What is going on in Syria?
It depends on who you listen to.
I'd recommend putting less trust in Western media, especially larger outlets with little to lose, and more trust in those with skin in the game and a lot to lose. British journalist, Vanessa Beeley, for example, has skin in the game and a lot to lose. She has been living in Damascus for years, enduring rolling blackouts, sanctions, geopolitical conflict and a generally tough life.
vanessa beeley
Well, she lived in Damascus.
That was until the 'fall of Syria' which happened almost overnight. She had to—literally—pack her bags, jump into a car and flee, leaving behind her home, possessions and dogs. She ended up in Lebanon, where she recorded her conversation with me. Here's what she said in her Substack:
More than 350 Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian territory in the past hours, and an enemy Israeli occupation of Syrian territory equivalent to twice the size of the Gaza Strip, and their army is less than 40 km away from the capital Damascus.
After a rather turbulent 48 hours I am safe and will be writing and broadcasting as normal very shortly. I had one hour to pack one suitcase, take one dog and get through a border swarming with armed thugs looting and fighting amongst themselves over the spoils. The night before was spent besieged by armed groups firing in the air to celebrate their “victory” while Israel started using bunker buster bombs on Syrian military sites and air defence close to the house. The house shook from top to bottom. At 10am truckloads of armed thieves arrived and battered at my front gate. I was on the phone to a friend who begged me to find a weapon - clearly I don’t have any. I yelled at them from inside and the dogs went crazy. After three batterings they left.
Much more to recount over the coming days. Social media is a mess of lies, misinformation and downright hypocrisy. Thank you to everyone who emailed and messaged, it really lifted my spirits at an all time low.
