Syria arrivals surge 111% as government bets on tourism revival The country welcomed 3.52 million visitors during the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier, as the government pushes to reconnect to the world and promote tourism as a pillar of economic recovery. Syria
Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran declares 'existential war' as US strikes reach near Tehran By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria, US hold first business forum since sanctions relief: What to know The one-day forum in Damascus was organized by Syria’s Ministry of Economy and Industry and the US-Syria Business Council, which was established in Washington last June to advance trade and investment between the two nations. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey’s 'strategic depth' in Syria The controversy around Turkish military intrusion into Syria to remove the alleged sanctuary of Suleiman Shah continues. Syria
Does Assad meeting signal a shift in France's policy? A secret visit by French parliamentarians to Damascus is raising questions about a possible major shift in France's Syria policy. Syria
Questions remain over Turkey's training of Syrian opposition Many argue that Ankara’s prime motive in signing the accord is to improve strained ties with Washington. Syria
Syrian regime, allies lose decisive battles in Aleppo The regime and its allies have suffered heavy losses in an offensive against the opposition’s largest stronghold in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Lebanon
Regional events have Hamas in political limbo Various events and unresolved regional crises have fed Hamas' reluctance to forge regional alliances and take decisive positions on developments in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia
Kurdish journalists use IS media strategy to their advantage Kurdish journalists are trying to counter Islamic State propaganda by showing the world the horrors that the group has committed. Iraq
Turkish military mission becomes media circus Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party framed its cross-border mission to evacuate the Tomb of Suleiman Shah as a victory for the nation, but political opposition and social media commenters saw much to mock about the operation. Syria
Was Hezbollah's Mughniyeh an unintended target? A security source from Beirut tells Al-Monitor how the perpetrators of the 2008 assassination of Hezbollah's military commander might not have known they were targeting the elusive Imad Mughniyeh. Palestine
Turkish army enters Syria to evacuate tomb The Turkish army successfully evacuated its soldiers from the Tomb of Suleiman Shah in Syria in coordination with Kurdish forces on the ground. Syria
Can returned extremist fighters be rehabilitated? Participants in a White House summit on countering violent extremism say the most useful aspect was exchanging information on the sidelines of the meetings about how to prevent recruitment of vulnerable youth and rehabilitate foreign fighters returning home from Syria and Iraq. Syria
Should US back UN plan for cease-fire in Aleppo? UN Syria envoy says that "assurances will not be enough" to end fighting; Turkey’s border a "strategic problem" in anti-Islamic State campaign. Syria
Syria opposition forces claim regime attack in Daraa futile The opposition forces in southern Syria say that the regime, which has launched a battle with its allies Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is not advancing there. Syria
