At Dubai summit, Syrian FM expresses interest in Baghdad visit

On his second trip to the United Arab Emirates since assuming his role, new Syria Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stressed the need for good neighborly relations, lifting of sanctions and guaranteed rights for minorities in the country.

Syria

Russia's Putin and Syria's Sharaa hold first call since Assad fall

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russia’s Vladimir Putin held their first phone call on Wednesday in an uncertain time for the former allies.

Syria

After sharing escape plan, Hafez Bashar al-Assad's alleged X account suspended

The son of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad posted about his family’s final days in Damascus before the rebel takeover.

Syria

Turkey, Jordan, Iraq to hold first anti-ISIS summit this month: Turkish official

Top diplomats as well as Turkish, Jordanian, Syrian and Iraqi defense and intelligence chiefs aim to hold a first security summit this month as part of efforts to set up a regional anti-ISIS coalition, Al-Monitor has learned.

Turkey

Four killed in Syria-Lebanon border clashes between HTS and clans: What to know

An offensive launched by Syria along its border with Lebanon on Thursday escalated into intense clashes between Syrian forces and Lebanese armed groups, including those associated with multiple Lebanese clans.

Syria

Feature

After Assad’s fall, Iran hopes to creep back through Syria's back door

Iranian officials admitted they were "defeated very badly" with the fall of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and their prospects for building influence under the new government are limited.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey, Syria draft road map to strengthen Syrian military: What we know

Ankara and Damascus are working on a plan for defense cooperation, according to a Turkish official, who added that Turkey's priority in Syria is the armed groups it deems a national security threat.

Turkey

Macron invites Syria’s Sharaa to France for first EU visit: What to know

France, like other EU countries, has expressed a desire to engage with Syria’s new administration and lift sanctions on the country.

Syria

Pomp over substance marks Sharaa's first trip to Turkey as Syria's president

While the Turkish president lauded the visit as "historic," little of substance was announced and neither leader made any mention of an alleged defense pact reported Tuesday by Reuters.

Syria

Sharaa's wife, Latifa Droubi, makes first appearance outside Syria: What we know

Pictures and videos on social media of Latifa al-Droubi, the wife of Syria's newly appointed interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, have sparked wide interest in Syria's new first lady.

Syria

Democrats warn Trump’s USAID freeze may fuel Middle East instability

Lawmakers vowed to challenge the takeover of the agency, with or without the support of Republicans members of Congress.

Syria

Feature

Can Syria’s new Islamist rulers win their broken nation’s trust?

While Syrians widely celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorial regime, many reserve judgement on their new Islamist leaders.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture