The Hot Zone with Chuck Holton

Episode 541 - Touring the Ruins of Kobane

If you ever wondered what Leningrad looked like after the Siege in 1944, Kobane today will give you a good idea. After a brutal 5-month siege, under shelling by ISIS, Kobane eventually drove off the invaders and saved what was left of their city. Today they are rebuilding, but there are plenty of reminders of the horrors of war.

Episode 540 - Ayn Issa...Where Enemies Shop Together

Ayn Issa is a hotly contested piece of real estate in Northern Syria. The Turks, Russians, Syrians, and Kurds all have forces there. Walk down main street with me and buy some Falafel.

Episode 539 - Walk Through a Syrian IDP Camp

There are hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in Syria, one of the missions of the Free Burma Rangers is to take them help, hope and love. We visited one IDP camp near Raqqa that held thousands of refugees who are in a precarious position about the coming winter. We brought them food, love and did a good life club for the kids!

Episode 538 - House of Worship Rededicated in the Center of Raqqa

In a place often associated with some of the most vile acts humans have ever perpetrated on one another, an Armenian Catholic Church is rebuilt from the ashes of destruction. A very special day indeed.

Episode 537 - Dedicating Armenian Church in Raqqa, Interview with Armenian SDF Commander

Did you know there are many Armenians in Syria? They came there fleeing the Armenian Genocide, and many were sheltered by the Syrians there. For generations there have been many Christians in Raqqa, but most were driven out during the occupation by ISIS. Commander Aram Hanna is Armenian on his mother's side, and speaks proudly about the contributions Armenians have made to the culture and the fight against ISIS.

Episode 536 - Raqqa, Former ISIS Capital Slowly Recovering

Today we drive to Raqqa, the city once known as the capital of the ISIS caliphate.  The US-backed SDF Forces drove ISIS out in 2017, but nearly destroyed the little that was left of the city in the process.  Upon entering the city, we go for a walk around the central market at night.  Probably not the safest thing we've done this week.  Don't miss the amazing interview with a young man who survived the ISIS occupation at the end!

Episode 535 - Former Special Operations Soldier Talks About Syria

Ali Medina, who participated in some of the most harrowing combat in the fight against ISIS as a member of the Special Operations community, tells about his experience here, especially interesting since he is Syrian by birth.

Episode 534 - Christian Villages Under Attack in Syria

We witnessed the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkey, shelling Christian villages in Northern Syria, then spoke with some of those affected.

Episode 533 - Tour an ISIS Torture Prison in Syria

We are staying near an old ISIS torture house. See what that looks like now. Plus, Turkey is drying up the rivers to drive out the region's last remaining Christians.

Episode 532 - Tal Tamr and Al Hasakeh Crazy Kids Program

Day three in Syria - doing a kid's program and visiting the site of some heavy fighting on my last trip.