Christopher Solomon
@chris-solomon.bsky.social
440 followers 1.4K following 430 posts
Editor @thestudyofwar.bsky.social. Posting about Syria, Ukraine, Russia, and foreign affairs. 🇸🇾🇺🇦 Author of "In Search of Greater Syria." https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/in-search-of-greater-syria-9780755641826/
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Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: EU and NATO states continue to take steps to increase European defenses against covert and overt Russian attacks. FT reported on October 9 that four NATO officials stated that NATO states are discussing more forceful responses to Russia’s increasingly provocative actions. isw.pub/UkrWar100925
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Abu Qasra later announced that he and Abdi agreed to an immediate “comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts” in northern and northeastern Syria, likely referring to the fighting both in Aleppo City and recent exchanges of fire near Deir Hafer, eastern Aleppo Province.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and two other Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) officials travelled to Damascus to meet with Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al Shara and Defense Minister Major General Marhaf Abu Qasra on October 7.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud are two historically Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo City that the SDF agreed to integrate into the Aleppo City municipality and under Syrian state control on April 1.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Lingering tensions between the SDF and Syrian government over the partial integration of the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods into the Syrian state likely led to the outbreak of fighting.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
The United States facilitated a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on October 7 after fighting broke out between Syrian government and Kurdish forces in two Kurdish-dominated neighborhoods of Aleppo City.

Full update: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
techaltar.bsky.social
My video on what 14 years of isolation did to Syria is now also on YouTube!

youtu.be/NDHZTuPDnzg?...
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Newly elected assembly members may organize into parties over time, and Shara’s tolerance for the creation of diverse parties or coalitions that may oppose him or push against his agenda will be an indicator of Shara’s commitment to forming a democratic society.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Syria’s transitional constitution protects the right to form political parties, though candidates ran independently in the October 5 election.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
The formation of political parties is one way through which assembly members can organize and build coalitions to advance the interests of the regions they represent and counter Shara’s policies.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
Tonight's ISW's update with coverage of the October 5th Syrian parliamentary elections: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian President Putin continues attempts to deter the US from sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine by linking improvements in the US-RU bilateral relationship to concessions from the US on the war in Ukraine. (1/5)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Oct. 5, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar100525
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: German officials reported more unidentified drone sightings near airports and military facilities.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 4, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar100425

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️🧵
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
3/ Russia continues to escalate its destabilization efforts against Europe as European officials continue to report unidentified drones operating in their airspace.

The Kremlin continues efforts to undermine Western-brokered peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, likely to divide and distract Europe.
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
4/ RU military intelligence is likely conducting hybrid ops in Poland, Germany, & Lithuania to sow fear & discord within NATO, after indications of a possible future RU false-flag op within Poland.

UA & RU conducted a POW exchange in accordance with agreements reached during June 2 negotiations.
chris-solomon.bsky.social
So glad to see @hamzehhadad.bsky.social and his colleagues back with the Iraqi Voices podcast after a long hiatus! Highly recommend if you're looking for calm, thoughtful conversations about Iraqi politics.
marsin.bsky.social
🎙️The best podcast on Iraq is back!

Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.

open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Understanding Iraq's Stability Dividend
open.spotify.com
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
qusaynoor.net
The #Damascus #Marathon kicked off this morning.
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
specialkhersoncat.bsky.social
Due to fuel shortages caused by strikes on Russian refineries, gasoline sales in Crimea have been restricted. Motorists can now purchase no more than 30 liters per person, the head of the region announced.

He urged residents not to stock up on fuel and to refuel their cars as usual.
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
tatarigami.bsky.social
Russia’s military rearmament, especially weapon production numbers, reveals much about its future plans. These numbers are usually hidden in classified documents, a problem Frontelligence Insight, with help from insiders, has solved. For the first time, we can share some of them:
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
reshetz.bsky.social
Good evening zelensky called assad a douchebag
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
3/ The Russian offensive in Kupyansk is reportedly vulnerable due to the lack of sufficient forces to sustain simultaneous offensive operations against Kupyansk and several other areas along the frontline.
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
kateinkharkiv.bsky.social
Rutte: Lavrov has been Foreign Minister of Russia since the birth of Jesus Christ, and nothing useful ever came out of his mouth.

Let's not pay too much attention to Lavrov.

😁Fair point.
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
realjakebroe.bsky.social
Every day in Russia more gasoline stations go empty and the price every Russian pays at the pump only goes up!

How do you think this will end for Russia?
Reposted by Christopher Solomon
kajakallas.bsky.social
It cannot be that Russia “accidently” violates three times in two weeks European air space.
Russia is testing European borders and probing our resolve.
It will continue to provoke as long as we allow it.

Extract of my statement at the UN Security Council ↓