Syria

Israel pushes Hezbollah further north in Lebanon - buying time, but not security

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The main theater and focus of attention remains Iran. Nevertheless, Israel perceives an opportunity to significantly change the situation along its northern border as well.

ISRAEL IS acting to create immediate security for the communities along the border with Lebanon – pushing Hezbollah away from the frontier, and establishing a buffer to reduce the threat to those communities. Here, an Israeli tank patrols along the border in Upper Galilee.
 Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa looks on as he attends the “Aleppo, Key to Victory” celebration marking Syria’s liberation, in Aleppo, Syria May 27, 2025.

Syria unveils plan to rid country of Assad's chemical weapons stockpile

A drone view shows oil tankers loading crude oil at the Basra Oil Terminal in Iraqi territorial waters, off the coast of Basra, Iraq, August 5, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Aty

Iraq turns to Kurdistan pipeline as Iran war chokes oil exports and economy - analysis

A Syrian flag is displayed outside the White House following the meeting of US President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 10, 2025.

US encourages Syrian action against Hezbollah, Damascus is hesitant, sources say


Turkey's Ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yilmaz, presents credentials to President Sharaa in Damascus

Nuh Yilmaz, Turkey's new Ambassador to Syria, presents his credentials to President Sharaa, marking a significant step in bilateral relations.

Nuh Ylmaz talking to media at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 17, 2025; illustrative.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise means Iran’s revolution is far from over - opinion

Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment suggests Iran’s theocratic regime will pursue the same revolutionary path.

A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026

UN probe: Syrian minorities face kidnappings, rape, and arbitrary detention

A UN report reveals that Syria's new government has failed to stop human rights abuses, including abductions, sexual violence, and arbitrary detentions, despite efforts for accountability.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the Ministry of Awqaf conference titled "Unity of Islamic Discourse" at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Syria, February 16, 2026.

Israel’s next test: Turkey positions itself to lead a post-Islamic Iran Middle East - opinion

With Iran in decline, Turkey emerges as a major player, reshaping the balance of power in the Middle East.

Turkish President and Leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses to the party members during the AK Party Group Meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye in Ankara, Turkiye on February 25, 2026.

Border residents demand Israel eliminate Hezbollah, create buffer zone up to Litani river

Hezbollah terrorists launched about 200 rockets against northern Israel in a single barrage on Wednesday night, according to public broadcaster KAN News.

A PICTURE taken along the Israel-Lebanon border shows rockets being fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel on March 3, 2026.

Syria appoints key Kurdish commander Sipan Hemo as deputy defense minister

As a deputy, Sipan Hemo will focus on an area in eastern Syria.

Sipan Hemo, the new deputy to the Syrian defense minister. August 14, 2025.

Israeli relations with Middle Eastern countries improving as war goes on with Iran

As the US-Israel war with Iran intensifies, countries like Morocco, UAE, and Bahrain boost military cooperation with Israel, strengthening regional alliances.

International Cooperation Division Chief Brig.-Gen. Amit Adler, July 2024; illustrative.

Hezbollah claims it foiled additional IDF attempt to land in Lebanon, search for Ron Arad

According to Hezbollah's statement, 15 helicopters arrived from the direction of the Syrian border and attempted to land near the village.

Friends of Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad who has been missing since October 1986 march in his memory in Tel Aviv, on October 18, 2024.

'US will abandon you': Syria's Kurds caution Iran's Kurds against aligning with US against Tehran

Syrian Kurds caution Iranian counterparts against partnering with the US, citing past betrayals and fears of abandonment in the fight against Iran.

Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) take part in a training session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq February 12, 2026.

Netanyahu’s prediction fulfilled as Israel reshapes Middle East - analysis

“Israel's response to the unprecedented multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen from the Gaza Strip will ‘change the Middle East,’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The joint US-Israel military strikes on Iran mark more than a tactical military operation. They represent a fundamental realignment – President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have closed a strategic gap that successive American administrations never fully bridged.