MESOP IT’S ALL GONE FOREVER : Damage to Syria’s cultural heritage (lists and maps); belated rescue attempts
MESOP : THE MOST RELEVANT REFORM BY “REFORMER” AL ASSAD : BARREL BOMBS BECOME TRENDY
“What’s happening now in Iraq definitely started in Syria,” Human Rights Watch researcher Erin Evers said. “If I were al-Maliki, and seeing Assad next door using the same tactics without a slap on the wrist and gaining ground as a result, it stands to reason he would say, ‘Why the hell not?'”
Barrel bombs risk becoming answer to insurgency
By Lara Jakes – Associated Press – 7.6.2014 – WASHINGTON: In desperate efforts to gain ground on battlefields, frustrated governments in the Mideast and Africa are using barrel bombs against their enemies, launching the cheap, quickly manufactured weapons as a crude counter to roadside blasts and suicide explosions that insurgents have deployed with deadly success for years.
Underage involved in Syria war, shot by mistake (PYD)
Two little girls holding the picture of Ahmad Khalil, 13, during his funeral in Efrin, northwest of Syria. Photo: ARA News
ARA News
Efrin, Syria – On Friday, the member of the Kurdish forces of the Popular Protections Units (YPG) Ahmad Khalil was reported dead after being mistakenly gunshot during military training in the Kurdish northwestern Syrian city of Efrin. Khalil, 16, died in Efrin hospital where he was transferred to following the incident.
Ahmad’s parents told ARA News that their son’s real age is 16. “However, during the funeral, YPG members said he was 18.”
“YPG’s attempt to hide our son’s real age was surprising, as if they want to show that there are no underage fighters in their ranks,” Khalil’s father said. “We still believe in the cause of the YPG and their ambition of protecting our areas against Islamists. Among many others, our son fell a victim of the current devastating war.”
Noteworthy, two other YPG fighters were reported dead last week when a grenade exploded accidentally during training in a YPG-held military zone near Qastal Jindo village in Efrin countryside.
MESOP SAMPLER : RELEVANT VOICES OF ANALYSTS – SYRIA “ELECTION”
- Randa Slim was quoted in the New York Times article, “Victory in Syrian Election Is Show of Assad’s Control,” which also cited Amb. Ford. She also spoke with Voice of Russia for a segment titled “Syria: Assad likely to win another term after elections.”
- Paul Salem discussed the election and other issues in Syria with Bloomberg, the Middle East Economic Digest, and in a syndicated piece by Donna Abu-Nasr. He gave a series of interviews following Tuesday’s release of the latest Zogby Poll of Arab attitudes toward the United States and President Obama, including with Al Hurra, Radio Sawa, Ghad Arabic TV, and Voice of America. Salem also interviewed with The American Spectator, German Arabic Radio DW, and talked about the presidential election in Egypt with Voice of America.
Iran claims victory with Assad’s anticipated win in Syrian election
MESOP : ASSAD’S “ELECTIONS” – AND THE WINNER IS ? – IRAN !
By Liz Sly June 5 – BEIRUT — Washington Post – As Syrians went o the polls Tuesday, President Bashar al-Assad’s chief ally, Iran, was trumpeting his anticipated reelection as a defeat for the United States. Top Iranian officials in recent days have issued a flurry of declarations celebrating not only the affirmation of Assad’s continued hold on power that the election represents but also Iran’s role in sustaining him.
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA) – MESOP DEBKA FILES
6.6.2014 – Russia credited for sudden improvement in Syrian air force Western military sources credit Russian advisers with the improvement in the Syria air force’s recent improved performance. In Hama alone, Syria made 1,864 air sorties from early March up until May 20.
SYRIA’S JIHADIS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST
OP-EDS & ARTICLES FROM THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
By Matthew Levitt – National Post – June 6, 2014 – The death of operative Fawzi Ayoub shows the extent of Hezbollah involvement in the fight.
MESOP : INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP (BRUSSELS) ICG – Fighting Syria’s War Is Hurting Hezbollah at Home
The Lebanese militant group has backed Assad since the start of the war. But at what price to its own cause?
As Hezbollah continues to support the Syrian regime, fighting on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad, it risks losing its popularity both in Lebanon and among the Syrian population, says the International Crisis Group (ICG) in a new report .
We were able to see from meeting with [Hezbollah officials] is that it will not withdraw from Syri…”
“Hezbollah’s original military objectives in Syria were clear: to save a regime it sees as a vital ally and distance Sunni jihadis from its borders and neighborhoods,” the report says.
MESOP : Syrian figures form new opposition group to mend rifts
2014-06-06 – (Zaman Alwasl)- Sources reported to Zaman Alwasl that many political figures inside Syria are about to announce the formation of a Political Rescue Movement aims to call for a National conference to regain the national decision away from exclusion and improvisation.
MESOP LATEST : Syrian Kurds to meet Syrian opposition in Turkey
6.6.2014 – Abdul Salam Ahmad of the People’s Council of West-Kurdistan and other Kurdish officials from Syria’s Kurdish areas will meet with the Syrian opposition in Turkey reports ANHA and will enter Turkey through Derbisiye. Posted 1 hour ago by Wladimir van Wilgenburg
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