Alexander McKeever
@akmckeever.bsky.social
Amman-based New Yorker obsessed with Cape Breton (and Syria)
Author of This Week in Northern Syria newsletter, regular open sourced updates on northern Aleppo and SDF-controlled eastern Syria:
https://akmckeever.substack.com
Author of This Week in Northern Syria newsletter, regular open sourced updates on northern Aleppo and SDF-controlled eastern Syria:
https://akmckeever.substack.com
Pinned
Introducing the 'Syria resource drive'
A growing collection of articles, databases, maps and more available to paid subscribers
akmckeever.substack.com
Paid subscribers now get access to a drive full of Syria resources... includes (/will include) actor profiles, a data and document library, hundreds of academic articles and reports, maps, and a database of 8,000+ towns and villages with location coordinates
akmckeever.substack.com/p/introducin...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/introducin...
"take our girls captive"
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
"take our girls captive"
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
My estimation SDF control in S. al-Raqqah, expansion btw 0-25km along the entire front post-Dec 8
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
from what i can tell with mid range satellite imagery these are the current front lines (you can actually make out the pre-Dec one based on ground color)
last SDF checkpoint on Salamiyah road seems to be here 35.532576, 38.336934 (pic 2). and Resafa is within berms dugs this spring
last SDF checkpoint on Salamiyah road seems to be here 35.532576, 38.336934 (pic 2). and Resafa is within berms dugs this spring
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
My estimation SDF control in S. al-Raqqah, expansion btw 0-25km along the entire front post-Dec 8
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
Gov't/SDF crossings, a Turan Tugayı update, the founding of al-Qamishli
akmckeever.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Last year IS claimed ~250 attacks vs the SDF, so far this year only 99. Geographically these have been even more concentrated within Deir ez-Zour (80% vs 72%), with the center of insurgency shifting slightly upriver from the Busayrah to Kasrah region... 20 attacks claimed in Muhaimidah village only
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Last year IS claimed ~250 attacks vs the SDF, so far this year only 99. Geographically these have been even more concentrated within Deir ez-Zour (80% vs 72%), with the center of insurgency shifting slightly upriver from the Busayrah to Kasrah region... 20 attacks claimed in Muhaimidah village only
DoD now using the name 'Northern Landing Zone' for the Qasrak/Jabal Ghul base in NW al-Hasakah. Reports that US presence has largely consolidated to three bases in al-Hasakah: NLZ, Rumeilan Landing Zone (RLZ), and Patrol Base al-Shaddadi (PBS)
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
DoD now using the name 'Northern Landing Zone' for the Qasrak/Jabal Ghul base in NW al-Hasakah. Reports that US presence has largely consolidated to three bases in al-Hasakah: NLZ, Rumeilan Landing Zone (RLZ), and Patrol Base al-Shaddadi (PBS)
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [44.2025]
November 12 - 18: latest in integration negotiations, front line clashes in southeastern al-Raqqah, Shammar sheikh visits Gov't areas, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
Gov't/SDF crossings, a Turan Tugayı update, the founding of al-Qamishli
akmckeever.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
I did have Islamo-MAGA-communism on my 2025 bingo card
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I did have Islamo-MAGA-communism on my 2025 bingo card
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
really funny thinking comparatively about how little trump was successfully charmed by elon or jd vance
November 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
really funny thinking comparatively about how little trump was successfully charmed by elon or jd vance
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
Trump is now defending Mamdani in response to loaded questions from Fox News. incredible scenes
November 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Trump is now defending Mamdani in response to loaded questions from Fox News. incredible scenes
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
he never looks at JD that way
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
he never looks at JD that way
The civilian and commercial crossings btw Gov't/SDF
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The civilian and commercial crossings btw Gov't/SDF
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [44.2025]
November 12 - 18: latest in integration negotiations, front line clashes in southeastern al-Raqqah, Shammar sheikh visits Gov't areas, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
First MAGA hat I've seen in Jordan belongs to a Talabat driver with salafi facial hair
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
First MAGA hat I've seen in Jordan belongs to a Talabat driver with salafi facial hair
I forgot about this controversial mosque that opened up in Idlib last year
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I forgot about this controversial mosque that opened up in Idlib last year
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
The appendix of a 1940 booklet by French orientalist Roger Lescot detailing Kurdish tribes in Afrin
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
Roger Lescot's "Kurd Dagh and the Muroud Movement" (1940) part III
Appendix: The Tribes of Kurd Dagh
akmckeever.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The appendix of a 1940 booklet by French orientalist Roger Lescot detailing Kurdish tribes in Afrin
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
The appendix of a 1940 booklet by French orientalist Roger Lescot detailing Kurdish tribes in Afrin
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
Roger Lescot's "Kurd Dagh and the Muroud Movement" (1940) part III
Appendix: The Tribes of Kurd Dagh
akmckeever.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The appendix of a 1940 booklet by French orientalist Roger Lescot detailing Kurdish tribes in Afrin
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/rober-lesc...
Via Constitutional Declaration "the right to political participation and the freedom to form political parties" are "conditional on... a new political party law" which has yet to be issued...
"the absence of a framework for party formation renders genuine political organisation all but impossible"
"the absence of a framework for party formation renders genuine political organisation all but impossible"
The political vision Minister Shaibani outlined at Chatham House has a major gap: it offers no clarity on when political parties will be legalised. Continued delays risk reinforcing perceptions that the process is being slowed to give Sharaa a political advantage. en.majalla.com/node/328272/...
Syria cannot afford to postpone pluralism
The country's new leaders say people will eventually be able to form political parties when the transition period is over, but observers are starting to feel sceptical
en.majalla.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Via Constitutional Declaration "the right to political participation and the freedom to form political parties" are "conditional on... a new political party law" which has yet to be issued...
"the absence of a framework for party formation renders genuine political organisation all but impossible"
"the absence of a framework for party formation renders genuine political organisation all but impossible"
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
This weekend's post includes a timeline I wrote up while reading the Haenni/Drevon HTS book, a Coalition base I'd never seen before south of al-Hasakah, and a look at the pre-2011 SAA military bases in northeastern Syria
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
A 2017-2024 HTS timeline, newly discovered Coalition outpost in al-Hasakah, and former SAA bases in NES
akmckeever.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This weekend's post includes a timeline I wrote up while reading the Haenni/Drevon HTS book, a Coalition base I'd never seen before south of al-Hasakah, and a look at the pre-2011 SAA military bases in northeastern Syria
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
At almost exactly the same time I published this, the YPG published a training video filmed at one of the old SAA bases I document (121st Regiment south of al-Hasakah)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=blu9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=blu9...
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
At almost exactly the same time I published this, the YPG published a training video filmed at one of the old SAA bases I document (121st Regiment south of al-Hasakah)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=blu9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=blu9...
This weekend's post includes a timeline I wrote up while reading the Haenni/Drevon HTS book, a Coalition base I'd never seen before south of al-Hasakah, and a look at the pre-2011 SAA military bases in northeastern Syria
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
A 2017-2024 HTS timeline, newly discovered Coalition outpost in al-Hasakah, and former SAA bases in NES
akmckeever.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This weekend's post includes a timeline I wrote up while reading the Haenni/Drevon HTS book, a Coalition base I'd never seen before south of al-Hasakah, and a look at the pre-2011 SAA military bases in northeastern Syria
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
seemingly confirmed years later that this was Turan Tugayi
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
seemingly confirmed years later that this was Turan Tugayi