MENA Minorities

Swedish journalist Carl Drott, whose work for Syria in Crisis  has been mentioned here already, wrote two pieces fresh from the field about the current situation of the Syriac Christians in Qamishli and provides some background on the split of the Sutoro/Sootoro militia in a pro-Kurdish (Sutoro) and a pro-regime (Sootoro) wing. According to Drott the Sutoro is currently growing and setting up branches in other towns of Hasaka province as well. "Syriac-Kurdish Cooperation in Northeast Syria" by Carl Drott "A Syriac Militia Splits in Qamishli" by Carl Drott

The Syriac Military Council (SMC)   in Syria's north eastern Hasakah province has  officially joined the YPG, the main Kurdish militia. Not to be confused with the other Syriac militia Sutoro (which is reportedly lately leaning more towards the regime site) the SMC was established a year ago and has recently proven to be an active fighting group. As Christians they add a cross-secterian flavor to the already secular image of the YPG.