Trump administration scrambles to salvage US troop presence in Syria

President Trump says he would leave some US troops in Syria to keep the Assad regime and Iranian forces away from oil fields; the Syrian Democratic Forces commander speaks with both Trump and the Russian army chief of staff.

Iraq

Weakened US sanctions threat lingers in wake of Turkish deal with Russia

Possible US sanctions on Turkey are looming as fighting subsides in northeast Syria and Kurdish forces draw back following an agreement between Ankara and Moscow.

Syria

Following Trump’s lead, Putin gives Erdogan what he wants

Even his greatest detractors in Turkey are complimenting Erdogan over winning US and Russian support against the Syrian Kurds.

Syria

Erdogan still under fire in Iran despite Syria agreement

While Iran's Foreign Ministry has welcomed the Russia-Turkey agreement on Syria, the Turkish president remains in hot water over the offensive he launched against Syrian Kurds.

Syria

Russian military faces tall order following Putin-Erdogan Syria deal

The Putin-Erdogan deal has the Russian military facing a number of critical issues it may not be comfortable with.

Syria

Egypt escalates campaign against Turkey's Erdogan

Egypt is working to mobilize Arab states and the United Nations against Turkey's president over his foreign policies and criticism of the Egyptian government.

Egypt

US faces new facts on the ground as cease-fire expires

Russia and Turkey strike a deal on a safe zone as the Syrian Democratic Forces told the Donald Trump administration that Kurdish forces had withdrawn from the Turkish border today in accord with a US-brokered agreement.

Iraq

Turkey, Russia both claim win in Syria agreement

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to get what he wants regarding the Kurdish People's Protection Units, and Russia appears to gain yet more influence in Syria; has Idlib become a pawn in Turkish-Russian negotiations?

Iraq

Syrian refugees arrested, face deportation from Egypt

Syrian refugees, including women and children, are being detained by the Egyptian authorities under difficult conditions with constant threats of deportation, as some critics describe their treatment as a kind of torture.

Egypt

Putin, Erdogan nail down Syria deal

The Russian and Turkish presidents met for more than six hours to come up with an agreement on Syria, one that might survive.

Syria

Pentagon guardianship of Syrian oil fields faces pushback

For days now, despite Turkish forces jeopardizing a fragile US-brokered cease-fire in northern Syria, President Donald Trump has insisted that American forces have secured oil fields liberated from the Islamic State.

Syria

Who betrayed Syria’s Kurds?

Before the recent Turkish intervention in northeast Syria, US officials and Syrian Kurdish leaders went back and forth on the role of US troops in the region.

Syria