Ep 45 Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria feat Ehsani

Syrian analyst Ehsani returns to the show to talk about the latest developments in the Syrian war, with a focus on escalations in Eastern Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria. Ehsani also shares his observations from a recent trip to Aleppo. This is a two-part interview originally recorded on March 8th. Due to delays in publishing and rapid developments in those regions, a second part was added on March 27th with updates on the situation. Ehsani is a Syrian American originally from Aleppo. You can find his social media analysis and discussion about Syria on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, "Ehsani".   We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow,  @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook.   Recorded on March 8 and March 27, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.   Reference Links: "US Mulls Action as Pro-Syria Forces Mass Nearby," Jason Ditz, Antiwar.com "Erdoğan accuses US of planning to form 'terror army' in Syria," The Guardian "Trapped in Eastern Ghouta," Patrick Cockburn, Counterpunch "Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?" Wesley Dockery, Deutsche Welle "Nearly 6,800 militants, families leave E. Ghouta, head to Idlib" – Russian military, RT "Turkish, FSA forces close in on Tel Rifaat town in northern Syria," Hurriyet "In face of Ghouta defeat, Syrian rebels blame each other," Reuters "Turkey Seizes Full Control Over Syria's Afrin District," Antiwar.com