Shootings in Daraa leave 9 dead as instability plagues Syria’s south Daraa, located close to the Jordanian border, is experiencing competition between armed groups and rampant drug smuggling amid the government’s inability to control the situation. Syria
Analysis With leverage in Syria, can Russia's Putin broker Israel-Lebanon deal? Israel is considering accepting the Russian push for some sort of involvement in the talks or in the implementation of a deal with Hezbollah. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Trump hands intel post to Tulsi Gabbard, ex-Democrat with Assad controversy Gabbard, a former congresswoman-turned Trump diehard, is likely to face scrutiny for her secret 2017 meeting with Syria's dictator. Syria
After Trump win, Turkey hopeful on Syria reconciliation, US withdrawal Ankara expresses hope for mending ties with Damascus as well as a potential US military exit from northern Syria following Trump’s victory. Turkey
Analysis Kamala Harris, Donald Trump sent messages to Israel to end Lebanon war by Jan. 20 By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Syrian Salafists oppose opening of movie theatre in Idlib Salafist groups opposing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are criticizing the group for allowing the reopening of a film theater in Idlib, accusing it of steering away from Islam to court the West. Syria
Why is Iran allying itself with Syrian tribal brigade in Aleppo? A group of Iranian clerics visited the headquarters of the Baqir Brigade, Iran's ally, in the city of Aleppo. The brigade has played a major role in curbing Russian influence in Aleppo in favor of Iran. Syria
Syrian government aligned forces, Islamic State battle in south Local factions that include former members of the Free Syrian Army are fighting alleged Islamic State members in southern Syria's Daraa with the support of the Syrian government. Syria
Airstrikes on Syria-Iraq border target Iranian fuel convoy Iran blames a deadly unidentified attack on a fuel convoy shortly after it entered Syria on the US, despite official denials. Iraq
Turkey turns up pressure on allies in Syria Turkey is using the jihadis’ march into Afrin to push its rebel allies in Syria to reorganize as a coherent, disciplined force. But what happens next if the factions fail to do so by the reported year-end deadline? Turkey
Turkish-backed faction blocks fuel en route to Idlib The Free Syrian Army’s Third Legion is reportedly preventing fuel from reaching Idlib, which is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, after the recent fighting between the two parties. Syria
Syrian Kurds ban niqab in schools in northeast Syria The decision to ban the niqab at schools by the US-aligned Syrian group has angered some Arab constituents. Syria
Syrian man sentenced in Turkey for burning two alive under Islamic State A Turkish court has sentenced a Syrian man for ordering the burning executions of two Turkish nationals in 2016, but many aspects of the grisly murder remain in the dark. Turkey
US blacklists Syrian military officials over 2013 chemical attack Three Syrian military officers were designated for their alleged participation in the August 2013 sarin gas attack on Ghouta. Syria
Islamic State regains momentum in Syria's Kurdish areas The Islamic State has launched several attacks against the Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria amid lax security by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
Russia oversees Syrian forces’ military exercises in northwest Syria Russia is testing the readiness of the Syrian government forces in their area of deployment on the outskirts of Idlib, in what some fear is a prelude to a wide-scale military operation to uproot the opposition in northwest Syria. Syria
Syrian jihadist group HTS, armed groups agree to uneasy truce Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has seized several cities and towns in areas under the control of the Turkish-backed factions after days of clashes between rival factions. Syria