originally published on Popularfront.co In an article published on 16 April 2019, Rojava based Hawar News Agency reported on what it called a ‘separation wall’ being constructed along the eastern stretch of the Afrin district. This story was soon picked up by a number of local outlets and activist networks, sparking protests by native inhabitantsContinue reading “The Militarization of Jebel Laylun: Turkish Fortifications in Eastern Afrin”
Author Archives: akmckeever
Recent Work for Syrians for Truth & Justice
Three reports published by Syrians for Truth and Justice I contributed to, covering the murder of AANES Health Authority employees, the bombing of marketplaces in Idlib by Russian and Syrian aircraft, and a look into video allegedly showing civilians killed by Turkish-backed forces…
Ahrar al-Sharqiyah: Additional Information on the Faction and its Founder
Over the course of our investigation into the murder of Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf, colleagues of mine at Syrians for Truth and Justice uncovered some interesting details regarding Turkish-backed opposition faction Tajammu‘ Ahrar al-Sharqiyah and its commander…
Murder, Looting, and Displacement: Two Months into Turkey’s Invasion of Eastern Syria
Dubbed “Operation Peace Spring,” Turkey’s most recent intervention into Syria has by now been going on for more than two months. Green-lit by the withdrawal of American troops from the border region, Turkey’s invasion of the country’s northeast seeks to remove Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the area. Over the course of the offensive,Continue reading “Murder, Looting, and Displacement: Two Months into Turkey’s Invasion of Eastern Syria”
New Evidence Supporting the National Army’s Accusations in the Murder of the Kurdish Politician Hevrin Khalaf
Syrians for Truth and Justice’s deep dive into the murder of Hevrin Khalaf by Turkish backed forces, including open sourced analysis I contributed…
Following the Syrian oil trail
Research contributions made to an investigation by al-Monitor reported Amberin Zaman, looking into the exportation of oil from SDF controlled Syria into the KRG…
Afrin – Turkish-backed groups undertake live ammunition exercises in Iron Age temple
originally published by Syrians for Truth and Justice On 20 September 2019, opposition news outlet “Nedaa’ Syria” published a video[1] highlighting a live-fire training exercise undertaken by a special force’s unit of the National Front for Liberation (NLF). At just under three minutes long, the video shows fighters using small arms, including hand and rocket-propelled grenades,Continue reading “Afrin – Turkish-backed groups undertake live ammunition exercises in Iron Age temple”
Geolocation work for Syrians for Truth and Justice
Contributions to three reports published by Syrians for Truth and Justice, covering the destruction of a shrine in Afrin, civilian buildings hit by Turkish artillery, and a deep dive into the early stages of the civil war in the city of Ras al-‘Ain…
Popular Front Bonus Ep: A Closer Look at Turkey’s Syrian Militias
I spoke with Jake Hanrahan for a (Patreon-only) Popular Front bonus episode about Turkey’s proxy militias in Syria, within the context of Turkey’s October 2019 Operation Peace Spring…
Afrin: Incidents Of Desecration And Destruction Of Cultural Sites
originally published on bellingcat.com Soon after the inception of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch in January of 2018, reports began trickling out of Syria’s Afrin district detailing the desecration or destruction of numerous cultural sites in the region. Just two days into the operation, airstrikes inflicted significant damage on Ain Dara, a “Neo-Hittite temple…built by the Arameans inContinue reading “Afrin: Incidents Of Desecration And Destruction Of Cultural Sites”
