What does Hezbollah mean by 'painful concessions' in Syria? - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Week in Review

Week in Review

Oct 26, 2014

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura addresses his first news conference at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Oct. 10, 2014. — REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Qassem calls for "painful concessions" in Syria

Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, told UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura last week that "painful concessions" will be required for a political solution in Syria.

A Palestinian stone-thrower takes cover behind a street pole during clashes with Israeli police in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya October 23, 2014. Tension in Jerusalem rose on Wednesday after an Israeli baby died and eight other people were hurt when a Palestinian man slammed his car into pedestrians at a Jerusalem light railway stop. Police shot the driver as he fled. A hospital official said the driver later died of his injuries. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Jerusalem's 'silent intifada'

Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Turkish army tanks take position on top of a hill near Mursitpinar border crossing in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province October 11, 2014. A senior Kurdish militant has threatened Turkey with a new Kurdish revolt if it sticks with its current policy of non-intervention in the battle for the Syrian town of Kobani. Kurdish forces allied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the People's Defence Units (YPG), are fighting against Islamic State insurgents attacking Kobani close to the

Erdogan's Syria policies spark riots in Kurdish cities

Week in Review

Week in Review

Smoke and flames rise over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 20, 2014. The United States told Turkey that a U.S. military air-drop of arms to Syrian Kurds battling Islamic State near the Syrian town of Kobani was a response to a crisis situation and did not represent a change in U.S. policy, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

What do Kobani airdrops mean for regional politics?

Amberin Zaman

Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu talk to the media before a meeting in Ankara September 12, 2014. Kerry will meet Cavusoglu, as well as Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Tayyip Erdogan during his two-day visit to the capital Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR45Z12

Ankara struggles to maintain bearings in Kobani

Fehim Tastekin

Fehim Tastekin

In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics