[Published here September 27, 2017]
HAWI AL-HAWA (SYRIA) (AFP) – For years, Gharam Habbal and her elderly father had desperately dreamt of escaping the Islamic State group’s hellish grip on Raqa. But when she finally fled, he wasn’t with her.
Raqqa
Returning home, Syrians find Raqa battered beyond recognition | AFP
[Published here September 26, 2017]
Raqa (Syria) (AFP) – Bashar Hammoud thought he knew his native Raqa like the back of his hand, but a months-long offensive against the Islamic State group has scarred the Syrian city so badly he can barely recognise it.
MAYA GEBEILY 