[Published here May 25, 2018]
Seven years of war and massive displacement have redrawn Syria’s demographic map, erecting borders between the country’s ethnic, religious, and political communities that will be hard to erase.
AFP
Doctors ask Syria to lift 7-year ban on access to wounded | AFP
[Published here on May 23, 2018]
Beirut (AFP) – Doctors Without Borders on Wednesday called on Syria’s government to reverse its seven-year ban on the medical charity, issuing an urgent appeal for access to wounded people in regime-held territory.
First-time voters eagerly weigh in on Lebanese election | AFP
[Published here on May 6, 2018]
Beirut (AFP) – Hanin Terjman was among the first outside her Beirut polling station Sunday: like many young Lebanese, she is voting for the first time and wants to see new faces in parliament.
New Syrian land law raises red flags for rights groups, lawyers | AFP
[Published here May 4, 2018]
Beirut (AFP) – Rights groups and specialists are sounding the alarm over a new Syrian law on urban development, saying millions of displaced risk never returning home after losing claim to land left behind.
Election fever hits Lebanon, nine years since last legislative vote | AFP
[Published here on April 18, 2018]
As its first parliamentary vote in nearly a decade approaches, Lebanon has been swept into campaign fever: posters on every corner, televised debates, and neighbours bickering over new electoral procedures.
As Syria rebels quit Douma, questions linger over detainees, activists | AFP
[Published here on April 13, 2018]
Damascus (Syria) (AFP) – As Syrian rebels evacuate their holdout town of Douma, hope is dwindling that four iconic activists and hundreds of others suspected to have been kidnapped there will be found alive.
Syrians in exile search for answers in leaked ‘wanted list’ | AFP
[Published here April 5, 2018]
Desperate to find out if they can ever return home, Syrians exiled by their country’s uprising-turned-war are scouring a leaked database of people reportedly wanted by the intelligence services. Typing in first, last and father’s names into the online list, Syrians abroad hold their breath to learn if a long-awaited visit to Damascus would land them in government prison or potentially far worse.
Broken by siege, Syria rebels face worse loss yet in Ghouta | AFP
[Published here April 4, 2018]
Beirut (AFP) – The expected loss of Eastern Ghouta will deal Syria’s fragmented rebels their biggest blow yet, leaving them unable to threaten President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and increasingly subservient to competing global interests.
France-sanctioned firms deny ties to Syria chemical programme | AFP
[Published here on January 25, 2018]
Companies and nationals blacklisted by France for alleged links to Syria’s chemical weapons programme denied any wrongdoing on Thursday, telling AFP they were gearing up for a legal challenge.
Four years and one caliphate later, IS claims Idlib comeback | AFP
[Published here January 16, 2018]
The Islamic State group has been roundly defeated across much of Syria — which made it all the more surprising when it announced an official comeback in the country’s northwest last week.
MAYA GEBEILY 