Alexander McKeever
@akmckeever.bsky.social
Amman-based New Yorker obsessed with Cape Breton (and Syria)
Author of This Week in Northern Syria newsletter, regular open sourced updates on northern Aleppo and SDF-controlled eastern Syria:
https://akmckeever.substack.com
Author of This Week in Northern Syria newsletter, regular open sourced updates on northern Aleppo and SDF-controlled eastern Syria:
https://akmckeever.substack.com
Pinned
Introducing the 'Syria resource drive'
A growing collection of articles, databases, maps and more available to paid subscribers
akmckeever.substack.com
Paid subscribers now get access to a drive full of Syria resources... includes (/will include) actor profiles, a data and document library, hundreds of academic articles and reports, maps, and a database of 8,000+ towns and villages with location coordinates
akmckeever.substack.com/p/introducin...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/introducin...
in Naba' IS claims to have assassinated a spy for the "apostate Syrian regime" in al-Bukamal, who previously worked for the [SDF]
November 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
in Naba' IS claims to have assassinated a spy for the "apostate Syrian regime" in al-Bukamal, who previously worked for the [SDF]
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
This week: SDF participation in the MEPS Forum, repeated clashes in Raqqah and DeZ, the Govt's later opening of all crossings with SDF, Abdi interview with Mezopotamya, Shammar sheikhs visits with both Shar' and 'Abdi, al-Buwaydani UAE detention update...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [45.2025]
November 19 - 25: SDF & ENKS delegation visit Duhok, Ghanim al-'Ali clashes, Gov't opens crossings to NES, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
This week: SDF participation in the MEPS Forum, repeated clashes in Raqqah and DeZ, the Govt's later opening of all crossings with SDF, Abdi interview with Mezopotamya, Shammar sheikhs visits with both Shar' and 'Abdi, al-Buwaydani UAE detention update...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
"it won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation" "If you want to have a good time, or make people really laugh at a party, you can use Grok. And you can say do a vulgar roast of someone."
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"it won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation" "If you want to have a good time, or make people really laugh at a party, you can use Grok. And you can say do a vulgar roast of someone."
Today marks both the 1st anniversary of the start of HTS-led 'Deterring Aggression' offensive which brought about the fall of the Asad regime and the 47th anniversary of the founding of the PKK. Very different celebrations going on in different parts of Syria
November 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Today marks both the 1st anniversary of the start of HTS-led 'Deterring Aggression' offensive which brought about the fall of the Asad regime and the 47th anniversary of the founding of the PKK. Very different celebrations going on in different parts of Syria
This week: SDF participation in the MEPS Forum, repeated clashes in Raqqah and DeZ, the Govt's later opening of all crossings with SDF, Abdi interview with Mezopotamya, Shammar sheikhs visits with both Shar' and 'Abdi, al-Buwaydani UAE detention update...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [45.2025]
November 19 - 25: SDF & ENKS delegation visit Duhok, Ghanim al-'Ali clashes, Gov't opens crossings to NES, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
This week: SDF participation in the MEPS Forum, repeated clashes in Raqqah and DeZ, the Govt's later opening of all crossings with SDF, Abdi interview with Mezopotamya, Shammar sheikhs visits with both Shar' and 'Abdi, al-Buwaydani UAE detention update...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
debates over Suwayda's relationship with Damascus from about 90 years ago
November 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
debates over Suwayda's relationship with Damascus from about 90 years ago
i ported my US number on google voice to keep it and now when my friend reacts to messages (his phone set to a hybrid english-lithuanian keyboard) it writes it out to me in lithuanian
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
i ported my US number on google voice to keep it and now when my friend reacts to messages (his phone set to a hybrid english-lithuanian keyboard) it writes it out to me in lithuanian
President Trump we need Rome season 3
November 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
President Trump we need Rome season 3
"take our girls captive"
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
"take our girls captive"
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
lot of really ugly stuff being posted on social media in response to today's protests on the coast
My estimation SDF control in S. al-Raqqah, expansion btw 0-25km along the entire front post-Dec 8
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
from what i can tell with mid range satellite imagery these are the current front lines (you can actually make out the pre-Dec one based on ground color)
last SDF checkpoint on Salamiyah road seems to be here 35.532576, 38.336934 (pic 2). and Resafa is within berms dugs this spring
last SDF checkpoint on Salamiyah road seems to be here 35.532576, 38.336934 (pic 2). and Resafa is within berms dugs this spring
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
My estimation SDF control in S. al-Raqqah, expansion btw 0-25km along the entire front post-Dec 8
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
-2 oil fields S of Tabqah
-Resafa and som desert villages
-more of the Salamiyah road, including stretch btw Tabqah turnoff and Resafa
-about 5 towns and a number of villages on the Euphrates right bank
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
Gov't/SDF crossings, a Turan Tugayı update, the founding of al-Qamishli
akmckeever.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Last year IS claimed ~250 attacks vs the SDF, so far this year only 99. Geographically these have been even more concentrated within Deir ez-Zour (80% vs 72%), with the center of insurgency shifting slightly upriver from the Busayrah to Kasrah region... 20 attacks claimed in Muhaimidah village only
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Last year IS claimed ~250 attacks vs the SDF, so far this year only 99. Geographically these have been even more concentrated within Deir ez-Zour (80% vs 72%), with the center of insurgency shifting slightly upriver from the Busayrah to Kasrah region... 20 attacks claimed in Muhaimidah village only
DoD now using the name 'Northern Landing Zone' for the Qasrak/Jabal Ghul base in NW al-Hasakah. Reports that US presence has largely consolidated to three bases in al-Hasakah: NLZ, Rumeilan Landing Zone (RLZ), and Patrol Base al-Shaddadi (PBS)
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
DoD now using the name 'Northern Landing Zone' for the Qasrak/Jabal Ghul base in NW al-Hasakah. Reports that US presence has largely consolidated to three bases in al-Hasakah: NLZ, Rumeilan Landing Zone (RLZ), and Patrol Base al-Shaddadi (PBS)
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
www.dvidshub.net/image/940506...
36.706242, 40.511955
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [44.2025]
November 12 - 18: latest in integration negotiations, front line clashes in southeastern al-Raqqah, Shammar sheikh visits Gov't areas, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
Weekend notes
Gov't/SDF crossings, a Turan Tugayı update, the founding of al-Qamishli
akmckeever.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A look at the four crossings btw Gov't/SDF areas (three of them currently closed), Central Asian SNA faction Turan Tugayi's roots in jihadist faction al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad, an excerpt on the founding of Qamishli during the French Mandate
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/weekend-no...
I did have Islamo-MAGA-communism on my 2025 bingo card
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I did have Islamo-MAGA-communism on my 2025 bingo card
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
really funny thinking comparatively about how little trump was successfully charmed by elon or jd vance
November 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
really funny thinking comparatively about how little trump was successfully charmed by elon or jd vance
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
Trump is now defending Mamdani in response to loaded questions from Fox News. incredible scenes
November 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Trump is now defending Mamdani in response to loaded questions from Fox News. incredible scenes
Reposted by Alexander McKeever
he never looks at JD that way
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
he never looks at JD that way
The civilian and commercial crossings btw Gov't/SDF
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The civilian and commercial crossings btw Gov't/SDF
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Orange:
-Deir Hafir (Aleppo), closed by the Gov't since early last month
-Ithriyah road (Raqqah), same as above
-Ma'dan (Raqqah), closed by the Gov't this morning
Green:
-Deir ez-Zour, open
Red:
-M4/Qaraqozak bridge, closed all year (since Dec)
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
This Week in Northern Syria [44.2025]
November 12 - 18: latest in integration negotiations, front line clashes in southeastern al-Raqqah, Shammar sheikh visits Gov't areas, and more...
akmckeever.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Latest issue covers several days of Govt/SDF front line clashes in SE Raqqah, SDF-allied Shammar sheikh Mani' Humaidi's visit to Homs and Damascus, reported SDF focus pts for upcoming talks with Gov't, in addition to other local news from Aleppo and NES
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...
First MAGA hat I've seen in Jordan belongs to a Talabat driver with salafi facial hair
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
First MAGA hat I've seen in Jordan belongs to a Talabat driver with salafi facial hair
I forgot about this controversial mosque that opened up in Idlib last year
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I forgot about this controversial mosque that opened up in Idlib last year