Syria
The latest on Syria. Officially the Syrian Arab Republic, the current state formed in the mid-20th century after Ottoman rule and a brief French mandate. Originally called the Republic of Syria when it declared a parliamentary independence in 1945, the country was renamed the Arab Republic of Syria in 1961. Bashar al-Assad has been president since 2000, taking over after his father, Hafez al-Assad, served as president from 1971 until 2000. al-Assad and his ruling political party, the Ba'ath Party, have been condemned internationally for human rights violations and censorship.
At Least 11 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in IS Attack While They Were Sleeping
"We affirm that the blood of the heroic martyrs will not be in vain and that the response by our heroic army units will be very harsh," the Iraqi military said.
Biden Killed Less Civilians in First Year Than Any U.S. Leader This Century
But Airwars' Emily Tripp also said, compared to prior years, activists "haven't had that level of communication" and "haven't seen that level of interest" from the Pentagon to look into claims.
Biden Seeks to End 'Forever Wars,' But Still Has 30,000+ Troops in Mideast
Crisis Group's Brian Finucane told Newsweek he "would give the Biden administration a grade of 'incomplete' on winding down the U.S war on terror."
Syria Joins China's Belt and Road, Seeking Lifeline to Defy U.S. Sanctions
Chinese ambassador to Syria, Feng Biao, said the deal would "strengthen Chinese participation in the economic reconstruction" of the war-torn country.
Hoda Muthana Denied SCOTUS Appeal, Cannot Return to U.S. After Joining IS
SCOTUS refused to hear the appeal of a woman who was determined to not be a U.S. citizen as she tried to return to the country after joining the Islamic State.
Bases in Iraq, Syria Housing U.S. Troops Attacked; No Casualties Reported
The Ain al-Asad base was hit by five rockets Wednesday, with three more landing outside the perimeter and officials said no casualties had been reported.
Fire Contained at Syrian Port, Israeli Missiles Strike Again this Month
The first attack happened when Israel warplanes hit the container terminal, resulting in another fire on Doc. 7, Syrian media reported.
A Revised Jordan First Policy
Amman's recent rapprochement with its neighbors is guided by prioritizing national economic interests in a move away from ideological purity.
The Coming Middle East Narco Wars
The Captagon drug trade not only facilitates Bashar al-Assad's atrocities against the Syrian people, but could also create further instability through the widespread proliferation of amphetamine usage in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
Exclusive: Russian Ambassador Talks Plan for Ukraine, Ties With China, More
Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov spoke with Newsweek and warned the U.S. and Western allies against steps "beyond the red lines of our national interests."
Syria Accuses Israel of Attack As FM Joins Senior UAE Official in Iran
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called for deeper relations with both Syria and the UAE, which have intensified contacts as Damascus eyes an Arab League return.
U.S. Airstrike in Syria Targeting Al-Qaeda Leader Wounds Family of 6
A Syrian family of six, including four children, was injured by the strike. A 10-year-old boy remains in the hospital with head injuries.
Syrian Travel Agent Says Demand for Flights to Belarus Have Increased
The price to fly to Belarus and stay five nights at a hotel is now $4,000 per person.
China Supports Syria Reconstruction, Security Cooperation in Leaders' Call
President Xi said China "supports the struggle of the Syrians in defending the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country."
The Torture Continues, Say Syrian Refugees Who Returned
Inconvenient as the stories of refugees who returned and found themselves detained and tortured in Syria might be to governments eager to move on, they should not be ignored.
Iran Sourced Drones That Attacked U.S. Base in Syria, Fired From Elsewhere
No injuries or deaths were reported from the drone attack last week.
The U.S. Mission in Syria is a Failure. Don't Turn it Into a Catastrophe.
Assad has won the war. That's not new information. U.S. decision makers must deal with reality as it is, not as they wish it to be.
Human Rights Group Decries Execution of 24 People Convicted in Syria Fires
"Yesterday's executions of 24 people demonstrates the Syrian government's disregard for international law," said Diana Semaan of Amnesty International.
U.S. Official: Drone Strikes Hit Positions Near U.S. Base in Syria
Unidentified drones struck positions near a U.S. military garrison located in a remote stretch of southeastern Syria close to the borders with Jordan and Iraq, Newsweek has learned.
Live Updates: Suspected Islamic State Bombing Kills at Least 14
A roadside bombing believed to be carried out by Islamic State has killed over a dozen people in the deadliest attack on Syrian capital Damascus in years. Follow Newsweek's liveblog for all the latest.
The Shifting Tides of Middle Eastern Diplomacy
The U.S. is slowly but surely diverting its focus from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific. For leaders like Mohammed Bin Salman and Mohammed Bin Zayed who are used to being catered to by the U.S., times are changing.
Bashar al-Assad Returns to World Stage in Defeat for US, Win for its Foes
The Syrian leader, once a political pariah, is now being welcomed back by many of the countries that cut him off 10 years ago, despite ongoing U.S. opposition.
Drone Strike Kills Senior Al Qaeda Leader in Syria, Pentagon Says
"Salim Abu-Ahmad was responsible for planning, funding, and approving trans-regional al-Qaeda attacks," a CENTCOM spokesperson said.
The Unreality of U.S. Policy in Syria
Right now, the Biden administration's Syria policy is in a holding-pattern.
Syria Says It Will Drive US From Country If Troops Do Not Leave Voluntarily
"Just as we managed to wipe out terrorists from most of Syria, we will work to end the occupation with the same resolve and determination," said Faisal Mekdad.
Islamic Terrorists or Chinese Dissidents? U.S. Grapples with Uyghur Dilemma
A State Department spokesperson referred to the Turkestan Islamic Party as "Uyghur terrorists," but would not comment on whether the U.S. would designate it a terrorist organization.
Woman Who Joined ISIS as Teen Asks to Return to U.K.
"The only crime I committed was being dumb enough to join IS," said Shamima Begum, who ran away from home at 15 years old to Syria.
U.S. Denies, Israel Declines to Comment on Iraq-Syria Border Strike Reports
Amid reports that three Iraqi militia vehicles were destroyed, the U.S.-led coalition said it "can confirm we did not conduct air strikes in Al-Bukamal."
Vladimir Putin Says U.S. Military Presence in Syria is Illegal
"This clearly violates international law and doesn't allow you to make maximum efforts to consolidate the country," Putin told Assad, according to the Kremlin.
