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Syria

April 19, 2025

Damascus 7:57 pm

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An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank crosses the barbed-wire fence into the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights near the UN Quneitra checkpoint on March 2, 2025.

Analysis

Fragile optimism over Turkey-Israel deconfliction talks in Syria: What to know

As Turkey and Israel seek a better understanding of each other’s positions in Syria, deconfliction talks aim to prevent clashes but offer little hope for broader reconciliation.

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

Jared Szuba

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist , Jared Szuba

Sharaa MBZ UAE

Analysis

With Sharaa's visit, UAE opens door to post-Assad Syria, but how far will it go?

Does renewed contact between the United Arab Emirates and Syria signal a deeper political alignment or a cautious attempt to manage regional dynamics without fully endorsing the new Syrian order?

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Women are seen walking at the Roj Camp in northeast Syria, on April 8, 2025.

Exclusive

Syria's Kurds say Trump aid cuts are feeding radicalism in ISIS camps

In an interview at Syria’s Roj camp, the head of intelligence for the Women’s Protection Units warns that US funding cuts are fueling a resurgence of ISIS ideology among detained women and children, deepening an already volatile security crisis.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

US forces patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey in the Qahtaniyah countryside in the far northeast corner of Hasakeh province on Sept. 3, 2024.

US weighs plans to slash troop presence in Syria by more than half

Fewer than 1,000 US troops could remain in the country in order to retain limited oversight of ISIS prisons controlled by Kurdish-led forces across the country’s northeast, according to officials briefed on the latest plans.

Latest News

Lebanon’s PM Nawaf Salam makes first Syria visit, meets Sharaa as border tensions loom

Sharaa

Exclusive

Syrian Kurd commander: Aleppo power-sharing deal could be model for nation

Mazloum Kobane

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Syria’s Sharaa looks to boost ties with Turkey, Azerbaijan during Antalya visit

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 11, 2025.

Interview

Syria's Kurds to demand federalism in tactical push for decentralization

Syrian Kurds

Mohammed Ismail

Mohammed Ismail

President of the Kurdistan National Council

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Pentagon 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

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa (front L) accompanied by his wife Latifa al-Droubi (front C), and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani perform the Umrah, or the minor pilgrimage, alongside their wives respectively and in Islam's holiest city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2025.

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.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) speaks at a press conference outside of USAID headquarters on Feb. 03, 2025, in Washington, DC.

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.

Residents are slowly returning to Daraya, the Damascus suburb that was reduced to rubble by the Assad regime. Here a child is seen riding his bike in Daraya on Jan. 26, 2025. (Amberin Zaman/Al-Monitor)

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.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

TOPSHOT - Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa performs the Umrah, or the minor pilgrimage, in Islam's holiest city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2025. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan to host Syria’s Sharaa on first Turkey visit, discuss security ties

The meeting between the Turkish president and Syria's new leader will focus on Syria's post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery and security issues.

A handout showing Ahmed al-Sharaa while meeting with a UK delegation in Damascus, Dec. 17, 2024.

UAE, Saudi Arabia congratulate Sharaa as Jordan resumes Syria flights

Arab leaders have warmly welcomed Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria's interim president, with close allies of his deposed predecessor remaining noncommittal.

The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa waits to greet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not in picture) ahead of a meeting between the Syrian leadership and a Ukrainian delegation to help strengthen ties between the two countries on December 30, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Syria is transitioning after the fall of the Baath regime and the Assad family's rule, with a temporary administration now in place in Damascus and Aleppo. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)

Syria suspends constitution, declares Ahmed al-Sharaa transitional president

Syria's de facto leadership previously said that new elections could take up to four years and that it could also take several years to draft a new constitution.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS offshoot Hurras al-Din dissolves: What we know

Hurras al-Din, which split from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after the latter distanced itself from al-Qaeda, had led attacks against Syrian government forces and Russian interests in Syria.

An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Hermon ski resort, bordering Syria and Lebanon, during a media tour organized by the spokesman of the Israeli army, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Jan. 8, 2025.

Israeli defense minister: Troops could stay in Syria buffer zone 'indefinitely'

The Israeli military is gearing up to stay on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone on the Israel-Syria border at least throughout the winter.

A Russian ship is pictured in front of fleet replenishment oiler Ivan Bubnov (L) at the Russian naval base in the port of Tartus, Syria, Sept. 26, 2019.

Russian delegation in Syria as Moscow scrambles to secure military presence

The visit marks the first since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who had been Moscow's key ally in Syria.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Al-Monitor Doha: Syrian Symphony arrives

Syrian voices bring Doha to life this week with pianist and composer Malek Jandali's Syrian Symphony and singer Assala Nasri’s soulful tunes.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani looks on during a session as part of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 23, 2025.

WEF: Arab businesses ‘very keen’ to invest in Syria after Assad’s ouster

Syria's new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, attended the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week, along with over 50 heads of state and hundreds of business moguls.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani speaks to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a session during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 22, 2025.

Syria FM Shibani touts 'big opportunity for investment' in country at World Economic Forum

Asaad al-Shibani said Syria is not a threat to its neighbors and defended the transitional government’s actions during the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to the World Economic Forum.