In the midst of the Watergate scandal back home, Nixon needed a distraction. After years of isolation, his trip to Damascus on 15 June 1974 paved the way for future visits by US presidents.

Personal papers of Syria's former vice-president detail Syria Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zoubi's fall from grace and his subsequent 'suicide'

Al Majalla provides exclusive insight into a fraternal rivalry between Hafez and Rifaat that ended up with Hafez remaining Syrian president.

After the October War came shuttle diplomacy. Al Majalla reveals what went on in the room when two statesmen met and managed to draw up a historic peace agreement.

Secret documents obtained by Al Majalla reveal how al-Assad was able to get American support to eliminate his rivals. Aoun was sent into exile to Paris and Geagea was imprisoned.

Al Majalla reveals the details of secret presidential discussions between Washington and Damascus during a time of flux in the Middle East as global dynamics shifted

Douba's name was permanently associated with the massive crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama and was a loyal friend of al-Assad to the very end

Al Majalla reveals the last communications between Khaddam and Hafez al-Assad before he passed away and also the unheeded advice he gave to Bashar al-Assad after becoming Syrian president.

As Suleiman Frangieh junior has emerged as a candidate for Lebanon's presidential vacancy, Sami Moubayed takes a look at the presidency of his grandfather and namesake.