Middle Orient

Since 2007, when the State of Israel implemented its still-ongoing blockade of Gaza, several different monikers have emerged to describe the conditions for Palestinians living in the territory under the ongoing Israeli siege. Now, after 11 months of the murderous Israeli assault on the people of Gaza, it is necessary …

On August 20, 2024, the first documented use of suicide drones by factions of the Syrian National Army was observed, Enab Baladi writes. Drones have evolved significantly from being approved tools for surveillance and reconnaissance in the last two decades of the 20th century to becoming versatile weapons used in …

Today’s news round on Syria covers a range of critical developments, highlighting the complex dynamics in the region. An Israeli airstrike near Damascus targeted a Palestinian operative, marking a continuation of heightened tensions along the Syrian-Lebanese border. Meanwhile, Turkey and Syria are cautiously exploring the normalization of relations, with conditions …

As images of the crash circulated, conflicting accounts emerged about the incident, Syria TV writes. Hours after a drone was reported shot down in the Abu Khashab desert of Syria’s Deir-ez-Zor governorate, urgent reports surfaced of an unidentified flying object landing near the al-Bulil area in the Deir-ez-Zor desert in …

Turkey Defends Syria Presence: Ministry Source Turkey’s presence in neighbouring Syria is to stop the war-torn country from falling under the sway of terror groups, a Turkish defence ministry source said Thursday, cited by AFP, after Damascus said a withdrawal of its troops was not a prerequisite for better relations …

Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance more broadly, are attempting to restore deterrence after a series of high-profile Israeli attacks and operations.On Sunday morning, Israel struck targets in Lebanon in what it said was an attempt to pre-empt a major Hezbollah retaliation for the July 30 Israeli strike …

Analysis: Concerns are growing that ongoing tensions could impact the South Caucasus, where Iran’s neighbour Azerbaijan is a key ally of Israel. As Iran delays its retaliation to Israel’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, concerns are growing that the escalating tensions could extend beyond the Middle East and into …

Analysis: The recent security pact between Iraq and Turkey has raised fears about Ankara’s intentions and increased military influence in northern Iraq. A recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Iraq has reignited debates over Ankara’s future role in northern Iraq. The agreement, focused on military, security, and …

Analysis: Turkey’s motivations for mending ties are driven by security concerns, domestic pressure over refugees, and wider geopolitics. Talk about Turkish-Syrian normalisation did not start recently. Since Ankara long ago abandoned its regime change agenda in Damascus and began focusing intensely on fighting the US-backed People’s Defence Units (YPG) in …

In-depth: Israel has failed in its objective of destroying Hamas, with the group likely to retain influence in post-war Gaza but not be its sole ruler. After ten months of a devastating Israeli war, Palestinians are increasingly aware that Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the war-torn coastal enclave, will …