Iran says 13 ISIS affiliates arrested for planning suicide attacks ISIS’ Khorasan branch has conducted numerous attacks against Iran in recent years, prompting authorities to pursue its members. Iran
US Syria envoy Barrack says troop drawdown to continue, support for Kurds to remain Trump’s ambassador to Ankara told a Turkish TV news outlet that American troops will eventually draw down to a single base in Syria, but that Washington is unlikely to abandon the Kurdish-led forces. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Turkey, Syria, Jordan launch anti-ISIS ops center in Damascus: What to know The coordination unit began operations on May 19 in Damascus as the Turkish president accused the SDF of stalling on an integration deal with Damascus. Turkey
Turkey’s intel chief Kalin makes surprise visit to Syria, meets Sharaa Kalin's visit comes as a Turkish delegation arrives in Washington to discuss sanctions relief on Syria with the Trump administration. Turkey
Feature Nightlife rocks Raqqa as Syria’s Islamist leaders navigate power By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Exclusive Syria's Kurds say Trump aid cuts are feeding radicalism in ISIS camps By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Netanyahu set to meet Trump amid differences over Iran, tariffs and Turkey: What to know United States
Turkish opposition revives questions over Islamic State burning execution Almost six years on, Turkey’s public remains in the dark on the burning execution of two compatriots in Syria. Turkey
Syria’s Kurdish forces thwart major attack on Islamic State prison camp Botched suicide bombings came less than two weeks after the top US general in the Middle East sounded the alarm over security and humanitarian conditions at al-Hol camp. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Islamic State threatens Kurdish workers in northeast Syria The Islamic State is threatening to kill employees in the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor if they continue to report to their jobs. Syria
Egypt army makes gains against Islamic State in western Sinai Egyptian Army troops and tribal fighters are working to liberate the northwestern Sinai village of Gilbana from IS control as the terrorist group tries to move its command center there. Egypt
Suicide attack thwarted as Iraqi Shiites celebrate Ashura While the history of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State continue to haunt Iraq, the start of the annual Shiite religious mourning celebration was largely uneventful — though Diyala province remains problematic. Iraq
How Zawahiri's death affects Syrian opposition factions Hayat Tahrir al-Sham did not issue an official statement regarding Ayman al-Zawahiri’s death, although some if the group's leaders expressed condolences on Telegram. Syria
Iraq starts rebuilding Mosul airport Determined to complete the delayed Mosul airport reconstruction project, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is granting the project special exceptions to shield it from corruption and complex administrative procedures. Iraq
HTS arrests members of little-known Syrian group behind attacks against Turkish army in Idlib Hayat Tahrir al-Sham announced that it arrested most members of the Ansar Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Brigade, a small, little-known jihadist group that is hostile to HTS and has repeatedly targeted Turkish forces in Idlib. Syria
US kills top Islamic State leader in Syria, Pentagon says Syria's Kurdish-led forces alleged Maher al-Aghal was also affiliated with Turkey-backed opposition group Ahrar al-Sharqiya. Syria
Iraq’s northwest wary as IS executions, cross-border movement continue The Islamic State continues to target local tribes and others in desert areas of Iraq and across the border in Syria, as more Iraqi nationals with alleged IS links are moved to an IDP camp in northwestern Iraq. Iraq
Conflicting reports on Islamic State leader arrested in US operation in north Syria The US-led coalition has revealed the identity of the Islamic State leader it arrested during an airdrop operation in northern Syria, saying he was a prominent bombmaker. But some Syrian opposition sources say they got the wrong man. Syria
Iraq targets desert 'wali' and braces for impact of possible conflict Counterterrorism operations in Iraq’s western desert have resulted in the killing of an Islamic State leader as regional tensions rise across the border ahead of a likely Turkish military operation in northern Syria. Iraq
