War in the Middle East

Syria: Islamist Rebels at the Gates of Damascus
Syria: Islamist Rebels at the Gates of Damascus

In Syria, the Islamist rebels' advance shows no signs of stopping, and the pressure is mounting on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian army withdraws from towns about 10 km from Damascus. Syrian rebels were about 20 kilometers from Damascus Saturday morning after snatching the ...

Mawlawi: Draft Law to Rebuild the Country Has Been Approved
Mawlawi: Draft Law to Rebuild the Country Has Been Approved

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced that “a draft law for the reconstruction of the country has been approved by the Council of Ministers,” before specifying that this draft will be submitted to Parliament for approval. Speaking from the city of Tyre, where the Council of Ministers meeting was being held, Mawlawi added, “We ...

Qatar: Assad 'Didn't Seize Opportunity' to Engage with Syrian People
Qatar: Assad 'Didn't Seize Opportunity' to Engage with Syrian People

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to engage with his people and address issues like the return of refugees during a period of calm in the country's war, Qatar's prime minister said Saturday. "Assad didn't seize these opportunities to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people, and we didn't see any serious movement, ...

Syria Islamist Rebel Commander Says no Place for 'Sectarianism'
Syria Islamist Rebel Commander Says no Place for 'Sectarianism'

Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani sought to reassure religious minorities on Saturday, after Islamist-led fighters snatched key cities and swathes of territory from government control. His comments come as rebels sought to advance into Syria's third city of Homs, after their alliance led by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ...

Violent Explosions in Khiam on Saturday
Violent Explosions in Khiam on Saturday

On Friday night, several houses and buildings were destroyed in the village of Khiam, which was rocked by violent explosions. On Saturday morning, columns of smoke continued to rise near a mosque in the heart of the village. In the southern suburb of Beirut, a low-flying Israeli drone was reported overhead. Shortly afterward, a thud sounded, ...

Syria Army Says 'Redeploying' in Southern Daraa, Sweida Provinces
Syria Army Says 'Redeploying' in Southern Daraa, Sweida Provinces

Syria's army said it was redeploying in two southern provinces on Saturday, after a war monitor reported government forces had lost control of most of Daraa province, the cradle of the country's 2011 uprising. "Our forces operating in Daraa and Sweida are redeploying and repositioning, and establishing a... security cordon in that direction after ...

Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos
Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos

Turkey's foreign minister will meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Doha on Saturday to try to find a solution to the renewed fighting in Syria and avoid chaos on its doorstep. The three countries have been partners since 2017 in the Astana process seeking to end the civil war in Syria even if they have supported opposite sides on ...

Iran, Iraq Join Syria in Warning Rebel Advance Threatens Whole Region
Iran, Iraq Join Syria in Warning Rebel Advance Threatens Whole Region

Iran and Iraq issued a joint statement with Syria on Friday warning that sweeping rebel gains at the expense of President Bashar al-Assad's forces posed a danger to the whole region. "Threats against Syria's security constitute a danger for the stability of the region," said the statement issued after a meeting of the three countries' foreign ...

Syria's Jolani: From Jihadist to Pragmatist
Syria's Jolani: From Jihadist to Pragmatist

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Islamist rebel alliance that has captured swathes of Syria in a lightning offensive, is an extremist who has adopted a more moderate posture to try to achieve his goals. At the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is rooted in Syria's branch of Al-Qaeda, Jolani says the goal of his offensive is to ...

Unholy Alliance: The Dark Forces of Iran and Russia Undermining the Middle East
AnalysisUnholy Alliance: The Dark Forces of Iran and Russia Undermining the Middle East

The relationship between Russia and Iran has always piqued interest, often characterized as a unique alliance shaped by the complex geopolitics of the Middle East. This partnership has been notably reinforced through their mutual support for the Assad regime in Syria, enabling both nations to strengthen their military and economic connections. ...

Statue of Former Syrian President Toppled in Hama Amid Cheering Crowd
Statue of Former Syrian President Toppled in Hama Amid Cheering Crowd

The image is particularly symbolic: A statue of former President Hafez al-Assad, the father of Syria's current ruler Bashar, was toppled in Hama after Islamist-led rebels overran the country's fourth-largest city, a video authenticated by AFP showed. A machine's long mechanical arm tipped the towering statue over to cheers and cries of "Allahu ...

Syria: Despite Assad's Appeal, Russian and Iranian Support Remains Shy
Syria: Despite Assad's Appeal, Russian and Iranian Support Remains Shy

As Islamist rebel forces from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) approach the city of Homs, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad desperately needs the help of his Russian and Iranian allies. However, Moscow and Tehran's military resources are already stretched thin due to the war in Ukraine and numerous conflicts in the Middle East. According to experts ...