Haid Haid
Haid Haid is a research fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at King’s College London. He is also a consulting research fellow of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program.
Articles By
The Shadowy Economics of ISIS’s Resurgence in Syria By Haid Haid - Jul 29, 2022
Despite ISIS’s territorial defeat in Syria more than two years ago, the group has continued to terrorize people, particularly in the northeast. In June, ISIS sleeper cells were linked to 18 attacks and 16 deaths, on par with ISIS-linked violence in May, when 14 died in 26 attacks. The group’s survival is due, in part, to its ability to extort business owners to … Continue reading “The Shadowy Economics of ISIS’s Resurgence in Syria”
Violence Surges in Countryside Surrounding Damascus By Haid Haid - Jul 1, 2022
Since recapturing the largely agricultural province surrounding Damascus in 2018, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has sought to portray the capital as a haven of calm in a country riven by conflict. In addition to the city’s symbolic importance, securing Damascus and the outlying region known as Rural Damascus is essential for the regime’s political … Continue reading “Violence Surges in Countryside Surrounding Damascus”
Russia Maintains Grip on Syria While Mired in Ukraine By Haid Haid - Jun 17, 2022
In late February, when Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, regional analysts began speculating how the fighting would impact Moscow’s military presence in Syria. The guesswork didn’t last long. Faced with unexpected resilience from Ukraine’s army, Russia reportedly began to withdraw infantry, aviation, and engineering units from various parts of Syria. As a result, many assumed … Continue reading “Russia Maintains Grip on Syria While Mired in Ukraine”
To Stem Iraq’s Drug Trade, Rein in the Militias that Enable it By Haid Haid - May 26, 2022
Last month, nearly 16 million Captagon pills, an amphetamine-type stimulant that is quickly becoming one of the Middle East’s most ubiquitous narcotics, were seized by Iraqi security forces in three separate raids. It was a massive haul of illicit drugs. It was also a fraction of the region’s illegal trade, a criminal enterprise that Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units’ … Continue reading “To Stem Iraq’s Drug Trade, Rein in the Militias that Enable it”
Syria’s Cybercrime Law is Another Way for Assad to Rule by Fear By Haid Haid - May 20, 2022
After months of rumors, the Syrian regime recently passed far-reaching cybercrime legislation that goes beyond what is necessary to keep the internet safe. Despite tackling issues like cyberbullying and fraud, the most serious legal and financial penalties introduced by the new legislation are reserved for those who criticize the president, the constitution, or the state. The motive behind the law becomes … Continue reading “Syria’s Cybercrime Law is Another Way for Assad to Rule by Fear”