War in the Middle East

European Countries Suspend Syrian Asylum Decisions After Assad’s Fall
European Countries Suspend Syrian Asylum Decisions After Assad’s Fall

Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and several Nordic countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Vienna signalled it would soon deport ...

Syria Rebels and Caretaker PM Discuss Power Transition Post-Assad
Syria Rebels and Caretaker PM Discuss Power Transition Post-Assad

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met with caretaker Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali and discussed the "transfer of power", the rebels said Monday, a day after toppling president Bashar al-Assad. Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, met Jalali "to coordinate a transfer of power that guarantees the provision of ...

Turkey to Reopen Syrian Border Gate to Support Refugee Return
Turkey to Reopen Syrian Border Gate to Support Refugee Return

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pledged to reopen a border post on Turkey's southern frontier with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. "In order to ease the traffic at the border, we're opening the Yayladagi border gate," Erdogan said, referring to a crossing on the westerly edge of the ...

Syria Central Bank Assures Depositors Their Funds Are 'Safe'
Syria Central Bank Assures Depositors Their Funds Are 'Safe'

Syria's central bank said Monday depositors' funds in the country's lenders were "safe" after rebels took the capital, and following chaotic scenes near some official institutions. "We assure our fellow citizens dealing with all operating banks that their deposits and funds at these banks are safe and have not been and will not be exposed to any ...

Hezbollah Shifts from Military Tactics, Targeting Media, Opinion Leaders
Hezbollah Shifts from Military Tactics, Targeting Media, Opinion Leaders

Hezbollah appears to be pivoting its strategy from direct military confrontation with Israel to targeting journalists and opinion leaders in Lebanon. This shift was highlighted recently by the assault on journalist Daoud Rammal, who was attacked by suspected Hezbollah members while visiting his parent's grave in Doueir, located in the ...

Germany: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Will Be Judged by Its Actions
Germany: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Will Be Judged by Its Actions

Germany said on Monday it would judge Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the Syrian rebel group that spearheaded the offensive to oust president Bashar al-Assad, by the actions it takes in government. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would "certainly play a role in the future of Syria", foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a regular press ...

S. Gemayel Gives Government 15 Days to Act on Lebanese Detainees in Syria
S. Gemayel Gives Government 15 Days to Act on Lebanese Detainees in Syria

Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, called on the Lebanese government on Monday to take immediate action to address the fate of Lebanese citizens detained and forcibly disappeared in Syria, describing it as a pressing humanitarian issue. In a letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Gemayel posed several critical questions about the matter ...

The Fall of Assad Brings a New Middle East
AnalysisThe Fall of Assad Brings a New Middle East

It took just 11 days for Syrian rebels to force Bashar al-Assad to flee the country and impose a new revision of the strategic map in the Middle East. The Syrian strongman had for nearly 14 years held off an uprising that many believed had been exhausted. But his downfall followed a series of battlefield convulsions for other allies of ...

Israeli Airstrike Targets a Car in Bint Jbeil, Injures LAF Personnel
Israeli Airstrike Targets a Car in Bint Jbeil, Injures LAF Personnel

An Israeli airstrike targeted a car on Monday morning along the Saf al-Hawa road near a Lebanese Army checkpoint in Bint Jbeil.  According to a statement on X by the Lebanese Army, the strike resulted in the death of a civilian and moderate injuries to four soldiers. Additionally, a missile was removed from the highway in the town of ...