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Articles by Mohammed Hardan
Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced?
December 6, 2022 The issue of hosting Syrian refugees has become a hot topic in Turkey about six months before the presidential elections and at a time when Turkey is grappling with a severe economic crisis. Opposition parties pledged for ensuring the return of millions of Syrians. The future of Syrian refugees thus seems to be reliant on two plans.
Syrian Salafists oppose opening of movie theatre in Idlib
November 12, 2022 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, has recently brought back cinema to the city of Idlib as part of its ongoing attempts to market itself as a moderate group. Cinema Al-Zahra has reopened its doors in Idlib, after being closed for more than 20 years due to neglect and war.
Cholera spreads in Syria as displacement camps on high alert
October 6, 2022 As cholera spreads in northeastern Syria, concerns are mounting about an outbreak of the disease in other parts of the country, including in the northwest where displacement camps that lack any basic infrastructure could serve as a hotbed for the infectious disease.
Fires engulf displacement camps in northern Syria during heat wave
September 5, 2022 The number of fires in camps for the displaced in northwestern Syria has risen to 126 since the beginning of the year after three new fires broke out on Aug. 24 due to high temperatures inside the tents and a reliance on indoor cooking stoves. More than 590 displaced camps suffer from a lack of water.
Fires engulf displacement camps in northern Syria
September 5, 2022 The number of fires in camps for the displaced in northwestern Syria has risen to 126 since the beginning of the year after three new fires broke out on Aug. 24 due to high temperatures inside the tents and a reliance on indoor cooking stoves. More than 590 displaced camps suffer from a lack of water.
Falling waters of Euphrates, Tigris rivers reveal submerged archaeological sites
August 27, 2022 The decline of water levels at the Euphrates Dam lake in eastern Syria recently revealed a large archaeological burial site. The site, which dates back to the Byzantine civilization in the Raqqa province, stretches over large areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates Dam (also known as Tabqa Dam) lake, starting from Wadi Sahl al-Khashab and Shams al-Din area in the northwestern countryside of Raqqa until the administrative border between Raqqa and Aleppo.
Oil smuggling in Syria worsens pollution in Euphrates River
August 21, 2022 Black oil spills are spotted on the banks of the Euphrates River in Syria, near the oil smuggling points between the areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government-held areas. The Euphrates River, the longest in Western Asia and once the main drinking water source in the provinces of the Syrian al-Jazira region, is facing a real catastrophe in light of the soaring rates of pollutants in its water.
Turkey completes more than 62,000 homes in Idlib, but will refugees return home?
August 18, 2022 Turkey has recently completed the building of more than 60,000 houses in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, as part of a Turkish plan to encourage Syrian refugees in Turkey to return to their home country. On Aug. 6, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced in a tweet the completion of the construction of 62,145 briquette houses in Idlib, for what he described as the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Syrians.
As foreign YouTubers visit Syria, an incomplete narrative of ‘normal life’ emerges
GAZIANTEP — Parts of Syria controlled by Damascus are reportedly receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors from the Middle East region and beyond this year. Tourists include social media influencers and YouTubers, whose content about their trips has faced criticism for—intentionally or unintentionally—portraying an inaccurate picture of Syria. According to the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, in the first half of 2022 Syria received around 700,000 visitors, 35-60 percent for tourism.
Syrian jihadi group HTS imposes irrigation fees on farmers amidst water crisis
August 3, 2022 Amid a worsening water crisis in northwest Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has taken a series of measures to weather the effects of this crisis and help citizens cope with its repercussions. Throughout the years of war, Syrian government forces have repeatedly targeted vital infrastructure and facilities, including drinking and irrigation water pumping stations, which has prevented farmers from irrigating their agricultural lands.
Syrian Islamist group imposes irrigation fees on farmers amidst water crisis
August 3, 2022 Amid a worsening water crisis in northwest Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has taken a series of measures to weather the effects of this crisis and help citizens cope with its repercussions. Throughout the years of war, Syrian government forces have repeatedly targeted vital infrastructure and facilities, including drinking and irrigation water pumping stations, which has prevented farmers from irrigating their agricultural lands.
Islamic State moves out of the shadows east of the Euphrates, swears in new recruits
GAZIANTEP — The Islamic State (IS) is increasing its activity in Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled areas of northeastern Syria, boosting its ranks with new fighters from villages in the northern and eastern Deir e-Zor countryside. This past April, IS broadcast a speech entitled “Battle of Revenge for the Two Sheikhs,” calling on its members to avenge the killings of IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi and former IS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi.
Syrian airline operates flights from Russian-controlled airports
June 29, 2022 Cham Wings, a private airline close to the Syrian government, announced June 13 that it will start operating flights from Beirut to the Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria, and from there to the Aleppo International Airport in northwestern Syria. The announcement came days after the Damascus International Airport went out of service due to Israeli air strikes.
Kurdish, Syrian, Iranian forces coordinate ahead of Turkish operation
June 17, 2022 Several Syrian groups and battalions with different affiliations announced on May 25 the formation of a joint operations room ahead of an imminent Turkish operation in northern Syria. The so-called North Thunderbolt joint operations room is located at a Russian base in the village of Hardatnin in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
Syrian HTS leader courts Druze community in Idlib
June 16, 2022 The leader of Hayar Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, continues to promote his image as moderate and close to the public through a series of propaganda efforts. On June 9, he inaugurated a well project to supply water to several villages of the Druze-majority Jabal al-Summaq area of the northern Idlib countryside. The HTS-affiliated Amjad Media Foundation published a video of Golani meeting with the notables in Jabal al-Summaq.
Syrian jihadi leader courts Druze community in Idlib
June 16, 2022 The leader of Hayar Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, continues to promote his image as moderate and close to the public through a series of propaganda efforts. On June 9, he inaugurated a well project to supply water to several villages of the Druze-majority Jabal al-Summaq area of the northern Idlib countryside. The HTS-affiliated Amjad Media Foundation published a video of Golani meeting with the notables in Jabal al-Summaq.
Clashes turn tribal between Turkish-backed opposition factions
June 3, 2022 Armed clashes with heavy machine guns and RPGs erupted May 24 within the scope of renewed infighting between members of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). The dispute is traced back to a tribal revenge case in the area that culminated into armed clashes expanding in most of the neighborhoods of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakah countryside. The armed confrontation went on until noon May 25. A man named Mohammed Al-Awad Al-Daar from the Al-Akidat tribe was killed.
Northwest Syria's Arabian horses at risk of being forgotten
May 11, 2022 Horse owners in northwest Syria are unable to officially register their horses and obtain a stamp confirming that they are purebred Arabian horses, because the activity of the World Arabian Horse Organization in Syria is limited to the government-controlled areas only. The residents of northwestern Syria are also unable to send their horses to government-controlled areas to register them, for fear that the government forces might steal them.
HTS leader tours Idlib on Eid al-Fitr
May 11, 2022 The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has made another public appearance. He took part in the Eid al-Fitr festivities in the marketplace of the city of Idlib, northern Syria, on the night of May 1. Videos are circulating of Golani surrounded by dozens of heavily armed men, some in civilian clothes, as he walked in the city’s main souk as a crowd of residents took photos with him.
Smuggling across Syrian-Turkish border grows despite risks
The deteriorating security, economic, and living conditions in Syria have pushed many young people to seek asylum outside their homeland — in Turkey or Europe — in a bid to overcome life’s difficulties and problems and lead a decent life away from the conflict in their country. Although human smuggling is a major crime and is illegal, it is very common in Syria, whether to neighboring countries or within various parts of Syria where different authorities have influence.
Rare Syrian NGO formed to defend LGBT community
April 21, 2022 Homophobia remains prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa regions. Most countries in these regions do not recognize the rights of the LGBT community, and homosexual acts are criminalized. LGBT people in Syria, in particular, face daily discrimination and violations amid policies and legal provisions that incite hatred and violence against anyone who is different and not meeting the prevailing social standards and expectations.
Displaced Syrians in Idlib hold classes in Roman ruins
A dating to the 16th century AD in the Deir Hassan area north of Idlib has been made into an educational center, thanks to the efforts of one displaced woman. It offers classes for the camps’ children and women who wish to learn new skills and benefit from vocational training. The site, the remains of an ancient fortress, a church and castle, is located in the midst of nearly 600 refugee camps housing hundreds of thousands of displaced Syrians.
Jihadi group raises prices in Syria’s Idlib as war rages in Ukraine
The bakeries and grains department of the Syrian Salvation Government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, reduced March 5 the weight of a bundle of bread by 100 grams, down to 650 grams, pricing the eight loaves at 5 Turkish liras ($0.34). The move follows a hike in the price of flour imported from Turkey in tandem with the rise in the global price of fuels in light of the Russian war on Ukraine.
Residents in north Syria grow angry at Turkish-backed rebels over rise in bombings
Citizens in the areas held by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in north Syria have been living in a state of fear in the past weeks amid the repeated bombings targeting populated areas, markets and neighborhoods. The blasts have become more intense recently, mainly targeting SNA leaders. Most recently, on Feb. 22, Muhammad Mustafa al-Hussein, leader of al-Jabha al-Shamiya (Levant Front) affiliated with the SNA, was killed in a car bomb attack in the city of Azaz.
Yazidis react to killing of Islamic State leader
The death of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, also known as Abdullah Qaradash, in Syria’s northwest province of Idlib on Feb. 3 sparked various reactions among Yazidis, against whom IS committed war crimes and atrocities since it occupied their historic homeland in Iraq in August 2014. Seif Mito, a 19-year-old Yazidi, told Al-Monitor how he suffered at the hands of IS during its rule.
Syrian jihadi group tightens noose on Arab, foreign fighters in Idlib
ALEPPO, Syria — Since early February, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has stepped up its crackdown against Arab and foreign jihadis opposed to it in its areas of control in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib. The campaign comes as part of HTS’ efforts to restrict and monitor their movements and keep them under the surveillance of its security apparatus. The campaign against foreign fighters has angered many jihadis, who accuse HTS of being ungrateful.
US conducts direct Syria dialogue on missing American but White House a ‘holdup,’ family says
The Biden administration is pursuing a direct dialogue with the Syrian government regarding US citizen Majd Kamalmaz, his family told Al-Monitor as it marked the fifth anniversary of his disappearance with an urgent appeal to the White House. Kamalmaz was detained at a government-run checkpoint near Damascus in February 2017 and has been missing ever since.
Violence on rise in Syria’s Suwayda
The violence rate in Suwayda in southern Syria has been increasing on a daily basis in the absence of the rule of law. On Feb. 1, the local Suwayda24 website published a report revealing that 29 people had been killed in January, as a result of separate violent incidents in the governorate.
Belarus leader denies Russian claims about sending troops to Syria
The Russian government's decision to approve an agreement with Belarus on humanitarian aid to Syria has provoked speculation that the Russian military mission will soon be joined by a contingent from the former Soviet republic. At least, that is what the official text of the pact stipulates. Nevertheless, President Alexander Lukashenko categorically objected to this interpretation, pointing out that right now Minsk has enough of its own problems to deal with.
Jihadi leader's donation to IDP camps in Syria questioned as PR stunt
The latest public appearance of the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib again raised controversy. On Jan. 31, Golani visited Deir Hassan camp, north of Idlib, to launch a campaign called “#Your Warmth_Is_Our Duty” in support of the displaced during the winter months. Golani offered an estimated $1 million to provide heating to the families affected by the winter weather.
Health catastrophe looms in Syria’s Idlib
Rights groups are warning about a health crisis that will affect more than 4 million Syrians as medical aid declines in the northwest. Syrian are pictured outside al-Rahma Hospital in the Syrian town of Darkush, Idlib province, on Jan. 16, 2022. - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images February 10, 2022 — The continued decline of financial and logistical support for a number of hospitals in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib has disrupted medical services as humanitarian catastrophe looms.
Jihadi group steps up arrests of rivals, former jihadi allies in Idlib
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, has recently stepped up its arrest campaign against al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Din. News circulated Feb. 2 about HTS’ arrest of Abu al-Bara al-Tunisi, a prominent Hurras al-Din leader, as well as two other leaders of Moroccan nationality. The arrests took place during raids carried out by HTS’ security apparatus in the town of Kansafra, in the Jabal al-Zawiya area.
Idlib's displaced traumatized by operation that killed IS leader
Following the Feb. 3 US special forces operation that led to the death of Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in northwest Syria, civilians in Idlib have been growing more concerned about a possible return of IS, especially the residents of the displaced camps in the border town of Atmeh and the house where Qurayshi died during the raid. Much seems to hinge on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Idlib province. HTS has not commented on the US operation.
Syrian Kurdish forces require displaced Arabs to obtain 'expat card' to remain in their areas
The local authorities in northeast Syria have demanded all Arab refugees from all Syrian regions leave the areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) unless they have a sponsor for their residence.
Islamic State ramps up activities in eastern Syria
IDLIB, Syria — The Islamic State (IS) carries out almost daily operations in Deir ez-Zor against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the civilians it accuses of cooperating with the Kurdish forces. IS is also imposing taxes on shop owners, doctors and others by threatening them with murder and kidnapping via WhatsApp messages.
Ancient Kurdish rain ritual revived in Syria as drought continues
QAMISHLI, Syria — Following successive droughts, residents of al-Malikiyah and Qamishli in northeastern Syria are reviving an ancient ritual called Ziwa, or Bride of the Rain, to ward off any further rain delays. And their efforts may have paid off. On Jan. 2, rain showered the Syrian city of Qamishli and its surrounding towns.
Syrian soldiers killed in deadly Islamic State ambush in Deir Ezzor
Syrian state-run media said five soldiers were killed in an Islamic State missile attack on a transport convoy in the country’s eastern desert on Sunday evening. Twenty others were wounded, state-run SANA news agency reported. The outlet operates under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The attack occurred in the Badia desert between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor, according to SANA.
Islamic State cells impose levy on oil investors in northeastern Syria
Islamic State operatives stormed Dec. 15 into the Syrian Democratic Forces-affiliated Subaihan oil field in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor province and threatened to kill the field workers if the investors did not pay a fine for oil production, which amounts to about 20% of the oil production. On Dec.
Opposition-led government in Syria's Idlib increases taxes on motorcycles
A police officer confiscated Amer al-Dioub's motorcycle when he was on his way to work in Al-Dana city in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province on Nov. 10. Dioub, a construction worker, bought his motorcycle four years ago. It spared him the hassle of finding a taxi and paying a daily fee to go to work.
Syrian government loosens travel restrictions on Christian clergy
The Syrian Cabinet issued Nov. 30 a decision exempting some categories — including Christian clergy, such as patriarchs, bishops and their drivers, priests, deacons, monks and nuns — from paying $100 in exchange for Syrian currency when entering the country provided that they carry a paper slip proving that they are on a church mission between Syria and Lebanon.
Syrian jihadi group sees wave of defections in Idlib
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues to split with rival jihadi groups, according to the classification of the segments supporting this group. Mahmoud Adnan Ajaj, a judge working in one of Idlib's civil courts associated with HTS' Salvation Government, announced Dec. 1 his defection.
Iran expands economic reach into oil-rich region of Syria
Tehran seems to have managed to improve its economic relations with Syria and achieve a steady rise in Iranian exports there. It continues its efforts to tighten control over Deir ez-Zor governorate, known for its agricultural and oil wealth. Iran is thus working both the military and economic aspects to compensate for the material losses it ensured defending the Syrian regime.
Russian movie praises Moscow's war efforts in Syria
December 12, 2021 A new Russian movie tells the story of Russian pilot Lieut. Col. Oleg Anatolyevich Peshkov. "Sky" was recently screened in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Peshkov was killed when his fighter jet was hit by a Turkish Air Force missile and crashed in northern Syria six years ago. The movie was first shown at the Hmeimim military base on the anniversary of the pilot’s killing. In Aleppo, an audience of Russian soldiers and some Russian nationals watched the film in a free screening.
CENTCOM investigating latest Syria drone strike for civilian harm
US Central Command (CENTCOM) initiated an investigation into a drone strike near Syria’s Idlib province last week that reportedly wounded six bystanders, including children. The strike, carried out with a US military MQ-9 Reaper drone, targeted a senior Huras al-Din figure in northwest Syria, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday. Huras al-Din is an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria. Kirby identified the target by name as Mus’ab Qinan.
Idlib opens first zoo
The northern parts of Syria, away from the demarcation lines and fighting, have recently seen attempts at urban planning, including industrial and tourist facilities. The first public park in Idlib was inaugurated Nov. 18, including a zoo, as part of a series of recreational projects across the city. Youssef al-Sayyed, the director of the newly opened zoo, said that the park also includes an amusement park and a restaurant.
Unprecedented COVID spread plagues health sector in Syria's Daraa
According to several medical sources in Daraa province, southern Syria, the number of registered coronavirus cases have exceeded 52,000 infections from the beginning of October until Nov. 17. This surge in infections comes amid a collapsing health sector in the province, and the medical centers’ inability to contain the pandemic and provide basic health services, prompting them to launch popular initiatives to collect donations in a bid to secure the necessary treatment supplies.
Gaming offers livelihood for some young Syrians
Gaming as a profession has become common among young Syrians, many of whom participate on Arab live broadcasting platforms. Some participate in local and international tournaments with prizes of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for first-place winners. Lucrative livestream video game tournaments are staged across social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube and also on some independent platforms such as Twitch.
Syrian-Kurdish couple sets Amude's cinema ghosts to rest
AMUDE, northeast Syria — Mohammed Rashid Fateh was 12 years old when he went to the movies for the first time on Nov. 13, 1960. “I was so excited I cannot tell you. I wore my clothes the night before and couldn’t wait for it to be tomorrow,” Fateh recalled on a recent afternoon in the predominantly Kurdish town of Amude in northeastern Syria. His joy was short lived.
Drought parches Idlib governorate Original
ALEPPO — Syrians in opposition-controlled areas in northwestern Syria are watching in alarm as groundwater levels drop, threatening their main source of drinking water and irrigation. A decline in rainfall in 2020 and this year's drought have dried up the Duwaisat Dam Lake in the Jisr al-Shughur area in the western countryside of Idlib governorate, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a first since the dam was established nearly three decades ago.
Jihadi group seeks command of media, advertising in northwest Syria
ALEPPO, Syria — The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-affiliated (HTS) Salvation Government continues its attempts to dominate and acquire the different advertising companies and other vital sectors in its areas of control in Idlib in northwestern Syria, through its affiliated directorates and ministries and through emerging companies in various sectors led by parties close to HTS. On Nov.
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