Syria Conflict

An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank crosses the barbed-wire fence into the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights near the UN Quneitra checkpoint on March 2, 2025.

Analysis

Fragile optimism over Turkey-Israel deconfliction talks in Syria: What to know

As Turkey and Israel seek a better understanding of each other’s positions in Syria, deconfliction talks aim to prevent clashes but offer little hope for broader reconciliation.

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

Jared Szuba

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist , Jared Szuba

Sharaa MBZ UAE

Analysis

With Sharaa's visit, UAE opens door to post-Assad Syria, but how far will it go?

Does renewed contact between the United Arab Emirates and Syria signal a deeper political alignment or a cautious attempt to manage regional dynamics without fully endorsing the new Syrian order?

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Women are seen walking at the Roj Camp in northeast Syria, on April 8, 2025.

Exclusive

Syria's Kurds say Trump aid cuts are feeding radicalism in ISIS camps

In an interview at Syria’s Roj camp, the head of intelligence for the Women’s Protection Units warns that US funding cuts are fueling a resurgence of ISIS ideology among detained women and children, deepening an already volatile security crisis.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

US forces patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey in the Qahtaniyah countryside in the far northeast corner of Hasakeh province on Sept. 3, 2024.

US weighs plans to slash troop presence in Syria by more than half

Fewer than 1,000 US troops could remain in the country in order to retain limited oversight of ISIS prisons controlled by Kurdish-led forces across the country’s northeast, according to officials briefed on the latest plans.

Latest News

Analysis

Can Trump prevent Israel, Turkey from clashing in Syria?

Israeli tanks take position near the fence with the buffer zone that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from the rest of Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams on Dec. 8, 2024.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Fidan says Turkey-Israel deconfliction talks over Syria underway: What to know

An Israeli military tank moves to a position during a drill in the annexed Golan Heights on November 9, 2023, amid increasing cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel as fighting continues in the south with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

Syrian Jews urge US sanctions relief to revive ancient community

Yusuf Hamra

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Analysis

Israel expanding Syria operations: Buffer zone or open-ended campaign?

An Israeli soldier checks a Merkava battle tank deployed at a position in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights along the border with southern Syria on March 25, 2025.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Donald Trump is sworn in as US president in the Rotunda of the US Capitol, in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2025.

From Syria to Yemen: Middle East reacts to Donald Trump’s inauguration

Donald Trump's inauguration sparked a mix of optimism and cautious reactions across the Middle East, with US allies expressing hope for continued collaboration, while Iran, Palestine and regional proxies voiced concerns about his policies and their impact on regional stability.

People walk past a campaign poster of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a market in Cairo on December 7, 2023, ahead of the presidential election. Egyptian citizens living abroad will cast early ballots on December 8 in a presidential election, in a vote all but certain to give incumbent Sisi a third term in office. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Wary of its own Islamists, Egypt adopts cautious approach to Syria

The Islamist takeover of Syria has triggered concerns in Cairo about a potential resurgence in Egypt, despite over a decade of crackdowns.

Shahira Amin

By Shahira Amin

A fighter of the the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army faction watches a plume of smoke erupt from bombardment at a position near the Tishrin Dam in the vicinity of Manbij, in the east of Syria's northern Aleppo province, on January 10, 2025 amidst ongoing battles with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The latest reported fighting comes despite the US on December 8 saying that it was working to address Turkey's concerns in Syria to dissuade the NATO ally from escalating an offensive against

Analysis

Disarmament and political shift: What Turkey would accept from Syria's SDF

The fall of the Assad dynasty has changed Turkey's calculus on how to deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - JANUARY 18: Syrians gather at a park in central Damascus on January 18, 2025 in Damascus, Syria. Following the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by opposition groups in a quick offensive on December 8, the country is looking to gain economic momentum after years of global sanctions on the Assad-led government. Arab and Western countries have been reopening diplomatic relations with Syria's new de facto authorities, headed by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Exclusive

US issues sanctions waiver for countries backing Syria’s transition

The Biden administration stopped short of lifting sanctions on Syria or rescinding the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, during a press conference on Dec. 30, 2024, in Damascus, Syria.

Syria hosts Japanese delegation as interim government looks to shore up investment

Syria is eyeing closer ties with Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, as it recovers from years of civil war.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish Airlines to resume Damascus flights next week: What we know

As Turkey restarts flights to Damascus with some restrictions, its consulate in Aleppo is set to resume operations next week.

Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Jan. 15, 2025.

Turkey urges Syria's new leaders to take action against SDF

Turkey’s top diplomat called for strengthened counterterrorism cooperation following a landmark meeting with his Syrian counterpart.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 30: Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani during a press conference after a meeting between the Syrian leadership and a Ukrainian delegation to help strengthen ties between the two countries on December 30, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Syria is transitioning after the fall of the Baath regime and the Assad family's rule, with a temporary administration now in place in Damascus and Aleppo. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)

Syria's top diplomat set to pay first visit to Turkey on Wednesday: What we know

Experts believe that Turkey’s and other regional countries’ security concerns will be key agenda items during the visit.

A member of Syria's transitional government security forces calls the names of persons queueing up at a center for handing over small arms and security registration with the new authorities, in Damascus, on Dec. 24, 2024.

Pro-Assad militias clash with Syria security in Latakia: What we know

The incident, which left two members of the transitional security forces dead, marks the latest violent challenge to the new rulers' grip on power in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) election manifesto at the AKP Congress Center in Ankara, on Jan. 30, 2024.

Turkey’s ruling party hits out at Israel’s support for Kurdish-led SDF

Ankara breaks its silence as Erdogan’s ruling party delivers the first official response to Israel’s support for the Kurdish-led SDF.

TOPSHOT - A Syrian rebel fighter (C) looks on as he stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on December 29, 2024. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP) (Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Russia eyes Libya as military substitute for Syria? Not so fast, say Libyans

Despite its ambitions to relocate military assets from Syria to Libya following Assad's fall, Russia faces significant challenges in Libya's complex political landscape, limiting its ability to achieve this goal.

Mohamed Eljarh

By Mohamed Eljarh

TOPSHOT - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) reviews the honour guard as he welcomes Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (R) during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on June 22, 2022. - Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler took a big step out of international isolation on June 22, 2022, paying his first visit to Sunni rival Turkey since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/

Analysis

Saudi Arabia, Turkey find early common ground on Syria, will it last?

Despite supporting the armed opposition in the earlier parts of the Syrian civil war, Turkey and Saudi Arabia soon found themselves competing in Syria. Assad’s fall opens a new chapter.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security