Beirut-Damascus highway munitions truck incident ignites anger against Hizbullah

2023-08-11

Calls for Hizbullah's disarmament intensified after a truck loaded with the party's weapons overturned in the mountain town of Kahale.

Cash-strapped Syrian regime hawks national airport to Iran-linked front company

Politics

2023-08-10

Cash-strapped Syrian regime hawks national airport to Iran-linked front company

Syria is allowing Iran to acquire a large stake in Damascus International Airport that will give the Islamic Republic leverage and shows the regime is broke, dissidents say.

Dark era of Iranian media palpable on country's National Journalists' Day

Crime & Justice

2023-08-09

Dark era of Iranian media palpable on country's National Journalists' Day

On a day intended to honor journalists, members of the Iranian media said they have never felt such pessimism about their profession.

US bars 14 Iraqi banks in crackdown on Iran dollar trade

Politics

2023-08-07

US bars 14 Iraqi banks in crackdown on Iran dollar trade

The US ban on dollar transactions is part of a broader effort to prevent Iran from depleting Iraq's dollar currency reserves and evading sanctions.

Syrian Democratic Forces pursue ISIS remnants in north, east Syria

Crime & Justice

2023-08-04

Syrian Democratic Forces pursue ISIS remnants in north, east Syria

With information obtained from civilian tipsters and backing from the international coalition, the SDF continues its hunt for ISIS remnants.

Syrian 'shabiha' militia suspect arrested in Germany, accused of war crimes

Crime & Justice

2023-08-04

Syrian 'shabiha' militia suspect arrested in Germany, accused of war crimes

Arrest of suspected pro-regime militiaman accused of helping to crush dissent in Syria is part of an international effort to ensure war criminals face justice.

Will the Wagner Group mutiny impact Russia's Syria agenda?

Spotlight

Syrian regime stalls on refugee return despite normalisation

Arab countries must hold off on full normalisation with Syria until the refugee repatriation issue is properly addressed, activists say.

UK recognises ISIS 'acts of genocide' against Yazidis

Terrorism

2023-08-03

UK recognises ISIS 'acts of genocide' against Yazidis

The announcement came ahead of events marking the ninth anniversary of atrocities ISIS committed against the minority group in Iraq.

Iran's 'absurd' Gulf naval alliance fails to gain traction

Security

2023-08-02

Iran's 'absurd' Gulf naval alliance fails to gain traction

Iran is the main source of insecurity in the Gulf, seizing tankers and attacking civilian ships on a regular basis, and now it wants to lead an effort to 'protect' the region.

Refugees

2023-08-01

Syrian regime stalls on refugee return despite normalisation

Arab countries must hold off on full normalisation with Syria until the refugee repatriation issue is properly addressed, activists say.

Iraq grapples with burgeoning illicit drug crisis

Crime & Justice

2023-07-31

Iraq grapples with burgeoning illicit drug crisis

Iraq has seen a spike in drug abuse among its own population, sparking rehabilitation efforts and a crackdown on cross-border traffickers.

Russia fails to deliver Su-35s to Iran, triggering speculation over health of alliance

Analysis

2023-07-28

Russia fails to deliver Su-35s to Iran, triggering speculation over health of alliance

Amid the commotion surrounding the delivery of Su-35s, it became clear in July that the long-awaited fighters would not arrive, with neither government offering an explanation.

Who ordered the return of Iran's morality police? No one really knows

Human Rights

2023-07-28

Who ordered the return of Iran's morality police? No one really knows

The regime has brought back the 'morality police', but with an eye on upcoming elections, officials are distancing themselves from the decision.

Iraq's Grand al-Faw Port has game-changing potential, despite delays

Economy

2023-07-27

Iraq's Grand al-Faw Port has game-changing potential, despite delays

Though it has been beset by delays, construction at the Gulf port, which has the potential to boost Iraq's economy, is steadily progressing.

Iraq nabs suspect in ISIS Camp Speicher massacre of 2014

Terrorism

2023-07-27

Iraq nabs suspect in ISIS Camp Speicher massacre of 2014

Iraq continues to pursue justice for victims of the massacre of 1,700 cadets at Tikrit Air Academy and accountability for the perpetrators.

Captagon factory bust comes as Iraq tightens down on drug gangs

Security

2023-07-21

Captagon factory bust comes as Iraq tightens down on drug gangs

The discovery of a pill factory in al-Muthanna comes as Iraqi forces conduct an intelligence-based, inter-agency crackdown on drug trafficking.

Most Viewed

Dark era of Iranian media palpable on country's National Journalists' Day

US bars 14 Iraqi banks in crackdown on Iran dollar trade

Iran's 'absurd' Gulf naval alliance fails to gain traction

Most Commented

US strikes IRGC facilities in Syria in response to deadly drone attack

Syria's 'humiliating' expulsion of IRGC commander points to unravelling ties

Leaked IRGC audio file exposes colossal corruption within Iranian regime

US condemns 'unsafe' Russian flying over Syria

Security

2023-07-20

US condemns 'unsafe' Russian flying over Syria

The latest incident represents 'a new level of unsafe and unprofessional actions by Russian aircraft operating in Syria', US commander says.

Syria, Russia deliberately bombed Syria displacement camps, rights group says

Human Rights

2023-07-18

Syria, Russia deliberately bombed Syria displacement camps, rights group says

A series of deliberate attacks on displacement camps was a tactic deployed by the Syrian regime and its allies as a strategy of war, report says.

Iran-Russia escalation against US forces in Syria expected to have little impact

Crime & Justice

2023-07-18

Iran-Russia escalation against US forces in Syria expected to have little impact

Leaked intelligence reports show Iran is planning to escalate its attacks on US forces, in concert with Russia, via a joint co-ordination centre.

Hizbullah floods Lebanon with smuggled, nonstandard medications from Iran, Syria

Health

2023-07-14

Hizbullah floods Lebanon with smuggled, nonstandard medications from Iran, Syria

Pharmacists say many medicines sold in Hizbullah dominated areas are not authorised by the health ministry and may pose a health risk.

Fate of leaderless Russian mercenaries in Syria remains murky

Politics

2023-07-12

Fate of leaderless Russian mercenaries in Syria remains murky

With the Wagner Group leader out of sight and a Russian military leadership shakeup in the offing, the group faces an uncertain fate in Syria.

Iraq's 'Development Road' project opens new economic horizons

Economy

2023-07-12

Iraq's 'Development Road' project opens new economic horizons

From its starting point at al-Faw port on the Arabian Gulf, the proposed road and parallel railway line would serve as a regional transport hub.

ISIS remnants on back foot in former northern Iraq stronghold

Terrorism

2023-07-11

ISIS remnants on back foot in former northern Iraq stronghold

In the heartland of ISIS's former 'caliphate' in northern Iraq, the Counter-Terrorism Service has been keeping pressure on the group's last holdouts.

US air strikes kill ISIS leader in Syria despite Russian obstruction

Security

2023-07-10

US air strikes kill ISIS leader in Syria despite Russian obstruction

The strike that killed an ISIS leader was conducted by the same MQ-9 Reaper drones that Russian aircraft had harassed earlier the same day.

Illegal drugs proliferate in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Crime & Justice

2023-07-04

Illegal drugs proliferate in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Tribal leaders are working to stop the spread of illegal drugs, which many in the eastern province blame primarily on Iran-backed militias.

Fate of Syria's disappeared will be focus of new UN body's probe

Human Rights

2023-07-03

Fate of Syria's disappeared will be focus of new UN body's probe

The new entity will 'clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons' and provide 'adequate support' to victims, survivors and families.

Civilians, children killed in Russian, Syrian regime air strikes

Security

2023-06-29

Civilians, children killed in Russian, Syrian regime air strikes

More than a dozen civilians, including children, have been killed in a volley of Russian and Syrian strikes this week on Syria's last opposition bastion.