US, Kurds to clear path toward Raqqa, with or without Turkey

Because of Turkey's objections to Kurdish involvement, operational plans against the Islamic State keep changing.

Syria

Syrian widows chart course out of poverty at Aleppo training center

Syrian women who have lost their husbands in the ongoing war are taking advantage of opportunities at Aleppo's Balqis Center to learn work and literacy skills.

Syria

Expect repercussions from deadly Latakia attacks

All players in the Syrian war are scrutinizing the recent bloody assaults on Syrian civilians and the range of results that are likely.

Syria

US allies mobilize on two fronts against IS, but Sunnis wary

US-backed Iraqi forces have encircled Fallujah, and mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have advanced on villages north of Raqqa, but Sunni residents are terrified of retribution by Kurdish and Shiite local forces preparing to liberate those cities from the Islamic State.

Iraq

Erdogan irked as major players snub humanitarian summit

Turkey was expecting representatives from "all" countries to attend the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.

Syria

Syrians describe 'most dangerous journey ever' fleeing IS territories

Civilians in areas under IS control are barred from leaving, but many are nonetheless risking their lives to flee the group's grip.

Syria

Why hasn't Egypt taken a clear stance on Syria?

Since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power two years ago, Egypt has repeatedly stated that it wants to preserve the Syrian state and army, but it has been vague when it comes to voicing an opinion on the regime itself.

Egypt

US should accept Russian offer to coordinate strikes on Jabhat al-Nusra

US-Russian joint action would be a step forward to defeat al-Qaeda affiliate; US rejects Russian bid to designate Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam as terrorist groups; Nasrallah vows deeper commitment to Syria following death of top commander.

Lebanon

How Turkey intends to secure return of Syrian refugees

Turkey is seeking to establish a safe zone on its border with Syria to provide a safe haven for the Syrian refugees that currently number around 3 million in Turkey alone.

Syria

Turkish ambassador calls joining EU Ankara’s 'strategic objective'

In a wide-ranging interview with Al-Monitor, Turkish Ambassador to France Hakki Akil discussed Turkey’s perspectives on a safe zone in Syria, the migration crisis, Turkey’s progress toward EU membership, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russian intervention in Syria and the possibility of international intervention in Libya.

Syria

Foreign terrorist fighters, reverse migration are global crises

There is a pressing need for international cooperation to deal with foreign terrorist fighters and overcome the "not in my backyard" mindset.

Iraq

Syria's first Kurdish university attracts controversy as well as students

Syrian Kurds have big plans to expand the first university based in Rojava, which they launched just last year.

Syria