In the six years since the Syrian civil war erupted on the heels of the Arab Spring, with few exceptions Syrian viewpoints have been conspicuously absent from western media coverage of the conflict. What follows are excerpts from a lengthy conversation I had with Mohamad Sakar, a 17-year-old Syrian who lives with his family in the city of Latakia, in the country's northwest. Though still a teenager, only 11 when the fighting began, I found Sakar's maturity and his level of understanding of the war impressive. I have attempted, where possible, to provide corroborating information for some...

In the six years since the Syrian civil war erupted on the heels of the Arab Spring, with few exceptions Syrian viewpoints have been conspicuously absent from western media coverage of the conflict. What follows are excerpts from a lengthy conversation I had with Mohamad Sakar, a 17-year-old Syrian who lives with his family in the city of Latakia, in the country's northwest. Though still a teenager, only 11 when the fighting began, I found Sakar's maturity and his level of understanding of the war impressive. I have attempted, where possible, to provide corroborating information for some...