Russian Naval Drills Raise Question: What Are the Limits of Russian Influence in Syria?
Syria Update Digest On 15 February, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made an official visit to Syria, where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and inspected the Russian airbase at Hmeimim. The visit was occasioned by a string of Russian naval exercises, including in the eastern Mediterranean; a provocative show of force amid rising […]
Lebanon Conflict Analysis – Bourj Barajne Camp
Background Borj el Brajne camp was established in 1949 by the League of Red Cross Societies and is located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. The camp was built on one square kilometre of land to accommodate 10,000 refugees initially. However, following displacements from other camps, as well as the influx of […]
Lebanon Conflict Analysis – Central Bekaa
Background The following section provides a conflict analysis of the region generally known as Central Bekaa, administratively located in Zahle district. Central Bekaa is generally mixed in terms of political affiliation and religious and confessional groups, with Christians, Sunnis, Shiites, and Druze communities. Strong family and clan ties, in all sects, are prevalent and shape […]
Lebanon Conflict Analysis – Khalde
Background Khalde constitutes a strategic location as it presents a gateway to the capital, Beirut, as well as to the South and to the Druze stronghold of Jabal-Aley; the southern part of Beirut’s international airport is also located in Khalde. The population of the area is estimated at 350,000 individuals — predominantly Sunni, at 85 […]
HRW Report Highlights Human Rights Risks. Is Nexus the Solution?
Syria Update Digest On 27 January, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP) published a highly critical report on the procurement practices of UN agencies working in Syria. The report shows how due diligence efforts have in some cases become a box-ticking exercise, posing reputational and programmatic risks. Donor agencies can […]
IS Prison Raid, Biggest Attack since ’19, Displaces 45,000
Syria Update Digest On 20 January, IS militants launched a raid on al-Sina’a prison in Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled Al-Hasakeh City in an attempt to free former IS fighters held as inmates. The attack was the group’s most significant operation in Syria since its defeat in 2019, and led to a six-day siege, with SDF […]
Left Behind: Family Separation and Its Impacts in Three Damascus Neighbourhoods
Executive Summary Although migration and displacement in Syria have often been studied from the perspective of host-country integration, the impact on those who are “left behind” is also significant, and it is seldom acknowledged, despite its commonness. Survey data collected in Damascus indicate that approximately two-thirds of Syrians have relatives who have relocated abroad since […]
Raslan Prosecution: Germany War Crimes Trial Highlights Wider Accountability Push
Syria Update Digest On 13 January, the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany sentenced Anwar Raslan, a former colonel at Syria’s notorious State Security Branch, to life in prison. It is the first prosecution anywhere for war crimes committed during the conflict in Syria and the most notable step to date in the ongoing pursuit […]
UN Extends Cross-Border Mechanism for Six Months. Big Changes Will Follow
Syria Update Digest On 10 January, the UN extended the cross-border mandate contained in Security Council Resolution 2585 for six months, despite earlier objections voiced by Russia. Though the mechanism is safe for now, a fight in July 2022 is all but unavoidable. Moscow’s objections set up a scenario in which the current UN cross-border […]
