Syria - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Palmyra

Syria

November 7, 2026

Damascus 4:44 am

14°C

Bakr ALkasem / AFP via Getty Images

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.

BING GUAN/AFP via Getty Images

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.

Muzna Al-Atrash

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.

People inspect the damage at a site targeted by airstrikes

Analysis

How Syria is balancing public anger, regional stability after Jordan's strikes

Shelly Kittleson

By Shelly Kittleson

In Middle East, reporting on regional politics

Latest News

Analysis

Gaza progress, Syria pullback: What Turkey wants from Israel’s next government

Demonstrators hold a banner reading "Free Gaza, free world"

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Syria flash floods kill at least 5, force hundreds of families from camps

Mohammed Mir / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Interview

US oil firm HKN aims to double output in Syria's formerly Kurdish-run fields

A general view shows the Awad oil field in the eastern Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, on Feb. 15, 2026.

Matthew Zais

Matthew Zais

HKN vice president for government affairs

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

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

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Ali Hashem

In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict

Cagatay Cebe

In Istanbul, reporting on security and counterterrorism

Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), addresses a news conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir - RC11661C5F70

Syrian Kurds bring demands to Washington

The Syrian Democratic Council hopes to convince the Trump administration to rethink its withdrawal.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters stand near underground tunnels said to be made by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Tal Abyad, Syria October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano - RC174FE76C60

Syrian cease-fire holds as Kurdish forces withdraw from Turkish border

A fragile truce held for a fourth day despite sporadic fighting as Kurdish militants leave a strategic town, the United States pulls out its soldiers and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Russia to discuss what comes next.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper is welcomed by Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Idrees Ali - RC14E5C39AA0

How Turkey’s Syria incursion could have big impact in the Gulf

Turkey's Operation Peace Spring has exacerbated the divide between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait on the one hand and Qatar on the other.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters patrol in the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria, October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Khalil Ashaw - RC1B682B5390

Turkish-backed fighters laud success of suspended Operation Peace Spring

Turkish-backed fighters say the Kurdish dominated People's Protection Units (YPG) better withdraw from the safe zone within the 120-hour deadline under the Oct. 17 US-Turkish Operation Peace Spring agreement or else.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jet (foreground) lands at Incirlik airbase in the southern city of Adana, Turkey, December 11, 2015. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - GF10000262265

Congress calls on US to scout nuclear alternatives to Turkey base

Congress has tucked a provision into a bill to sanction Turkey for its two-week incursion into northern Syria that would study the possibility of removing US nuclear weapons and troops from Incirlik Air Base.

A child looks to the camera as people receive aid donated by the Turkish Red Crescent in the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC121E51D730

How local groups, volunteers are helping displaced in northern Syria

Local organizations and volunteers are mobilizing efforts to cater to the needs of thousands of displaced who fled the Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria.

U.S. troops are seen behind the Turkish border walls during a joint U.S.-Turkey patrol in northern Syria, as it is pictured from near the Turkish town of Akcakale, Turkey, September 8, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC123ADD7730

'Majority' of US troops depart Syria

A convoy of US troops departed northeast Syria today, a spokesman for the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State told Al-Monitor.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters return from the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, as they are pictured on the Turkish-Syrian border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov - RC1677531AA0

What is the effect of Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring on Lebanon?

In the wake of Turkey’s offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, the Arab League and several Arab governments, including Lebanon, condemned the invasion; however, the opinions of people across Lebanese society have been much less clear-cut.

Trump's Syria pullout divides Iran hawks

Despite bipartisan rebuke, some see great benefits in fixing ties with Turkey.

A member of Iraqi federal police stands guard in a street in Baghdad, Iraq October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Wissm al-Okili - RC160EF8FEE0

Iraq on low boil in anticipation of renewed protests

The crisis in Syria has only made Iraq’s problems worse.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters return from the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad as they are pictured in Akcakale in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC1ED08DA570

Why Russia isn't bothered by US-Turkey agreement on Syria

Russia, which has been conducting its own whirlwind diplomacy this week, wasn't disturbed by the US-Turkey deal over northern Syria.

Turkish army vehicles are moving on a road near the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov - RC1DD1CFA600

Turkey violates deal to pause Syrian fighting, officials say

Shortly after Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan struck a deal to allow the Kurdish People’s Protection Units to evacuate the northern Syrian battlefield, Turkey continued its offensive into northern Syria early today.