Lara Setrakian

Syria’s Long Road to Geneva

beta.syriadeeply.org — As the proxy war sets in fully in Syria with equal determination among all sides to change the calculations on the ground, the hopes for a major diplomatic breakthrough in the proposed Geneva peace conference have largely faded.

The Data Miners: Syria Needs Analysis Project (SNAP)

beta.syriadeeply.org — The Syria Needs Analysis Project (SNAP) is a partnership between the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) and The team's most visible project is an interactive map that maps who (Free Syrian Army rebels or forces loyal to the Syrian regime) is in control in each province.

Moderate in Iranian Election Takes Strong Lead in Early Returns

nytimes.com — TEHRAN - Iranian officials spent Saturday tallying the votes the nation's presidential election, with a surge of interest in the contest apparently swinging the tide in the favor of the most moderate candidate in the field.

Zaatari’s Wasted Youth

beta.syriadeeply.org — Last week at Zaatari refugee camp, as we sipped tea that was just a few degrees hotter than the air temperature, I asked a 22-year-old refugee named Hamdi why he was so quiet that day. Hamdi's close friend Yazan, who has been the only pillar of stability in Hamdi's life since he arrived in the camp, tried to ward us off the subject.

The Conversation: My Harrowing Escape from Qusayr, Part I

beta.syriadeeply.org — As part of our effort to highlight civilian stories, below is a conversation between Syria Deeply and Rifaie Tammas, a 24-year-old from Qusayr. The Lebanese militia Hezbollah, working with Syrian government troops, overran the key smuggling route between Lebanon and Homs province last week.

The Conversation: My Harrowing Escape from Qusayr, Part I

beta.syriadeeply.org — As part of our effort to highlight civilian stories, below is a conversation between Syria Deeply and Rifaie Tammas, a 24-year-old from Qusayr. The Lebanese militia Hezbollah, working with Syrian government troops, overran the key smuggling route between Lebanon and Homs province last week.

Reactions: Experts Weigh in on the U.S. Move to Arm the Rebels

beta.syriadeeply.org — The U.S. claimed it had evidence that Bashar al-Assad's regime had used the chemical weapon agent Sarin, a poisonous gas, on a small scale against rebel forces, crossing the "red line" President Barack Obama has said would lead him to intervene. Here, Syria watchers - and a rebel commander - react to Obama's decision.