A change in dress has heralded a shift in the form of leadership before, in Syria and the Arab world, and dressing like a statesman can crown a moment in history

Since Israel's creation, it always wanted to rid itself of the majority of Palestinians who weren't kicked out in 1948. From occupation to genocide and maybe a new Nakba, there's a clear throughline.

An epic journey on foot back up to the devastated north has been one of emotion, symbolism, and defiance. It has also confused those who do not understand the Palestinian psyche.

Alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Ortagus is prepared to furrow brows in a region known for its sensitivities. In fact, she has already started.

The land between the Euphrates and Tigris yields oil, water, and wheat, to name but three, yet it has had no infrastructure investment for decades. As a result, it is unproductive. That could change.

Without a coordinated international effort to lift sanctions, Syria will struggle to secure foreign investment

Despite the fall of its long-time ally in Syria, Russia isn't retreating; it is adjusting—leveraging military assets and transactional diplomacy to pursue its strategic interests across the region

A national army was formed in August 1945 from remnants of French Troupes Speciales. In December 2024, the army fell apart amid a lightning HTS-led offensive that toppled the regime.