Middle Orient

Members of the pro-Assad regime militia known as the National Defense Forces (NDF) attacked a checkpoint of the Kurdish-led security forces (Asayish) in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishlo. One militiaman was killed, one source said. The checkpoint is located in Qamishlo’s Hilko neighborhood.

Donald Trump will leave office today, but what has he left behind in and Syria and what will challenges will his predecessor face? The Trump administration inherited the Syrian file whilst it was going through its worst early days. In early 2017, when Trump took power, the Assad regime, backed …

Negotiations between the regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces have fallen apart, although a military confrontation is not anticipated reports Baladi News.

Greece has restarted an agreement to send any refugees who arrive on Greek lands back to Turkey reports North Press. Greece recently re-activated the EU-Turkey statement of Mar, 18, 2016, which provides for the deportation of any illegal migrant or refugee from its lands to Turkey.

Syria has been categorical in its denial of any meeting taking place between the Syrian government and an Israeli delegation writes SANA. Syria has categorically denied the untrue news, circulated by some hired media outlets about the convening of any Syrian-Israeli meetings, affirming that the forces that stand behind these …

Syrian state media said Israeli warplanes fired several missiles toward central Syria early on Friday, killing a family of four — including two children — and wounding four other people. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the claim.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi pledged to personally undertake a review of the intelligence services after a double suicide bombing claimed by ISIS killed dozens in the capital on Thursday.

Incoming Biden administration officials have suggested a return to the nuclear deal is a long way off. The Biden administration plans to hold early conversations with foreign leaders ahead of any effort to reenter the Iran nuclear deal, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday.

Inhabitants of Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor region, which has an Arab-majority but is under the control of the Kurdish-led SDF, have protested repeatedly in recent weeks against alleged arbitrary arrests, price gouging, and lack of services; many urge more direct contact between the local population and the international coalition.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also sacked a number of Iraqi security officials within hours of the attacks. A day after deadly dual bombings tore through a crowded market in central Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi promised that the intelligence failure “would not be repeated.” Kadhimi said during an urgent …