Syria arrivals surge 111% as government bets on tourism revival The country welcomed 3.52 million visitors during the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier, as the government pushes to reconnect to the world and promote tourism as a pillar of economic recovery. Syria
Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran declares 'existential war' as US strikes reach near Tehran By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria, US hold first business forum since sanctions relief: What to know The one-day forum in Damascus was organized by Syria’s Ministry of Economy and Industry and the US-Syria Business Council, which was established in Washington last June to advance trade and investment between the two nations. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
How Ankara, Washington plan to achieve regional energy security US Vice President Joe Biden was in Ankara last week, and Cyprus and energy security joined Turkey's attempted coup and the Islamic State as discussion topics. Syria
Biden’s diplomatic triage in Turkey Ankara reconsiders its Syria policy amid strains in US-Turkey ties and a reset in Iran-Turkey diplomacy. Syria
Has Turkey really stepped into 'Syrian quagmire'? Political developments in the region will determine the fate of the recent Turkish incursion into Syria. Syria
Was wedding blast in Gaziantep revenge for IS defeats in Syria? Some suspect the Aug. 20 suicide bombing of a Kurdish wedding party in southern Turkey was the work of the Islamic State avenging its recent losses in Syria. Syria
What's Turkey really up to in Syria? Many observers think Turkey's true goal in entering Syria is to prevent the Kurds from dominating northern Syria, not to fight the Islamic State. Syria
Will Turkey's Jarablus win lead to showdown with Kurds? Turkey’s incursion into Jarablus and demands that Kurdish forces retreat have shaken the balance of power in the region. Syria
Why Iran isn't rattled by Turkey-Russia turnabout Post-coup Turkey raced to patch up ties with Russia, but Iran does not seem concerned that the rapprochement will be at its expense. Syria
Kerry, Lavrov will meet to finalize Syria deal US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Aug. 26 to try to finalize a deal on Syria that has been complicated by an escalation of fighting in Aleppo. Syria
Did Turkish government see Gaziantep attack coming? Turkish officials apparently ignored intelligence information that warned of the Aug. 20 wedding massacre in Gaziantep. Syria
Why did Russian use of Iranian air base stir up controversy? Despite controversy, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says Russian planes in Iran left according to a previously designated agreement. Syria
Resetting Turkey’s Syria policy Ankara is trying to regain its lost influence over Syria with a radical change in policy, but its past mistakes make that a difficult challenge. Israel
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Russian use of air base has ended A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that Russia’s use of Hamedan air base has ended for now and discussed the potential for Russian, Iranian and Turkish cooperation in the region. Syria
