Hezbollah, Hamas repair political ties during breakup

The fraught relations between Hezbollah and Hamas could come to an end as Israel continues its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine

Aleppo's streets empty as residents brace for siege

Rebel fighters and civilians in rebel-held east Aleppo have launched a collective initiative to combat an expected siege by government forces.

Syria

Personal appearance by Nasrallah could be target for attacks

While Hezbollah sources hint that Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah may appear in person to deliver this year's Quds Day speech, there are questions of whether he can, in light of genuine concerns for his safety.

Lebanon

Saudis see Houthi gains in Yemen as advance for Iran

Many Saudis are interpreting the Houthis’ sudden advance toward the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as a message from Iran that it will not tolerate a Sunni Islamist advance on Baghdad.

Saudi Arabia

Gloves come off between Syrian regime, Islamic State

A deadly assault by the Islamic State on a regime-held gas field in Homs province marks a new chapter in Syria's civil war as government forces and Islamic State face off.

Iraq

Turkey’s Syrian refugee problem spirals out of control

Syrian refugees in Turkey are regularly subject to hostilities by locals, a trend Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan implies the opposition is responsible for.

Syria

Jabhat al-Nusra, IS compete for foreign fighters

Concerned that the Islamic State has an advantage in recruiting foreign jihadists with its declared Islamic caliphate, al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, has declared an Islamic emirate.

Syria

Domestic violence increases among Syrian refugees

The stresses of the war and lack of income are resulting in more cases of domestic violence among Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Jordan

Baath spokesman denies alliance with Islamic State

The spokesman of the Baath Party, Khodair al-Morshedi, considers the Islamic State (IS) a terrorist organization and denies having any ties with it.

Iraq

Coastal Syrians carry on despite threat of Islamic State

Regime supporters along the Syrian coast are confident the Syrian army can triumph and that the Islamic caliphate declared by the Islamic State in eastern parts of the country won’t last.

Syria

Who is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?

Details emerge about the years that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State, spent in Afghanistan.

Iraq

Israel considers costs of escalation in Gaza

Gaza residents bear the costs of war; Israel weighs its option with Hamas; Al-Monitor interviews Iraqi political leaders; the forgotten war in Syria.

Palestine