Middle Orient

As Syria cautiously navigates a transitional phase within a volatile political and military landscape, the challenge of rebuilding the national army emerges as one of the most delicate and decisive tasks ahead. According to former Syrian officer and military affairs researcher Rashid Horani, the issue extends far beyond disarmament or …

On July 29, 2025, Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), reiterated his commitment to a decentralized governance model for northeastern Syria while expressing concerns about the integration of SDF institutions into the Syrian state. In an interview with Al-Arabiya, Abdi emphasized the importance of constitutional guarantees to …

The recent visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani to Moscow signals the beginning of a new chapter in Russia–Syria relations. No longer the undisputed powerbroker it once was under the Assad regime, Russia now finds itself navigating a far more complex and competitive landscape in post-Assad Syria—one shaped by …

When Mediterranean Airlines became the first European carrier to resume flights to Damascus in 2025, it wasn’t just a business decision—it was a move shrouded in crime and political intrigue. This investigation reveals how the Greek airline partnered with wanted arms dealers, drug traffickers, and migrant smugglers, all while evading …

Last week, the United States Congress delivered an unexpected political blow to Syria’s transitional government. The House Financial Services Committee approved a new bill—the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025—proposed by Republican Congressman Michael Lawler of New York, to revise the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Passed by a vote …

The IRGC spokesman stated that the Israeli defense minister’s threats against the IranianSupreme Leader were intended for psychological warfare and that the Iranian armed forcesare prepared to resume fighting with Israel. The Iranian chief of staff also stressed that hiscountry is prepared to deal decisively with the renewal of attacks …

In a notable shift with wide regional implications, Israel launched recent airstrikes targeting key Syrian army sites in Damascus and Suweida, claiming the strikes were necessary to “defend the Druze” amid fierce clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes in Suweida. This escalation, according to analysts, places Turkey in …

The threat from Islamic State and al-Qaida extremists and their affiliates is most intense in parts of Africa, and risks are growing in Syria, which both groups view as a “a strategic base for external operations,” U.N. experts said in a new report. Their report to the U.N. Security Council …

Over a week between November and December 2024, Syria’s Assad regime disintegrated under pressure from a rebel offensive after 14 years of war. This offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Salafi extremist group. Its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, …

The E3 (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) reiterated that it will trigger the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) snapback mechanism to reinstate UN Security Council sanctions on Iran if Iran fails to make progress towards a nuclear deal by the end of August 2025.[1] CTP-ISW previously assessed that …