Jordan pressures Syrian rebels to reopen Nasib crossing

Syrian opposition groups have been refusing to cave in to Jordanian pressure to hand over the Nasib border crossing to the Syrian government, while Jordan, which hopes to revive this trade route and encourage Syrian refugees to return home, has plenty of leverage over the rebels.

Jordan

King Salman goes to Russia

King Salman's visit to Russia is the first by a Saudi monarch, but the trip may be long on style and short on substance.

Saudi Arabia

After two years in Syria, what’s next for Russia?

Russia and the United States are curious about each other's long-term goals in Syria, and each believes the other has something up its sleeve.

Syria

Challenges still stalk Syrian peace efforts

Despite the apparent progress in peace talks, there's still a lot of maneuvering going on in Syria — on the ground and among the many parties involved.

Syria

Turkey’s military options in Iraq and Syria hinge on US and Russia

Any Turkish military move into northern Iraq or northern Syria seems highly unlikely without US or Russian consent respectively.

Iraq

Child labor soars in Syria's liberated areas

The Syrian war has left many children as the sole breadwinners for their families, pushing them to work at difficult and often dangerous jobs with long hours and little pay.

Syria

Kurdish referendum a double-edged sword for Russia

Although Russia says it respects Iraqi Kurds' desire for self-determination, their independence is probably not in Russia's best interest.

Iraq

Palestinians react to opening of first US military base in Israel

The Sept. 18 announcement of the establishment of the first permanent US-Israeli military base in the Negev desert, in southern Israel, is evidence of the strategic military cooperation between the Americans and Israelis.

Palestine

Border crossings bring in cash for Free Syrian Army factions

The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army is racking up serious sums of money from fees it charges at border crossings in northern Syria.

Syria

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander: We're 'ready to engage' with Damascus

In an interview with Al-Monitor, a Syrian Kurdish commander says the United States should stay in Syria during the post-Islamic State process.

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Anbar op aims to restore Iraqi-Syrian border

Iraqi security forces launched an offensive in Anbar province in early September to cleanse the key Islamic State-held town of Qaim on the Syrian border.

Iraq

What's next after Kurdish independence vote?

Millions in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region voted in today's independence referendum, despite threats by Iraq, Turkey, Iran and the United States.

Iraq