Syria

In what could be a historic turning point in US-Syria relations, the new government in Damascus will likely join the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS)

Ahmed al-Sharaa will be the first Syrian president to be welcomed at the White House on Monday. From Nixon to Clinton, Al Majalla looks back at official encounters between the two states since 1945.

After 54 years in exile, a prominent Syrian novelist returns to a Damascus he no longer recognises 

The Adana Agreement defused a crisis in 1998 on the brink of a military confrontation. As revision talks are underway, Al Majalla reexamines the agreement.

Damascus has already taken steps towards this end, but international support will still be vital. It can also draw on relevant elements from Iraq's governing model.

In Moscow, Syria's new president said he wants to restore and redefine relations with Russia—a former foe. But is this a genuine olive branch or a message to Washington?

Al Majalla spoke to natives of both sides of the river in Syria's divided, oil-rich province Deir ez-Zor over a period of several months to understand whether more conflict might be in the offing

Only 4% of 119 members selected in the indirect vote were women, and only two Christians, sparking concerns about inclusivity and fairness. Meanwhile, voting was postponed in Druze and Kurdish areas.

In a wide-ranging sitdown interview with Al Majalla, AANES Foreign Affairs Chief Ilham Ahmed lays out the lingering points of contention with Damascus and the way forward