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
Italy appoints ambassador to Syria in latest sign of European thaw Syria’s relations with the international community are gradually improving amid the ongoing civil war. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Russia, Turkey FMs meet in Laos, discuss Syria reconciliation efforts The two top diplomats’ talks come after the Russian and Syrian presidents discussed the Turkish president’s invitation to hold a three-country leaders' summit with his Syrian counterpart after more than a decade of hostilities. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria’s Assad meets Putin in Russia amid Turkey dialogue push Russia has been the main backer of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces against rebels throughout the Syrian civil war. By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict
Iraq aims to host first meeting between Turkey's Erdogan, Syria's Assad By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis As Erdogan woos Assad, is Turkey-Syria reconciliation rhetoric or reality? By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Saudi Arabia and Syria resume regular flights as thaw with Assad advances By Beatrice Farhat In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict
Water crisis worsens in Syria's Idlib as support dries up The "Goal" organization, which has been active in Syria since 2012, has stopped pumping water in villages and towns as support for it ends By Ahmad Fallaha
Turkey's Erdogan seeking a meeting with Assad and Putin In a reversal, Erdogan wants Russia to set-up a three-way meeting with Bashar Al-Assad, ten years after Ankara calling for his removal from power By Al-Monitor Staff
US, Russia stall Turkey's ground operation, but Kurdish gains under threat The Russian and US policies of appeasing Turkey have averted a new Turkish ground operation in Syria for now, but they both lay the ground for a gradual undoing of Kurdish gains in the north. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
World Bank says debt increasing in Middle East countries Egypt, Iran and Turkey’s debt rose significantly last year. By Al-Monitor Staff
In press freedom index, Middle Eastern countries go from bad to worse Press freedom and journalist safety remain “very bad” in the majority of the Middle East and North Africa nations, Reporters Without Borders' 2022 index shows. By Al-Monitor Staff
Russian delegation heads to Turkey amid potential Syria offensive The top Turkish diplomat aired a rare complaint over the Russian stalling of constitutional talks between the warring Syrian actors, calling on Moscow to allow the process to resume. By Al-Monitor Staff
Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced? Some 560,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their country as part of deportation projects, many fleeing the harassment they were facing in the country. By Mohammed Hardan
Syrian children in Idlib take part in own World Cup Refugee and internally displaced children in Idlib are taking part in the "Camps World Cup" event. By Mouneb Taim
Syrian rebels kill IS caliph as attacks continue in Iraq, Syria The Islamic State’s third caliph has been killed in southern Syria as Iraqis retain control of the organization amid concerns and confusion about identities, fighter whereabouts and security gaps. By Shelly Kittleson
Analysis Turkey’s leveraging of Syria, Ukraine crises frustrates US, Europe Erdogan disregards appeals by US for restraint in Syria and demands further concessions from Stockholm for agreeing to Sweden’s NATO admission. By Week in Review
International oil assets reported hit as Turkey strikes Syria's Kurdish zone Turkey’s wave of air attacks against Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria have reportedly hit oil assets run by international oil companies. By Amberin Zaman In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Syrian opposition gears up for Turkish ground operation As the Turkish-backed opposition factions prepare for an imminent Turkish ground operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, questions arise about the potential participation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the battle. By Sultan al-Kanj