Middle Orient

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich lauds approvals as part of a ‘clear strategic move to strengthen settlement’ Israel has approved the construction of 764 houses in three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday. The decision is likely to stoke tensions in the …

Toplines Syrian President Ahmed al Shara likely decided to temporarily halt the Syrian government offensive on Syrian Democratic Forces-held (SDF) territory in northeastern Syria after a phone call with US President Donald Trump on January 19.[1] Shara and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi failed on January 19 to finalize a ceasefire …

Syria’s Ministry of Interior said an escape incident at al-Shaddadi Prison in the countryside of al-Hasakah Governorate (northeastern Syria) resulted in the escape of about 120 Islamic State (IS) members, adding that it had arrested 81 of them. Special Tasks units affiliated with the ministry began, immediately after entering al-Shaddadi …

The ongoing conflict between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) risks unleashing tens of thousands of ISIS-linked detainees, reviving a threat that the United States and the SDF spent years and much blood trying to contain. Following intense clashes over the weekend, during which Syrian government troops entered …

As the rivalry between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi sharpens in Yemen and beyond, Turkey has begun edging closer to Saudi Arabia. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has openly acknowledged Saudi concerns, saying in a televised interview, on January 8, that “developments in the region — especially recent ones — pose …

The Syrian pound has strengthened against foreign currencies since the morning of Sunday, 18 January, coinciding with the Syrian army regaining control of the most important oil and gas fields in eastern Syria. The exchange rate reached 11,000 Syrian pounds to the US dollar, according to the “Lira Today” website, …

Protesters who took to the streets in Iran say the media is wrongly portraying monarchists as leading the uprising. A week after Iranian security forces violently crushed the latest anti-regime protests, the streets are quiet for now, but a battle over who speaks for the uprising has erupted. With Iran …

Syrian military reaches outskirts of Hassakeh as army advances further into areas previously held by Kurdish-led SDF Fighting between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued early Tuesday in multiple areas of northeast Syria, as a ceasefire agreed on Sunday night appeared to collapse. On Tuesday, …

Relative calm has prevailed in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor governorates in northeastern Syria, after military operations halted following an agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In Raqqa, an Enab Baladi correspondent reported that the Syrian army has taken control of the city, which has seen …

The Syrian Interior Ministry said it is fully ready to take over the management and security of prisons holding Islamic State (IS) detainees in al-Hasakah Governorate (northeastern Syria), in line with “international standards” and in a way that prevents security breaches or escape attempts. In a statement issued on Monday, …