Analysis Why Syria and Iraq are taking different approaches to armed groups By Shelly Kittleson In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics
Culture Syria reopens Aleppo's 1,300-year-old Great Umayyad Mosque after 13 years Syrian authorities are working to restore cultural landmarks and ancient sites that had been damaged or destroyed during the civil war. Syria
Analysis Why Syria sending troops to Yemen would be a risky bet for Sharaa Syria insists it will not send troops to fight the Houthis alongside Saudi Arabia, but its economic dependence on Riyadh could complicate Damascus’ resistance to the idea. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Israel's Oct. 7 accountability debate Houthis strike Yemen airport, claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia; How language barriers are bringing Syria’s Kurds and Arabs closer; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Nasrallah: 'The game is over' In an interview with pan-Arab news channel Al-Mayadeen, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah talked about sensitive regional issues, mainly the Syrian crisis, saying that "the game is over" there with the failure of hostile plans. Palestine
Turkish military says MIT shipped weapons to al-Qaeda New documents have been leaked online, prompting the government to immediately ban reporting on the scandal and order the content deleted. Syria
Former House Intel chair: Turkey can't have it both ways in NATO Mike Rogers, former chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also sees economic pressure on Russia as presenting a “unique opportunity” for Moscow’s help in Syria. Iraq
Turkish Kurds' electoral strategy is a high-wire act Rumors of electoral collusion between the government and the Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) gain momentum. Syria
Are Israel, Jabhat al-Nusra coordinating on attacks in Syria? Syrian opposition activists in southern Syria say Israel has played a vital role in Jabhat al-Nusra’s recent gains in Quneitra and Daraa. Israel
Kobani hospitals overflow as battle continues Makeshift hospitals are being set up in basements and schools across Kobani to treat fighters and civilians while armed groups have targeted the city’s main hospitals. Iraq
Has the Islamic State's defeat already begun? In the war against the Islamic State, the key issue is how to translate recent optimism on the strategic picture into tactical achievements on the ground. Iraq
Jabhat al-Nusra tank commander sees little alternative to group While Aleppo is not entirely under the control of Jabhat al-Nusra, the group has a strong presence in many of the city's neighborhoods and is currently fighting to take hold of villages north of Aleppo province, where they are facing Lebanese Hezbollah troops that are fighting alongside the Syrian regime. Syria
Turkey cannot secure Syrian border alone Turkish officials say Turkey is doing its best to prevent crossings into and out of Syria by Islamic militants, blaming European countries for not furnishing useful intelligence. Syria
Sunni-Alawite couples in Syria defy sectarianism The Syrian civil war has challenged Sunni-Alawite couples in getting their families' approval for marriage and society's acceptance of their relationships. Syria
Dempsey says Iran’s role in Iraq might be 'positive' Americans consider Islamic State, not Iran, as top threat to US in Mideast; terrorists in Syria planning “mass casualty attacks” in West; Salafists in Gaza look to Islamic State. Palestine
Negotiations to free Lebanese soldiers remain at impasse The hostage takers have demanded the demilitarization of areas on the Lebanese-Syrian border and the release of prisoners, both of which have been met with significant opposition by the Lebanese political establishment. Lebanon