Archives for January, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian government security forces gather after they took control of al-Hol camp following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

US military starts transferring Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Romina Amato

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE join Trump's 'Board of Peace'

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: An Ethiopian flag flutters in the wind next to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), built along the Blue Nile, during its inauguration, in Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia, September 9, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

Trump says he wants leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia to resolve Nile dam dispute

Reuters

Britain's William, Prince of Wales visits the National Curling Academy in Stirling, Scotland, Britain, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/Pool

Britain's Prince William to visit Saudi Arabia in February

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, New York, U.S., September 23, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo

Explainer-What is Trump's 'Board of Peace' and who has joined so far?

Reuters

Abdul Raouf Shaat had contributed regularly to AFP as a photo and video journalist

Israeli strike kills three Gaza journalists including AFP freelancer

Agence France-Presse

A member of the Alawite community pastes on a wall, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli , on December 6, 2007, pictures of Syrian opposition leader Rifaat al-Assad (R) and his son Ribal.

Rifaat al-Assad, perpetrator of Syria's 1982 Hama massacre, dies at 88

Known for his role in the 1982 Hama massacre, the late member of Syria’s former ruling family oversaw the killing of tens of thousands of civilians.

FILE PHOTO: Former Syrian Vice President Rifaat Al-Assad, disgraced younger brother of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, appears in an undated file photograph. REUTERS/File Photo

Syria's Rifaat al-Assad, the 'butcher of Hama', dies at 88

Reuters

A group of detainees gather at al-Hol camp after the Syrian government took control of it following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Explainer-How Syria's government has redrawn map with advances against the Kurds

Reuters

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters walk near an armored vehicle, following clashes between SDF and Syrian government forces, in Hasakah, Syria, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Syria accuses Kurds of breaking truce in threat to chances of deal

Reuters

A drone view of al-Shaddadi prison following the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces and its takeover by the Syrian army, as inmates, members of Islamic State, fled the facility, in al-Shaddadi, Syria, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Where are Islamic State detainees in Syria?

Reuters

At a bus depot in the capital, roughly a dozen buses burnt in recent protests were lined up in the parking lot

Iran protest crackdown latest developments

Agence France-Presse

US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 21, 2026.

Trump warns Hamas will be 'blown away' if it fails to disarm

“They were born with a weapon in their hands, so it's not easy to do," Trump said.

FILE PHOTO: People attend the funeral of the security forces who were killed in the protests that erupted over the collapse of the currency's value in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

Iran deaths went beyond protesters, hitting bystanders too, witnesses say

Reuters

YOAN VALAT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East leaders join Trump’s Board of Peace despite mandate concerns

Foreign officials are scrambling to understand the board’s expansive mandate ahead of a signing ceremony Thursday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas (R) arrive for their talks in Moscow on May 10, 2025.

Russia to host PA’s Abbas as Putin mulls joining Trump's Gaza Board of Peace

President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit will coincide with the signing ceremony of the Trump administration's Board of Peace charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.