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Trump hosts Turkey's Erdogan as the US considers lifting a ban on F-35 sales to the NATO ally
Read full article: Trump hosts Turkey's Erdogan as the US considers lifting a ban on F-35 sales to the NATO allyPresident Donald Trump has held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, and he's indicating the U.S. might soon lift its hold on advanced fighter jet sales to the NATO ally.
For the first time in nearly six decades, a Syrian president steps up to speak at the UN
Read full article: For the first time in nearly six decades, a Syrian president steps up to speak at the UNTurning the page on decades of distance, Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly, marking the first time any Syrian president has done so in almost 60 years.
As the world convulses in war and contentiousness, its leaders convene at the UN to figure it out
Read full article: As the world convulses in war and contentiousness, its leaders convene at the UN to figure it outWorld leaders are gathering at one of the most turbulent and divisive moments in the 80-year history of the United Nations.
A Syrian president arrives in New York for UN General Assembly for the first time in nearly 60 years
Read full article: A Syrian president arrives in New York for UN General Assembly for the first time in nearly 60 yearsSyrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has arrived in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
An immigration judge ordered Mahmoud Khalil deported. What happens now?
Read full article: An immigration judge ordered Mahmoud Khalil deported. What happens now?An immigration judge in Louisiana has ruled that Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported for not disclosing information on his green card application.
Saudi Arabia to supply Syria with 1.65 million barrels of crude to aid civil war recovery
Read full article: Saudi Arabia to supply Syria with 1.65 million barrels of crude to aid civil war recoverySaudi Arabia says it will supply Syria with 1.65 million barrels of crude to help the country rebuild its economy and infrastructure after a nearly 14-year civil war.
Top officials with Hamas and its allies killed by Israel over the past 2 years
Read full article: Top officials with Hamas and its allies killed by Israel over the past 2 yearsIsrael has killed multiple senior officials with Hamas and its regional allies since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.
Takeaways from AP reporting on Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed journalists and medics
Read full article: Takeaways from AP reporting on Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed journalists and medicsAP reporting raises questions about Israel's rationale for a deadly attack on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital.
AP reporting calls into question why and how Israel attacked a Gaza hospital
Read full article: AP reporting calls into question why and how Israel attacked a Gaza hospitalAssociated Press reporting into an Israeli attack that killed 22 people at a Gaza Strip hospital, including five journalists, raises questions about Israel’s rationale for the attack and the way it was carried out.
US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meeting
Read full article: US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meetingThe Trump administration has already denied visas for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his large delegation to attend the U.N. General Assembly later this month.
The worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war
Read full article: The worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil warThe eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are in the grips of one of their worst droughts in decades, which is drying rivers and lakes, shriveling crops and even leading to water cutoffs in major cities.
850,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since Assad's fall, UN says
Read full article: 850,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since Assad's fall, UN saysAn official with the U.N. reguee agency UNHCR says that since the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December, some 850,000 Syrian refugees have returned home from neighboring countries.
Lebanese army plans to carry out 'sensitive missions' amid US-backed Hezbollah disarmament plan
Read full article: Lebanese army plans to carry out 'sensitive missions' amid US-backed Hezbollah disarmament planLebanon’s army chief says the military will soon carry out “sensitive missions,” in an apparent reference to the Lebanese government’s U.S.-backed plan to disarm the Hezbollah militant group by the end of the year.
UN envoy warns of renewed violence in Syria a month into a fragile ceasefire
Read full article: UN envoy warns of renewed violence in Syria a month into a fragile ceasefireThe top U.N. envoy for Syria is warning that its transition remains “on a knife-edge” and violence could resume at any moment in the southern city of Sweida, which saw deadly clashes last month.
Syria's top diplomat and an Israeli delegation meet in Paris as US pushes for normalizing ties
Read full article: Syria's top diplomat and an Israeli delegation meet in Paris as US pushes for normalizing tiesSyria’s state-run news agency says the country’s foreign minister has held a rare meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris.
Syria, US and Jordan say they will work toward a lasting truce in wake of Syrian sectarian clashes
Read full article: Syria, US and Jordan say they will work toward a lasting truce in wake of Syrian sectarian clashesSyrian, U.S. and Jordanian officials say they will work together toward a permanent ceasefire in a southern Syrian region wracked by deadly sectarian clashes last month that threatened the country’s fragile security in the wake of its yearslong civil war.
What to know about past meetings between Putin and his American counterparts
Read full article: What to know about past meetings between Putin and his American counterpartsBilateral meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterparts were a regular occurrence early in his tenure.
Fresh clashes break out in Syria as the interim government struggles to ease tensions
Read full article: Fresh clashes break out in Syria as the interim government struggles to ease tensionsNew outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday have rocked Syria at two distinct flashpoints, straining a fragile ceasefire and calling into question the ability of the transitional government to exert its authority across the whole country.
Russia hosts Syria's new foreign minister for the first time since Assad's ouster
Read full article: Russia hosts Syria's new foreign minister for the first time since Assad's ousterSyria’s top diplomat has met with Russian officials on the first visit to Moscow by a member of the new government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted.
France’s highest court upholds some of Bashar Assad’s legal protections, but permits future warrants
Read full article: France’s highest court upholds some of Bashar Assad’s legal protections, but permits future warrantsFrance’s highest court has upheld some of Bashar Assad’s immunity as a former head of state.
More than 1,400 killed in sectarian violence in coastal Syria in March, report finds
Read full article: More than 1,400 killed in sectarian violence in coastal Syria in March, report findsA Syrian government investigation says more than 1,400 people died in sectarian violence along the coast earlier this year.
US envoy doubles down on support for Syria's government and criticizes Israel's intervention
Read full article: US envoy doubles down on support for Syria's government and criticizes Israel's interventionA U.S. envoy is reaffirming Washington's support for Syria's new government and telling The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that there is "no Plan B" for uniting the country.
Syria's Druze find bodies in the streets while searching for loved ones after days of clashes
Read full article: Syria's Druze find bodies in the streets while searching for loved ones after days of clashesMembers of Syria's Druze community are searching for loved ones and counting their dead after days of clashes in a southern province that left bloodied bodies of civilians on the streets and homes looted.
Key players in Syria's latest eruption of violence, from the Druze and Bedouin to government forces
Read full article: Key players in Syria's latest eruption of violence, from the Druze and Bedouin to government forcesClashes that shook southern Syria this week have killed hundreds of people, including civilians, and drawn in an array of both local and international players, harking back to the dynamics of the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
Syrian forces who fought Druze militias leave Sweida province under a ceasefire
Read full article: Syrian forces who fought Druze militias leave Sweida province under a ceasefireSyrian government forces have started withdrawing from the southern province of Sweida following days of vicious clashes with militias from the Druze minority.
Syrian government and Druze minority leaders announce a new ceasefire
Read full article: Syrian government and Druze minority leaders announce a new ceasefireSyrian officials and Druze leaders have announced a new ceasefire after days of violent clashes, but Israel has continued its airstrikes after intervening.
Syria announces ceasefire after sectarian clashes, but more fighting and abuse alleged
Read full article: Syria announces ceasefire after sectarian clashes, but more fighting and abuse allegedSyria's defense minister has announced a ceasefire just hours after government forces entered a key city in the volatile Sweida province.
Here's what triggered the latest deadly violence in Syria, and why it matters
Read full article: Here's what triggered the latest deadly violence in Syria, and why it mattersClashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups have escalated, drawing Israeli intervention and raising fears of a breakdown in the country’s fragile postwar order.
Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces clash with Druze militias
Read full article: Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces clash with Druze militiasIsrael has struck military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces and Bedouin tribes clash with Druze militias.
With sanctions lifted, Syria looks to solar power as more than a patchwork fix to its energy crisis
Read full article: With sanctions lifted, Syria looks to solar power as more than a patchwork fix to its energy crisisSyria is working to rebuild its energy sector after years of civil war and crippling sanctions.
Trump and Netanyahu take a victory lap to mark strikes on Iran nuclear facilities
Read full article: Trump and Netanyahu take a victory lap to mark strikes on Iran nuclear facilitiesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is telling President Donald Trump that he is nominating the U.S. leader for a Nobel Peace Prize.
UK foreign secretary visits Syria, renewing ties after 14 years of conflict
Read full article: UK foreign secretary visits Syria, renewing ties after 14 years of conflictBritish Foreign Secretary David Lammy has met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus marking the restoration of relations between the two countries after years of tension.
The US and Iran have had bitter relations for decades. After the bombs, a new chapter begins
Read full article: The US and Iran have had bitter relations for decades. After the bombs, a new chapter beginsA new chapter in U.S.-Iran relations is about to be written, whether for the better or the even worse.
This is what could happen next after an Israel-Iran ceasefire
Read full article: This is what could happen next after an Israel-Iran ceasefireThis week’s whipsaw chain of events involving Iran, Israel and the United States that culminated in a surprise ceasefire has raised many questions about how the Trump administration will approach the Middle East going forward.
A changed Middle East brings vindication for Netanyahu but comes at a cost for Israel
Read full article: A changed Middle East brings vindication for Netanyahu but comes at a cost for IsraelIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likes to remind people that in the disorienting first days after Hamas’ Oct_ 7, 2023, attack, he predicted Israel would “change the Middle East.”.
The fighting between Iran and Israel raises questions about Russia's influence in the Middle East
Read full article: The fighting between Iran and Israel raises questions about Russia's influence in the Middle EastWhen the United States joined Israel this weekend in attacking Iran’s nuclear sites, the outrage and condemnation flowed from Russia.
Erdogan vows to boost Turkey's missile production as Israel-Iran war escalates
Read full article: Erdogan vows to boost Turkey's missile production as Israel-Iran war escalatesTurkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to step up the production of medium- and long-range missiles in a sign that the Israel-Iran war could trigger a new arms race in the region.
Russia’s strong ties with both Israel and Iran could help it emerge as a power broker
Read full article: Russia’s strong ties with both Israel and Iran could help it emerge as a power brokerRussia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.
Israel's attack on Iran was years in the making. How did they get here?
Read full article: Israel's attack on Iran was years in the making. How did they get here?Israel’s massive strike on Iran on Friday morning came after decades of mutual hostility and a long-running shadow war of covert strikes and sabotage.
Syria's post-war economic recovery will require 'substantial' international support, IMF says
Read full article: Syria's post-war economic recovery will require 'substantial' international support, IMF saysThe International Monetary Fund had said it visited Syria for the first time since 2009 as the country scrambles to rebuild after over a decade of conflict.
Syria will give inspectors immediate access to suspected former nuclear sites, UN watchdog tells AP
Read full article: Syria will give inspectors immediate access to suspected former nuclear sites, UN watchdog tells APThe new Syrian government has agreed to give inspectors from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog access to suspected former nuclear sites immediately.
Syria and Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic cooperation after Western sanctions eased
Read full article: Syria and Saudi Arabia agree to boost economic cooperation after Western sanctions easedSyria and Saudi Arabia say hey aim to boost economic cooperation in what strengthens their interests and creates jobs for Syrians after Western sanctions imposed on the war-torn country were eased earlier this month.
Iran-US talks made 'some but not conclusive progress,' mediator Oman says
Read full article: Iran-US talks made 'some but not conclusive progress,' mediator Oman saysMediator Oman says Iran and the United States made “some but not conclusive progress” in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
UN warns of renewed conflict in Syria but offers hope with sanctions lifting
Read full article: UN warns of renewed conflict in Syria but offers hope with sanctions liftingThe top U.N. official for Syria is warning of the “real dangers of renewed conflict and deeper confrontation” in the war-battered country.
In Syria, a Shiite shrine and community navigate a changed landscape
Read full article: In Syria, a Shiite shrine and community navigate a changed landscapeDuring Syria’s civil war, protecting the revered Sayyida Zeinab shrine was a rallying cry for some Shiite fighters and groups from beyond the country’s borders backing then-President Bashar Assad.
The EU says it will lift sanctions on Syria but leave those on the former Assad regime
Read full article: The EU says it will lift sanctions on Syria but leave those on the former Assad regimeThe European Union's top diplomat says the EU will lift sanctions on Syria’s economy but keep those in place targeting the former Assad regime.
Rubio defends Trump's foreign policy as Democrats press him on Gaza aid and white South Africans
Read full article: Rubio defends Trump's foreign policy as Democrats press him on Gaza aid and white South AfricansSecretary of State Marco Rubio and Democratic senators have sparred over a wide range of the Trump administration’s foreign policies: Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, Latin America, the slashing of the U.S. foreign assistance budget, refugee admissions and more.
Syria's driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus
Read full article: Syria's driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in DamascusSyria's capital, Damascus, is suffering from its worst water shortages in years as a result of the lowest rainfall in more than six decades.
Arab leaders promise to work on reconstruction of Gaza and press for a ceasefire
Read full article: Arab leaders promise to work on reconstruction of Gaza and press for a ceasefireArab leaders meeting at an annual summit in Baghdad say called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Watching Trump from afar, Israel fears being left out of a new Middle East it helped create
Read full article: Watching Trump from afar, Israel fears being left out of a new Middle East it helped createFor decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as a gatekeeper to Washington.
Trump handshake caps Syrian leader’s journey from anti-U.S. insurgent to nascent Mideast partner
Read full article: Trump handshake caps Syrian leader’s journey from anti-U.S. insurgent to nascent Mideast partnerWhen the leader of Syria shook hands with U.S. President Donald Trump, it was a striking moment for a man who was an al-Qaida fighter in Iraq and was detained by the American military.
What would lifting US sanctions on Syria mean to the war-torn country?
Read full article: What would lifting US sanctions on Syria mean to the war-torn country?President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will ease sanctions on Syria could eventually facilitate the country’s recovery from years of civil war and transform the lives of everyday Syrians.
Live updates: Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new president could mark a turning point for the Mideast
Read full article: Live updates: Trump’s meeting with Syria’s new president could mark a turning point for the MideastPresident Donald Trump has met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia.
Trump appeals for Qatar's help in persuading Iran to give up its nuclear program
Read full article: Trump appeals for Qatar's help in persuading Iran to give up its nuclear programPresident Donald Trump is urging Qatar to use its influence over Iran to persuade the country’s leadership to reach an agreement with the U.S. over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Trump says he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to restore relations with new leader
Read full article: Trump says he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to restore relations with new leaderPresident Donald Trump says he will move to normalize relations with Syria and lift sanctions its new government to give the country “a chance at peace.”.
Trump starts his foreign trip with a crush of problems — and outsized certainty he has the answers
Read full article: Trump starts his foreign trip with a crush of problems — and outsized certainty he has the answersPresident Donald Trump is on his way to the Middle East, where he had intended to focus on pressing wealthy Gulf nations to pour billions in new investment into the United States.
Syria's leader says his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to avert an escalation
Read full article: Syria's leader says his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to avert an escalationSyrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa says that his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to prevent recent hostilities from getting out of control.
What is behind the latest round of clashes in Syria between Druze and pro-government gunmen
Read full article: What is behind the latest round of clashes in Syria between Druze and pro-government gunmenFour days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and members of a minority sect in Syria have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence.
At least 10 dead in Syria after sectarian clashes in Druze suburb of Damascus
Read full article: At least 10 dead in Syria after sectarian clashes in Druze suburb of DamascusA war monitor and an activist group say clashes broke out in the Syrian capital between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters.
Syria's Kurds call for a democratic state that protects their ethnic rights
Read full article: Syria's Kurds call for a democratic state that protects their ethnic rightsRepresentatives of Kurdish groups in Syria are calling for a democratic state that gives the country’s Kurds their ethnic rights after the fall of Bashar Assad.
New Syrian foreign minister attends UN Security Council in first US appearance since Assad's fall
Read full article: New Syrian foreign minister attends UN Security Council in first US appearance since Assad's fallSyrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has attended a U_N_ Security Council briefing, raising his country’s new flag at the international body and saying he represents a "new Syria.”.
Baghdad invites new Syrian president to a summit, sparking political division in Iraq
Read full article: Baghdad invites new Syrian president to a summit, sparking political division in IraqThe official invitation extended by Iraq to new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to attend the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad has triggered sharp political divisions within Iraq.
US to withdraw 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 to help counter IS militants
Read full article: US to withdraw 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 to help counter IS militantsThe U.S. will withdraw about 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 to work with Kurdish allies to counter the Islamic State group.
Israel says it will keep troops in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely. What does that mean?
Read full article: Israel says it will keep troops in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely. What does that mean?Israel’s defense minister says its troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely
Read full article: Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitelyIsrael’s defense minister says troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely.
Lebanese president says Hezbollah disarmament will come through dialogue not 'force'
Read full article: Lebanese president says Hezbollah disarmament will come through dialogue not 'force'Lebanon’s president says the disarmament of the militant group Hezbollah will come through negotiations as part of a national defense strategy and not through “force.”.
Trump opens window for a deal with Iran but issues warning if things don't work out
Read full article: Trump opens window for a deal with Iran but issues warning if things don't work outPresident Donald Trump is betting that a beleaguered Iran is so vulnerable following a tumultuous 18 months in the Middle East that it might finally be ready to abandon its nuclear program.
In a turbulent time, Turkey lays claim to a role of stability for Europe, Syria and global trade
Read full article: In a turbulent time, Turkey lays claim to a role of stability for Europe, Syria and global tradeTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday sought to position his country as a point of stability in an increasingly tumultuous world, saying Turkey was essential for European security and able to span geopolitical divisions over Ukraine, Syria and U.
South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Syria, a longtime friend of rival North Korea
Read full article: South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Syria, a longtime friend of rival North KoreaSouth Korea has established diplomatic relations with Syria’s new Islamist government months after longtime leader Bashar Assad was ousted.
Kurdish fighters leave northern city in Syria as part of deal with central government
Read full article: Kurdish fighters leave northern city in Syria as part of deal with central governmentScores of U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters have left two neighborhoods in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo part of a deal with the central government in Damascus.
Syria swears in new transitional government 4 months after Assad's removal
Read full article: Syria swears in new transitional government 4 months after Assad's removalSyria’s new transitional government has been sworn in nearly four months after the Assad family was removed from power and as the new authorities in Damascus work to bring back stability to the war-ton country.
Nostalgia, relief and loss as some Syrians mark their first Ramadan back home in years
Read full article: Nostalgia, relief and loss as some Syrians mark their first Ramadan back home in yearsAs they spend their first Ramadan in their country in years, many Syrians who’ve recently returned from abroad to a homeland they were forced to flee have been celebrating the end of the Assad family’s rule.
This Ramadan, relief and hope bump against violence and uncertainty in the new Syria
Read full article: This Ramadan, relief and hope bump against violence and uncertainty in the new SyriaFor Syrians observing Ramadan, this Muslim holy month is their first in their homeland since the end of the Assad family's iron-fisted rule.
Israel returns to war in Gaza with wider aims and almost no constraints
Read full article: Israel returns to war in Gaza with wider aims and almost no constraintsIsrael’s renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints.
Israel launches deadly wave of airstrikes across Gaza after ceasefire talks stall
Read full article: Israel launches deadly wave of airstrikes across Gaza after ceasefire talks stallIsrael launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, striking dozens of Hamas targets in its heaviest assault in the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January.
Families of Syrians who disappeared during its civil war say the search must go on
Read full article: Families of Syrians who disappeared during its civil war say the search must go onFamily members of Syrians who disappeared in the 14-year civil war have called on the newly installed interim government to not give up on efforts to find them.
Ordnance from Syria's 13-year conflict explodes in port city, killing at least 16 people
Read full article: Ordnance from Syria's 13-year conflict explodes in port city, killing at least 16 peopleThe Syrian Civil Defense says Ordnance from Syria’s 13-year conflict exploded in the coastal city of Latakia, collapsing a building and killing more than a dozen people.
Middle East latest: Hamas says it will free a US-Israeli hostage to keep ceasefire talks rolling
Read full article: Middle East latest: Hamas says it will free a US-Israeli hostage to keep ceasefire talks rollingHamas says it has accepted a proposal from mediators to release one living American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four dual-nationals who had died in captivity.