Is a ‘New Middle East’ Still Possible?
With a weakened Iranian regime, middle powers on the edge of the Middle East will increasingly drive regional dynamics.
Mount Hermon
Israel-Syria tensions continue after Israeli raid as White House urges ‘dialogue’
Tensions between Israel and Syria have continued in the wake of a November 27 raid in southern Syria by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On December 4, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a state...
Op-eds
Preventing Violence in Southern Syria Depends on Damascus and Jerusalem Reaching an Agreement
“Israel must maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria,” President Donald Trump said on December 1, amid rising tensions between the two countries. On November 27, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)...
Policy Briefs
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...
Flash Briefs
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...
Op-eds
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...
Policy Briefs
The Quiet Return of Hezbollah’s Smuggling Network in Syria
Hezbollah may not be fully up and running in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, but it is still seeking to take advantage of the instability in the country, along with other militant...
Policy Briefs
Israel and Syria close to a security agreement
On September 23, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack claimed that Syria and Israel “are close to striking a ‘de-escalation’ agreement in which Israel will stop its attacks while Syria...
Op-eds
Syria’s Agreement with Israel Is Not as Promising as Advertised
The world is celebrating the anticipated signing of a security agreement between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Israel, hailed as evidence of Sharaa’s moderation and a departure from his radical...
Op-eds
Israeli forces raid Iran-backed cell in Syria for second time
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a raid targeting “a cell that was operated by the Iranian ‘Quds’ Force in the Tel Kudna area of southern Syria,” the Israeli military said on...
Op-eds
Israel’s second war of independence
Never again will Israelis allow a “ring of fire” to burn on their nation’s borders
Op-eds
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.
Op-eds
‘No Impunity’: Israel Strikes Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus
Daylight Sortie Over Syrian Capital: The Israeli Air Force struck a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) command center in Damascus on March 13. The site, located in the Dummar suburb...
Flash Briefs
What Does Israel Want With Syria?
As Syria faces continued conflict, Israel may be planning a wider confrontation with the new government.
Op-eds
Israel Says Syrian Druze Permitted to Work in Golan Heights
Defense Minister Invites Syrian Druze to Work in Israel: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on March 9 that Israel would permit Syrian Druze to work in the country’s...
Flash Briefs
Israeli defense chief assesses military readiness along Israel’s border with Syria
The new chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited northern Israel on March 9 and met with IDF commanders along the border with Syria. According...
Op-eds
Israel strikes southern Syria amid continued demands for demilitarization
On the evening of February 25, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Syria. The strikes came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for south Syria...
Op-eds
Netanyahu calls for the demilitarization of southern Syria
On February 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for southern Syria to remain demilitarized in the wake of the collapse of the Bashar al Assad regime. “We will not allow forces from the...
Op-eds
Israel SitRep: January 29, 2025
Today’s Issue: | Northern Command Head Gordin: IDF Has ‘Set Hezbollah Back Decades’ | Defense Minister Katz Visits Syrian Side of Mount Hermon: ‘We Will Act Against Any Threat’ | IDF Continuing...
Israel at War Situation Report
Syria’s New Rulers Call for UN Peacekeepers Along Syria-Israel Border
Al-Sharaa Says IDF Presence on Border No Longer Needed: Syria’s de-facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, said on January 16 that the new government would welcome UN peacekeepers in the...