Russia in Syria

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre shows smoke billowing following an Israeli airstrike which targeted the area of al-Hosh on the outskirts of Tyre, on November 19, 2024. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP) (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Netanyahu warms to Israel-Lebanon deal, US role comes into play

Sources are saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to reach a deal with Hezbollah, while realizing that the "rise or fall" of any arrangement will hinge on the enforcement mechanism.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square on the National Unity Day in Moscow on November 4, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail TERESHCHENKO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL TERESHCHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With leverage in Syria, can Russia's Putin broker Israel-Lebanon deal?

Israel is considering accepting the Russian push for some sort of involvement in the talks or in the implementation of a deal with Hezbollah.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Keep America Great rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Feb. 19, 2020, and Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony in Jerusalem, commemorating the people of Leningrad during the World War II Nazi siege on the city, Jan. 23, 2020, combination of pictures created on Feb. 21, 2020.

Analysis

With Trump back, Putin works through Netanyahu to strike Israel-Lebanon deal

Russia's President Vladimir Putin indicated in recent days that Moscow is in contact with all parties in the Middle East to push for an end to the fighting.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An armed man sits in front of a car damaged in a reported Israeli strike in Damascus on Oct. 2, 2024.

As Israel steps up attacks on Syria, is Bashar al-Assad next?

While targeting Assad and his brother would destabilize the regime and potentially deprive Hezbollah of its rear base, an Israeli source has denied any such plans.

Latest News

Russia’s Shoigu in Iran to signal support, urge restraint against Israel

Iranian President Masoud Pezeskhian (R) meets with secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu in Tehran on Aug. 5, 2024.

Erdogan meets 'dear friend' Putin as Russia, Turkey eye cooperation on Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana on July 3, 2024.

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Analysis

Can Turkey help Europe build effective air and missile defense system?

A launch from the RM-70 Vampir Multiple Launch Rocket System during the Super Garuda Shield 2023 joint military exercise including Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and the US, Situbondo, East Java, Sept. 10, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Russia sets up observation points in Syria near Golan Heights

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey-backed Syrian fighter sits at a position on the outskirts of the town of Marea.

Turkey's operation in Syria could happen in 'upcoming months': Erdogan

The Turkish president’s comments come after the top Turkish diplomat leveled rare public criticism at Russia.

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander tells Washington not to sell F-16s to Turkey

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, SDF commander-in-chief Mazlum Kobane called on the United States to shore up flagging Kurdish faith in Washington and block any new F-16 sales to Turkey.

Mazlum Kobane

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

This photograph shows Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) vans parked at the airport in Makhachkala on October 30, 2023. Russian police on October 30, 2023 said they had arrested 60 people suspected of storming an airport in the Muslim-majority Caucasus republic of Dagestan, seeking to attack Jewish passengers coming from Israel. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel-Russia ties unravel as Putin calls meeting over Dagestan mob incident

After a Hamas delegation visited Moscow and the anti-Israeli incident in Dagestan, the crisis between Israel and Russia is out in the open.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Floral tributes and a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin are seen left at the fence of the Palestinian embassy in Moscow on October 19, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 8. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel relayed to Russia 'dissatisfaction' over its Hamas position as rift widens

Israel is concerned by declarations by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials that could signal a shift in Moscow’s views toward it.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the 'world's largest warship,' is seen at anchor in Faliro Bay, Athens, Greece, as part of its summer deployment, on July 28, 2023 (Photo by Nikos Libertas / SOOC / SOOC via AFP) (Photo by NIKOS LIBERTAS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

In Israel-Hamas war, Russia's leverage erodes, outflanked by US naval power

Against the background of the possible entry of pro-Iranian forces into the Israeli-Gaza conflict, Moscow lacks even symbolic means of deterrence.

Anton Mardasov

By Anton Mardasov

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Analysis

Snubbed by Russia, Israel and Ukraine draw closer after Hamas attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered little solidarity to Israel over the Hamas attack.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of war crimes as Erdogan vows escalation

Syria’s Kurds say Turkish forces are committing war crimes as Erdogan escalates against the US-Allied Syrian Democratic Forces.

- A man prepares to ride a motorcycle close to a fire raging at the Zarba oil facility in al-Qahtaniyah in northeastern Syria close to the Turkish border on October 5, 2023. Turkish strikes on October 5 on the Kurdish-controlled region of Hasakeh in northeastern Syria hit a car, killing two people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after Ankara had threatened raids in retaliation for a bomb attack. In another strike, "Turkish drones targeted a factory north of Hasakeh, injuring three workers", s

Turkey expands strikes as Fidan, Blinken discuss deconfliction, 'terrorist threats'

The US readout of a call between the top US and Turkish diplomats stressed the two countries share a common objective of defeating terror.

Members of Wagner group inspect a car in a street of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2023 said an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a "stab in the back" and that the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had betrayed Russia, as he vowed to punish the dissidents. Prigozhin said his fighters control key military sites in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Wagner fractures in Syria, Libya amid conflict with Russia's Defense Ministry

A month after Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in a plane crash, Russian authorities are attempting to assert control over the parallel military structure.

Anton Mardasov

By Anton Mardasov

From the official reception for President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. Asma in Hangzhou International Airport on September 21, 2023

In China, Syria's Assad gets political fanfare, but no funding commitments

Since Syria joined China's Belt and Road Initiative in January 2022, there have been no projects to show for it in the war-torn country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) inspect the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony, in Ukrainian capital Kiev, on August 19, 2019, ahead of a meeting. - Benjamin Netanyahu is in a two-days official visit in Ukraine. (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu calls Zelenskyy as Ukraine-Israel relations take new dive

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under pressure to arrange for thousands of Israeli pilgrims to visit Uman, Ukraine, next week amid tensions with Kyiv.

MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russia hosts Turkey's Fidan, presses for guarantees on grain deal

Turkey and Russia's foreign ministers haggled over a compromise for the revival of the Ukrainian grain deal ahead of the upcoming presidential summit next week.