But as a new government takes shape in Damascus, Syrians and foreign observers alike worry about how inclusive, representative, and Islamist it may be. The country’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Shara, is a former al Qaeda militant,

In just ten days, on 8 December 2024, a surprise military offensive by the armed factions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmed Al-Sharee, brought a swift and unexpected end to the bloody chapter of the Syrian civil war,

An inside view of the Hama prison after the armed groups opposed to Bashar Assad's regime, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, took control of the city center of Hama on Dec. 7, 2024 in Syria. (Kasim Rammah/Anadolu via Getty Images) The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.

The Syrian shrine of Sayeda Zainab drew Iran-backed militiamen from throughout the region. With Assad's fall, they've fled, raising questions about the future of the area — and of the axis.

A fresh drive to bring an end to Turkey's 40-year Kurdish conflict has seen politicians from the pro-Kurdish party meet jailed leaders.

In Lebanon, many saw the election on Thursday of Gen. Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese military, as a crucial step toward bringing stability to the country. It was also seen as a concession by Hezbollah and, some analysts said, an acknowledgment that the group was no longer in a position to paralyze the state.

BEIRUT - Upon assisting Israel’s security and political challenges, following the Lebanon war and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated, “In a region where we will always be a minority,

Turkey will carry out a cross-border offensive into northeastern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia if the group does not meet Ankara's demands, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday, while adding that Syria's new rulers must address the issue.