Syrian opposition

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Turkish soldiers drive American-made M60 tanks in the town of Tukhar, north of Syria's northern city of Manbij, on October 14, 2019, as Turkey and its allies continue their assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria.

The Inevitable Day of Reckoning in Syria

President Trump's decision to disengage with the YPG and ultimately side with Turkey was rash and immoral, yet fundamentally inevitable.
Waad al-Kateab filming the ruins of a building destroyed by bombing in besieged east Aleppo, October 2016.

To Watch “For Sama” Is To Bear Witness

“To try and live a normal life in this place is to stand against the regime.” Those are the words of Waad al-Kateab, a young filmmaker and mother, who chronicles her life in…
A member of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) stands on guard past US military armoured vehicles and soldiers on patrol near an oil well in Rumaylan (Rmeilan) in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province on November 6, 2019.

The US Mission Tied to Syrian Oil Fields May Prove the Worst of All Strategic Options

"What seems like a well-intentioned effort to mitigate a mess of Trump’s own making ultimately could make matters worse."
UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen (C), Syrian MP Ahmad Al-Kuzbari (L) and Opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission Hadi Al-Bahra attends a ceremony to mark the opening of a meeting of the Syria constitution-writing committee on October 30, 2019 at the United Nations Offices in Geneva.

National Security at the United Nations This Week

Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…
People hold a Turkish flag as they give their support to the Turkish military during the deployment of tanks to Syria on October 12, 2019 in Akcakale, Turkey.

Assessing Turkey’s “Resettlement” Plans in Syria under the Law of Occupation

Turkey's "resettlement plan" for northern Syria - involving the transfer of at least 1 million refugees to the area within Syria it intends to control - is unlawful under the international…

“With a Little Help from Our Friends”: Prosecuting the ISIL “Beatles” in U.S. Courts

Civilian prosecution in U.S. courts remains by far the best option for reliably bringing the two ISIL detainees in U.S. custody to justice. The DoJ should look closely at whether…
Turkey-backed Syrian fighters gather on the outskirts of the key Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain on October 16, 2019 during the ongoing assault by Turkey and its allies on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria.

Turkey’s (Latest) Invasion of Syria: Aggression, Proportionality, and Legal Consequences for NATO and Third-Party States

"All States are legally required to cooperate to bring any serious breach of a peremptory norm to an end by lawful means. Conversely, States are legally prohibited from helping…
Turkish soldiers are trasported in armoured personnel carriers through the town of Tukhar, north of Syria's northern city of Manbij, on October 14, 2019, as Turkey and its allies continues their assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria.

Turkey’s Actions Trigger All States’ Obligations to Prosecute War Crimes by Turkish Forces

Activating the global system of criminal enforcement for war crimes prosecutions
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives for the NATO summit, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on July 11, 2018.

Can Turkey be Expelled from NATO? It’s Legally Possible, Whether or Not Politically Prudent

Overall, the absence of a suspension and expulsion mechanism in the North Atlantic Treaty does not prevent the North Atlantic Council from suspending or terminating the membership…
Security Council meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

National Security at the United Nations This Week

An emergency Security Council meeting on Turkey's offensive in Syria, another peacekeeper casualty in Mali, the UN's cash crisis, and more.
Sara al-Abdullah, a volunteer caring for 24 orphaned children reportedly linked with foreign fighters of the Islamic State (IS) group, carries one of them at a camp in the northern Syrian village of Ain Issa, on September 26, 2019.

Returning Foreign Fighters and Their Families Takes on New Urgency After Trump’s Syria Decision

As countries contemplate what appears to be the potential for an abrupt and unruly dismantling of the SDF camps in Syria, and the likely security, ethical and moral dilemmas that…
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump shake hands before a meeting at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2017 in New York City.

U.S.-Turkey “Safe Zone” Likely to Add Fuel to Syria Conflict

"While there is a significant risk that a new arrangement will further destabilize this highly volatile region and threaten the security of millions of civilians, there is also…
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