Turkey’s defense chief: Syria wants timetable for troop withdrawal to resume talks The defense minister said that Turkey "perceives" such a condition as an unwillingness to return to peace. Turkey
Clashes between Arab tribes, SDF forces in Syria pose challenge to US The clashes between Iranian-backed Arab tribes and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, come at a time of heightened tensions in the region ahead of an imminent Iranian response to the killing of Hamas’ leader. Syria
Meet Tim Walz, Harris’ VP: Progressive favorite with mainstream views on Israel, Iran Walz voiced opposition to the Iraq War and traveled to Israel and Syria while in Congress and has sought to address division over pro-Palestinian protests in the Democratic Party as governor of Minnesota. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Analysis As Assad softens tone, can Turkey and Syria normalize relations? As news of normalization between Turkey and Syria and a meeting between the Turkish president and his Syrian counterpart abound, many strategic and technical questions need to be addressed. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis As Erdogan woos Assad, is Turkey-Syria reconciliation rhetoric or reality? By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Is Turkey ready to take on jihadis in Syria’s Idlib? While Turkey and Russia seek to maintain a cease-fire in Idlib, the Syrian government and jihadi groups want to resume battles. Syria
Turkey appears to want more than Syria’s oil Like Moscow and Washington, Ankara seems to be coveting the oilfields of Deir ez-Zor in Syrian Kurdistan, which Kurds fear would give Turkey an opening to take over the entire Rojava area. Syria
Intel: Pompeo calls on Syria to release US prisoners amid coronavirus fears Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today urged President Bashar al-Assad to release all “arbitrarily detained” Syrians and US citizens amid fears that the coronavirus pandemic is primed to rapidly take hold and spread throughout the war-torn country. Originals
SDF calls for humanitarian truce in Syria amid coronavirus crisis Following the lead of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces call for a cease-fire in order for all warring parties to combat COVID-19 instead. Syria
Intel: What was Russia’s defense minister doing in Syria? Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu just paid a visit to Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Kurdish-led northeast under lockdown as Syria announces first coronavirus case The Kurdish-led autonomous administration declares a two-week curfew in an effort to keep the coronavirus out of northeast Syria; Turkey cuts off water supply to Hasakah. Syria
Coronavirus in Syria: a catastrophe in the making The Syrian government has stepped up measures to tackle the spreading novel coronavirus amid growing fears among Syrians of the pandemic’s catastrophic spread in light of their harsh living and humanitarian situation. Syria
Meet Syria’s female doctors Syrian women stepped up and took on medical work to fill the void left by men in the health care sector in northern Syria. Syria
Doctors in northwest Syria brace for ‘devastating’ coronavirus Medical personnel in Syria contacted by Al-Monitor worry that Idlib's crippled health infrastructure will not be able to handle a coronavirus outbreak. Syria
Turkey’s geostrategic orientation at crossroads amid Idlib tangle Confusion prevails in Ankara on how to resolve the entangled Idlib crisis and the choices it will ultimately make could bear on its geostrategic orientations in the coming years. Syria
Deir ez-Zor residents protest rule by Syrian Kurdish group The Deir ez-Zor military council, affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been firing on protesters and believes they are being fed anti-SDF propaganda by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Erdogan turns to oil in a bid to salvage Syria policy Turkey’s president eyes oil-related bargains in Syria after failing to achieve his stated objectives in Idlib and acquiescing to a new deal with Russia in the rebel stronghold. Syria