Raqqa after ten years of war and revolution in Syria

Raqqa after ten years of war and revolution in Syria

March 2013, Raqqa. The Syrian revolution is in full swing. A crowd gathers around a statue of Hafez Al Assad in the centre of the city. The statue is of President Bashar Al Assad’s father, and much like the Assad regime has looked over this part of Syria for five decades. Though not for much longer. Activists and members of the Free Syrian Army chant Allahu Akbar, and fire at the statue as it is pulled down. The relic lies on its side, they climb on top of it - Raqqa is now the first provincial capital to fall to the revolution. But this was only the beginning. Darker times lay ahead. This is the story of Raqqa’s revolution , why it failed, and what has become of the city after ten years of war and revolution in Syria. On this week's Beyond the headlines host Gareth Browne, just back from Raqqa, looks at 10 years of conflict in Syria.

Episoder(486)

The year in impact: Our episodes that resonated the most in 2025

The year in impact: Our episodes that resonated the most in 2025

The profound transformations in the Middle East this past year have rippled far beyond the region, reshaping politics and alliances around the world. The US has taken a new interest in Syria. Lebanon ...

26 Des 202528min

How Yemen’s power balance is shifting again

How Yemen’s power balance is shifting again

Political power in Yemen is shifting once again, reigniting questions about who truly holds authority in the country and whether it is heading towards another fundamental rupture. The Southern Transit...

19 Des 202515min

What’s stalling phase two of the Gaza ceasefire?

What’s stalling phase two of the Gaza ceasefire?

Two months have passed since a ceasefire was announced in Gaza, but the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan has yet to materialise. The uncertainty has left Gazans anxious that t...

12 Des 202520min

One year since Assad’s fall: Where is Syria today?

One year since Assad’s fall: Where is Syria today?

A year has passed since Bashar Al Assad’s government fell in Syria, marking the end of a brutal civil war that lasted for almost 14 years. In the end, it took less than two weeks last December for an ...

5 Des 202533min

Is US pressure finally forcing Israel to address settler violence?

Is US pressure finally forcing Israel to address settler violence?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a cabinet meeting this month to discuss settler violence, but this sudden interest stands in stark contrast to years of inaction by the state. Settler ...

28 Nov 202516min

How Israel is obstructing reconstruction in Lebanon

How Israel is obstructing reconstruction in Lebanon

Israel has bombed Lebanon on an almost daily basis over the past year, despite a ceasefire being in place. Its army claims to be attacking Hezbollah, accusing the group of re-arming. But civilian infr...

21 Nov 202521min

What will it take to end the civil war in Sudan?

What will it take to end the civil war in Sudan?

When the Sudanese city of El Fasher fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in late October, the group gained control of the entire Darfur region and areas to the south-west. Their rivals, the S...

12 Nov 202519min

Why voters are snubbing Iraq’s election

Why voters are snubbing Iraq’s election

Iraqis are going back to polls this month for the sixth time since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein more than 20 years ago. It is expected to be one of the most contested elections yet....

7 Nov 202522min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
forklart
i-retten
popradet
stopp-verden
aftenpodden-usa
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
fotballpodden-2
dine-penger-pengeradet
nokon-ma-ga
rss-ness
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
e24-podden
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik