Analysis How ISIS brides held by Syria’s Kurds are smuggled to suitors in Europe The women are finding their prospective husbands on the internet using smuggled mobile phones. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Did US pressure force Turkey to let Syrian-Kurdish earthquake aid into rebel-held northwest? Ankara relents, allowing the first humanitarian aid and disaster relief to enter devastated northwest Syria from the country's Kurdish-run northeast. Syria
Already displaced by war, Syrians search earthquake rubble for loved ones Residents of northwest Syria, most of whom found refuge in the area after fleeing the bombing in their hometowns during the war, found themselves facing a new catastrophe following Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Syria
Is Turkey using HTS to strengthen its hand in Syria? Amid Ankara’s overtures to Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the radical group controlling Idlib — has seized Afrin and is seeking a deal to expand its control further into territories held by factions allied with Turkey. Turkey
Will developments in Idlib force Ankara to turn to the West again? Analysts say Turkey and Russia were always on a collision course in Syria due to their radically differing positions. Syria
Escalation in Syria and Libya tests limits of Erdogan-Putin ties The recent escalation in Libya and Syria has put on display the limits of the relationship between the Turkish and Russian presidents. Syria
What brought Iranian forces to Idlib front? A number of developments, including Turkey's greater involvement in Syria and the US assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, may be driving Iran's move to get more involved in Idlib battlefield operations. Syria
Turkish-Russian alignment in Syria faces moment of truth The escalating offensives of Russian-backed regime forces in Idlib are changing the military picture in the whole of northwestern Syria, putting Russian-Turkish ties to a serious test. Syria
Putin’s thin red lines in Syria rattle Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan still has limited options in the wake of Syria's retaking of a key town in Idlib province. Syria
Syrian crisis dictates peace between Damascus and Ankara The Russian side is said to be developing two strategies to thwart Turkey’s possible objections to cultural autonomy for Syrian Kurds. Syria
Thousands flee Russian, Syrian bombs for Turkish border Turkey fears another humanitarian disaster on its doorstep in Syria as Russia and Syria bomb civilian targets in their push to retake the country’s last rebel stronghold. Syria
Syrian opposition: No civilians crossing to regime-held areas Syrian government forces and their Russian allies have opened three crossings in the northwestern province of Idlib to allow civilians to flee, but the opposition claims no civilians have crossed into the government-controlled areas. Syria
From Russia with love: Turkish and Syrian spymasters meet in Moscow The Moscow meeting between the Turkish and Syrian intelligence chiefs could suggest that a normalization process has finally kicked off between Ankara and Damascus. Syria
Turkish-Russia partnership in Libya likely to be to Moscow’s advantage Analysts say any Turkish-Russian “partnership” in Libya could end up working more to Moscow’s advantage than Ankara’s, as was the case in Syria. Syria
Reshuffle of HTS-linked government fails to bring hope in Idlib It appears that the new cabinet of an Idlib-based opposition government connected to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will not earn the trust of the public, which continues to suffer under tough economic and humanitarian conditions. Syria
Syrian front lines heat up, especially in Idlib province Syrian government forces have intensified their attacks in Idlib, the country’s last opposition stronghold. Syria
