The five-year war in Syria — including the siege and bombing of Aleppo that grabbed international attention — is horrifying. But what’s actually happening, and why is it so difficult to end the war? Here’s what we’re reading.
The war in Syria cannot be won, but it can be ended in The Nation
It is up to us to build a movement that puts forward what an end to this murderous war could look like, as part of a movement to end the US “global war on terror” overall, and support the refugees created in its wake.
What comes after the bloody battle in Aleppo from the International Crisis Group
At this point, de-escalation seems like wishful thinking, but it is achievable if the major powers involved in this fight are willing to step back and recalibrate based on their longer-term interests.
The recent flurry of Turkey-Russia diplomacy shows the potential for each to achieve better results—for themselves and their allies—via negotiating a non-aggression arrangement that would avert an all-out war for Idlib, or elsewhere.
The world, not just Assad, is to blame for Aleppo tragedy in Truthout
The big picture from Wardah Khalid, former Scoville Fellow at FCNL:
A diplomatic solution, which addresses the current power struggle, is the only means to creating lasting peace in the region.