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
Syrian Opposition Leader Rejects Iran Role in Syria Conference In an interview with Al-Monitor, Salem al-Meslet, vice president of National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, calls for the "London 11" group to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Ghouta. Syria
Malta Sinking Highlights Palestinian Resentment Toward Leadership Following the death of dozens of Palestinian refugees after a boat headed for Europe sank off the Malta coast, popular discontent toward the inefficiency of Palestinian leaders’ efforts to protect their people has surfaced. Palestine
Iraqi Shiites join Syria war Many Iraqi Shiites are joining the fight in Syria, by first receiving weapons training in Iran and then traveling to Lebanon, from where they are taken to Damascus by Hezbollah. Iraq
Saudi Decision on Security Council Is About Syria Saudi Arabia’s decision to decline a Security Council seat expresses anger in some Sunni Muslim quarters about the Syria war. Saudi Arabia
Turkey Rescues Its Pilots in Swap Deal Turkey’s silent diplomacy yielded results on Oct.19, when it rescued the two Turkish Airlines pilots kidnapped in Beirut on Aug. 9. Lebanon
Is Saudi Arabia Holding Up The Geneva II Conference on Syria? While Turkey may be shifting its Syria policy in response to domestic and international pressure, Saudi Arabia appears to be digging in to oppose the trend toward a diplomatic solution. Saudi Arabia
Syria Crisis Sidelines Iraq While the world focuses on Syria, Iraq endures daily carnage and a security situation that is spiraling out of control. Iraq
Who's Out to Get Turkey’s Spymaster? The pressure on Turkish Intelligence head Hakan Fidan may be a sign of concern over a shift in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policies toward Syria and Iran. Israel
Jihadist Websites Linked to Syria Thriving on Internet The rise of Islamist groups in Syria’s civil war has shed light on the proliferation of extremist ideologies and communication via discrete Internet networks. Iraq
Yazidis Benefit From Kurdish Gains In Northeast Syria An exclusive report from Amuda show how Syria's Yazidi community sees an opportunity to revive its identity on the tails of rising Kurdish power in the country's northeast. Syria
Syrian Kurds Beset by Divisions Syrian Kurds are resisting efforts by Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani to exert influence over their movement. Iraq
Radical Groups Operate On Turkey’s Border Turkey is increasingly identified as a country facilitating radical forces in Syria, and thereby isolated among its allies. Syria