Damascus

November 30, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Israel’s Beit Jinn raid highlights potential Hamas-linked networks in southern Syria

On November 27, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation in the southern Syrian village of Beit Jinn. According to the IDF, “troops conducted an operation to apprehend suspects from...

November 27, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly rebuilding its presence in Syria

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on November 26 that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Gaza-based terrorist group, has been “increasingly strengthening its military wing in Syria...

November 26, 2025 | David Daoud |

Histories of Hezbollah’s assassinated top military commander, likely candidates to replace him

On Sunday, September 23, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the third and fourth floors of a residential building on Al Arid Street in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburbs...

November 26, 2025 | |

Israel Launches New Counterterrorism Operation in Northern West Bank

New Mission in Terror Hotspots: The IDF initiated a new counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank on November 26, with raids carried out in a strip of Palestinian villages...

November 25, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Unsolved Murder of Bedouin Couple Fans Sectarian Flames in Syria

Syria seems to be inching back towards fracturing. On November 23, unknown individuals killed a husband and wife from a Sunni Arab Bedouin tribe in Homs Province. Authorities found slogans written at the...

November 21, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Russia Eyes Return to Southern Syria

Russia stepped foot in southern Syria for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad almost a year ago. On November 17, a Russian military delegation traveled to the southern region, where they conducted...

November 21, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Clashes erupt between Syrian government troops and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces

On November 19, the government-controlled Syrian army and the predominantly Kurdish, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battled in the area of Maadan, east of Raqqa. According to Syrian...

November 20, 2025 | |

Syrian Government Condemns Israeli Prime Minister’s Visit to Troops in Southern Syria

Latest Developments ‘Violation of Sovereignty and Unity’: The Syrian government strongly condemned a November 19 visit to Israeli-controlled Syrian territory by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...

November 19, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israeli prime minister and top officials visit Syria ‘buffer zone’ as Israel-Syria talks stall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a large group of Israeli officials and military commanders to the buffer zone between Israel and Syria on November 19. The Israel Defense...

November 14, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

U.S. Diplomacy Key in Bridging SDF-Syrian Government Gaps

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are committed to “accelerating the integration of the SDF into the Syrian state,” SDF commander Mazloum Abdi stated on November 11. The assertion followed a White...

November 12, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Sharaa in Washington: A Turning Point for Syria

The question for Damascus is what comes next, with Sharaa showing that he is ready for the global prime time.   Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited the White House on Monday for a historic...

November 11, 2025 | |

Syrian President Commits to Defeating ISIS, Sidesteps Peace with Israel During White House Meeting

Syria Joins Coalition Against ISIS: Following the historic meeting of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa with President Donald Trump at the White House on November 10, the Syrian...

November 7, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Sharaa To Be First-Ever Syrian Leader To Visit White House

In a meeting no one could have predicted just a year ago, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on November 10. It will be the first time a Syrian...

November 6, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

United States reportedly eyes military foothold in Damascus, Syrian official denies the claim

On November 6, Reuters reported that “The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an air base in Damascus to help enable a security pact that Washington is brokering...

November 3, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

PKK announcement of withdrawal from Turkey has ramifications for Iraq, Syria

On October 26, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said it was withdrawing its fighters from Turkey. The withdrawal is part of a peace process that has seen the group say it will disarm...

October 17, 2025 | |

Kurdish-Led SDF Reportedly Reaches Agreement to Merge With Syrian Armed Forces

Integration Agreement Reached: The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the main military force in northeastern Syria, has agreed in principle to integrate into the Syrian...

October 17, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

SDF moves forward with integration into new Syrian security forces

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) based in eastern Syria are taking steps to integrate into the security forces led by the Syrian transitional government in Damascus. “The Syrian government...

October 15, 2025 | |

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Meets With Putin in Moscow

Sharaa in Russia: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on October 15, aiming to “restore and define the nature of this relationship”...

October 14, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

After Gaza’s Deal, A Momentum in the Region for More Peace Stability in Syria, Lebanon?

U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a peace deal to end the Gaza war has proven to be initially successful. He was able to bring together delegations from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, and Hamas in...

October 8, 2025 | |

Erdogan Demands SDF Complete Integration With Syrian Government

Erdogan Demanding Full Kurdish Integration: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Syrian Kurds to integrate with the Syrian government following a ceasefire between the Kurdish-led...