Syrians

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 11, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

The Flood that Sunk the Palestinian State

When the world needed Palestinian grownups to help solve the problems in Gaza, it found none. The PLO was too corrupt and Hamas too irrational.  

September 30, 2025 | Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh, Hussain Abdul-Hussain

Tom Barrack’s diplomacy of optics: Fast deals, fragile peace

Tom Barrack’s high-speed diplomacy in Syria and Lebanon backfired, fueling instability, alienating allies and deepening mistrust across the region.

August 12, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Assad Is Gone. The Syrian Problem Persists

Nine months after Bashar al-Assad’s fall and Ahmad al-Sharaa’s rise to power, the UN Security Council met to address Syria’s ongoing crisis. The Council urged Damascus to establish a government “of...

July 28, 2025 | David Daoud |

Syrian Druze are not entitled to self-determination, and Kurds cannot yet pursue secession

Syria is a patchwork of identities, par for the course in a region where novel nationalities vie with tribe and religion for the citizenry’s loyalty. For most of the country’s history, the Assad family...

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 | |

‘Path to Stability and Peace’: White House Terminates Most Sanctions on Syria

Syria Sanctions Terminated: The Trump administration issued an executive order officially lifting most of the U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria. The order is intended to “promote...

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 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.

March 13, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Massacres in Syria Expose New President’s Struggle to Govern

Hundreds of fighters and hundreds more civilians are dead following the bloodiest clashes yet between the new Syrian government and militias loyal to the fallen regime of Bashar al-Assad. On March 6,...

February 14, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s National Dialogue Committee: A Facade of Inclusivity

Syria’s new president pledged to champion inclusivity, yet he has stacked a key transition committee with like-minded Islamists. The seven-member National Dialogue Committee will organize the National...

February 12, 2025 | Clifford D. May |

Trump’s question for Arab rulers

Are they with America or against America?

January 31, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Syria gets a new autocrat as Sharaa styles himself ‘president’

If the economy tanks, it’s likely Sharaa will return to his Islamic roots and produce a state similar to ISIS

January 7, 2025 | David Adesnik |

In Verified Footage, New Syrian Justice Minister Presided Over Woman’s 2015 Execution  

The woman kneels on the pavement, waiting for a bullet to the back of her head. She has been convicted of “corruption and prostitution.” Standing behind her is Shadi al-Waisi, who currently serves...

December 17, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

New Syrian transitional government meets with European, UN officials

The EU is also moving to reopen its mission in Syria, according to EU Foreign Policy head Kaja Kallas, France 24 reported.

December 16, 2024 | Natalie Ecanow, Ahmad Sharawi

A new window into the Assad regime’s narcotrafficking operations

In the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, footage began circulating that allegedly showed production hubs in Syria for the amphetamine-like drug fenethylline, now commonly known by one of its former brand...

December 11, 2024 | |

‘Liberated by Syrian Youth’: Khamenei Labels New Syrian Government as Foreign Occupation

Khamenei Labels New Syrian Government as U.S.-Israeli Occupation: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei characterized the new Syrian government as a U.S. and Israeli “occupation”...

July 28, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Majdal Shams on the frontline

Majdal Shams, a Druze town in the Golan, mourns after a devastating rocket attack. Discover the resilience of this community amid tragedy and conflict.

July 15, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria’s regime holds symbolic legislative ‘elections’

The elections are worth watching for what they may tell us regarding the regime’s attempts to return to regions in Syria illegally occupied by Turkey.