THE SHIITE JIHAD IN SYRIA AND ITS REGIONAL EFFECTS

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Notes and Sources
1. Yezid Sayigh, “Syria’s Very Local Regional Conflict,” Carnegie Middle East
Center, June 9, 2014, http://carnegie-mec.org/2014/06/09/syria-s-very-local
-regional-conflict; Steven Erlanger, “Syrian Conflict Poses the Risk of
Wider Strife,” New York Times, February 25, 2012, http://www.nytimes.
com/2012/02/26/world/middleeast/syrian-conflict-poses-risk-of-regionalstrife.html?pagewanted=all.
2. Barbara Starr, “Al-Assad Losing Control but Showing No Signs of Leaving,” CNN,
December 13, 2012, http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/13/u-s-officialsal-assad-staying-put-despite-slide-in-power/;
“Is al-Assad Losing Control?”
Aljazeera, July 22, 2012, http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidesyria
/2012/07/20127229263475515.html.
3. Tim Lister, “Syrian Regime Losing Grip on Border with Iraq as Militants Step Up
Attacks,” CNN, March 13, 2013, http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/world/meast/
syria-iraq-border/; Ellen Barry and Steven Erlanger, “Russia Offers a Dark View
of Assad’s Chances for Survival,” New York Times, December 13, 2012, http://www.
nytimes.com/2012/12/14/world/middleeast/russian-envoy-says-syrian-leader-islosing-control.html?pagewanted=all.
4. Mohanad Hashim, “Iraq and Syria: Who Are the Foreign Fighters?” BBC,
September 3, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29043331;
“Foreign Fighters in Iraq and Syria: Where Do They Come From?” Radio
Free Europe, September 29, 2014, http://www.rferl.org/contentinfographics/
infographics/26584940.html.
5. Mariam Karouny, “Shiite Fighters Rally to Defend Damascus Shrine,” Reuters,
March 3, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/03/us-syria-crisis-shiitesidUSBRE92202X20130303.
See also: “Iranian Religious Orator in Syria to
Defend Holy Shrine of Sayyeda Zainab / Pics,” AhlulBayt News Agency, June 29,
2013, http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=434900.
6. Damien Cave and Hwaida Saad, “48 Captives Are Iran ‘Thugs,’ Say Rebels in
Syria,” New York Times, August 5, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/
world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-say-hostages-are-iranian-guards.html?_r=0.
7. Later it was established by the Iranians that the group included “retired” members
of the Iranian army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. See “Iran: Retired
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