Syria
Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is an Arab nation in the Middle East, situated in the Levant region. The country boasts a rich history and some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
In 1963, Syria's government was taken over by the Ba'ath Party, led by Hafez al-Assad. For decades, he and his son and successor, Bashar al-Assad, would rule the country in a reign that has been highly criticized for being totalitarian and for carrying out widespread human rights abuses.
In 2011, a major civil war broke out in Syria, leaving governance of the country fractured between the Russia- and Iran-backed Assad regime based in Syria's largest city and capital of Damascus, US-backed rebel groups led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkey-backed forces, and Islamists under the banner of Hay'at Tahir al-Shams (HTS).
However, in December 2024, HTS and its allies carried out a major offensive from their base of operations in the Idlib province, eventually fully ousting the Assad regime and seizing control of Damascus as well as other major cities such as Homs and Aleppo. Currently, HTS has been spearheading the establishment of a new Syrian interim government. However, the country still remains fractured between them, Assad loyalists, Turkey-backed forces, and the SDF and its allies.
Syria shutters displacement camp Rukban, symbol of Assad regime, people's suffering
Between 2018 and 2019, the number of displaced people in the camp reached 50,000, most of them women and children, according to a Syrian media report.
IDF kills Hamas terrorist in southern Syria
IDF exposes tunnel where Hamas leader killed as spokesman talks about overthrowing terror org.
Golan Heights: Where history, conflict, and compassion meet - opinion
Israel's paralyzing politics squander historic opportunities across Middle East - opinion
Can Benjamin Netanyahu's government turn strategic failures across the Middle East into opportunities for the Jewish State?
BBC reporters say IDF detained them in Syrian buffer zone for seven hours - report
Feras Kilani, a BBC Arabic journalist, claimed that he and his team were detained, strip-searched and interrogated by the IDF.
Rocket fire from Syria meets recalibrated Israeli deterrence - analysis
The massacres took place in the south, with Hamas terrorists invading from Gaza. How is October 7 connected to rockets fired from Syria?
Turkey backing Syria's military and has no immediate withdrawal plans, defense minister says
Turkey is training and advising Syria's military and helping improve its defenses, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops.
Damascus faces difficult choices in southern Syria in light of Israeli airstrikes - analysis
Tensions flare as rockets from Syria prompt Israeli airstrikes, despite Syria’s new government seeking stability and rejecting hostile acts.
ISIS is still in Syria and the next generation of Jihad is at the doorstep - opinion
Syria is changing rapidly, and not in a positive direction: American troops are withdrawing, foreign jihadists are being recruited, and most worryingly, there’s talk of closing the massive ISIS dete
Israel should attack Iran, even without US support, former NSC head says
Yaakov Amidror, who led Israel's National Security Council, said that Israel is capable of attacking Iran even without American support.
IDF issues evacuation warnings for northern Gaza, Shas expected to leave gov't
IDF announces reservist killed in Gaza • IDF strikes Syria following exchange of rocket fire • UN Security Council to vote Wednesday on Gaza action
Syria accuses Israel of escalation following Daraa strike
The IDF's Northern Command believes that Hamas terrorists based in Syria, encouraged by Hamas leadership, launched the rockets.
IDF strikes Syrian regime weapons following rocket barrage
The rocket barrage was claimed by a Palestinian faction in Syria calling itself the Martyr Muhammad al-Deif Brigades.
Israel Katz says Syrian president Sharaa 'directly responsible' for threats to Israel
The IDF confirmed that initial rocket fire from Syria fell in an open area, causing no harm or damage.