Syria

After Syria trip, Dartmouth prof. hopes for academic relationship with Damascus University

Syria, especially Damascus and Aleppo, was home to Jewish communities for centuries, communities woven into the country’s social and cultural fabric.

|ByFELICE FRIEDSON/THE MEDIA LINE, RIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
The view of Damascus from Damascus University.
A view of the drugs seized in a successful operation carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Directorate in the Jaramana district of Rif Dimashq province, displayed at the Anti-Narcotics Directorate in Damascus, Syria on April 15, 2026.

Syria cracks down on Hezbollah plots, drug smuggling

Syria is cracking down on terrorist plots and drug trade, busting Iran-backed terror cells and shutting down Hezbollah-linked smuggling plots.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Security forces guard a damaged bridge as people cross over the Euphrates River as Syrian army forces deploy in parts of the eastern province formerly controlled by Kurdish forces following their withdrawal from the area on January 22, 2026 in Deir ez-Zor, Syria.

Damascus claims to arrest more Hezbollah-linked cell members behind plot to kill rabbi

Rabbi Michael Khoury was the reported target of an attack, state media said that the cell intended to target “a religious figure in the vicinity of the Maronite Church in Bab Touma on April 11."

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hold a press conference at the Chancellery, in Berlin, Germany March 30, 2026.

EU to restore Syria relations, strengthen trade and security ties, document shows

Syria, which had most Western sanctions lifted at the end of last year, is seeking broader integration into the international community under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

|ByREUTERS

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

Despite historic enmity towards Hezbollah and Tehran, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has moved cautiously since US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28.

MARCH 17, 2026ByREUTERS
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.

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.

MARCH 17, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
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.

MARCH 16, 2026ByNEVILLE TELLER
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.

MARCH 15, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
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.

MARCH 14, 2026ByAMINE AYOUB
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.

MARCH 12, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
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.

MARCH 10, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
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.

MARCH 9, 2026ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
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.

MARCH 9, 2026ByGUY ALSTER, MIRIAM SELA-EITAM
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.

MARCH 9, 2026ByREUTERS
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.