Archive Upfront

from Apr 7, 2017

What US airstrike means for Washington’s Syria policy

As allies express cautious approval of the US airstrike in Syria, the United States says its targeted action does not signal a broader shift to military regime change.

Syria

Is Iraq poised for large-scale military involvement in Syria?

As the battle against IS approaches its end in Iraq, Syria and Iraq have stepped up their security and military cooperation with the aim of preserving Iraqi territories against the activities of terrorist groups operating from the Iraq-Syria border area.

Iraq

How Syrian opposition is making up for teacher shortage

The teacher training institute in the opposition-controlled city of Marea in Aleppo’s northern countryside has succeeded in graduating a class of teachers to work in schools to cover for the losses the education sector suffered because of the shelling.

Syria

Why was deal to evacuate Syrian towns brokered by Qatar and Iran?

A deal brokered by Qatar and Iran that ignores Turkey and Russia — the largest respective sponsors of the opposition and the regime in Syria — threatens to derail broader peace talks aimed at ending the tragic civil war.

Qatar

Proof of poison gas in Syria massacre could reshape war

Now that autopsies have revealed evidence that chemical weapons were used in the attack in Idlib, calls are louder than ever for action against the Syrian regime and the United States could well respond with force.

Syria

Interview

PKK leader: International mediation needed on Kurdish issue

In an exclusive interview, Al-Monitor met Cemil Bayik, one of the main leaders of the Kurdistan Workers Party, in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains to talk about the current dispute between the Kurds and Turkey and its impact on Iraq.

Cemil Bayik

Founder of the PKK

Turkish outrage mounts as doctors point to neurotoxin in Idlib attack

In Turkish hospitals, medical staff including a team from Doctors Without Borders report mounting evidence that victims of yesterday's attack may have been exposed to sarin or a similar toxin.

Syria

Following gas attack, Israel reassesses Syrian threat

Israeli intelligence branches are reassessing the Syrian threat of weapons of mass destruction following the gas attack in Idlib on April 4.

Israel

Congress demands Trump action on Syria after Idlib gas attack

The president is under fire for backing off Obama's regime change policy.

Syria

Iranian media reacts to Russia subway bombing

Iranian media outlets speculate that IS and other militant groups are taking revenge on Russia following their defeats in Iraq and Syria.

Syria

'Inhuman' chemical attack tests Turkey's relations with Russia

An apparent chemical attack has ravaged a small rebel-held Syrian town and Turkey has found itself in the middle of the aftermath, torn between supporting anti-Assad rebels and its need to ally with Russia.

Syria

What's behind Kurdish organizations being shut down in Syria?

The democratic self-rule administration in northern Syria closed the offices of dozens of unlicensed organizations in a move deemed to have political motivations.

Iraq