This Week in Northern Syria [15.2026] April 8 - 14: Continued citizenship registration for stateless Kurds, Gov't/SDF prisoner swaps, third Afrin return convoy, and more...

This week's newsletter covers the 'Syrian Arab' controversy, Gov't/SDF prisoner swaps, the third Afrin IDP return convoy, a new Shammar sheikh, the first meeting of the new Kobani municipal staff, among other key events from April 8 - 14

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

I use Asad because it’s a more accurate transliteration of the name/noun as it’s spelled and pronounced in Arabic. The s is not doubled and the second a is not stressed (despite how it’s commonly pronounced in English). Common Arabic transliterations are typically a mess

The Entrance of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party into Syria A marriage of convenience with a still lingering legacy

On the PKK's early history in Syria

akmckeever.substack.com/p/the-entran...

This Week in Northern Syria [13.2026] April 1 - 7: Kurdish naturalization begins, new Afrin IDP convoy returns, 'Alouk water station update, and more...

This week's issue covers the beginning of the citizenship process for Hasakah's 'maktoumin' and 'ajanib' Kurds, 2nd IDP return convoy's arrival in Afrin, the latest in efforts to restart the 'Alouk water station, and other key events in Aleppo and the Jazirah.
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

This Week in Northern Syria [13.2026] April 1 - 7: Kurdish naturalization begins, new Afrin IDP convoy returns, 'Alouk water station update, and more...

This week's issue covers the beginning of the citizenship process for Hasakah's 'maktoumin' and 'ajanib' Kurds, 2nd IDP return convoy's arrival in Afrin, the latest in efforts to restart the 'Alouk water station, and other key events in Aleppo and the Jazirah.
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

Syria in Transition – What’s next for the PYD? After years of presenting its rule as a multicultural alternative for northeast Syria, the PYD is returning to explicitly Kurdish politics. The party’s new position between Damascus and its Kurdish co...

@akmckeever.bsky.social for @syriatransition.bsky.social on the evolution of the PYD's relationship with explicitly Kurdish politics: syriaintransition.com/en/home/opin...

This Week in Northern Syria [13.2026] March 25 - 31: Attacks on US/ex-US bases, flooding across the northeast, a mass grave in al-Shaddadi, and more...

This week: More drone attacks targeting last US base/ vacated ones in E Syria, flooding displaces 120+ families in Hasakah, mass grave found at ex-SDF Sini prison for IS detainees, Border admin visit Semalka, demining in Ain Isa, Aramaic/Akitu recognition... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

Afrin Dispatch Notes and photographs from a recent trip to the city

I wrote up some observations and thoughts from my trip to Afrin last weekend for Newroz. Includes a number of photos I took of the celebrations and various sites around the region.

akmckeever.substack.com/p/afrin-disp...

Afrin Dispatch Notes and photographs from a recent trip to the city

I wrote up some observations and thoughts from my trip to Afrin last weekend for Newroz. Includes a number of photos I took of the celebrations and various sites around the region.

akmckeever.substack.com/p/afrin-disp...

Resource drive for paid subscribers Charts of key institutions and info on various personalities involved

Paid subscribers to the newsletter get access to a multi-page spreadsheet I've been building with names and biographical info of various members of the new Syrian government
akmckeever.substack.com/p/resource-d...

Nice oil map

This Week in Northern Syria [12.2026] March 18 - 24: Syria's 1st officially recognized Newroz celebrations, gov't/SDF prisoner swap, Çiya Kobani gets MoD appointment, and more...

This week's newsletter covers the various incidents surrounding Syria's first officially recognized Newroz holiday, the latest prisoner swap and integration meetings, drone & rocket attacks on current/former US bases, Hasakah rain, Çiya Kobani's new MoD role..
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

After years of watching random Afrin youtube videos for geolocation reference material I've finally ended in one myself, with the former Turkish police special forces base in the background

This Week in Northern Syria [12.2026] March 18 - 24: Syria's 1st officially recognized Newroz celebrations, gov't/SDF prisoner swap, Çiya Kobani gets MoD appointment, and more...

This week's newsletter covers the various incidents surrounding Syria's first officially recognized Newroz holiday, the latest prisoner swap and integration meetings, drone & rocket attacks on current/former US bases, Hasakah rain, Çiya Kobani's new MoD role..
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

Met a Syriac guy from Qamishli last night wearing a Palestine necklace who told me he supports Palestine because they’re fighting Israel but doesn’t like Palestinians because they’re mostly Muslims who oppress their Christian population

This Week in Northern Syria [11.2026] March 11 - 17: Death of Saleh Muslim, Syrian military takes over RLZ, al-Raqqah holds 'elections', and more...

This week's newsletter covers the death of the PYD's Saleh Muslim, the attack on Alaa al-Amin's funeral tent, SAA takes over the US's RLZ base, several IS attacks, protests against various measures of Jan 29 deal, missing German & Turkish journalists...

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

This Week in Northern Syria [11.2026] March 11 - 17: Death of Saleh Muslim, Syrian military takes over RLZ, al-Raqqah holds 'elections', and more...

This week's newsletter covers the death of the PYD's Saleh Muslim, the attack on Alaa al-Amin's funeral tent, SAA takes over the US's RLZ base, several IS attacks, protests against various measures of Jan 29 deal, missing German & Turkish journalists...

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

Syria in Transition – What’s next for the PYD? After years of presenting its rule as a multicultural alternative for northeast Syria, the PYD is returning to explicitly Kurdish politics. The party’s new position between Damascus and its Kurdish co...

New oped of mine for (the excellent) Syria in Transition, on the PYD's trajectory and its relationship to Kurdish nationalism

www.syriaintransition.com/en/home/opin...

Syria in Transition – What’s next for the PYD? After years of presenting its rule as a multicultural alternative for northeast Syria, the PYD is returning to explicitly Kurdish politics. The party’s new position between Damascus and its Kurdish co...

New oped of mine for (the excellent) Syria in Transition, on the PYD's trajectory and its relationship to Kurdish nationalism

www.syriaintransition.com/en/home/opin...

The 1962 al-Hasakah Census Syria's Ajanib and Maktoumin Kurds

I published another excerpt from my MA thesis, this one on the 1962 Hasakah census which stripped thousands of Syrian Kurds of citizenship - a lingering issue which al-Sharaa's Decree 13 is supposed to finally rectify

akmckeever.substack.com/p/the-1962-a...

The 1962 al-Hasakah Census Syria's Ajanib and Maktoumin Kurds

I published another excerpt from my MA thesis, this one on the 1962 Hasakah census which stripped thousands of Syrian Kurds of citizenship - a lingering issue which al-Sharaa's Decree 13 is supposed to finally rectify

akmckeever.substack.com/p/the-1962-a...

This Week in Northern Syria [10.2026] March 4 - 10: IDPs return to Afrin & Shuyoukh, Sipan Hemo named Assistant MoD, the opening of al-Hasakah roads, and more.

This week's issue covers the Afrin and Shuyoukh IDP returns, Sipan Hemo's appointment, the opening of a number of Hasakah roads, prisoner swaps, the death of a Kurdish man in DAANES prison, MoD/MoI reforms, and Islamic State activity....

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

This Week in Northern Syria [10.2026] March 4 - 10: IDPs return to Afrin & Shuyoukh, Sipan Hemo named Assistant MoD, the opening of al-Hasakah roads, and more.

This week's issue covers the Afrin and Shuyoukh IDP returns, Sipan Hemo's appointment, the opening of a number of Hasakah roads, prisoner swaps, the death of a Kurdish man in DAANES prison, MoD/MoI reforms, and Islamic State activity....

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

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Left: Syrian Assistant Minister of Defense for the Northern Region Fehim Isa with MHP's Devlet Bahçeli

Right: Syrian Assistant Minister of the Defense for the Eastern Region Sipan Hemo with PKK leaders Bahoz Erdal (also Syrian) and Murat Karayılan

Kurds and the French Mandate of Syria The magnetism of the new state

I published an excerpt from my MA thesis, this one a short overview of Kurdish politics in Syria under the French Mandate, others to come on the 1962 Hasakah census and 1980 entrance of the PKK into Syria

open.substack.com/pub/akmckeev...

Kurds and the French Mandate of Syria The magnetism of the new state

I published an excerpt from my MA thesis, this one a short overview of Kurdish politics in Syria under the French Mandate, others to come on the 1962 Hasakah census and 1980 entrance of the PKK into Syria

open.substack.com/pub/akmckeev...

this can't be good

This Week in Northern Syria [9.2026] February 25 - March 3: New details on SDF military integration, Kobani security integration advances & gov't district official named, and more...

This week's issue covers the latest integration steps in Kobani and Hasakah, SDF to join Division 60, al-Houl update, IS activity, demonstrations demanding prisoner releases, rejecting SDF return to former areas, rejecting Raqqah electoral body...

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

This Week in Northern Syria [9.2026] February 25 - March 3: New details on SDF military integration, Kobani security integration advances & gov't district official named, and more...

This week's issue covers the latest integration steps in Kobani and Hasakah, SDF to join Division 60, al-Houl update, IS activity, demonstrations demanding prisoner releases, rejecting SDF return to former areas, rejecting Raqqah electoral body...

akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...