Donald Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa have formed a good relationship which has helped Syria immensely, but Trump's term ends in 2028, so institutional relations are now a priority.
African fighters in the Russian army reveal a global system of human disposability, where economic inequality, migration, and war make certain lives visible only in moments of selective outrage
Some in Damascus think female protection units are better suited for police force work, but this would be a huge waste of their valuable military skills
Hezbollah is recruiting new cells in Syria's west, while Iraqi militias are doing the same in the east. For its part, Damascus readies its forces to respond to any threat.
Former regime soldiers are stuck in limbo, as their undocumented status prevents them from working, travelling, and curbs family members' access to education, healthcare and social services
Both Tehran and Washington have powerful incentives to resolve the conflict through negotiations, but actors on all sides have reasons to derail these efforts
Beijing has been expanding its base in Djibouti, the tiny state that sits opposite Yemen across the Bab al-Mandab Strait. With numerous other states also in play, this is a region to watch
From machines that develop human emotions to societies governed by artificial intelligence, Arab novelists explore the promises and perils of a radically transformed future