January, 2026

• 19 January

  Clashes resume between the Interior Ministry and the National Guard in Sweida

  

  Renewed clashes between local factions in Sweida, and between the internal security forces, affiliated to the Syrian Ministry of Interior, in the western countryside of Sweida, on Saturday, January 17. Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Daraa reported that the clashes between the two parties began on Friday evening, January 16, and …

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• 19 January

  Sweida. A member of the National Guard was killed in clashes with the Interior Ministry

  

  A member of the National Guard forces was killed in Sweida, following renewed clashes between the National Guard of the spiritual head of the Druze community, Hekmat al-Hijri, and the internal security forces of the Syrian Ministry of Interior, in the western countryside of the city, on Friday morning, January …

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• 19 January

  What is the True Death Toll in Gaza?

  

  According to the latest figures released by the Gaza Ministry of Health (GMoH) on December 23rd 2025, Israel had killed at least 70,937 Palestinians and wounded 171,192; of those identified fatalities, 53% were women, children or elderly. Despite the decimation of Gaza’s healthcare system, the GMoH has demonstrated remarkable resilience …

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• 19 January

  European Union and Mercosur bloc of South American nations sign landmark free trade agreement

  The European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries formally signed a long-sought free trade agreement on Saturday, strengthening commercial ties in the face of rising protectionism and trade tensions around the world. The signing ceremony in Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion, caps more than a quarter-century of torturous negotiations. …

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• 19 January

  Israël craint de ne pas pouvoir se défendre contre l’Iran

  

  Benjamin Netanyahu a appelé Donald Trump pour le presser de ne pas bombarder l’Iran car, selon certaines sources, Israël se sent vulnérable à une contre-attaque iranienne, écrit Joe Lauria. Israël craint que ses systèmes de défense aérienne, affaiblis par les Iraniens lors du conflit de douze jours en juin dernier, …

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• 19 January

  Turkey’s Dangerous Defense Pivot

  

  Is the new Turkish-Saudi-Pakistani defense pact an attempt at an Islamic NATO or a strategic self-sabotage? The idea of a budding “Islamic NATO” under Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia might seem bold and fresh in a period of Middle Eastern “realignment.” But don’t dismiss it out of hand as the …

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• 19 January

  Hijri: Full Independence for Suweida Is Our Demand, and Israel Is the Only Guarantor

  

  Hijri expressed his gratitude to the Israeli occupation and to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as to the United States and the European Union, Syria TV reports. Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze community’s senior spiritual leaders in Suweida, declared that his group may be willing to enter a …

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• 19 January

  The March Agreement Is Stalling Between Government and SDF, Military Escalation Grows – The Syrian Observer

  

  The 10 March Agreement between Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi appears increasingly frozen, though no party has yet declared it void. Developments on the ground—most notably the Syrian Army’s takeover of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafiyah neighborhoods in Aleppo—have fundamentally altered the balance …

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• 19 January

  Syrian Offensive Against Kurds in Aleppo Clouds Prospects for Stability

  

  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 …

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• 19 January

  Iran Protests Build Despite Regime Crackdown

  

  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 …

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