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
Hagel says Obama 'paralyzed' Syria policy around Assad ouster Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says President Barack Obama erred in calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to go and declaring a red line over Syria’s use of chemical weapons, and also compared Republican presidential candidates to a "mass gong show" and urged them to be less divisive. Syria
FSA adviser: IS cannot be eliminated without us In an Al-Monitor interview, Osama Abu Zeid, legal adviser for the Free Syrian Army, discusses the FSA's return to the forefront in light of Russia’s military intervention in the Syrian war. Syria
Was Zahran Alloush really a moderate leader? Some have described the late Jaish al-Islam leader Zahran Alloush as a moderate leader, although his fiery anti-Shiite and anti-democracy statements indicate otherwise. Iraq
State of the Union highlights Jordan’s rift with Obama The US president directly contradicts King Abdullah’s talking point that the campaign against IS is a “third world war.” Palestine
What are the real goals behind local truces in Syria? Opposition activists say the truces reached in several Syrian regions are a regime tool to rearrange the country's demographics. Syria
Turkish-US ties face fresh turbulence over Iraq, Syria Washington’s demand that Turkey withdraw troops from Iraq and the US alliance with Syrian Kurds are potential flashpoints in US-Turkish relations. Iraq
US presidential candidates weigh in on Russia, Putin, Middle East Al-Monitor takes the pulse of the US presidential candidates' varied stances on the Middle East crises and on Vladimir Putin and his role in international politics. Syria
Why Syria will pay for Iran-Saudi rift Despite UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura's assurances to the contrary, the breakdown in ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia appears set to impact the fragile talks on Syria. Saudi Arabia
The Saudi predicament The execution of a prominent Shiite cleric jeopardizes already fragile international efforts to end the wars in Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Congress votes again to dismantle Iran deal A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Jan. 11. Iraq
Forces fight for strategic Syrian gateway to south The Syrian opposition incurred heavy losses during a recent regime attack on the key city of al-Shaykh Maskin, but it is already regaining ground as power quickly shifts from one side to the other. Syria
Was Syria intervention worth it for Russia? While Moscow's military involvement in the Syria crisis has led to an increasingly important role for Russia in regional and global politics, critics wonder whether or not the costs will outweigh the benefits. Syria
