Teenage sons of ISIS foreign fighters find help at Syria rehab centre

2023-03-20

A rehabilitation centre in the Kurdish-administered northeast seeks to prepare youth raised on extremist ideology to integrate into their communities.

Iranian companies invade the Syrian marketplace

Economy

2023-03-17

Iranian companies invade the Syrian marketplace

Iran's reach into the Syrian economy puts Syria in a dangerous position and circumvents the sanctions imposed under the 2019 Caesar Act, experts say.

Hizbullah defectors, former supporters bemoan party's neglect

Crime & Justice

2023-03-16

Hizbullah defectors, former supporters bemoan party's neglect

In videos posted online and interviews with Al-Mashareq, former Hizbullah fighters and supporters criticise the party's treatment of its own.

Hope rings out in former ISIS stronghold of Mosul

Religion

2023-03-14

Hope rings out in former ISIS stronghold of Mosul

The three new bells of al-Saa church, named after the archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael, were cast at a French foundry in Normandy.

China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal raises questions in region

Analysis

2023-03-13

China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal raises questions in region

Some question China's neutrality and ability to act as a mediator, while others question its motives and point to its record of 'debt trap diplomacy'.

Diyala attack probe ongoing, as fingers point to pro-Iran militias

Security

2023-03-10

Diyala attack probe ongoing, as fingers point to pro-Iran militias

Gun wielding men on motorbikes stormed a village in the province last month. Some local residents say the attackers were pro-Iran militiamen.

Do Iranians need outside help to acquire VPNs amid growing restrictions on the internet?

Spotlight

Russia proves unwilling, incapable of helping Syrians hit by recent quake

Russian forces are omnipresent in Syria, but affected Syrians say Moscow has done very little to help in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

Syrians blame regime corruption, substandard housing for heavy quake toll

Crime & Justice

2023-03-09

Syrians blame regime corruption, substandard housing for heavy quake toll

Regime looters stripped rebar from residential buildings, while systemic government corruption spawned substandard housing.

Poverty, prolonged war on ISIS push Iraqi children into labour

Human Rights

2023-03-09

Poverty, prolonged war on ISIS push Iraqi children into labour

Economic hardship has forced many families to send their underage children to work. Minors are also the victims of recruitment and brainwashing by extremist groups such as ISIS.

Iraq, US keen to strengthen ties as Pentagon chief visits

Security

2023-03-08

Iraq, US keen to strengthen ties as Pentagon chief visits

Defence co-operation against ISIS is a 'key pillar' of the relationship, Secretary of Defence says, with US troops ready to remain at Iraq's invitation.

Human Rights

2023-03-06

Russia proves unwilling, incapable of helping Syrians hit by recent quake

Russian forces are omnipresent in Syria, but affected Syrians say Moscow has done very little to help in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

Lebanon's Tripoli, Syria's north neglected despite dire need of aid after quake

Human Rights

2023-03-03

Lebanon's Tripoli, Syria's north neglected despite dire need of aid after quake

The catastrophic February 6 earthquake cast a spotlight on pre-existing conditions of old buildings in Tripoli, and further exposed the inhumanity of the Syrian regime, activists say.

Iraqi forces track down ISIS leaders in wide-ranging operations

Terrorism

2023-03-03

Iraqi forces track down ISIS leaders in wide-ranging operations

Iraqi forces have tracked down and targeted ISIS remnants in their hideouts during a series of operations in provinces across the country.

Iran, Hizbullah selective in sending aid to Syria, prioritising regime-controlled areas

Human Rights

2023-03-01

Iran, Hizbullah selective in sending aid to Syria, prioritising regime-controlled areas

Iran and Hizbullah have been making a show of helping regime-controlled parts of Syria after a devastating earthquake, but deliberately have bypassed the hardest hit areas.

Russia's fingerprints clear in Syrian regime chemical attack on Douma

Crime & Justice

2023-02-28

Russia's fingerprints clear in Syrian regime chemical attack on Douma

Syrian forces, who were in close co-ordination with Russian forces, dropped chlorine gas cylinders on civilian areas in Douma in 2018, an OPCW investigation has concluded.

Middle East loses trust in Russia amid Ukraine war morass

Analysis

2023-02-27

Middle East loses trust in Russia amid Ukraine war morass

The diplomatic progress Russia gained since the Cold War's conclusion has been eroded, along with the trust of many Middle Eastern countries.

Most Viewed

Iranian companies invade the Syrian marketplace

Iraqi forces track down ISIS leaders in wide-ranging operations

Iran, Hizbullah selective in sending aid to Syria, prioritising regime-controlled areas

Most Commented

Iraqi security forces on alert as Iranian proxies eye upcoming election

Diyala on high alert after ISIS attack on al-Rashad

Asaib Ahl al-Haq faces increased scrutiny for its actions in Iraq, region

SDF earthquake assistance proves vital amid aid delays in Syria

Society

2023-02-24

SDF earthquake assistance proves vital amid aid delays in Syria

While the Syrian government put up roadblocks to aid delivery, the SDF filled in the void in areas of northern Syria and beyond.

Putin's Ukraine misadventure is costing Russia dearly in Middle East

Analysis

2023-02-22

Putin's Ukraine misadventure is costing Russia dearly in Middle East

After a year of war in Ukraine, Russia's military, political and economic powers are depleted, leaving its Middle East ambitions in jeopardy.

US, SDF capture, kill ISIS leaders in Syria helicopter raids

Security

2023-02-21

US, SDF capture, kill ISIS leaders in Syria helicopter raids

An ISIS leader was killed and another captured during joint helicopter raids in Syria, following deadly attacks on truffle hunters in the desert.

China's global development drive begins showing major cracks

Business

2023-02-20

China's global development drive begins showing major cracks

Crumbling walls, collapsing tunnels and shuttered power plants -- combined with endless debt -- are just some of the problems emerging from Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

Al-Assad seeks to leverage earthquake sympathy to shift pariah status

Human Rights

2023-02-17

Al-Assad seeks to leverage earthquake sympathy to shift pariah status

With sympathy for Syria at a peak following the earthquake, the regime's widely-reviled leader is trying to move international opinion in his favour.

'Unreliable partner': critics blast Lavrov's visit to Baghdad

Politics

2023-02-15

'Unreliable partner': critics blast Lavrov's visit to Baghdad

Isolated and mired in troubles of its own making, Moscow says it is seeking partnership with Iraq for mutual benefit. Not many Iraqis are buying it.

Arab, Gulf aid flows to Syrians after devastating earthquake

Society

2023-02-14

Arab, Gulf aid flows to Syrians after devastating earthquake

Humanitarian aid, medical supplies, food and logistical assistance have been streaming in from across the region to support the Syrian people.

Earthquake devastates parts of Syria already reeling from regime, Russia assault

Human Rights

2023-02-13

Earthquake devastates parts of Syria already reeling from regime, Russia assault

The death toll from last week's massive earthquake was higher than it needed to be, as the affected areas were at a disadvantage from the start.

IRGC proxies circumvent Iraq's financial regulations, channel money to Iran

Crime & Justice

2023-02-13

IRGC proxies circumvent Iraq's financial regulations, channel money to Iran

A network of IRGC-affiliated militia groups has transferred tens of millions of US dollars from Iraq to Iran, using fraudulent or inflated invoices, report shows.

Would-be assassins conspired to kill critic of Iranian regime

Politics

2023-02-10

Would-be assassins conspired to kill critic of Iranian regime

Plots to assassinate and target Iranian dissidents and foreign officials for criticising the Islamic Republic are a mainstay of the Iranian regime.

Iran's engagement in irregular warfare poses global threat

Security

2023-02-10

Iran's engagement in irregular warfare poses global threat

The Iranian regime's dependence on its proxies to wage attacks on its adversaries relieves it from engaging in a direct conflict -- one that it is certain to lose.

Syrian regime's past and present actions stymie earthquake response

Human Rights

2023-02-09

Syrian regime's past and present actions stymie earthquake response

The actions of the Syrian regime before and after the quake -- including bombing a town hours after the disaster -- have compounded the crisis, complicating and delaying aid.

Exporting oppression: Iranian proxies emulate Tehran's tactics of control

Human Rights

2023-02-07

Exporting oppression: Iranian proxies emulate Tehran's tactics of control

Iran's proxies have been emulating the Iranian regime's violent means of imposing control on populations in the region by instilling fear through kidnappings, torture and executions.

International help on way as Türkiye, Syria respond to deadly earthquakes

Environment

2023-02-06

International help on way as Türkiye, Syria respond to deadly earthquakes

Death toll continues to rise as local and international rescuers respond to the most powerful earthquake in nearly a century in the region.

Iraq works to uproot ISIS ideology 5 years after group's defeat

Security

2023-02-06

Iraq works to uproot ISIS ideology 5 years after group's defeat

Development, rehabilitation and community reintegration plans have helped restore peace and root out extremist ideology. But these efforts must continue.