Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi
Translator and historian working with a variety of languages (Arabic, English, Latin, Spanish, Old English, German among others).
- New interview: with a Kurdish media activist based in Qamishli, discussing the current Kurdish military mobilisation, the future of the 'Autonomous Administration' project, and why the negotiations between the central govt and SDF have broken down www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-renewe...
- Full translation and analysis of the new agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government, stipulating a ceasefire but basically spelling the end of the SDF as some kind of autonomous project www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-new-sd...
- This should hopefully be timely in light of current events in Syria: a piece on Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa's admiration for Umayyad Andalusian ruler Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil and what it means for his vision of Syria, w/special thanks to @azelin.bsky.social www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/ahmad-al-s...
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- My new book for Manchester University Press is out now! My English translation & study of Toledan archbishop Rodrigo Ximenez de Rada's 'Minor Histories', incl. his very important 'History of the Arabs', the first surviving Western study of Arab history manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526189646/
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- An article I wrote for Syria in Transition magazine on the rise of Alawite cleric Ghazal Ghazal, interrogating media claims that he represents the Alawites' 'spiritual authority/spiritual leader'. What does his political ascendancy mean for Damascus? www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/new-articl...
- My review of the dreadful book 'Andalusion' by a UAE 'influencer' who purports to expose how myths about al-Andalus are supposedly being used by 'Andalusionists' today to undermine and destroy Western civilisation from within. Poor history and poor analysis... www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/andalusion...
- Interview I conducted w/Hussam al-Astl, who leads a Gazan militia opposed to Hamas and works with Israel. Topics include the group's aims, vision for a Palestinian state and how he justifies fighting Hamas as the priority when Israel is accused of genocide www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/anti-hamas...
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- New post: interview with 'Fawj al-Zhall' ('Regiment of the Shadow'), one of the Alawite insurgent groups claiming to be linked to Suhayl al-Hasan, who is Russia-based and led the 'Tiger Forces' that became 'Division 25' under the former Assad regime www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-alawit...
- Full translation and overview of the Islamic State editorial on the Sydney attack against Jews (which includes a final sidenote on the Palmyra attack against U.S. personnel and Syrian government forces) www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/islamic-st...
- My latest post: an interview w/the commander of al-Barq al-Khatif ('Flash of Lightning') forces, one of main armed groups fighting on side of the Sudanese armed forces in the ongoing war in Sudan. Topics include the group's origin, vision of Sudan's state www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/armed-grou...
- New interview w/leader of Druze faction 'Quwat al-Mithaq' that forms part of the Hikmat al-Hijri-backed 'National Guard'.Topics include views on Damascus government investigations into al-Suwayda' violations & recent claims of a 'conspiracy' in al-Suwayda' www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/druze-fact...
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- Check out my latest interview with a person from Bayt Jann in the Jabal al-Shaykh/Mount Hermon area in Damascus countryside, regarding the recent Israeli raid on Bayt Jann and his message for the Israelis and international community www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-israel...
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- New interview: w/the 'Democratic Revolutionary Awakening Council', a faction in Sudan that is aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Topics include why it is aligned with RSF, what type of state it wants in Sudan, & position on normalising w/Israel www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-war-in...
- New interview w/al-Suwayda' Druze faction Quwat Qalib al-Karama (one of 'National Guard' groups).Topics include the faction's history,current stance towards Damascus govt, Druze identity & name of region, & whether Jaramana model could work for al-Suwayda' www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/druze-fact...
- My latest post: looking at the various Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) factions that were active in Lebanon & Syria during the war in Syria, plus an interview w/a (now defunct) SSNP faction member from Latakia who still believes in the ideology www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-syrian...
- Exploring some armed groups in Sudan's war: an interview with someone connected to Liwa al-Furqan, one of the auxiliary formations of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Topics include brigade's origins and affiliations, and question of Islamism/Muslim Brotherhood www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/armed-grou...
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- My latest interview: w/Abu Ali Sumer,who heads Alawite insurgent group 'Fawj Azra'il al-Jabal' that's recently come to attention. Discussion focuses on outlook on Syria, his group's aims, relation w/Suhayl al-Hasan's 'Tiger Forces' & views on Iran & Israel www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-alawit...
- Check out my latest for Syria in Transition looking more closely at the Sayyida Zaynab shrine in Damascus (based on my visits there), its administration, & what observations tell us about the status of Syria's Twelver Shia community more broadly: www.syriaintransition.com/en/home/arch...
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- Hopefully of some use: a post I've done discussing my experiences in parts of northern Syria w/electricity availability, sources & usage, focused on parts of north Aleppo countryside to illustrate local contrasts. Giving a ground feel beyond big statistics www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/electricit...
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- New instalment in my translation of Paul the Deacon's Roman History: Book Two, covering the Samnite Wars, Pyrrhic War & First Punic War. Dedicated to @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social, who kindly drew attention to this project of mine for medieval historians here www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/paul-the-d...
- New post:local from Qalb Lawze (one of Druze villages of Jabal al-Summaq- Idlib)on killing of 3 villagers from Kafr Maris (another Druze village) by gunmen- latest of multiple kidnappings & murders that have targeted originally Druze inhabitants since 2011 www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/guest-post...
- A blast from the past: an interview I recently did w/Jamal Maarouf,who led Western-backed Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF) that fought ISIS & was destroyed by Jabhat al-Nusra by end of 2014. Discussed SRF's history & how he views Syria under al-Sharaa www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-syrian...
- New post: an in-depth look at a recent case of arrests carried out by Israeli forces in the Yarmouk Basin region of Deraa province near the border with the Golan Heights, adding some context that is missing in social media coverage www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/israeli-ar...
- First academic journal review of my translation & study of the medieval text Fath al-Andalus(The Conquest of al-Andalus) is out,& it's mostly positive,particularly about how it presents a clear & readable translation from a difficult original www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
- My latest: my visit to the Najaf office of the Badr Organisation (one of Iraq's major pro-Iranian factions), discussing the group's outlook on Iraq and the wider region, including the question of relations with the new Syrian government www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/a-visit-to...
- My latest: my visit to the Najaf office of the Badr Organisation (one of Iraq's major pro-Iranian factions), discussing the group's outlook on Iraq and the wider region, including the question of relations with the new Syrian government www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/a-visit-to...
- New interview with Quwat Fursan Hamza, one of the constituent factions of the Druze 'National Guard' initiative backed by Hikmat al-Hijri. It has recently rebranded as 'Battalion 501- Special Assignments' of the National Guard www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/druze-fact...
- My latest: a look inside a villa in Aleppo countryside that appears to have been used as a base by an Iranian-linked militia during the war in Syria. I stumbled upon it while driving & the graffiti still remains. Took photos for historical documentation www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/inside-an-...
- Check out my latest translation project: Paul the Deacon's Roman History, starting w/book one (Rome's origins, first kings, & first sack of Rome). Paul was 8th century monk of Lombard origin & wrote a very readable Roman history www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/paul-the-d...
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- If you're curious what ever happened to the pro-Assad, Russian-backed 'Homeland Shield' militia on the Syria-Lebanon borders, I recently interviewed its Lebanese leader, discussing problems that arose & the situation in Syria & Lebanon after Assad's fall www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/syria-and-...
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- My latest published interview: with a person who served in the Iranian-backed 313 Force and was subsequently transferred to the regular army under the Assad regime. He describes his experiences and how he views the current situation in Syria www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/a-veteran-...
- Apologies for hiatus in writing, but I am back now. An in-depth interview with a local in the al-Qunaytra locality of Kudna near the border with the Golan, recounting his recent experiences w/Israelis, their 'carrot-and-stick' approach, & local sentiment www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/interactio...
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- New post: translation and overview of the statement by various al-Suwayda' Druze factions announcing their merger into the 'National Guard' initiative declaring loyalty to spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/syrian-dru...
- I've written a tribute to my friend Abd al-Majid Sharif, who was from Druze village of Kaftin & long opposed to Assad regime prior to the revolution. He always stood up for his principles & was willing to speak out. Voices like his are more needed than ever www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/in-memoria...
- New post: Harakat Rijal al-Karama's spokesman on events in al-Suwayda' a month on. He laments the implantation of sectarian division at the expense of national belonging and speculates on the possibility of an internationally-brokered partition of Syria www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/harakat-ri...
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- Translation & overview: new statements by Hamoud al-Hanawi and Yusuf Jerbo (the other two mashaykh al-aql/senior Druze spiritual leaders alongside Hikmat al-Hijri), illustrating they too have taken a firm stance against Syrian govt's actions in al-Suwayda' www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/statements...
- New interview: with a local in the Qunaytra locality of al-Rafid on the border with the Golan Heights, regarding his personal experiences with Israeli forces in the area and how he views the Israeli presence more generally www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/experience...
- I would not be surprised if this is true. Just look how widely government supporters and official media misrepresented Layth al-Balous as leader of/a leader of Harakat Rijal al-Karama (one of the biggest Druze armed groups in Suwayda').
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- An interview I conducted w/al-Suwayda' Druze faction 'Shaykh al-Karama Forces' on current situation in province & issues of relations w/Syrian central govt following the recent fighting, complaints of a 'siege' on al-Suwayda' & loss of Druze trust in govt www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-curren...
- Translation & overview of new Islamic State editorial on the joint Syrian government-U.S.-led coalition raid targeting IS in al-Bab as well as the recent events in al-Suwayda'. The editorial's title is an interesting reference to medieval Iberian history www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-rearer...
- I have done a general, open access piece on the common misconceptions about the fighting in al-Suwayda'. Too many crude, inaccurate talking points are being circulated among analysts and observers and contributing to the tensions. This needs to stop now www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/misconcept...
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- New: some observations from a meeting with media activist/spokesman for 'mainstream' Druze al-Suwayda' faction Liwa al-Jabal, focusing on the issue of relationship between al-Suwayda' factions and the Syrian central government/Ministry of Defence www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-druze-...
- Thrilled to announce that my forthcoming book for Manchester University Press is now available for pre-order: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526189646/
- New photo essay from the town of Tel Refaat in north Aleppo countryside, which was once a frontline between the SDF/regime on one side & Turkish-backed insurgents on the other. Since the fall of the regime, many displaced inhabitants have begun to return www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/photo-essa...
- New report by me on the recent killing of a Twelver Shi'a individual in the al-Hamdaniya neighbourhood of Aleppo city: an incident suspected in his hometown of being a sectarian murder www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/a-sectaria...
- Interview w/a resident of Tel Aghar (one of Twelver Shi'a villages of Homs province) regarding the village & general situation of Homs Twelver Shi'a, incl. issues like security, confiscation of property, services provision & general assessment of new govt www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-twelve...
- My latest post: full transcript & overview of press conference Syrian Interior Ministry held on Mar Elias church bombing in Damascus.Closer scrutiny shows press summaries didn't represent all of what was said & government's narrative has some inconsistency www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-syrian...
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- A group called 'Saraya Ansar al-Sunna' has claimed responsibility for Mar Elias Church bombing in Damascus. My new post is a translation of the statement & has exclusive information on the group's origins & relation to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham & Islamic State www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/saraya-ans...
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- The hot-take on the Israel-Iran war that you were all waiting for and wanted to read: the Islamic State's editorial 😃😃 www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/islamic-st...
- New post surveying various Syrian reactions to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran amid official silence from the new Syrian government www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/syrian-rea...
