Analysis Lebanon key to Trump plan for turnaround in Middle East The final "This Week" column reflects on US policy toward Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Gaza. By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
Senate defense spending bill would restrict US troop drawdown from Syria Washington plans to zero out stipends for Iraqi Kurdistan’s peshmerga forces but will continue funding Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces through 2026. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Kurdish militants return abducted Turkish agents as fragile peace push continues The handover is seen as a confidence-building measure, as Erdogan seeks a deal with militants to secure Kurdish support for extending his presidency beyond 2028. Turkey
Analysis Can Turkey dismantle PKK, push SDF integration while rewriting rules in Syria? Ankara hopes for the PKK's disarmament and the SDF's integration under Damascus, but skepticism and risks remain. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Emboldened by Suwayda fallout, Syria’s Kurds hold their ground with Damascus By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Deadly attacks stoke KDP-PKK tensions in Iraqi Kurdistan Turkish Kurdish militants entrenched in Iraqi Kurdistan face mounting calls to leave the region after the killing of six members of the Iraqi Kurdish armed forces. Turkey
KRG puts PKK on notice for killing of peshmerga forces The Biden administration slams PKK attack on Iraqi Kurdish allies as 'brutal.' Iraq
Will Syria come up in Biden-Putin summit? US pressing to maintain humanitarian corridors into Syria; Erdogan’s issues with US Syria policy; UN envoy refers to Syria’s "tragic irony." Russia
Erdogan threatens to strike refugee camp inside Iraq The rhetoric against Makhmour, a settlement where residents are overwhelmingly sympathetic to the Kurdistan Workers Party, could be part of a strategy to divert attention away from economic problems at home. Iraq
As Syrians vote in regime areas, Kurdish authorities close crossings The Syrian Democratic Forces closed the crossings connecting their areas in northeast Syria to government-held areas to prevent the participation of the areas' inhabitants in the Syrian presidential elections. Syria
Turkey touts assassination of top PKK militant as retribution to US The Turkish media has trumpeted the killing of a high-ranking PKK militant by Turkish security forces in northern Iraq as a reprisal of the US support of the Syrian Kurdish groups, while Turkey seems to be a major blockade before Syrian Kurds’ desire for political recognition. Turkey
Biden administration poised to ax US oil company’s waiver for Kurdish-led northeast Syria The decision to withdraw the waiver to produce and sell oil in Syria has been presented by administration officials as a policy correction, not a shift. Syria
Kurdish journalists in Iraq criticized after Iranian immolates himself on camera The asylum seeker from Iran told the Kurdish media outlet Rudaw that he has no work. News Brief
Syrian Kurdish leader says US should stay in Syria regardless of who is president President of Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council Ilham Ahmed spoke at a virtual event at the DC-based Newlines Institute today. Syria
IRGC officer killed by Kurdish fighters in skirmish The Iran-Iraq border has recently witnessed a fresh uptick in cross-border attacks by Kurdish armed groups fighting for autonomy. Iran
The cost of Turkey’s grey passport scandal Turkey’s service passport scandal may be more costly than imagined. On the domestic front, the case is one more sign that organized crime fuels corruption. In the international arena, Turkey is expected to encounter more embarrassment and court cases for smugglers. Turkey
Turkish forces in fresh offensive against PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan The latest Turkish military operation against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan comes at a time when Ankara finds itself increasingly under strain, both on the domestic front and in its frosty ties with Washington. Turkey
