Druze

July 17, 2025 | |

Netanyahu Delineates ‘Red Lines’ in Syria as Sharaa Accuses Israel of Sowing Civil War

‘Protecting Our Druze Brothers’: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 17 laid out two red lines regarding Israel’s use of military force in Syria, following days...

July 17, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow, Ahmad Sharawi

Assad’s Narco-Trade Lives on in Lebanon

The Lebanese Army busted a major narcotics factory. On July 13, Lebanese forces raided a facility in Baalbek used to produce the synthetic, amphetamine-like drug captagon. The army dismantled approximately...

July 16, 2025 | |

‘Working to Save Our Druze Brothers’: Israel Strikes Syrian Military Targets as Violence in Suwayda Escalates

IDF Strikes Damascus: The IDF struck the entrance of Syria’s military headquarters and another military target near the presidential palace in Damascus as it continued nationwide...

July 16, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel intensifies airstrikes on Syria to deter attacks on Druze

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted strikes near the Syrian Presidential Palace and targeting the Syrian government’s military headquarters in Damascus, the Israeli military said on July...

July 15, 2025 | |

Israel Strikes Syrian Government Forces to Defend Druze Minority

Strikes Ordered by ‘Political Echelon’: Following a “directive from the political echelon,” the IDF conducted airstrikes against Syrian government forces moving toward the...

July 14, 2025 | |

At Least 30 People Killed in Clashes Between Druze, Bedouin Militias in Syria

Druze-Bedouin Clashes Erupt After Merchant Abducted: At least 30 people have been killed in ongoing clashes in southern Syria between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze militias after...

July 11, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Ahmed Al-Shara’s Foreign Jihadist Problem

The man President Donald Trump hailed as a “tough guy” who will bring stability to Syria is empowering extremists tied to Al Qaeda.

July 1, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Disarming Hezbollah Is Here, Lebanon’s Peace with Israel Is Next

Now that the leaders of Lebanon are certain that Israel and America would not shy away from using force against Iran when need be, and now that they are sure that the bark of China and Russia in the Middle...

July 1, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

U.S. Should Promote Security Agreement as Precursor to Israel-Syria Normalization

Israel and Syria may be inching toward a breakthrough, with ongoing security discussions signaling the potential for a peace agreement after decades of hostility. According to Israeli sources, talks between...

June 25, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Islamic State Resurfaces in Damascus With Deadly Bombing

The Islamic State (IS) has returned to the spotlight in Damascus. According to the Syrian Ministry of Interior, the group conducted a suicide bombing on June 22 at a Greek Orthodox church in the Syrian...

June 9, 2025 | Steven A. Cook, Sinan Ciddi

The Struggle for Syria

On May 14, President Donald Trump stood smiling with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and Syria’s self-declared leader, Ahmed al-Shara’a, on the sidelines of the President’s visit...

June 3, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

As Iran Retreats, Islamist Turkey and Qatar Surge in Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a Sunni, entered the stadium of Beirut’s Sports City to watch the classic football game between the two rival teams Nijmeh and Ansar. When the Shia supporters of...

May 30, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Lifting Sanctions on Syrian Regime Is a Grave Mistake

At a future point, many will ask an obvious question: why did the United States and Europe lift sanctions on Syria? The question will come after the likely fall of the Ahmed...

May 29, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

The Druze chessboard between Syria and Israel

On May 29, an Israeli security official told the Saudi-owned Arabic news channel Al Arabiya that Israel “will not fight in support of any group in Syria.” The official added that while Israel...

May 29, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria and Israel Are Finally Talking

Syria and Israel are talking — and this time, it is face to face. The two longtime adversaries, who have had little official contact over the decades, are reportedly engaged in dialogue to calm tensions...

May 20, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Trump’s Syria Opportunity

Syrian president Ahmed al-Shara will need to show commitment to stabilizing the country and integrating its regions, while the United States may find it has more leverage now by embracing Damascus.

May 20, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Lebanon Should Take a Cue from al-Sharaa – and Talk to Israel

A joke has it that Syria’s self-proclaimed president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, offered to build a Trump Tower in Damascus to make up for the two New York towers that Al-Qaeda, al-Sharaa former organization,...

May 16, 2025 | |

Abraham Accords Are Focus of Reported Israel-Syria Talks

Latest Developments Israeli, Syrian Officials Meet: Israel is reportedly holding talks with Syrian officials, even raising the possibility of Damascus joining the Abraham Accords — a series of bilateral...

May 7, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Can Syria’s New Government Protect the Country’s Minorities?

Syria cannot hope to rebuild itself if it fails in preventing sectarian tensions from erupting into wide-scale violence.

May 4, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel renews airstrikes in Syria as sectarian violence flares

Israel carried out several rounds of airstrikes in Syria between April 30 and May 3 that targeted an area near the presidential palace in Damascus and various sites containing military assets. Israel conducted...