Opinion

Remnants of the old regime want to perpetuate the myth that the ruling Assad family and the country's Alawite minority were one and the same. They never were and still aren't.

The past 12 months heralded problems to the east and south, with worries over water security, Red Sea instability, refugees, borders, and disputed gas reserves

It was Syria's first year in over half a century without Assad's rule. Much has been achieved—more than many imagined possible in so short a time. Yet the challenges ahead remain daunting.

The Middle East stands at a crossroads. Protracted crises are colliding with sharpening rivalries against the backdrop of regional and global realignments.

Absent fair political solutions, recourse through arms remains, for many, a preferred means of addressing unresolved dilemmas

The latest peace push involves Kyiv agreeing to a demilitarised economic zone in the Donbas during a meeting in Miami in exchange for withdrawing Ukrainian troops

Hezbollah's insistence on putting Iran's interests ahead of Lebanon's offers little room for optimism

The US is poised to use Israeli gas as a lever to keep Iran on the backfoot following its regional setback, and it could even use it to undercut Russia's economy

Iran's foreign policy architect reaffirms his country's commitment to supporting the 'forces of resistance,' while a former foreign minister demands a return on investment

An economic contraction of 2.8% is predicted next year, having contracted 1.7% this year. Will the regime loosen the reins?

The US president has picked legal fights with big American TV news channels and they have backed down, but the British broadcaster has said it will see him in court.

The gunman in Palmyra shows that terrorism is alive and well in Syria, while the reaction to his crimes shows that it has some support. Yet most Syrians want peace. Now, they must fight for it.