The famed Lebanese composer, pianist, playwright, and political commentator Ziad Rahbani died in Beirut on 26 July, aged 69. He was often labelled a 'genius.' The reality was far more nuanced.

In areas like Daraa and Sweida, local groups are elbowing their way into some of the smuggling voids left by Assad's army and pro-Iranian groups like Hezbollah. That means more to fight over.

An international conference in New York this week generated momentum towards diplomatic recognition, but what precisely would be recognised? The West Bank is splintered and Gaza is under rubble.

Israel's war aims go beyond the defeat of Hamas to the collective punishment of two million Palestinians. It is losing friends fast, while Gazans lose far more than that.

Lebanon's president and prime minister have a big decision to make: whether, and how, to use the army to disarm Hezbollah. Today's army can be trusted, but its task must be well thought through.

Damascus is getting help from abroad, but it needs to set its economic stall out with a plan to rebuild its economy. An organised and disciplined fiscal and monetary policy will keep bankruptcy at bay

A tour of the latest releases from Arabic publishing houses on topics covering fiction, philosophy, science, history, and politics.

It is no easy task to write about a wound that has yet to heal. In Nasiriyah and the Reed Hut, published by Al-Masar Publishing House, Ahmed Abdul Sattar reopens this wound

A new axis dividing Khan Younis into eastern and western sections follows others splitting Khan Younis from Rafah, and north Gaza from central Gaza. The strategy is simple: divide and conquer.