Syria Conflict

Syria’s constitutional committee still mired in discord

Disputes on decision-making rules and time frames continue to delay the committee’s inauguration a year and a half since Syrian parties agreed on a committee to draft a new constitution, even though discord over its composition has been overcome.

Syria

What's next for Russia in Idlib?

Following the violation of the cease-fire in Idlib, Russia faces the need to manage the breakout of new hostilities and fix the deal with Turkey.

Syria

An artist's 'explosive' works convey hope amid death in Syria

Akram Swedaan, an artist displaced from eastern Gouta, opposes war by transforming ammunition into canvases to create works of art.

Syria

Feuding Syrian Kurdish political blocs dance around rapprochement

As French and US initiatives for intra-Kurdish rapprochement in Syria stall, it seems that piecemeal defections from the Kurdish National Council to the Kurdish autonomous administration in the north of the country are the rule of the day.

Syria

Has Turkey’s policy on Syrian refugees started to backfire?

The Syrian refugee question is set to pose a major political headache for Erdogan in the coming period.

Syria

Syria’s Kurds feel brunt of Turkish-US crisis

Turkey is sending military reinforcements to its border with Syria after two missiles were recently launched from Syria toward a border city, portending an imminent Turkish offensive in the area.

Syria

Can Syrian Kurds’ offer unlock door to compromise with Turkey?

The Syrian Kurds have offered Turkey a 5-kilometer-deep buffer zone that would see the pullout of Kurdish forces and heavy weaponry, without seeking the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Afrin, but only that of aligned militia.

Syria

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

Why Syria's opposition council is opening offices in FSA-held areas

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces is opening offices in the Free Syrian Army-held areas to obtain the support of the people who believe such an institution to be a failure.

Syria

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

Kurds gain support, perhaps invitation to Syrian talks

There appear to be serious attempts to include the Kurds in the negotiations aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis.

Syria

Syria safe zone: Can US reconcile conflicting demands of Turkey, YPG

A US delegation is visiting Turkey for "safe zone" talks amid the Turkish army's increasing activities along the Syrian border, which are signaling a possible new military operation.

Syria