Bashar al-Assad

The Lebanese Army Goes Rogue

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), under its commander Rodolphe Haykal, has defied the state it is sworn to serve, effectively siding with Hezbollah at a moment when Lebanon teeters on the edge of the abyss. After...

I fled Iran’s terror — Trump’s courage is an answer to my prayers

The strikes President Donald Trump launched against Iran Saturday are not just military operations — they are the answer to decades of prayers by Iranians who have suffered under tyranny. And...

Prisoner Exchange Between Central Government and Druze Factions is an Opportunity To Cement Stability in Syria

After the July 2025 Syrian government offensive in the south of the country that resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 members of the Druze minority, reconciliation between Damascus and the Druze appeared...

Countering Iran’s Covert Chemical Weapons Program

The Mass Escape of ISIS Detainees Is a Warning Against U.S. Withdrawal From Syria

Serious concerns are emerging over the ability of the Syrian government to maintain security in the northeast of the country following its recent offensive against the Kurdish-led, U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic...

Did Iran Use Chemical Weapons on Protesters?

The international community should immediately investigate accusations that the Islamic Republic attacked demonstrators with weapons of mass destruction.

ISIS Reconstitutes as the U.S. Walks Away From Syria

After surviving numerous Islamic State (ISIS)-linked assassination plots, Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa — himself a former jihadi — governs with a target on his back. Moreover, ISIS is resurging...

‘We Don’t Care What Others Say’: Turkey Won’t Withdraw Its Troops From Syria

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler could not have been blunter. “We have no agenda for withdrawing or leaving those areas,” Guler told the Turkish daily Hurriyet when asked whether Turkey...

Syria Looks to Offshore Oil and Gas for Economic Renewal

Damascus’ entrance into the energy market will require it to update its dilapidated infrastructure.

Foreign Investment in Syria’s Reconstruction Carries Terror Finance Risk

Saudi Arabia and Qatar aim to reap the commercial rewards of rebuilding Syria now that the devastating civil war has ended and sanctions on Damascus have been lifted. Gulf investments are being deployed...

Why Saudi Arabia is turning back to Islamism – and against Israel

Economic strain and domestic pressure are pushing Riyadh toward a regional realignment. Washington ought to pay attention

As Iran tensions mount, beware the hidden hand of this two-faced US ‘ally’

While Washington searches for ways to weaken Iran’s murderous rulers, our supposed NATO ally Turkey is working overtime to keep the mullahs alive — and in power. This week’s diplomatic tug-of-war over...

Previewing Talks with Iran

A Month of Crisis in Syria and Its Regional Ramifications

Syria has experienced another dramatic transformation. After a month of clashes that began in Aleppo and spread to eastern Syria, Damascus announced on January 30 that it had reached an agreement with...

Syrian President Al-Sharaa Deepens Relationship With Putin During Latest Moscow Visit

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was in an upbeat mood following his meeting in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on January 29 — the second encounter between the two leaders since...

Russian troops begin evacuating from northern Syria

Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa made his second visit to Moscow in four months on January 28, even as Russia is withdrawing its forces from the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria. Moscow...

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdraw from Aleppo province after clashes with Syrian government

In the wake of intense fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi ordered the withdrawal of his personnel from contested areas...

The Islamic Republic Kills, Europe Does Nothing

The EU and European nations — purely symbolically — called Iranian ambassadors on January 13 to account for the Islamic Republic’s mass killing of as many as 12,000 unarmed demonstrators, even as...

Damascus Poised To Attack Kurdish-Held Towns in Northern Syria

Syrian Troops Ready Offensive on Kurdish-Held Areas: Syrian government troops are preparing to launch an offensive against Kurdish-held towns in the north and east of the country...

Don’t make the mistake Obama did, Mr. President, enforce your Iran ‘red line’

The last time a US president drew a “red line” and refused to enforce it, thousands of Syrians paid the price. Barack Obama’s 2012 failure to enforce his red line against the use of chemical...