On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says it doesn’t seek to resume negotiations with Washington Sharaa says Syria seeks security deal with Israel; Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israeli airstrikes hit central Syria Iranian forces have repositioned themselves in eastern Syria due to recent suspected Israeli strikes. Israel
Who is behind recent attacks against Turkish presence in Idlib? Unknown parties have carried out several operations against some of the Turkish army outposts in Idlib, with some accusing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and others pointing the finger at Islamic State or regime cells. Syria
Syrian FSA fighters graduate from universities after years out of school Factions of the Free Syrian Army are supporting their fighters to return to school and graduate, as part of efforts to promote education among their fighters. Syria
Biden team picks Dana Stroul to lead Pentagon's Middle East desk Stroul, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will join a roster of Obama-era veterans when she returns to the Pentagon. Syria
Exhausted Syrians call for removal of crossings in opposition-controlled areas Crossings between the areas under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-allied FSA factions are a burden on civilians, who feel like they are traveling from one state to another. Syria
Fears of Syrian government offensive mount in Idlib as Turkey withdraws from military posts Syrian opposition groups worry that the Turkish withdrawal signals a coming military offensive. Syria
Will Syrian opposition benefit from recent Gulf detente? The Gulf reconciliation has sparked controversy in the opposition circles of northwestern Syria over its expected positive effects on the Syrian revolution and opposition. Syria
Moscow stands to gain from Hamas-Damascus reconciliation While claims that Russia is playing a large role in reconciliation talks between the Palestinian movement Hamas and the Syrian regime may be overstated, Moscow could benefit in several ways if the two sides restore relations. Palestine
Iranian forces in east Syria redeploy after airstrikes The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its militias in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, are trying to avoid further losses from suspected Israeli airstrikes by redeploying, hiding inside residential neighborhoods in large cities and putting their strategic weapons in underground tunnels. Israel
Iran’s Quds Force denies deaths in Israeli airstrikes in Syria The Afghan Fatemiyoun also denied members were hit, but said Syrian army personnel were killed. Israel
Did Islamic State make comeback to opposition areas in countryside of Aleppo? An attempted assassination of a journalist bearing the hallmarks of the Islamic State in the opposition-held city of al-Bab in the countryside of Aleppo has prompted fears about the escalation of IS operations and stirred demands to prosecute terrorist operatives in the area. Syria
Pompeo, Israel send message to Iran with bold airstrikes in Syria In a rare acknowledgement, a US official said Washington provided intelligence support for the strikes. Israel