On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says it doesn’t seek to resume negotiations with Washington Sharaa says Syria seeks security deal with Israel; Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Killing of Kurdish Leader Further Complicates Syrian Factions The assassination of a prominent Syrian Kurdish opposition figure has raised questions about the future of northern Syria. Syria
Back to the Future for US Policy In Egypt and Syria The Obama administration gives priority to containing Islamic extremism, not promoting democracy, in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
The Struggle for Justice In Aleppo, a 'Feral City' Divisions among Syrian opposition groups have made life even more unbearable for Aleppo’s residents. Syria
Has Turkey Made U-Turn On Syria’s Kurds? The leader of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD), Salih Muslim, says Turkey has given the green light for autonomy for the Kurds in Syria. Syria
Al-Qaeda's Syrian Recruits: The Case of 'Abu Majed' Amer Ghajar went from being a student at a prestigious private university to al-Qaeda jihadist, falling in battle last week. Syria
Turkey's Egypt Question Turkey's role in the Middle East will turn on how it handles the crisis in Egypt. Egypt
Al-Monitor’s Gursel Wins Award; Watch US House on Syria Al-Monitor’s coverage of press freedom in Turkey, the US House of Representatives on Syria, and Iraq as possible mediator on Iran; Daoud Kuttab discusses the Middle East with Fareed Zakaria. Iraq
Turkey’s Missed Opportunities With the Kurds Disarray in Turkish foreign policy is not allowing Turkey to play its rightful role in supporting Kurdish national unity. Iraq
Dempsey on Syria: Think Before You Shoot In a Washington overrun by interventionists, Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey presses the consequences of heightened US involvement in Syria. Syria
Erdogan’s Assad Problem Could Syrian President Bashar al-Assad outlast Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in office? Syria
McKeon, House Cautious on Syria Buck McKeon, Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, says the military’s intervention in Egypt was the right thing to put Egypt’s democratic transition back on track. Egypt
Cairo’s ‘Little Syria’ Testimony To Despair of War More than 75,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt live on the edge, wondering if they will ever return home. Egypt
