In a recent incident that shook the city of Raqqa, residents in the Mashlab neighborhood in Raqqa managed to apprehend a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia after he attempted to abduct a 20-year-old girl who works as a nurse. According to reports, Ibrahim Othman Al-Saeed, a member of the SDF’s mine clearance team, tried to snatch the girl using a knife and then placed her in the trunk of his car in an attempt to flee. Fortunately, the locals were able to intervene and apprehend him, handing him over to the Asayish forces affiliated with the SDF to take the necessary legal act ..read more

In the heart of the tumult echoed by conflicts and the explosions of wars, the presence of the displaced emerges as a clear and sorrowful message. They are forced to leave their homes and original dwellings in search of a spot of safety that guarantees them a bit of tranquility and a dignified life. In this context, the eastern region of Raqqa in Syria stands out as an area that has witnessed one of the harshest storms resulting from wars and conflicts, casting its dark shadows upon its inhabitants, especially women and children. This tragedy is vividly manifested in around 53 makeshift camps ..read more

Feras Hanosh In today’s interconnected world, the realm of extremist ideology has found a potent ally in the form of online media· Among various extremist movements, jihadist groups have leveraged digital platforms to disseminate their narratives, recruit new members, and propagate their ideologies· However, the allure of jihadist media extends beyond mere dissemination of information; it deeply resonates with vulnerable young individuals, drawing them into the folds of extremism· Understanding the psychological mechanisms behind this phenomenon is crucial in combating radicalization and fost ..read more

The city of Tell Abyad in the northern countryside of Raqqa witnessed successive developments following the intense clashes between the Sham Front and the Glory Corps, affiliated with the Third Corps. The recent events reflect a state of tension and instability in the region, requiring residents to confront new challenges and hope for the restoration of the tranquility they have lost. Currently, the city experiences a cautious calm after the cessation of hostilities, but the challenging circumstances and ongoing tension make it difficult for residents to resume their daily lives. Traffic has ..read more

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) detained at least 16 journalists in Raqqa on July 30. Where the SDF forces have arrested media figures as part of a security campaign in Syria’s northeastern province. According to our reporter, the SDF arrested several journalists working in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and in its media outlets in Raqqa under the pretext of “espionage, including Ruba Al-Ali, an employee at Hawar Agency, Ammar Al-Khalaf from the Euphrates Heritage Agency and formerly at Hawar, Ammar Haidar, who works at North Press and previously at Hawar, Khaled Al-Hassa ..read more

Reporters who reached the Syrian city of Raqqa in October 2017 found an apocalypse of dust, death, and rubble. NPR described it as a “wasteland of war-warped buildings and shattered concrete.” The New York Times called it a ghost city. The United States had promised the most precise air war in history to destroy the Islamic State across its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. Yet by the end of the U.S.-led battle for Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital, as many as 80 percent of the buildings were deemed uninhabitable. Several thousand civilians who had survived months of shelling and stre ..read more

Kurdish-led forces in charge of jails in north-east Syria housing about 10,000 men with alleged links to Islamic State are releasing prisoners in exchange for money under a “reconciliation” scheme, according to interviews with two freed men and official documents. Syrian men imprisoned without trial can pay an $8,000 (£6,000) fine to be freed, a copy of the release form shows. As part of the deal, the released prisoners sign a declaration promising not to rejoin any armed organisations and to leave the parts of north and east Syria under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic F ..read more

As much of the Western world focuses on the growing threat from the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, new intelligence suggests that there is reason again to worry about the terror group’s core in Syria and Iraq. Down to an estimated 10,000 fighters, a small fraction of what it boasted at its peak, and working in small, clandestine cells across the two countries, the terror group, also known as IS or ISIS, has been trying to maintain what intelligence and military officials describe as a low-level insurgency, with varying degrees of success. But U.S. military and intelligence off ..read more

Northern Syria is experiencing its most severe recorded wave of COVID-19 yet, with needs fast outpacing limited oxygen supplies and health facilities running out of testing kits. In the country’s northwest, the health system is already unable to cope, while in the northeast, the coronavirus is spreading at a worrying pace, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In northwest Syria, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 almost doubled in September, reaching nearly 73,000, compared to the 39,000 cases recorded by the end of August. The peak reached in this wave so far has been as high as 1,500 ..read more

ISIS POISED FOR A RAMADAN SURGE IN SYRIA Key Takeaway: ISIS has established a stable territorial base in the mountainous regions of the Central Syrian Desert and has begun to overtake pro-Assad regime forces in the area. ISIS is waging a coordinated campaign to draw pro-regime forces into an untenable security posture in defense of energy and oil assets threatened by ISIS. Assad’s Russian and Iranian backers have attempted to contain ISIS’s insurgency but are unwilling to commit force at the scale necessary to succeed. ISIS is already using its territorial base to destabilize other parts of Sy ..read more