Urban And Rural Militia Organizations In Syria’s Less Governed Spaces

Abstract: 'The decline in Bashar al-Assad’s governing authority throughout Syria since 2011 and the concomitant accretion of increasingly complex inter and intra action between and within militia organizations suggests a future of Islamist Anarchy across the Syrian space. Observers may have an interest in the qualitative patterns of militia development and interactions across Syria’s rural and urban geographies

Hizbollah–Syrian Intelligence Affairs: A Marriage of Convenience

Since the 1980s, Hizbollah has emerged as the guardian of Lebanon\u27s Shi\u27a and a stalking horse for Iran. Syria, though allied with Tehran, seeks to manage Hizbollah\u27s freedom of action in Lebanon and is eyed cautiously in Damascus. Hizbollah has managed to maintain independence from these Syrian efforts because of both Lebanese Shi\u27a religious élan and the protection given Hizbollah by its Shi\u27a allies in Iran