Bombings in Afrin, Azaz and a village near al-Bab claimed at least 18 lives this weekend. Three car bombings struck Turkey-occupied northern Syria on Saturday and Sunday, killing at least 18 people, including at least four children. More than 60 people were believed to have been injured in the three …

Russia’s special envoy for Syria has conducted a secret meeting with Assad and “guarantors” of the Astana process, according to Asharq al-Awsat. The Kremlin’s special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, who frequently travels to Damascus, carried out a secret visit to the Syrian capital at the end of last week. …

Japan has proposed to the administration of new U.S. President Joe Biden signing a tentative one-year deal on sharing costs for hosting American troops while negotiations on a longer-term agreement continue, government sources say.