Syria foils Hezbollah-linked plot to attack Homs refinery: What to know Syrian authorities have intensified a crackdown against Hezbollah’s alleged plans to launch attacks inside Syrian territory as well as smuggling attempts. Syria
Lawmakers urge Commerce Dept to ease Syria investment restrictions Syria may be off the terrorism blacklist, but the Commerce Department’s export controls have yet to catch up. Syria
Explainer Meet Muzna al-Atrash, Syria's new Druze adviser for peace affairs Atrash, from the Suwayda province and a member of the Druze community, will advise Damascus on peace affairs as it looks to assert authority in the south. Syria
Analysis How Syria is balancing public anger, regional stability after Jordan's strikes By Shelly Kittleson In Middle East, reporting on regional politics
Analysis Gaza progress, Syria pullback: What Turkey wants from Israel’s next government By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Arab parties key in Israel’s coalition fight By Gabrielle Debinski In New York City, reporting on the Middle East
Interview US oil firm HKN aims to double output in Syria's formerly Kurdish-run fields Matthew Zais HKN vice president for government affairs
Iran downplays significance of Baghdadi's death Iranian officials have shrugged off the news that the United States killed the Islamic State leader. Iraq
US troops leaving Syria can't stay in Iraq, Baghdad says Despite Washington's willingness to keep its troops in Iraq after withdrawing them from Syria, Baghdad has told the United States to get them out in short order. Iraq
Kurdish leader's rising profile with US, Russia angers Turkey The Turkish government has kicked off a campaign to demonize Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazlum Kobane after the latter's recent conversations with the US president and top Russian officials. Syria
Will Adana accord take Erdogan to Damascus? Drawing on a controversial 1998 accord between Ankara and Damascus, Russia wants to get Turkey on board with its game plans for Syria and beyond, including energy in the eastern Mediterranean. Syria
Islamic State leader dead in US raid Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during a raid in northwestern Syria, says President Donald Trump. Iraq
Syrian Kurdish commander sparks fresh US-Turkish row Mazlum Kobane, the chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, may visit Washington — a move that would likely prompt Turkish calls for his extradition. Syria
Pentagon weighs options to deter Russians in Syria After Russian forces in Syria appeared to be heading toward oil fields, the Pentagon proposed deploying tanks as a measure to guard the installations, a US official told Al-Monitor. Iraq
Congress doubles down on bipartisan Turkey sanctions after Trump’s victory lap Trump may have lifted sanctions on Turkey, but Democrats and Republicans alike still want to slap Ankara with their own stringent sanctions. Syria
How Iran sees Russia-Turkey deal on northeastern Syria Iran's exclusion from the Turkey-Russia talks on northern Syria reflected its lack of leverage on the matter, but Tehran welcomed the agreement forged, especially its support for the Adana Agreement. Syria
A post-mortem of Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring Turkey had seven net gains and six net losses from its two-week Operation Peace Spring against the Syrian Kurdish groups. Syria
Gaziantep University opens facilities in Syrian opposition areas The Turkish Gaziantep University has opened three faculties in the opposition-held Aleppo countryside, giving students there an opportunity to earn a degree from an accredited university. Syria
Trump hails Syria ‘breakthrough,’ lifts sanctions on Turkey President Donald Trump hailed an apparent Turkish decision to halt a military offensive in Syria as a major breakthrough and said now the United States was getting out. Syria