Endless Siege

This chapter examines siege from the perspective of the besieged and discusses the way in which siege follows civilians from within Syria to the places they seek refuge. The effects of siege extend far beyond an army’s stated objectives of military encirclement, and those involved in implementing besiegement extend far beyond the direct parties to a conflict. This chapter argues that political opponents separated by interests and ideologies are united in their use of siege tactics in the “war on terror” era. It analyzes a chain of complicity in generating and exploiting human suffering from Syria to its neighbors and from Europe to its international allies.