Russia in Syria

Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief meets with Syrian counterpart in Damascus

The meeting takes place during the first official visit to Damascus by Saudi Arabia since 2012.

Al-Monitor Staff | Saudi Arabia | May 5, 2021

A photo taken on May 3, 2021 shows a giant portrait of President Bashar al-Assad at the Umawiyin square in Syria's capital Damascus, ahead of this month's presidential elections.

A photo taken on May 3, 2021, shows a giant portrait of President Bashar al-Assad at Umawiyin Square in Syria's capital, Damascus, ahead of this month's presidential elections.

The Takeaway: Does Hamas win if Abbas delays Palestinian elections?

Plus: Fallout in Turkey from Biden’s designation of genocide in Armenia.

Andrew Parasiliti, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Joe Snell | Israel | Apr 28, 2021

Staff of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission display electoral lists ahead of the upcoming general elections, at the commission's local offices in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on April 6, 2021.

Turkish-Russian ties marked more by rivalry than cooperation today

Recep Tayyip Erdogan believed Russia would provide him leverage against the United States and Europe after Turkey’s ties with the West took a nosedive.

Semih Idiz | Turkey | Apr 26, 2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) speaks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) as they attend a press conference on Oct. 10, 2016, in Istanbul. Putin visited Turkey for talks pushing forward ambitious joint energy projects as the two sides try to overcome a crisis in ties.

Fighting between Syria's Kurdish forces, pro-Assad militia enters fourth day

CENTCOM commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said the United States is "prepared to assist" the Kurdish-led forces to de-escalate clashes.

Jared Szuba | Syria | Apr 23, 2021

Syrian government reportedly building tribal force in Hasakah

Russia and Iran are seeking to build a tribal army within the Syrian Democratic Forces' areas in Hasakah to protect the regime’s survival near the sources of oil and agricultural wealth.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Apr 22, 2021

A Russian military police armored truck drives past a US military MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle near the village of Tannuriyah in the countryside east of Qamishli in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on May 2, 2020.

Russia launches air campaign against Islamic State in Syrian desert

Russian forces intensified their airstrikes against IS sites in Syria’s Badia with the aim of supporting the ground forces that failed to eliminate the organization or curb its spread.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Mar 18, 2021

A Russian army helicopter, part of a patrol, flies over an oil field in the countryside of al-Qahtaniyah town in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province near the Turkish border, on Oct. 11, 2020.

Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia

In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

Rina Bassist | Israel | Mar 17, 2021

NGOs file Syria torture complaint against Russia’s Wagner Group

The rights organizations allege that the shadowy paramilitary group is behind the 2017 torture and killing of a Syrian military defector.

Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | Mar 15, 2021

Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas?

The Syrian government seeks to strengthen its military presence in Ain Issa and the area overlooking the M4 international highway, which are under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Mar 10, 2021

The Israel-Russia-Syria deal: Cost, beneficiaries and future deals

As Israel and Syria conclude a deal on the return of an Israeli woman from Syria, questions arise regarding the cost and what the future of such transactions with Russian mediation should be.

Micky Aharonson | Israel | Feb 25, 2021

This picture taken from the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on February 4, 2021, shows the border fence with the Syrian governorate of Quneitra. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Turkey fit into the Biden administration’s Syria policy?

The gnarliest problem: Pentagon report says Syrian, Iranian proxies are "most significant" threats to US mission, but the Islamic State isn’t dead yet, and Turkey and the United States still disagree on the Kurds.

Week in Review | Syria | Feb 19, 2021

Does ‘Syrian trio’ of Russia, Iran and Turkey have a future?

There are signs that the Astana talks on the Syrian war — which began in 2017 and are sponsored by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran — have little prospect of making progress going forward.

Kirill Semenov | Syria | Feb 18, 2021

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (C) shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu following their talks on Syria in Astana on March 16, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Alexey FILIPPOV (Photo credit should read ALEXEY FILIPPOV/AFP via Getty Images)

Damascus scrambles for more control in southern Syria

As the Russian-brokered Tafas agreement in the western countryside of Daraa between the Syrian regime and the Central Committee enters into force, the regime is now seeking to take over the towns outside its control in southern Syria before the upcoming 2021 presidential elections.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Feb 15, 2021

Islamic State kills two dozen pro-regime fighters in Syria

A firefight in the Deir ez-Zor desert is the latest sign of the Islamic State terror network's lingering presence.

Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | Feb 9, 2021

Syrian government, SDF trade accusations of violations of Russian-mediated cease-fire

No sooner had an agreement been reached between the Syrian regime and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to lift the mutual sieges imposed in northeast Syria that accusations were traded about violations of the Russian-sponsored deal.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Feb 8, 2021

Russia in Syria

Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief meets with Syrian counterpart in Damascus

The meeting takes place during the first official visit to Damascus by Saudi Arabia since 2012.

The Takeaway: Does Hamas win if Abbas delays Palestinian elections?

Turkish-Russian ties marked more by rivalry than cooperation today

Fighting between Syria's Kurdish forces, pro-Assad militia enters fourth day

Syrian government reportedly building tribal force in Hasakah

Russia launches air campaign against Islamic State in Syrian desert

Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia

NGOs file Syria torture complaint against Russia’s Wagner Group

Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas?

The Israel-Russia-Syria deal: Cost, beneficiaries and future deals

Can Turkey fit into the Biden administration’s Syria policy?

Does ‘Syrian trio’ of Russia, Iran and Turkey have a future?

Damascus scrambles for more control in southern Syria

Islamic State kills two dozen pro-regime fighters in Syria

Syrian government, SDF trade accusations of violations of Russian-mediated cease-fire

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