Middle East

Syrian Interior Ministry Sets February Deadline to Absorb SDF Into State Institutions
Syrian Interior Ministry Sets February Deadline to Absorb SDF Into State Institutions

The Syrian Ministry of the Interior announced on Monday that it would impose a deadline on the Syrian Democratic Forces for integration into the government by the end of February. Focusing on governorates in northeastern Syria, the ministry will mandate that SDF members to regularize their status as of March, with the threat of legal troubles if ...

Iran Says U.S. Stance on Nuclear Issue 'More Realistic'
Iran Says U.S. Stance on Nuclear Issue 'More Realistic'

Iran said Monday that the US position on Tehran's nuclear programme "has moved towards a more realistic one" ahead of a second round of talks. "A cautious assessment is that, from the discussions that have taken place in Muscat to date, at least what we have been told is that the US position on the Iranian nuclear issue has ...

Israeli Report: Damascus Does Not Rule Out Military Action Against Hezbollah
Israeli Report: Damascus Does Not Rule Out Military Action Against Hezbollah

Israel’s Kan News reported that the Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is not ruling out potential military action against Hezbollah, as tensions escalate between the two sides despite a relative improvement in official relations between Damascus and Beirut. The report cited a Syrian security source as saying that ...

Syrian Kurdish Authorities Release 34 Australians Related to Jihadists
Syrian Kurdish Authorities Release 34 Australians Related to Jihadists

Thirty-four Australian relatives of suspected Islamic State jihadists had to return to Syria's Roj detention camp due to coordination issues with Damascus after Kurdish authorities released them on Monday, a Kurdish official told AFP. Camp director Hakmieh Ibrahim had earlier said the women and children from 11 families were handed over to ...

Israeli Arrested for Spying on Ex-Defense Minister Gallant for Iran
Israeli Arrested for Spying on Ex-Defense Minister Gallant for Iran

The Israeli General Security Service filed charges Monday against an Israeli man for allegedly gathering intelligence on former defense minister Yoav Gallant on behalf of an Iranian agent. The defendant, Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, was arrested in late January after taking photos of streets near Gallant’s home in Amikam for his handler, ...

Syria Expected to Form a New Government, Reports I24 News
Syria Expected to Form a New Government, Reports I24 News

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected in the coming weeks to convene a workshop aimed at forming a new, inclusive government with expanded powers, a Syrian source close to the president told i24NEWS. The planned government is expected to include representatives from across Syrian society in an effort to address the concerns of minority ...

Rubio: U.S. Satisfied With Overall 'Trajectory' in Syria
Rubio: U.S. Satisfied With Overall 'Trajectory' in Syria

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Washington is pleased with the "trajectory" in Syria, which has launched talks with Kurdish minority groups, despite troubles. "There's been some days that have been very concerning, but we like the trajectory," Rubio said on a brief visit to Bratislava. "We have to keep it on that trajectory. ...

Iran FM in Geneva for Second Round of U.S. Talks
Iran FM in Geneva for Second Round of U.S. Talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Rafael Grossi, head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, in Geneva on Monday, ahead of a second round of indirect nuclear talks there with the United States on Tuesday. Araghchi said he would also meet with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, whose country is mediating the talks and ...