August 20, 2014
Over the last year numerous attempts have been made to place the blame for the August 21st Sarin attacks in Damascus on opposition groups, in an attempt to deflect criticism away from the Syrian government. These attempts have come from various sources, but thanks to open source information it’s been possible to debunk these claims…
August 15, 2014
In an article published yesterday on the Arabic language news website ANHA, claims were made by local Kurdish groups in the town of Ayn al-Arab (also know as Kobanê) that during attacks by the Islamic State cluster munitions had been used. They warned against touching the unexploded submunitions, claiming an 11 year old child had been killed while handling one of…
August 13, 2014
By Nour Bakr
Since the most recent conflict in Gaza began, domestic pressure has been growing on the British Government to take a stronger stance towards Israel. In particular, the focus has been on demands to establish an arms embargo, or to a lesser extent to suspend a number of export licences for arms and components which Israel…
August 2, 2014
Introduction: After the re-establishment of the Caliphate on the first day of Ramadan 1435 AH, June 29th 2014 AD (covered here), the ISIS slick propaganda machine took things to a whole other level. The Islamic State, as it was henceforth called, has since published two issues of its new “glossy” magazine: Dābiq. In this post…
July 18, 2014
Since April 11th multiple chemical barrel bomb attacks have been reported in Syria, with many of them in and around the pro-opposition town of Kafr Zita. Locals have claimed chlorine gas was used, something that was supported by an investigation by the Daily Telegraph. Since late May there’s been no reports of chemical attacks until…
July 17, 2014
In the weeks and months after the August 21st Sarin attacks in Damascus there have been many theories about oppostion responsibility for the attacks from diverse sources including the conspiracy theorists, a nun, and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Some of these theories have been repeated by the Syrian government’s allies, in particular Russia, even though key…
July 16, 2014
A few weeks ago images of a new type of rocket began to appear, reportedly coming from sources close to Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), a Shia paramilitary militia operating in Iraq and Syria. According to sources who provided the pictures, the AAH had named this rocket al-Qahere, with reports that other groups, including Hezbollah, are using the same…
July 15, 2014
In the months preceding the August 21st Sarin attack the Syrian military began Operation Al-Qaboun in a region between Jobar and Qaboun, close to the areas attacked in Eastern Ghouta on August 21st. This region has been contested for several months, with government forces controlling bases and checkpoints in the area, but with the opposition controlling much of the area, and Qaboun and Jobar to the north and south.
July 13, 2014
Over the past three years of conflict in Syria, the Syrian opposition has created a range of improvised weapons, ranging from pipe-bombs to huge mortars. Here’s a look at some of the creations that have made their mark on the conflict so far.
July 13, 2014
Among the weapons used in the Syrian conflict the Syrian military’s “Volcano” rocket has become one of the most notorious. Linked to chemical attacks, including the August 21st attacks in Damascus, and also coming in devastatingly powerful explosive variants, the Volcano rocket has become an increasingly visible weapon in the Syrian conflict.
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