach our team on email at info@syriadeeply.org. Sincerely, The News Deeply Team

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