Full Breakdown
Love Amid War: “Birds of War” Documentary Chronicles a Syrian Conflict Romance
6/30/2026, 10:40:45 PM
Documentary Overview
“Birds of War,” released in United Kingdom cinemas on 30 June 2026, follows the professional and personal partnership of journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian cameraman Abd Alkader Habak. The film interlaces footage captured during the final months of the battle for Aleppo, scenes of Habak’s escape from Syria, and recorded messages exchanged between the two journalists. It presents an intimate perspective on lives shaped by the Syrian conflict and the 2019 protests in Lebanon.
Background & Context
Boulos, a London-based reporter for the BBC, first contacted Habak in 2016 while seeking footage from him during the final months of the battle for Aleppo. Habak, originally from Idlib and based in Aleppo during the conflict, fled Syria in 2017. After the 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Habak has returned to Syria several times. Boulos left the BBC to pursue independent filmmaking and also travels regularly to Lebanon, her home country.
Key Figures
- Janay Boulos – Former BBC journalist, independent filmmaker, married to Habak, resides in London.
- Abd Alkader Habak – Syrian cameraman from Idlib, former Aleppo resident, married to Boulos, frequently travels between Syria and Lebanon.
Film Details & Reception
The documentary’s title derives from a nickname the pair gave each other while covering the Syrian conflict. “Birds of War” won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance festival before its UK theatrical release.
Official Statements & Responses
Boulos expressed that mainstream news headlines often emphasize fear rather than foster empathy, arguing that understanding individuals’ backgrounds can promote a deeper sense of humanity. Habak highlighted the couple’s ongoing commitment to storytelling, noting their monthly trips to Syria and Lebanon to produce new material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I find that the news headlines...sometimes I feel like it's scaremongering more than creating compassion,” — Janay Boulos, Journalist
- “When you understand...people's backgrounds, where they come from, what forced them into...leaving their countries...what they've experienced, who their family is, how they grew up, that creates more of an understanding of humanity,” — Janay Boulos, Journalist
- “I'm almost going every month to Syria and also Janay is...going every month back to Lebanon,” — Abd Alkader Habak, Cameraman
- “We are in the film these two people who love each other,” — Janay Boulos, Filmmaker
Why It Matters
By combining the footage captured by the journalists with personal correspondence, the documentary seeks to move beyond headline-driven narratives and illustrate how prolonged conflict influences individual relationships and creative work. The filmmakers’ continued visits to the region underscore an ongoing effort to document and humanize the war’s impact.
Upcoming Activities
Both Boulos and Habak plan to maintain their monthly trips to Syria and Lebanon, generating additional stories.
