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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 21h

This week's newsletter: Elham in Afrin discussing education, Min of Higher Edu visits Kobani U, work on Nusaybin crossing begins, eastern Bar Association integration processes, among other topics akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [37.2026]

September 23 - 29: Eastern Bar Association integration, Elham Ahmad in Afrin to discuss education, work begins on Nusaybin crossing, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Tracking appointments to local Hasakah positions, mapped by subdistrict akmckeever.substack.com/p/the-develo...

akmckeever.substack.com

The developing al-Hasakah goverment

Provincial and sub-provincial appointments

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This week's newsletter: Abdi and Elham take a number of meetings in Kobani and Aleppo city in the aftermath of the Kobani fire, Military Police deploy to new HQ in Ghuwairan, Govt releases batches of SDF-linked detainees, fuel price updates... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [36.2026]

September 16 - 22: Mazloum ‘Abdi and Elham Ahmad tour Aleppo, Military Police HQ opened in Ghuwairan,

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This week's issue covers the killing of integrated SDF/MoD soldier Sipan Hazni/Sasmi Hisso and the ensuing unrest including the Kobani prison fire that killed 10 inmates, as well as protests relating to Kurdish language education and the recent fuel price hike akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [35.2026]

September 9 - 15: Murder of SDF/MoD soldier sets off unrest, Kobani prison fire, widespread protests against fuel price hikes, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [35.2026]

September 9 - 15: Murder of SDF/MoD soldier sets off unrest, Kobani prison fire, widespread protests against fuel price hikes, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This week's issue: protests over the MoE's limited Kurdish language curriculum, the second batch of Ras al-'Ain IDP returnees, Mazloum Abdi media appearances, continuing electricity, price, and liquidity crises in Hasakah, laid off oil workers block M4... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [34.2026]

September 2 - 8: Kurdish language protests, 2nd Ras al-‘Ain return convoy, overlapping economic crises in Hasakah, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I've recently updated some of the resource materials available to paid subscribers. Includes actor mapping sheets of government officials (ie army commanders and mps), Kurdish political parties, an interactive map of various public facilities in the news... akmckeever.substack.com/p/updates-to...

akmckeever.substack.com

Updates to the Syria resource drive

Actor mapping and more

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Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Great update on the state of the SDF reintegration process and Syria’s minority issues more generally: on the Warcast pod, Kerry Anderson interviews Alexander McKeever in Damascus, just back from Qamishli. @akmckeever.bsky.social @warontherocks.bsky.social warontherocks.com/episode/warc...

warontherocks.com

The Syrian Democratic Forces Dissolve

On Aug. 25, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces officially dissolved, supposedly marking the completion of integrating into the new Syrian state forces. Kerry talks with...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

Updates to the Syria resource drive

Actor mapping and more

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Integration picks up after last week's announcement of SDF's dissolution... Military Police & MoI forces enter al-Hasakah city, Ministry of Education unveils limited Kurdish language curriculum, meanwhile economic and monetary woes continue across al-Hasakah akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [33.2026]

August 26 - September 1: New Gov’t forces enter al-Hasakah, Ministry of Education announces Kurdish language policy, Mazloum ‘Abdi appointed Presidential Advisor, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [33.2026]

August 26 - September 1: New Gov’t forces enter al-Hasakah, Ministry of Education announces Kurdish language policy, Mazloum ‘Abdi appointed Presidential Advisor, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

This week's newsletter: rumors from different sides of SDF's upcoming dissolution, Kobani Asayish get MoI uniforms and vehicles, farmers begin to receive staggered payments for wheat harvest... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [31.2026]

August 12 - 18: Integration meetings and rumors of SDF's upcoming dissolution, new MoI kit for Kobani Asayish, wheat payments begin, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [31.2026]

August 12 - 18: Integration meetings and rumors of SDF's upcoming dissolution, new MoI kit for Kobani Asayish, wheat payments begin, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

This week I'm experimenting with Substack's new feature allowing specific sections to be paywalled... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [29.2026]

July 15 - 21: Final Afrin return convoy, 'Alouk trial run begins, al-Hasakah district officials appointed, and more..

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

This week: at least 7 killed in ferry accident in Deir, DAANES judges undergo interviews with MoJ in Damascus, People's Assembly meets for first time, demonstrations demanding Gov't make Kobani the official name, economic protests continue in Govt & SDF areas akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [28.2026]

July 8 - 14: Ferry tragedy in Deir ez-Zour, new People's Assembly meets for first time, DAANES judges interviewed by MoJ in Damascus, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

This week: People's Assembly appointments, Qamishli brigade returns from Nabk + Derik heads west, Qutaibah Badawi at Nusaybin, Bishop Amsih in Ras al-'Ain, anger over Qamishli municipality demolition of a French Mandate building, Raqqa's Rashid bridge opens... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [27.2026]

July 1 - 7: People's Assembly appointments, Qamishli municipality demolish Mandate era building, 1st SDF brigade returns from Nabk, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [27.2026]

July 1 - 7: People's Assembly appointments, Qamishli municipality demolish Mandate era building, 1st SDF brigade returns from Nabk, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

This week's issue: new gas prices set by the Ministry of Energy and related shortages in the NE and elsewhere, economic protests in SDF areas, phase two of Kurdish naturalization, and a dispute between the PYD and ENKS over last year's joint delegation akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [26.2026]

June 24 - 30: Protests over the economic situation continue in NES, new fuel prices announced, PYD-ENKS spat over unity delegation, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [26.2026]

June 24 - 30: Protests over the economic situation continue in NES, new fuel prices announced, PYD-ENKS spat over unity delegation, and more...

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Dr. Albert B. Wolf @abwolf1648.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

New @warontherocks.bsky.social: how do the Iran war, Assad's fall, & the PKK's dissolution reshape Kurdish prospects? Joined @gonultol.bsky.social, @akmckeever.bsky.social, & Mohammed Salih to break it down. My section: KRG's leverage with Baghdad. warontherocks.com/the-shifting...

warontherocks.com

The Shifting Fortunes of the Kurds

The Kurds’ fortunes have ebbed and flowed in recent years, but the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, the 2025 decision by the Kurdistan

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

This week: Got recognizes DAANES diplomas and ok's continuation of its curriculum next school year (Uni degrees not included), uptick in crop fires particular along old Tell Tamer front lines, DAANES continues removing subsidies exacerbating cost of living akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [25.2026]

June 17 - 23: Gov't recognizes DAANES secondary certificates, crop fires across northern al-Hasakah, protests over oil price hikes in Qamishli, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [25.2026]

June 17 - 23: Gov't recognizes DAANES secondary certificates, crop fires across northern al-Hasakah, protests over oil price hikes in Qamishli, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

My second Afrin dispatch: Observations and photos from two day trips to the city last month, including a walk up to the very top and discussions on several main issues the region faces today akmckeever.substack.com/p/afrin-disp...

akmckeever.substack.com

Afrin Dispatch

Notes and photographs from recent day trips to the city

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Photos and observations from a bus trip along the M4, from Aleppo to Qamishli akmckeever.substack.com/p/m4-dispatch

akmckeever.substack.com

M4 Dispatch

Notes and photographs from a recent drive along the M4 from Aleppo to Qamishli

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Photos and observations from a bus trip along the M4, from Aleppo to Qamishli akmckeever.substack.com/p/m4-dispatch

akmckeever.substack.com

M4 Dispatch

Notes and photographs from a recent drive along the M4 from Aleppo to Qamishli

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

Afrin Dispatch

Notes and photographs from recent day trips to the city

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

This week: 1,700 families return to Afrin in what is to be the last convoy, local tensions in Shuyoukh lead to attack on ISF checkpoint and subsequent arrests, HKN to take over seven oil fields in NES, IS attack in Raqqah and unclaimed attack in al-Bab... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [24.2026]

June 10 - 16: 8th Afrin IDP convoy, IS attack security compound in Raqqah, US company to take over northeastern oil fields, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [24.2026]

June 10 - 16: 8th Afrin IDP convoy, IS attack security compound in Raqqah, US company to take over northeastern oil fields, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

This week's issue: Hasakah Gov visits Raqqah - draws protests, Aleppo Gov visits Kobani - draws protests, Asayish integration begins, certificate exams held, crop fires, Turkmen Council want constitutional recognition, Hasakah economic/anti-SDF protests akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [23.2026]

June 3 - 9: Latest integration news, certificate exams begin, economic/anti-SDF protests in Hasakah, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

This week’s issue: flooding in Deir ez-Zour and al-Raqqah after Turkey opens Euphrates dams on short notice, Elham Ahmad visits Afrin and Sheikh Maqsoud, Govt releases 28 YPJ fighters… akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [22.2026]

May 27 - June 2: Flooding in al-Raqqah and Deir ez-Zour, Elham Ahmad visits Afrin & Sheikh Maqsoud, Gov't releases 28 YPJ detainees, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Available to paid subscribers: my writeup of a recent walk through al-Sheikh Maqsoud and the surrounding neighborhoods. akmckeever.substack.com/p/sheikh-maq...

akmckeever.substack.com

Sheikh Maqsoud Dispatch

Notes and photographs from a recent walk though the former SDF enclave

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Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

These reports from ex-SDF areas in Syria are great. Full of historical and local detail. Recommended for anyone following Syria. • Raqqa: akmckeever.substack.com/p/raqqah-dis... • Efrin: substack.com/home/post/p-... • Sheikh Maqsoud: akmckeever.substack.com/p/sheikh-maq... @akmckeever.bsky.social

akmckeever.substack.com

Sheikh Maqsoud Dispatch

Notes and photographs from a recent walk though the former SDF enclave

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Available to paid subscribers: my writeup of a recent walk through al-Sheikh Maqsoud and the surrounding neighborhoods. akmckeever.substack.com/p/sheikh-maq...

akmckeever.substack.com

Sheikh Maqsoud Dispatch

Notes and photographs from a recent walk though the former SDF enclave

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

This week's issue: the elections and PYD boycott, surging water levels on the Euphrates, Raqqah Gov's plan to clear north-of-tracks slums triggers protests, Tarhin refinery protests, latest Afrin returnees & detainee releases, Nawaf al-Bashir's return to Deir akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [21.2026]

May 20 - 26: al-Hasakah and Kobani 'elections,' Euphrates water level surges, al-Raqqah 'other side of the tracks' protests, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [21.2026]

May 20 - 26: al-Hasakah and Kobani 'elections,' Euphrates water level surges, al-Raqqah 'other side of the tracks' protests, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Some notes on recent Mazloum 'Abdi interviews w/ Al Monitor, Hawar, and an Al Arabiya podcast. Covers many topics, from ongoing integration to the relationship btw the 2012 Crisis Cell bombing in Damascus to the YPG's seizure of Kurdish areas across Syria akmckeever.substack.com/p/recent-maz...

akmckeever.substack.com

Recent Mazloum 'Abdi interviews

On the status of integration, the January battles, and his experiences within the PKK and over the course of Syria's civil war

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

Recent Mazloum 'Abdi interviews

On the status of integration, the January battles, and his experiences within the PKK and over the course of Syria's civil war

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

This week: more on the dispute surrounding judicial integration and the use of the Kurdish language on official signage, the two biggest Afrini IDP return convoys, another government prisoner release, Abdi's 2 hr interview with Arabiya... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [19.2026]

May 6 - 12: Judicial integration stalls over signage, two Afrini IDP convoys return, 232 SDF detainees released by Gov't, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

As the situation regarding the Hasakah Palace of Justice and bilingual signage continues to unfold, I looked back at the various signs governmental signs installed in Kobani and Hasakah since the January 29th agreement akmckeever.substack.com/p/the-ongoin...

akmckeever.substack.com

The ongoing sign controversy

A look into the institutional banners and signs installed since the January 29th agreement

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Pól Ó Gráda @polrua.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Iontach suimiúil

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

The ongoing sign controversy

A look into the institutional banners and signs installed since the January 29th agreement

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

This week's issue: rising costs in Hasakah as DAANES lowers subsidies and gov't imposes new customs prices and regulations on Semalka crossing, Gov't acknowledges detaining German journo Maria Michelmann since Jan, Ahmad al-Hilali appointed Dep Gov of Hasakah akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [18.2026]

April 29 - May 5: Protest of new customs regime at Semalka,

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [18.2026]

April 29 - May 5: Protest of new customs regime at Semalka,

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

ex-Jaysh al-Islam cmdr released from UAE jail, Gov't/SDF talks on Hasakah judicial integration, Kobani nahiyah building opens, teachers protests in Raqqah, returns to abandoned Peace Spring villages, 'Abdi meets with ENKS year after unity conference... akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [17.2026]

March 22 - 28: 'Issam al-Buwaydani released from UAE, updates on judicial integration, the emptied villages of the 'Peace Spring' region, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [17.2026]

March 22 - 28: 'Issam al-Buwaydani released from UAE, updates on judicial integration, the emptied villages of the 'Peace Spring' region, and more...

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Alexander McKeever @akmckeever.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

This week’s issue covers the latest in SDF integration news including the Abdi/Sharaa/Ahmad/Shaibani meeting, disputes over judicial takeover, Govt receives Semalka, prisons, + other news such as US withdrawal from Qasrak/NLZ, Ya’rubiyah crossing opens… akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

akmckeever.substack.com

This Week in Northern Syria [16.2026]

April 15 - 21: Controversy over Hasakah courts, Semalka crossing hand over, US withdraws from last 'major base,' and more...

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