The direct talks between Syria and Israel began last year in April, and aimed to resolve long-standing disagreements as well as active Israeli military aggression against Syrian territory. The talks have hit multiple stumbling blocks, but on Tuesday they will give...
HTS’ First Year of Rule in Syria Defined by Massacres, Promises of Unity
As 2025 came to an end and 2026 began, Syria’s first full year under the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) rule is now in the books. Though the year saw Syria go from an international pariah to a welcomed member of the global community, internally, violence still...
Syria Imposes Curfew on Alawite City of Latakia After Protests
A weekend bombing of an Alawite mosque in the Syrian city of Homs sparked major protests by Alawites across Syria’s northwest, and led to a quick crackdown by the government, which has declared the protesters “Assad remnant forces.” Latakia, a major Alawite city, was...
Syria and Kurdish SDF Remain at an Impasse on Integration Plan as Tensions Mount
An agreement was reached in March for the Kurdish SDF to integrate into the Syrian Army, and while we’ve seemed close to the deal actually going through multiple times throughout the year, persistent clashes and tensions have dogged this plan, and as the first full...
At Least 11 Killed as Alawite Mosque Bombing in Syria Leads to Violent Protests
2025 has been the first full year in power for the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria, and the defining topics of the year have been the return of Syria to international diplomacy and bloody violence against religious minorities within the country. The first of the...
Syria Pushes ‘Final Offer’ for Kurdish Integration into the Military
The Syrian government has introduced what is simultaneously being called a “final offer” and an “ultimatum” for the integration of the Kurdish SDF into the Syrian armed forces, guaranteeing the Kurds significant representation in the military and the creation of new...
Trump Urges Dialogue With Syria as Israel Continues Raids in Southwest
Israeli troops continued their regular raids into southwestern Syria today, sending troops near two different villages in the Quneitra Governorate for reasons unknown. The troops are on the outskirts of Saida al-Hanout and on a hilltop overlooking Ein Zivan. Such...
Pro-Government Militias Attack Alawite Civilians in Syria’s Latakia
Violence against Alawites was enormous in March, when government-backed forces and some security forces carried out a massacre in the Tartus and Latakia Governorates, killing in excess of 1,300 Alawites, mostly civilians. The violence has lingered since then, but...
Curfew Imposed in Syria’s Homs as Sectarian Violence Leave Four Dead
A Bedouin couple was killed Saturday in their home in the town of Zaidal, on the outskirts of Homs, Syria. The two were members of the Bani Khaled tribe, and state media reported that “sectarian slogans” were found at the scene. The tribe responded by attacking the...
Direct Israel and Syria Talks At An Impasse Over Calls for Israel to Leave Demilitarized Zone
In early December of 2024, the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and took power. On December 8, Israel invaded Syria, occupying the demilitarized zone and going deeper, with incursions still ongoing. The first...


