Bashar al-Assad

April 9, 2025 | Bridget Toomey, Janatan Sayeh

Washington Must Pressure Baghdad to Disarm Iran’s Proxy Militias in Iraq

Gaza and Yemen are well established as two arenas of the ongoing struggle between the United States and Iran, but Iraq is another vital stage that has garnered comparatively less attention. That may now...

April 9, 2025 | Clifford D. May |

Israel’s second war of independence

Never again will Israelis allow a “ring of fire” to burn on their nation’s borders

April 9, 2025 | David Daoud |

Iran reportedly smuggling weapons to Hezbollah via Beirut port

An unnamed “Western security source” told Al Arabiya and its Al Hadath sister channel that Hezbollah is using the Port of Beirut to smuggle weapons into Lebanon from Iran. The source told...

April 7, 2025 | |

‘Doing a Deal Would Be Preferable’: Trump Reveals Direct Talks Underway With Iran Over Nuclear Program

Upcoming Iran Negotiations: President Donald Trump said during an April 7 joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States will hold...

April 6, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s new strongman isn’t living up to his promises for reform 

Excerpt Days before his troops overthrew the regime of Bashar Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa declared that Syria deserves a system in which no “single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.”...

April 6, 2025 | |

Israel ‘Not Looking for Conflict’: Netanyahu, Trump to Talk Turkey During Monday Visit to the White House

White House Invite: President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 7, marking the first visit by a foreign leader to the White House since the...

April 3, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Turkey reportedly plans to take control of airbases in Syria

Media reports indicate that Turkish forces are planning on deploying to the Tiyas Airbase, also known as the T4, and the Palmyra military airport in Syria’s Homs province—two sites recently...

April 3, 2025 | |

‘Clear Message and a Warning’: IDF Targets Former Assad Regime Military Sites in Syria Overnight

IDF Strikes Syria: The IDF said it struck “remaining military capabilities” of the former Assad regime in Syria late on April 2. Israel confirmed the airstrikes targeted the...

March 31, 2025 | |

Syrian Interim President Announces New Transitional Government

President Announces Cabinet: Syrian transitional government leader Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a new government cabinet on March 29, filling 22 ministerial positions over the weekend....

March 28, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu

U.S. Sanctions Iranian Intelligence Officials for Role in Abducting Former FBI Agent

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOI) serves as the long arm of the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Washington should treat it accordingly. On March 25, the U.S. Department of the Treasury...

March 27, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Turkey increasing military assistance to Syria

Reports circulating on Syrian social media claim that Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa is planning a visit to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to finalize a defense and military agreement between the two countries.

March 27, 2025 | |

‘No Blank Check’: European Envoys Press Syrian Leader Al-Sharaa to Hold Violent Jihadists Accountable

Message Comes After Alawite Massacre: Three European envoys told Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa that he has limited time to rein in violent jihadists in his country, according...

March 26, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Meghan Bodette

Turkey’s Kurdish peace talks: A genuine effort or Erdoğan’s power play?

Erdoğan is arguably negotiating with the Kurds mainly as a means of securing Kurdish parliamentarians’ votes to extend his rule as president

March 25, 2025 | |

IDF Clashes With Gunmen in Southern Syria

Israeli Troops Attacked: IDF troops operating in southern Syria were attacked near the Israeli border on March 25. The IDF said that the soldiers were fired upon by at least seven...

March 25, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel strikes gunmen in southern Syria; Damascus says civilians killed

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike in southern Syria, stating it acted after gunmen opened fire toward Israeli soldiers. The clash occurred in the Yarmouk Basin area, a triangle of...

March 24, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Syria’s New Leader Is an Autocrat; Will That Be Good or Bad for Israel and Turkey?

Islamist or not, Syria’s self-proclaimed interim president, Ahmad Sharaa, seems like he will do anything to keep power.

March 21, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

The Big Question: Will American Airpower Crush the Houthis?

On March 15, the US began a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. US Central Command said it had “initiated a  series of operations consisting of precision strikes...

March 19, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s New Constitution: A Shift Toward Unchecked Presidential Powers

Days before his troops overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa said that Syria deserves a political system in which no “single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.” Yet now, as the country’s...

March 18, 2025 | Behnam Ben Taleblu, Bridget Toomey

U.S. Preemptively Strikes Houthi Positions in Yemen and Signals to Iran

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP,” President Donald Trump warned the Iran-backed terror group in Yemen as U.S. Central Command launched a large-scale operation...

March 18, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel widens campaign against former regime military sites in southern Syria

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in southern Syria on the evening of March 17, targeting a number of sites.