Jihadology+

There And Back Again: Jabhat al-Nusrah, General David Petraeus, and Ahmad al-Sharaa

Aaron Y. Zelin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:35:15 GMT

Last week was a big week for the new Syrian leadership. It was its official introduction to the world stage during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. Besides Syrian Presiden…

Diary of the Syrian Transition - August 3-August 31, 2025

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:17:41 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: June 15-August 4, April 17-June 14, 2025 - Part 1, April 14, April 10-13, April 8-9, April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Four Years of the Taliban's Diplomatic Engagements

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 14:02:54 GMT

Past Analysis on the Islamic Emirate’s Diplomatic Efforts:

March 17, 2022: Turkey Calls for Recognition of the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate

August 15, 2022: Looking for Legitimacy: Taliban Diplomacy Since…

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 17-August 4, 2025 - Part 2

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 20:26:20 GMT

*Still catching up on things, but here’s what I’ve been able to get to.

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 17-June 14, 2025 - Part 1, April 14, April 10-13, April 8-9, April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 17-June 14, 2025, Part 1

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 12:50:29 GMT

*Sorry about the delays on posting anything. When I traveled to Syria in mid-April I lost track of posting and then got behind as I continued to travel on/off for 6+ weeks. I’ve been trying to catch-up since the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, this post is so long that Substack won’t allow me to post anymore in this post. Otherwise, the editing function stops working. So I’ll make a part 2 to this post with the remaining content. Might still take me a little bit to finish going through everything, but most of the catch-up is already done so this post will be longer than the second part to this. But once I’m done with all of that, I’ll have the normal regular updates again. Sorry again for the delay/absence. Was hoping to have everything all in one post, but I guess two months worth of content is too much for a Substack post.

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 14, April 10-13, April 8-9, April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 15-16, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:09:16 GMT

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 14, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 23:17:54 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 10-13, April 8-9, April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 10-13, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 18:49:44 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 8-9, April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 8-9, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:23:20 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 7, April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8, 2024.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 7, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:03:33 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 5-6, April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 5-6, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 14:42:51 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 4, April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 4, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:49:01 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 2-3, April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 2-3, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:44:42 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: April 1, March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - April 1, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:33:35 GMT

*Check out my new article for the CTC Sentinel titled “The New Syrian Government’s Fight Against the Islamic State, Hezbollah, and Captagon”

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 31, March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - March 31, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:23:12 GMT

*Check out my new article for the CTC Sentinel titled “The New Syrian Government’s Fight Against the Islamic State, Hezbollah, and Captagon”

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 30, March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - March 30, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:01:00 GMT

*You can find a breakdown of the new Syrian government that was announced last night here. I put together the biographies of the new ministers and the speeches they gave last night at the announcement.

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 29, March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

New Syrian Government Starter Pack

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 01:50:46 GMT

Hopefully, this will be a useful resource for anyone trying to get up to speed with the new Syrian government that was announced tonight. The biographies are all filled/translated. The speeches are n…

Diary of the Syrian Transition - March 29, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 14:36:40 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 28, March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - March 28, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:28:15 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 26-27, March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.

Diary of the Syrian Transition - March 26-27, 2025

Aaron Y. Zelin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:52:53 GMT

See prior summary of events in Syria’s transition: March 25, March 24, March 23, March 22, March 21, March 20, March 19, March 18, March 17, March 16, March 15, March 14, March 13, March 12, March 10-11, March 9, March 8, March 7, March 5-6, March 3-4, February 21-March 2, February 20, February 19, February 18, February 17, February 14-16, February 13, February 12, February 11, February 10, February 9, February 8, February 7, February 6, February 5, February 4, February 3, February 2, February 1, January 30, January 29, January 28, January 27, January 26, January 25, January 24, January 23, January 22, January 21, January 20, January 19, January 18, January 17, January 16, January 15, January 14, January 13, January 12, January 11, January 10, January 9, January 8, January 7, January 6, January 5, January 4, January 3, January 2, January 1, 2025, December 31, December 30, December 29, December 28, December 27, December 26, December 25, December 24, December 23, December 22, December 21, December 20, December 19, December 18, December 17, December 16, December 15, December 14, December 13, December 12, December 11, December 10, December 9, and December 8.