Syria

Biden should maintain and strengthen the broad U.S.-Israel diplomatic, military and intelligence relationship.

"The events in the Capitol in Washington today are very regrettable, but they could have been worse if there was an American embassy in that city," former Cuban ambassador José Ramón Cabañas wrote.

Newsweek looks at five of the most-affected nations by the Arab Spring—Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen—on the anniversary of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi's death that helped spark a regional revolt with mixed results.

"The problem in the region is not Iranian activities," Russian ambassador to Anatoly Viktorov said. "It's a lack of understanding between countries and noncompliance with U.N. resolutions in the Israel-Arab and Israel-Palestinian conflict."

As newly appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Makdad met senior Iranian officials, he sought to shore up backing from the Islamic Republic, which is also on the defense against the United States and Israel.

Unlike Donald Trump, Joe Biden will be a predictable interlocutor for most countries in the Middle East, including those not particularly glad to see him in the White House.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, the Syrian mission to the United Nations accused President Donald Trump's administration of having "disdain and contempt of international law and the UN Charter."

The Delaware senator said he was "gravely concerned" about an "abrupt" withdrawal from the countries at a think tank event in 2019.

Russia and Iran support Syria's efforts to bring back refugees, but President Bashar al-Assad said sanctions and insurgents are making it difficult, especially as the country's economy suffers a deep crisis compounded by COVID-19.

Up to 78 members of the Turkey-backed Faylaq al-Sham insurgent group were reportedly killed in a Russian attack in the renegade northwestern province of Idlib.

The international community has been exposed to ample evidence that Assad prioritizes his grip on power in Syria over compliance with international norms and law.

Two days after Newsweek reported that Syria asked for sanctions relief and troop withdrawal from the Al-Tanf garrison, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. would "compartmentalize" working to recover Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz from regional policy.

Lebanese General Security director Major General Abbas Ibrahim brought to Washington a list of demands for Damascus including sanctions relief and closing Al-Tanf garrison in exchange for help on returning Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz, Newsweek has learned.

Azerbaijan's ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov told Newsweek his country "appreciates every offer to help with reaching the much needed peace in our region."

Turkey is involved in conflicts in Syria, Libya and between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but has of far avoided a direct clash with fellow NATO member Greece over energy reserves in the Mediterranean Sea.

The World Health Organization estimates that 50 percent of the 550 health facilities in Syria have been damaged, destroyed or closed due to conflict.

"The Russian role is as influential as the American role, so we are counting on them to reach understandings that stop the crisis and end the war," Syrian Democratic Council co-chair Riad Darar told Newsweek.

Russia seeks to leverage the Iranian threats in Iraq to pressure the U.S., while pushing on the Syrian front. This strategy in a sense creates a two-front push against the U.S. in the region and forces Washington to choose.

Amid heated criticisms as President Donald Trump focuses on securing oil reserves, a State Department spokesperson tells Newsweek, "We have been very clear regarding our overall policy goals in Syria."

The since-deleted video shows the soldiers asking Syrians if they watch Mia Khalifa, only to receive confused looks.

"The U.S. occupation forces, in full view of the United Nations and the international community, took a new step to plunder Syria's natural resources, including Syrian oil and gas," Syria's mission to the U.N. said in remarks sent to Newsweek.

Two young soldiers thwarted what the Israeli military said was an attempt by a four-man cell to plant an explosive at a post in the Golan Heights.

Salim Ayyash was found guilty of assassinating Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, while Assad Sabra, Hassan Issa, and Hassan Habib Merhi were cleared and both Hezbollah and Syria were found to be not directly involved.

U.S. and Syrian forces were involved in a clash that the latter say killed one of their troops, while a joint Russia-Turkey patrol was targeted by a blast.

Global powers, friends and foes alike, are stepping up to show support for Lebanon after Beirut's deadly blast, but the country has often been a venue for intersecting geopolitical interests.

No self-identified members of the loosely-affiliated Antifa protest movement have committed any murders or terrorist attacks.

Vladimir Putin's Russia is no friend of the United States.

U.S. policy involving Russia and Iran in the Middle East has struggled for coherence for years. Now the two countries are drawing closer, in arenas from Aghanistan, to Syria, to Lybia.

The U.S. must pressure Turkey to get out of Syria.

The U.S. and Iran have both accidentally shot down passenger planes in the heat of battle, killing hundreds of civilians as a result of the longstanding feud between the countries.