Exclusive Rubio said 'no meeting' with Syria’s Shibani in Munich unless Kurdish commander included Rubio’s insistence was aimed at satisfying lawmakers demanding stronger US support for the SDF. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Syria begins prisoner exchange with Druze militia in south: What to know The Suwayda area has seen significant instability since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, complicating government efforts to address sectarian factionalism. Syria
Turkey to repatriate its ISIS fighters from Iraq as jihadis escalate Syria attacks Ankara will repatriate its nationals from among thousands of fighters transferred from Syria, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said. Turkey
Canada becomes latest Western country to lift Syria sanctions: What to know Like the US, Canada had strained relations with Syria during the civil war but is now showing signs of engagement. Syria
Feature After SDF-Damascus truce, is Kurdish haven still safe for Syria's Alawites? By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
US military pulls out of Syria’s Al-Tanf garrison in major shift By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
US oil company signs deal with Syrian Kurds Sources told Al-Monitor the agreement to market oil in territory controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces was signed “with the knowledge and encouragement of the White House.” Syria
Hezbollah, Israel jostle in Syria, Lebanon Conflict between Israel on the one hand and Iran and Hezbollah on the other have been playing out this month in Syria and Lebanon. Israel
‘I still wake up at night’: Syrian men and transgender rape survivors struggle in Lebanon LGBT survivors of sexual violence told Human Rights Watch that accessing services for their physical and psychological trauma is a challenge in Lebanon. Syria
Rouhani slams US ‘aerial terrorism’ after Iran plane interception The US interception of an Iranian civilian aircraft over Syrian skies has set off yet another escalatory episode in the rivalry between Tehran and Washington over influence in the Middle East. United States
The latest reason Australia won’t take back citizens detained in Syria’s prisons for IS? Coronavirus Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says COVID-19 has further complicated the possibilities of repatriating Australians captured during the war against the Islamic State in Syria. Syria
Is Turkey headed for compromise or fresh fighting in Idlib? Turkey’s military buildup and efforts to collaborate with the dominant rebel group in Idlib appear to be the harbinger of a fresh war in the region, yet rebel forces suspect that Turkey is willing to concede to Russia. Turkey
First barrel bombs, now coronavirus: doctors in Syria's Idlib hit hard by outbreak Doctors working in already short-staffed hospitals are struggling with a flare-up of new cases in the country's last rebel stronghold. Syria
US woman allegedly sought to join al-Qaeda in Syria The woman's conversations were actually with FBI employees posing as members of the designated terrorist organization. Syria
Iran accuses US fighter aircraft of harassing Iranian airliner over eastern Syria An Iranian broadcaster says an Iran-to-Beirut commercial passenger flight had US jets make an aggressively close pass to it over Syria near the Iraqi border. Syria
Will Syrian rebels kill each other in Libya's proxy war? Syrian mercenaries from that country's civil war could now meet opposite each other in the Libyan conflict, only this time as Wagner Group mercenaries. Syria
Hezbollah says its soldier killed by Israeli airstrike in Syria Hezbollah previously said it would respond to any deadly attacks of its soldiers in Syria by Israel. Lebanon
