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October 6, 2026

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

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

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh as the Houthis escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned international airlines against using Saudi airspace.

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)

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

Major housing and tourism projects in Damascus and Latakia are set to advance following a new agreement with UAE real estate tycoon Mohamed Alabbar.

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

Both Damascus and Ankara denied reports that Syrian officials met with Hezbollah representatives in Turkey, as relations between the two sides remain fraught with tensions mainly over the Lebanese group’s support for Assad’s forces against rebels during the Syrian civil war.

A picture taken on May 1, 2019 shows a railroad of Mar Mikhael neighborhood in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Lebanon seeks Turkey’s help to join Syria-Saudi rail link: What to know

Beirut is seeking Ankara’s support to link its ports to a railway project aiming to link Turkey to the Gulf, through Syria and Jordan.

Latest News

Feature

Syria Golan detentions fuel fury at Israeli forces, doubts in new government

A member of Syria's security forces stands guard outside a former army base near the city of Quneitra in southern Syria, on the edge of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Sept. 21, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

How militias in Anbar could complicate Iraq’s energy ambitions

Iraqi soldiers from the new 'desert battalion' special forces stand next to military vehicles as the take part in a graduation ceremony, after months of training by the French military, at the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar west of Baghdad on February 29, 2024. (Photo by Ahmad AL-RUBAYE / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)

Shelly Kittleson

By Shelly Kittleson

In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics

Exclusive

How Syrian Air is braving regional turbulence to rise from the ashes

Syria Air

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

Can Netanyahu turn Israel's UN isolation into strength at home?

ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

US downs Turkish drone as Turkey bombs infrastructure in Syria’s Kurdish zone

The reports came as Turkish forces pounded strategic economic installations today in the Kurdish-run zone, including oil installations and power stations.

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Does Ankara attack mark strategy shift for Turkey's PKK?

The attack inside Turkey has prompted worries over Washington's partnership with Syrian Kurds.

Members of Wagner group inspect a car in a street of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2023 said an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a "stab in the back" and that the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had betrayed Russia, as he vowed to punish the dissidents. Prigozhin said his fighters control key military sites in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Wagner fractures in Syria, Libya amid conflict with Russia's Defense Ministry

A month after Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in a plane crash, Russian authorities are attempting to assert control over the parallel military structure.

Anton Mardasov

By Anton Mardasov

A US AH-64 Apache attack helicopter flies above US soldiers patrolling along the frontlines.

US captures Islamic State official in Syria as fighting renews among allies

The US military said it captured a senior IS official in Syria on Saturday, as renewed fighting Monday between Kurdish-led forces and Arab tribes in Deir Ezzor raised new questions as to the open-ended nature of the US mission.

From the official reception for President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. Asma in Hangzhou International Airport on September 21, 2023

In China, Syria's Assad gets political fanfare, but no funding commitments

Since Syria joined China's Belt and Road Initiative in January 2022, there have been no projects to show for it in the war-torn country.

A Foreign Ministry staff member arranges the Chinese flag before an official visit, Beijing, December 24, 2015.

Syria’s Assad and Kuwaiti crown prince in China signing cooperation deals

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad participated in a bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the eastern city of Hangzhou, reported SANA, Syria’s official news outlet.

Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani

Iran's Quds force chief in Syria to oversee joint drill

Agence France-Presse

Assads arrive in China

Red carpet, honor guard and flowers: Syria’s Assad receives lavish welcome in China

Assad will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first visit to China since 2004, potentially turning a page in Syria-China relations as Damascus seeks reconstruction help.

Anwar Gargash

Al-Monitor/Semafor summit: UAE seeks ‘ironclad’ defense agreement from the US, Anwar Gargash says

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said growing ties with countries like China will not replace its reliance on the United States for security.

King of Jordan

Highlights: Al-Monitor/Semafor Middle East Global Summit

The Al-Monitor & Semafor inaugural Middle East Global Summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings on Wednesday brought together the region’s leaders, newsmakers and business heads.

Bashar Al Assad

Syria’s Assad to visit China in first trip since 2004

The Syrian President and first lady will travel to China on the official invitation of President Xi Jinping, marking Beijing's increasing influence in the Middle East.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during a press conference with Iraq's prime minister in Damascus on July 16, 2023, as Assad's engagement with Middle East countries increases

Syria's Assad to visit China on Thursday

Agence France-Presse