President Ahmed Sharaa looks determined to turn the country from a battlefield into an economic hub—one that would also benefit the region. But citizens' basic needs should be met first and foremost.

Ibrahim Hamidi

Backchannel talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv have drawn criticism, but they are crucial to saving Syria from descending into war and chaos, something both it and the region can ill-afford

Alia Mansour

A recent summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin was a much-needed reality check to those who still see the Ukraine war through rose-coloured glasses

Khaled Kassar

Before rebuilding buildings, Damascus needs to rebuild trust with its citizens

Haid Haid

The US president's ambition to become the fifth holder of his office to win the top global award remains frustrated, with a key ally being the main reason

Wahid Abdel Maguid

Two different approaches to conflict management can be seen taking hold in recent years, driven either by narrow national interests or messianic aspirations

Houssam Itani

Today, Hezbollah, Iran, and, ironically, Israel find common cause in their shared desire to destabilise Syria

Alia Mansour

The high-profile gathering of central bankers will put the Federal Reserve chairman's fraught relations with the president in the spotlight. Markets, policymakers and politicians will be watching.

Khaled Kassar

To prevent an ugly repeat of history, a durable solution in Ukraine requires Kyiv's presence at the negotiating table, not the dinner table

Ibrahim Hamidi

The Syrian government now faces another defining test: it can either allow tribal mobilisation to spiral into open conflict with the SDF or reassert its leadership through de-escalation

Haid Haid

Despite mounting global and domestic outrage over his seemingly endless war on Gaza, Israel's prime minister sees little reason to back down, given the impunity he has enjoyed thus far

Con Coughlin

The choice is between the logic of the state and the logic of the militia

Alia Mansour