I would’ve never imagined getting an invite to the presidential palace in Damascus to have a long conversation with the new leadership about the transition and challenges ahead. A lot to reflect on in the next phase.
Dareen Khalifa
1,592 posts
Dareen Khalifa
@dkhalifa
An Arab mom and a Senior Advisor, International Crisis Group. Associate Fellow, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, Kings College, London.
Joined May 2009
- Most conservative Muslims don’t shake hands — jihadists or not. Quite a weird thing to focus on. Also, very condescending for anyone to think that the FM of Germany wouldn’t know that or that she would be offended when faced by a different culture.I am not surprised that Jolani didnt shake hands with the female German Foreign Minister, I am suprised that you would think that a jihadist would do otherwise.
- جائزة أفضل حساب لمسؤول عربي ....👏🏾Replying to @free_daraa_لا تسيء الظن يا أخي... هذا صحن استقبال إنترنت فضائي 📡
- For those who still wonder why Moscow assumes it would get away with their actions, it’s because they’ve been doing this for over 7 years in Syria with absolutely no consequences. Heartbreaking.
- Good morning Damascus! (No analysis just a moment of happiness)
- As President Al Sharaa said to us last week “ It might not be logical but nothing about our story is…” More surreal turns from Syria..
- It was an absolute pleasure to meet with his excellency FM @AsaadHShaibani & his phenomenal team alongside @CrisisGroup President @EroComfort and VP @atwoodr. We look forward to continuing our conversations with the Syrian government as they sedulously work to build a new Syria.استقبل وزير الخارجية والمغتربين السيد أسعد حسن الشيباني في مقر الوزارة وفدًا من مجموعة الأزمات الدولية برئاسة السيدة كومفورت ايرو حيث جرى بحث مستجدات الأوضاع الإقليمية والجهود المبذولة لدعم مسار الاستقرار والحوار في المنطقة.
- Now Trump decides to allocate $50m in stabilization assistance to Syria, money that he pushed back tooth and nail to stop when it could’ve brought back life to areas liberated from ISIS. whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
- Replying to @dkhalifa3/4He added: “HTS is even considering dissolving itself in order to enable full consolidation of civilian and military structures in new institutions reflecting the breadth of Syrian society.” Of course, whether HTS will follow through on these ideas or pressure other factions. .
- Replying to @dkhalifa2/4 . . .fighters, including from HTS, will be directed to leave civilian areas in the coming weeks, and bureaucrats will be invited to resume their jobs. And the distinct social and cultural norms of the city, Muslims and Christians in all their diversity, will be respected."
- It’s been a year since our friend @Elizrael was kidnapped in Iraq while doing her phd research for #Princeton . Elizabeth is an amazing empathetic human and one of the best researchers I’ve met. That feeling of helplessness we her friends have is just painful on so many levels.
- The last three days have been horrifying. It’s the Syrian government’s responsibility to do more, faster and more proactively to prevent killings of civilians. It’s on the government to reign in its forces, wayward factions and vigilantes, as well as former regime thugs.الانتهاكات مدانة والمجازر مدانة، كانت ولازالت، بصرف النظر من ارتكبها وأين ومتى. لاتزال فرصة السوريين، قائمة لوقف الانحدار الى فخ عميق.
- Reminder: Majority of north east Syria are Arabs, so are the the majority of fighters in the SDF who fought ISIS. Those Arabs have been the main target of ISIS hit and run attacks and are mostly wanted by the Syrian regime.They don't think the regime is coming to their rescue.
- Replying to @dkhalifa4/4 . . .to comply remains to be seen.Given their history and jihadist roots, they will face a huge challenge in addressing the understandable concerns of many Syrians regarding the expansion of HTS hegemony, and its implications for their personal and religious freedoms .
