Sam Heller | سام هيلر
@AbuJamajem
Researcher and analyst looking at Lebanon, Syria and the wider neighborhood. @TCFdotorg @CenturyIntl Fellow. Former @CrisisGroup. "Jamajem" means ☠️.
Since December, about as many Syrians have fled from Syria to Lebanon as have returned from Lebanon to Syria – maybe more. My latest for @lorienttoday on what those numbers mean, and implications for Lebanon's returns policy: today.lorientlejour.com/article/146683…
.@CarnegieMEC's Kheder Khaddour on implications of Suweida violence for Syrian state and identity: carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/di…
.@CenturyIntl colleague @aronlund recommends essential English-language sources for anyone following Syria: tcf.org/content/commen…
We're often told journalists should never be the story but in Gaza that's impossible. Our @AFP colleagues covering the war in Gaza are going hungry. "We can't even reach coverage sites because we have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food." france24.com/en/live-news/2…
Sources to follow on Syria: in a new commentary, @aronlund has compiled a must-follow list of media for policymakers and analysts with a fresh interest in Syrian affairs tcf.org/content/commen…
Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon Watch starts now.
Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? At @AGPamBondi’s direction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits.
.@washingtonpost's @karendeyoung1 and @catebrown12 on the genesis of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation": washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/…
.@hrw release on al-Suweida violence: hrw.org/news/2025/07/2…
AFP Journalists’ Association on reporters in Gaza: ‘Since AFP was founded in August 1944, we have lost journalists in conflicts, we have had wounded and prisoners in our ranks, but none of us can remember seeing a colleague die of hunger. We refuse to see them die’
WFP is usually quite circumspect in statements regarding Israeli attacks. Here, the agency clearly states how the killing of around 80 Palestinians unfolded yesterday: "As the convoy approached, the crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire," it says.
WFP Statement | #Gaza On the morning of 20 July, a 25 truck WFP convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed the Zikim border point destined for starving communities in northern Gaza. Shortly after passing the final checkpoint beyond the Zikim crossing point into Gaza, the…
Translation: Harakat Rijal al-Karama statement making clear (i) Layth al-Balous is not affiliated w/movement as pro-govt pundits & media keep inaccurately claiming; (ii) the movement views the govt forces' violations as main reason for the conflict aymennaltamimi.com/p/harakat-rija…
“This is one of the worst tragedies we’ve seen,” @WFPChief tells me as dozens of Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire while desperately approaching a @wfp 25-truck aid convoy in northern Gaza. She tells me how it all unfolded and calls for immediate humanitarian…
Good @ajaltamimi corrective on Suweida violence, including on nature of Druze armed resistance: aymennaltamimi.com/p/misconceptio… (open access)
نظّمت "كلّنا إرادة" جلسة نقاش حول "خطة عودة النازحين السوريين" الصادرة عن الحكومة اللبنانية 📝هدفت الجلسة إلى تقييم إمكانية تنفيذ هذه الخطة، التي تنقسم الى مرحلتين: 1⃣ مرحلة تحضيرية تهدف إلى تحديث قاعدة بيانات النازحين، وإجراء الترتيبات الأساسية لتسهيل العودة، والتشدّد بتطبيق…
First @UNHCRLebanon update on new Lebanon returns process: data.unhcr.org/en/documents/d…
Al-Araby reporter inadvertently interviews Syrian tribal militants and Druze women they've abducted, mid-abduction: facebook.com/share/v/1HfUyE… (via @louayghabra1)
خاص وهام : احراق عائلة في بيتها ببلدة ولغا الدرزية شمال السويداء، بحسب تسجيل صوتي استمعت له لقيادي عشائري من حلب في السويداء اضاف بالتسجيل انهم احرقوا بيوت ستة قرى درزية بالكامل بين بصر الحرير والسويداء بالتسجيل يقول انهم طرقوا الباب فخرج رجل فقتلوه، وعندما ارادوا اقتحام البيت…
yesterday around 7pm, arrived in Aleppo to dozens of armed tribal members preparing to fight in Sweida