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
Iranian media lauds Putin's restraint after assassination Following the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Iranian newspapers praised President Vladimir Putin for his “wise” decisions after the killing. Syria
Turkey’s entanglement in Syria sparks violence, assassination at home As Turkey gets more into the Syrian swamp, the Syrian spillover into Turkey could turn into a flood. Syria
Hezbollah, Israel both mum on recent escalation Despite an escalation in Israeli attacks against Hezbollah in Syria, an all-out confrontation between them seems unlikely for the near future. Israel
Why Aleppo will serve to embolden Iran While having paid a steep price for standing by its regional allies, Iran increasingly appears to be achieving its objectives in Syria. Syria
Thousands remain trapped in eastern Aleppo Thousands of traumatized civilians in eastern Aleppo are waiting in the freezing cold and continuing peril as the excruciatingly slow evacuation process drags on. Syria
Who's behind Russian diplomat's murder in Ankara? Turkish officials are seeking the true motive behind the slaying of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov at a public event in Ankara Dec. 19. Syria
PMU seeks to secure Iraq-Syria border The Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units have requested to take control of the Iraqi-Syrian border, which raises concerns about Iran's interference in Syria. Iraq
Thousands flee Aleppo as regime regains control Three years after the opposition took control of Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods, the Syrian regime’s army, with the help of foreign militias, entered the city and began evacuating civilians to the city’s countryside. Syria
Is Turkey recruiting militants evacuated from Aleppo? After the Aleppo rout, Turkey considers boosting the ranks of its Free Syrian Army ally fighting in Operation Euphrates Shield, while fortifying the buffer zone and raising the bar in bargaining with Damascus. Syria
Three reasons Iran should worry over Russia’s Syria plans Despite successful cooperation with Moscow to help retake Aleppo, Tehran is likely to remain suspicious of Russian intentions and maneuvering in Syria. Syria
Obama’s Aleppo defense US President Barack Obama says the brutality in Aleppo is solely the fault of "the Assad regime and its allies Russia and Iran." Does Israel benefit from Russia’s role in Syria? Bombings in Turkey spur an anti-Kurdish frenzy. Syria
Kremlin dilemma: Regain Palmyra or advance on Idlib? Victories in the war on the Islamic State are tempered by setbacks that call for a careful examination of how to proceed. Syria