Category: Syria

Al-Jolani: The Transformed Jihadist?

Western media is portraying Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani in a favorable light. Headlines from outlets like *The Times* and *CNN* describe him as a “polite” leader and a “blazer-wearing revolutionary,” while…

Could Algeria suffer the same fate as Syria?

The two regimes were closely linked. Could the one in Algiers suffer the same fate as the one in Damascus? “Algeria is one of the few countries that regrets the…

Islamic Party militants seeking an Islamic state in China’s Xinjiang

Assad’s departure is raising alarms in Beijing due to credible reports of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) fighting alongside HTS. TIP, also known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM),…

The Who’s Who of the Assad Clan

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has fled Damascus, marking the collapse of his rule after over a decade of civil war. Rebel groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have made significant advances,…

Assad’s Fall May Not Be Good News for the Taliban

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad marks a turning point not only for Syria but also for Islamist movements worldwide. For the Taliban, this moment is bittersweet. While the…

Quo vadis, Syria?

The fall of the Assad regime marks a significant turning point for Syria and the region. The Assad dynasty’s collapse, driven by internal forces and led by the rebel group…

Who Will Inherit Assad’s Captagon Empire?

Captagon, originally developed as a pharmaceutical amphetamine in the 1960s, has evolved into a highly addictive black-market drug with widespread abuse in the Middle East. Known as “Abu Hilalain” in…

When I Was a Hostage in Syria: How Terrorism Thrives In War

The American journalist Theo Padnos was captured in 2012 by Syria’s new rulers, the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (then known as Jabhat al-Nusra). His captivity lasted two years. Given…

Can we trust Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, (formerly al-Jolani)?

Ahmad al-Sharaa says he believes in his ability to transform Syria into a successful state. He seems to have given up on Islamist populism, endless Jihad, liberation and warring against…