Middle Orient

Jordan’s document and its confidential addendum for normalizing ties with Damascus display that the final goal for Arab countries restoring their relationship with the Syrian capital is that foreign forces and fighters exit Syria. According to the document, which Asharq Al-Awsat reviewed, US and International Coalition forces in northeastern Syria …

One-time U.S. foe emerges as top vote-getter but could still struggle to form the next government. Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia cleric whose Mahdi Army followers battled U.S. forces during the years of the occupation, made big gains in Iraq’s parliamentary election on October 10. His victory could pose problems for …

The cease-fire that entered into force last Friday brought an end to 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas, leaving behind at least 248 Palestinian and 12 Israeli dead, as well as untold destruction in Gaza. Yet even as the fragile truce is holding thus far, the power struggle …

After 13 months of political paralysis, Lebanon finally has a new government, the first since former Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned along with his entire Cabinet after the Beirut port explosion of August 2020, which killed over 200 and devastated the capital city. The new administration is led by Lebanon’s …

The rapprochement between Ankara and Cairo has catalyzed internal rifts between exiled leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Amid a fledgling Turkish bid last April to normalize ties with Egypt, a delegation of exiled Muslim Brotherhood leaders held talks in Ankara, seeking assurances that they would not be thrown under the …

SOHR activists have reported that a regime soldier was shot dead by rebel factions on Saraqib frontlines, east of Idlib city. Meanwhile, opposition factions have shelled, with rockets, positions of regime forces in Telat al-Burkan in northern Latakia, al-Shaikh Uqail frontline, Ourom al-Soughra in western Aleppo, al-Dar al-Kabera frontline and …

Syrian Kurds in the Northeast are prepared to offer 75% of the oil produced in their region to Damascus, as a gesture of goodwill, according to Asharq al-Awsat. With the decrease of tension in northeastern Syria following “American assurances” to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), “tacit coordination” has emerged aimed …

The daring attempt on the life of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi early on Sunday at his residence in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone should not come as a surprise. As Al-Kadhimi himself said a few hours later, the culprits are known. For weeks, following the announcement of the early …

Statements and actions indicate that Armenia and Turkey are interested in improving relations – possibly even opening their shared border, which would be a game-changer for the South Caucasus. However, Azerbaijan’s role in Turkey’s decision-making process regarding Armenia, along with outside players’ desire to protect their own interests in the …

Turkish security forces detained at least nine Daesh-linked suspects in counterterrorism operations, while the country deported 10 foreign nationals over links to the terrorists. Police in Eskişehir province nabbed the suspects in an operation on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. Meanwhile, Turkey deported eight Iraqi nationals Monday after their arrest …