Diana Darke
@dianadarke
Middle East cultural historian. Author of Islamesque (2024), The Ottomans, Stealing from the Saracens & My House in Damascus. Non-resident Scholar @MEI_Syria
Notre-Dame's architectural design, like all Gothic cathedrals in Europe, comes directly from #Syria's Qalb Lozeh 5th century church - Crusaders brought the 'twin tower flanking the rose window' concept back to Europe in the 12th century. It's is #Idlib province, still standing...
The online version of 'View from Damascus' in this week's @The_Tablet - the joys & the challenges. #Syria @HausPublishing @thamesandhudson @HurstPublishers thetablet.co.uk/view-from-rome…
View from #Damascus, my piece in this week's @The_Tablet on #Syria & its future challenges #Suwayda.
I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that. All parties reiterated their commitment to continuing these efforts.
La libéralisation de l'économie syrienne s'accélère, ainsi que son ouverture au marché. La pays, dirigé par les al-Sharaa (Reuters a fait une excellente enquête sur le rôle du frère de l'actuel président dans cette dynamique libérale, d'où mon utilisation du "les") a saisi que…
#BREAKING Macron says he will formally announce France's recognition of Palestinian statehood at UN General Assembly in September
Even @BBCNews now gets it- BBC and news agencies warn journalists in Gaza at risk of starvation bbc.com/news/articles/…
The convoy is carrying 66 tons of flour, 4,000 food parcels, 10,000 water bottles, and fuel tanks.
A humanitarian aid convoy entered Busra al-Sham in eastern Daraa and proceeded to the crossing between Daraa and Suwayda, where it began entering Suwayda governorate, according to Free Horan League.
Today's NEW #SyriaWeekly newsletter covers in-depth a week of horrific violence in #Suwayda. It also covers a surge in diplomatic & commercial engagement in #Damascus, the Coastal violence committee report; and much more. Read here -- syriaweekly.com/p/syria-weekly…
The findings of #Syria's Coastal Violence investigation have been released -- summary: - 1,426 people killed (civilians + former #Assad elements) - 480 arson attacks - 298 suspects ID'd - 230 gov't forces killed - 265 suspects ID'd All evidence passed to public prosecutor.
"The responsibility for what happened in #Suwayda falls on everyone.. but we hold Sheikh al-Hijri responsible as there must be flexibility in such situations.. The state must be the one with authority.. #Syria is one state, not two." - #Lebanon's #Druze leader, Sami Abi al-Mona.
NEW -- the US will mediate direct talks between #Israel & #Syria on Thursday, to resume a process focused on (1) security arrangements in the south & (2) improving coordination & communication btw #Jerusalem & #Damascus. Per @BarakRavid: axios.com/2025/07/22/syr…
#US & #Turkey are losing patience with the #Kurdish-led #SDF - sets them a 30-day deadline to integrate with the #Damascus government middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-ku…
"Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time." Quite the piece from @BarakRavid, quoting 6 #Trump admin officials expressing exasperation at #Israel's recent escalatory actions in #Syria. axios.com/2025/07/20/isr…
The wise words of a Syrian friend: 'I hope that every one will take what has happened as a lesson. I'm very sad to lose all those people from all sides. Either we have to learn how to live together or die as fools'
In coordination with the Directorate of Social Affairs, Labor, and Civil Society, an aid convoy, from the people of Aleppo governorate, carries food, medical supplies and shelters to southern Syria where an estimated 1,500 Bedouin have been forcefully displaced.
He does not minimize the huge challenge ahead, the massive chaos & damage the crisis in #Suwayda has done - 'a great tragedy has happened'. Now, he says, the focus of the government is humanitarian aid & evacuation of those trapped - then a gradual reconciliation process.
The Internal Security Forces Commander in #Suwayda Province, Ahmad Al-Dalati @ah_dalati, speaks to Al-Ikhbariyah about the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to facilitate the departure of those wishing to leave #Suwayda.
These fake social media accounts are so damaging, fanning tensions, making the Syrian government's job during crises like #Suwayda all the more difficult
حقائق يجب معرفتها : 1. لا تزال سوريا تحت العقوبات الأمريكية فيما يخص العلاقة مع منصات التواصل الاجتماعي، ولا يزال التقدم بطيئا لجهة رفعها رغم الأمر التنفيذي الذي وقعه الرئيس ترامب. 2. استمرارية العقوبات يعيق التواصل المباشر مع هذه المنصات خاصة فيما يتعلق بمكافحة حملات التضليل…
Important stats from Syria’s Minister of Information: • 300K active accounts spread disinfo, mainly from 4 countries • Some pose as pro-state but push divisive messages • Up to 10K fake accounts created daily
حقائق يجب معرفتها : 1. لا تزال سوريا تحت العقوبات الأمريكية فيما يخص العلاقة مع منصات التواصل الاجتماعي، ولا يزال التقدم بطيئا لجهة رفعها رغم الأمر التنفيذي الذي وقعه الرئيس ترامب. 2. استمرارية العقوبات يعيق التواصل المباشر مع هذه المنصات خاصة فيما يتعلق بمكافحة حملات التضليل…
Superb work by @EekadFacts on who perpetrated the hospital massacre in Sweida, using geolocation, chronology of events, as well as details & confessions on TV made during the clashes. Short answer: fighters affiliated with Israel-backed Druze cleric Hikmat al-Hajri.
#جيوبوست | من ارتكب مجزرة مستشفى السويداء؟ الدروز أم قوات الأمن السورية؟ وهل القتلى كانوا من مدنيين دروز فقط؟ 🔻أسئلة تُجيب عنها إيكاد عبر تحليل زمني ومكاني تتبعت فيه لحظة بلحظة تطورات الأوضاع المرتبطة بما حدث في المستشفى الوطني بالسويداء. ▶️ولنبدأ القصة…
Very worrying if true. There are credible accounts that al-Hijri has been able to unite all the #Druze factions against the #Damascus government. #Syria #Israel
MISE A JOUR | Les échanges de prisonniers ont échoué entre les forces unies druzes et les forces de sécurité gouvernementales / forces tribales. Les tensions reprennent au nord du gouvernorat, centrés sur la bourgade d'Ariqa. L'aviation israélienne est très active dans le ciel…
Gave an interview this morning to @SkyNews re the three main Druze factions, two of which are keen to ally with the government. The third is controlled by #Israel-aligned Shaikh Hikmat al-Hijri who has so far broken 4 ceasefire agreements #Syria #Druze news.sky.com/story/who-are-…
