Syria arrivals surge 111% as government bets on tourism revival The country welcomed 3.52 million visitors during the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier, as the government pushes to reconnect to the world and promote tourism as a pillar of economic recovery. Syria
Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran declares 'existential war' as US strikes reach near Tehran By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria, US hold first business forum since sanctions relief: What to know The one-day forum in Damascus was organized by Syria’s Ministry of Economy and Industry and the US-Syria Business Council, which was established in Washington last June to advance trade and investment between the two nations. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syrian War Keeps University Students at Home A report from Amuda, in northeast Syria, where students have been forced to abandon their studies due to the war. Syria
Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process Poorly Managed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan needs to address the trauma resulting from the fight against PKK terror for over three decades. Iraq
Levin Says US Should Consider Limited Military Strikes on Syria Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin says only increased US support for vetted rebel groups can level the Syrian playing field and allow for a political settlement. Syria
Bomb Shakes Hezbollah Stronghold A first-hand account from the Bir el-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, the scene of a bombing today, July 9, which injured 53. Lebanon
Four Reasons Why Iran Wins From Morsi’s Fall Iran stands to gain regionally from the coup in Egypt. Qatar
UN Role in Post-Conflict Syria Depends on Geneva With no date set for the Geneva Conference, the UN has so far been unable to come up with a peacekeeping plan for Syria. Syria
Rise of Local Salafist Jihadists Worries Jordan's Government For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood has been the Jordanian government's main political rival. But a new player has emerged to fret the Hashemite regime: homegrown Salafist jihadists. Jordan
Lebanon's Sectarian Fall As the Syrian conflict continues to rage, tensions are on the rise between Lebanese Sunnis and Shiites as a result of their affiliations with divergent Syrian groups. Lebanon
Bahrain Salafists Increase Involvement in Syria War Bahraini Salafists are playing a role in the fight against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Bahrain
New Syrian Institution Helps US Deliver Humanitarian Aid A senior US aid official tasked with coordinating humanitarian assistance to Syria says he is “all for” prolonging the Syria war if it leads to a “democratic Syria.” Syria
Lebanese Shiites' Divisions Intensify Over Syria The murder of a student leader of an anti-Hezbollah Shiite group has served as a reminder of historical and shifting divisions within Lebanon’s Shiite community. Lebanon
