Trump will need to navigate a far more complex regional landscape, which comes with a unique set of challenges but also unique opportunities to shape a more prosperous region for the coming generation

Ibrahim Hamidi

While Dr Sabirin's appointment carries symbolic importance as the first woman to head a central bank in the Arab world, she needs to put the needs of Syrians—not its caretaker rulers—first

Haid Haid

The sight of Islamists in Damascus has already pushed Egypt back into the arms of its one-time Greek and Cypriot allies

Amr Emam

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has an eye to reclaim Lebanon as a nation for all its people, guided by the principles of the Taif Accord and rooted in inclusiveness, transparency and justice

Houssam Itani

Putin has agreed to provide Pyongyang with aid and advanced military technology in exchange for boots on the ground, but it has come at a terrible cost for the North Korean troops

Con Coughlin

Like many, I was unprepared for the torrent of emotions that gripped me on my first visit to Damascus after 13 years. These are my observations, reflections and reasons for cautious optimism.

Ibrahim Hamidi

Key questions about its organisation, participant selection, and structure have yet to be answered, raising doubts about whether it will genuinely reflect the aspirations of all Syrians

Haid Haid

Despite some softening of Cairo's diplomatic position toward Damascus, it is unnerved by the threat of political Islam nearby and the wider ambitions of states such as Türkiye

Amr Emam

The president elect's threat that 'all hell will break lose' if the hostages are not released does little to bridge the entrenched positions of Hamas and Israel over the terms of a ceasefire

Con Coughlin

Tehran is taking his promise to "open the gates of hell" should Israeli hostages in Gaza not be freed seriously and has reined in most of its militias

Houssam Itani

Major international organisations condemn Israel's conduct in Gaza—and they're not getting enough attention

Howard W. French

Despots do not build states to last; they build states to serve them. When they leave, the house comes tumbling down. Syrians have a lot of rebuilding to do.

Rustum Mahmud