Syrian Democratic Forces offer Druze villagers assistance in the face of Islamic State attack

As a prominent Druze spiritual leader, Hikmat Salman al-Hijri expressed his gratitude towards the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for offering an exchange of SDF-held Islamic State prisoners for ISIS-held Druze hostages. The Druze are an ethnoreligious group that resides primarily in Syria; their faith is centered on the teachings of Greek philosophers paired with Islamic teachings of […]

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s wife diagnosed with breast cancer

The Syrian presidential office reported this week that President Bashar al-Assad’s wife has been diagnosed and started treatment for the early stages of breast cancer. The presidential social media accounts publicly stated that, “Asma al-Assad is beginning the first stage of treatment for a malignant tumor in the breast that was discovered at an early stage.” The […]

The Pic of the Day: The Syrian civil war rages

Smoke and explosions from the fighting between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels in southern Syria as seen from the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, Wednesday, July 25, 2018. AP Photo/Ariel Schalit Watch the United States launch Tomahawk missiles at targets associated with Assad’s use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people below:

Major Global Conflicts, Weekly Update: Peace talks and rebuilding Syria, informal talks with Taliban, Putin invites Trump to Moscow, government shutdown over border wall

Syrian Conflict The Syrian War started in 2011 as an uprising and protests against the government of Syria led by Bashar al-Assad. Originally, the rebel forces were known as the Free Syrian Army but later splintered into several different groups, one of which is ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The conflict is complex, […]

Israel provides humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees

Crowds of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) have fled to the Israeli border to escape threats including the Islamic State, various militias, and Syrian regime forces. However, Israel wants no part in taking in refugees, Israeli soldiers guard the border and issue warnings to would be crossers. In a video released by local […]

Lies and misdirection: A breakdown of Putin’s statements after the Trump summit

On Monday, U.S. president Donald Trump met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in a long-touted meeting that both leaders claimed was in the interest of de-escalating tensions between the two nations. After their scheduled 90-minute meeting ran long, the two moved to podiums where they delivered prepared addresses to the media regarding the subjects they […]

Israel Rocked By Rocket Attacks is the Iranian Two-Front Strategy Beginning

We’ve all seen how since late Friday, Israel has been facing an unending series of rocket and mortar attacks which has kept the country on alert. Hamas from their enclaves in Gaza has launched, to date over 200 rockets and mortars on the Israeli territory around Sderot. Most of the rockets fell into open fields […]

Norway plans to expand demining efforts in Iraq and Syria

In 2018 Norway increased its donation for demining efforts in Syria and Iraq by $5.5 million, bringing their contributions to $19 million. This is presumably because the territory once held by ISIS required further mine clearance for reoccupation by civilians. This week the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Soreide, stated that, Mine clearance […]

President Assad says Syria is in dire need of reconstruction

During a meeting in Damascus on Monday with the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Walid Muallem, and various diplomats, President Bashar al-Assad announced that the primary effort should of the government will be the reconstruction of the nation and its infrastructure. President Assad stated that, “Reconstruction is the top priority in Syria, backed up by the continued […]