Syria’s Sharaa leaves Washington with warm assurances but no security agreements Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa departed Washington without clinching major security agreements or long-term economic relief. Syria
Syria's Sharaa says no direct talks with Israel, open to US military presence In an interview on Monday, President Ahmed al-Sharaa dismissed direct negotiations with Israel concerning the Abraham Accords, but left the door open to US-brokered diplomacy. Syria
Syrian President Sharaa arrives at White House in historic first Sharaa met with Trump as the administration weighs easing sanctions and expanding cooperation on Syria. Syria
Exclusive SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter As US-brokered talks stall, Kurdish forces are preparing contingencies while continuing dialogue with Damascus to secure Syria’s future, SDF commander Sipan Hemo told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Gaza explosions leave Hamas exposed The two terrorist explosions that rocked the Gaza Strip despite Hamas’ tight security measures triggered questions about the movement’s capacity to stand up to the Islamic State. Palestine
US influence on the line if Israel has 'free hand' to bomb Iraq Israeli attacks in Iraq signal need for some red lines with Iran. Iraq
Abbas Combat Division, an example of Iran-independent faction The Al-Abbas Combat Division, which is part of the Popular Mobilization Units, has no link with Iran and has a long history of cooperation with the Iraqi army and the US-led coalition against Islamic State. Saudi Arabia
IS makes comeback in Syria through sleeper cells The Islamic State has stepped up its military operations through its sleeper cells east of the Euphrates River while the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces arrest a number of women part of these cells in areas under its control. Syria
Meet the agency that brought World Press Photo's images to Iraq World Press Photo Foundation has launched an exhibition in Iraq for the first time thanks to the efforts of one pioneering photo agency which wanted to realize the dream of its founder. Iraq
How will Egypt protect its expats in Libya from IS? The killing and abduction of a number of Egyptian expats in Libya prompted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to issue warnings not to travel there because of the inability of the Libyan state to provide protection for the Egyptians amid its prevailing state of insecurity and instability. Egypt
Iraqi spy chief discusses IS and intel cooperation Al-Monitor was granted an exclusive interview with the head of Iraq’s secretive counterterrorism intelligence unit, Abu Ali al-Basri. The Falcon Intelligence Cell director discussed what remains of the Islamic State, potential future risks and how the unit shares information with other countries. Iraq
Special operations forces reflect on lessons of terror fight The Pentagon’s command for elite special operations forces is assessing how repeated deployments to the Middle East during the war on terror have impacted the forces' core values. Iraq
Forced disappearances in Syria leave invisible toll Syrians continue to look for their loved ones, believed imprisoned or executed by the Islamic State. Syria
Iraq seeks to issue identification papers for IS children Many children born under Islamic State rule in Iraq do not have Iraqi citizenship, but the government is seeking to change that. Iraq
Will Iraq cut a deal to prosecute foreign IS fighters? Iraq is seeking to prosecute foreign Islamic State fighters held in Syria, even if they did not commit crimes in Iraq. Iraq
Congress expands Pentagon aid in Syria to cover Islamic State prisoners The Senate’s new defense authorization bill gives the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces greater leeway to build prisons for Islamic State detainees. Syria
