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Syria

October 13, 2026

Damascus 8:32 pm

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Demonstrators ride through a street while waving Syrian flags

Analysis

Why Syria and Iraq are taking different approaches to armed groups

Shelly Kittleson

By Shelly Kittleson

In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics

A view of the Great Umayyad Mosque during the reopening ceremony, Oct. 8, 2026.

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.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Oct. 6, 2026.

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.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Culture

Syria's Kurds, Arabs find common cause in battle for language rights

Youths play the daf, an Iranian frame drum, during a protest demanding the right to education in the Kurdish language in Al-Qamishli, Syria, on September 22, 2026. The demonstrations follow a decision by the Syrian Interim Government to allocate only Kurdish language classes in schools. (Photo by Amjad Kurdo / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Syria’s Sharaa in Riyadh as Saudi airports come under Houthi attacks: What to know

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Oct. 6, 2026.

UAE-Syria move ahead on $20 billion real estate mega-developments

A view of a traffic roundabout in central Latakia, Syria on June 12, 2025. The city's road network converges near the coast, forming one of the busiest urban intersections in the province. (Photo by Omar Albaw / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by OMAR ALBAW/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Syria denies meeting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Turkey: What to know

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Ali Hashem

In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict

Cagatay Cebe

In Istanbul, reporting on security and counterterrorism

Is Turkey losing ground in Idlib?

An offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the western Aleppo countryside has forced the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front to retreat.

Syria issues coins to replace banknotes worth about a dime

Given the inflation rate and the collapse of the Syrian currency, the Central Bank of Syria issues a new 50-pound coin (worth about 10 US cents) to save on high printing (and reprinting) costs for banknotes.

Tunisian protestors demonstrate outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 28, 2013 in Tunis, calling on their Islamist-led government to renew diplomatic relations with Syria and the regime of Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO / FETHI BELAID (Photo credit should read FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)

Tunisia joins Arab efforts to mend ties with Syria’s Assad

Tunisian political parties have been calling for the restoration of ties with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad six years after the former troika government expelled the Syrian ambassador.

Syrian fighters fire AK-47 rifles as they attend a mock battle in anticipation of an attack by the regime on Idlib province and the surrounding countryside, during a graduation of new Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members at a camp in the countryside of the northern Idlib province on August 14, 2018. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP) (Photo credit should read OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images)

Jihadis rout Ankara's allies, complicating Turkey's Idlib mandate

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadi coalition has overpowered Turkish-backed rebel groups in Syria’s flashpoint province of Idlib, upending the essence of the de-escalation deal developed by Turkey and Russia.

Turkish soldiers stand on top of tanks in a village on the Turkish-Syrian border in Gaziantep province, Turkey January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RC17A2093380

Turkey says Syria offensive does not depend on US troop withdrawal

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has warned against attempts to delay Turkish plans to fight a Kurdish militia in Syria when the United States pulls its forces out.

A general view of Nizip refugee camp, near the Turkish-Syrian border in Gaziantep province, Turkey, November 30, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC137324E500

Debate over Syrian refugees gathers steam in Turkey

Young Syrians celebrating New Year’s Eve in public Istanbul squares ignited false claims that Syrians are enjoying life in Turkey while Turkish soldiers die for their country.

Iraqi Kurdish security chief Masrour Barzani, casts his vote, during parliamentary elections in the semi-autonomous region, on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq September 30, 2018. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RC16387D9690

Anger among Iraqi Kurds as Syria adds Masrour Barzani to terror list

The Kurdistan Regional Government has been quick to respond after the Syrian government named Masrour Barzani, the son of Massoud Barzani, to its list of terrorists.

Syria’s Kurds seek outside help to negotiate with regime

Though the Syrian military recently came to the aid of Kurds in the face of a Turkish attack, the Kurds still have differences to settle with the regime and are hoping for external mediation.

U.S. President Donald Trump announces missile strikes on Syria while delivering a statement in front of portrait of President George Washington at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - HP1EE4E04JFDA

Congress plans new challenge to president’s war powers amid Syria pullout

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., is looking for allies on her latest push to end the 2001 war authorization that the Donald Trump administration uses to fight terrorism in the Middle East.

Security guards stand in front of the United Arab Emirates embassy during its reopening in Damascus, Syria December 27, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki - RC1F43BEB420

Gulf states slowly warm to Damascus

Gulf states are turning their backs on supporting armed groups in Syria and preparing to re-engage the government in Damascus.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem August 21, 2018. Picture taken August 21, 2018. REUTERS/RonenZvulun - RC1C0BEC6DB0

Fiasco in Ankara: Turkish-US friction on Syria back to square one

US national security adviser John Bolton was snubbed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of the Trump administration's demands that Kurds not be harmed after the United States withdraws most of its troops.

If US backtracks in Syria, Iraq hopes to fill its shoes

Iraq is expanding its relations with the Syrian government, seeking a strong position as the conflict resolves.