Raqqa

May 20, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Trump Tells Syria to Expel Foreign Fighters, But Sharaa Gives Them Army Divisions

“Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria,” President Donald Trump told interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14 — just after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria. Yet on May 18, Syria’s...

March 7, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Fierce clashes erupt between Assad loyalists and government forces in western Syria

On March 6, Syria witnessed the most intense and bloodiest clashes between the new Syrian government and loyalists to dictator Bashar al Assad since the Assad regime’s downfall on December 8. These battles...

February 28, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s National Dialogue Conference: A Missed Opportunity

Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, pledged in December that the country’s national dialogue conference on February 25 would chart a clear course for the country’s transition...

December 17, 2024 | Bill Roggio |

US military strikes Islamic State camps and personnel in central Syria

On December 16, the US military launched a second round of strikes against Islamic State personnel and infrastructure in Syria since the fall of the regime of Bashir al Assad on December 8. US operations...

December 16, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Al-Hol camp is a test for future of Syria

In eastern Syria, there is a camp called Al-Hol, sometimes spelled al-Hawl, where many former ISIS members reside.

December 14, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Turkey moves to isolate the Kurds in Syria, and prepares a way for new attacks

The main group in Ankara's cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which was formed in 2015 with US backing.

December 10, 2024 | |

Turkish-Backed Syrian National Army Seizes Manbij from U.S. Allied, Kurdish-Led Forces

Turkish-Backed Forces Advance on SDF Territory: On November 30, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” targeting the Manbij region...

March 28, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Invading Rafah: The lessons IDF should take from northern Gaza

As Israel looks towards a future operation in Rafah, the battle will be overshadowed by lessons learned from other parts of the Gaza operation over the last five months.

October 22, 2023 | Jacob Nagel |

The hidden danger in Khamenei’s multi-phased plan: will Iran go nuclear?

The fourth stage in Khamenei’s satanic plan is a breakout to a nuclear weapon under the cover of a general war.

October 14, 2023 | Jacob Nagel |

One week since the war broke, initial conclusions, and where we are heading? – analysis

We are not in a Gaza cycle; we are in an ALL-OUT war, and that is how we win without restraints.

October 13, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Report from the Gaza Front: A New Playbook

I spent the first days of the war on the Gaza border, mostly near Kibbutz Zikim. On the fifth day, October 11, I went to the Gaza border city of Sderot and spent time in the community, speaking with locals...

March 14, 2022 | Ben Evansky, Benjamin Weinthal

Russia’s Putin looks to import Syrian mercenaries to do the ‘dirty tricks’ against Ukraine’s population

Putin launches recruitment operation of Syrian armed forces

December 3, 2021 | Aykan Erdemir, Sinan Ciddi, John Hardie

Collusion or Collision?

Turkey-Russia Relations Under Erdogan and Putin

September 11, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Ayman al Zawahiri promotes ‘Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized’ campaign in new video

As Sahab, al Qaeda’s main propaganda arm, released a video featuring Ayman al Zawahiri earlier today. Although the hour-long production was disseminated on the 9/11 anniversary, it does not appear to...

August 4, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al Qaeda group claims bus bombing in Damascus

Hurras al Din (the “Guardians of Religion” organization, or HAD) has claimed responsibility for a bus explosion in Damascus. In a one-page statement posted on social media, the al Qaeda group says...

January 14, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Sunni Jihadism

October 22, 2019 | Aykan Erdemir |

Trump can get both Turkish and Kurdish support in Syria by negotiating peace deal

President Trump’s strategy of getting out of Syria but keeping the oil continues to stir up policy debates and emotions. Opponents of the U.S. withdrawal see this as a betrayal of the Syrian Kurds,...

August 7, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Islamic State wages desert-based insurgency in Iraq and Syria

The Islamic State is far from dead in Iraq and Syria. Despite losing its physical caliphate, the group maintained enough manpower and resources to continue waging an insurgency in both countries. And America’s...

March 23, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S.-backed forces declare end to Islamic State’s physical caliphate

[caption id="attachment_91708" align="alignnone" width="300"]...

March 21, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Islamic State spokesman claims group remains a ‘reality’ despite losses

The Islamic State’s spokesman, Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, released a lengthy speech on Mar. 18. His talk, which was translated into English by the so-called caliphate’s online media team, contains many...