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
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
What stops return of Syrians in Turkey to area held by Turkish forces? What stops Syrians in Turkey from returning to the liberated Ras al-Ain? 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
Syrian opposition lambastes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Amid little hope left for the recently observed Idlib cease-fire, opposition activists said the latest speech delivered by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani cannot be built upon during the upcoming confrontations. Syria
Iraqi Kurdistan president: 'We are not scared of Iran, but we respect Iran' Assessing the aftermath of Qasem Soleimani's death, KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, calls for a reasoned, negotiated approach to Iraq's problems and for the Kurdish issue in the region. Iraq
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
What has Erdogan learned from Soleimani's killing? As tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate, Turkey has to make difficult choices. Turkey
How Soleimani’s assassination could affect Iran’s Syria strategy Iran could use its position in Syria to strike against the United States and Israel as part of Tehran's retaliation for last week's killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iraq
What Iran lost with Soleimani’s killing The top military commander’s influence went beyond his military prowess, and will be something that no successor can likely replicate. Iraq
How Russia is reading the killing of Qasem Soleimaini Moscow weighs the implications of the elimination of one of the Middle East's most powerful men. Iraq
Will Kurds find a ray of hope in 2020? Amid a staggering rise in the US dollar exchange rate and Turkey's control of Serekaniye and Kari Sapi, Kurds find it hard to feel the joy of this year’s Christmas and New Year’s festivities. Syria
Nowhere else to flee: Why Idlib’s humanitarian crisis is so dangerous More than 235,000 people have fled Syria’s last opposition stronghold of Idlib as the Syrian government, backed by Russia, stepped up attacks against the city. Syria