Middle Orient

Damascus’ effort to force remaining Kurdish militia fighters out of the northern city of Aleppo will set back efforts to construct an inclusive, national political structure in post-Assad Syria. The Syrian offensive undermined U.S. negotiations to integrate its anti-ISIS partner, the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), into the central government …

Anti-government demonstrations in nearly 200 Iranian cities continue to expand and intensify despite the increasing use of force by regime security forces. The failure of the security forces to quell the unrest indicates that the opposition is highly motivated and that security personnel might be hesitant to carry out orders …

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria commented on Saturday, 17 January 2026, on a decree issued by Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, regarding Kurdish rights in Syria. It said the decree could be considered a first step, but that it does not meet the aspirations and hopes of …

The Syrian army’s Operations Command announced new field developments in eastern Aleppo countryside on Saturday, Jan. 17, saying its forces secured 14 villages and towns east of Deir Hafir, as advance units reached Maskanah in eastern Aleppo. In a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Operations …

Defense Ministry says suspect tried to flee among civilians in Deir Hafir as army reports defections, downs drone Syrian authorities said Friday they arrested an intelligence operative affiliated with the terrorist organization YPG/SDF in the eastern Aleppo province while he was attempting to flee alongside civilians, accusing him of planning …

Syrian government forces entered two northern towns Saturday morning after the command of Kurdish-led fighters said it would evacuate the area in an apparent move to avoid conflict. Two soldiers were killed and others wounded in the latest clash, state media reported. The town of Deir Hafer changed hands after …

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani discussed the situation in Syria and prospects for resolving the Kurdish cause with Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), during a meeting on Wednesday. Barzani’s office said in a statement that the KDP leader stressed that the Kurdish issue must …

Syria’s Kurds on Saturday said a presidential decree recognizing the minority’s rights and making Kurdish an official language fell short of their expectations as Syrian government forces entered the outskirts of a northern town. In a statement, the Kurdish administration in Syria’s north and northeast said the decree issued by …

Since the outbreak of mass protests in Iran, Israel’s public response has been unusually muted. Cabinet ministers were instructed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from commenting on the unfolding events, while Netanyahu himself limited his remarks to a brief statement expressing support for the Iranian protesters. At …

In the wake of intense fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi ordered the withdrawal of his personnel from contested areas of Aleppo province. “Based on invitations from friendly countries and mediators, and in demonstration of our good faith in completing …