West Asian state, cradle of conflict and displacement
Israel has continued to expand settlements in the West Bank, approving over 100 new or re-established sites in 2026. This includes plans to restore evacuated settlements like Sa-Nur and Ganim, with settlers crossing into Syria's Golan Heights. The moves are increasing tensions and restricting Palestinian movement.
Oil shipments from Russia have surged in 2026, making Moscow Syria’s dominant crude supplier after Assad’s fall. The move underscores Damascus’s economic constraints and Moscow’s growing influence in a country with two Russian bases, while Western sanctions continue to complicate global supply chains.
Transitional justice proceedings have begun in Damascus, as figures linked to Assad’s regime face trials in absentia and in-court appearances. Prosecutors say the process is a cornerstone of accountability after years of repression and violence in the civil war.
A string of court decisions has kept Temporary Protected Status in play as the Supreme Court weighs termination actions for Haiti and Syria. Rulings have required due process reviews amid broader political battles over humanitarian protections.
Eva Maria Michelmann, 36, and Kurdish-Turkish colleague Ahmed Polad remain detained in Raqqa after a Syrian government sweep during Raqqa operations. CPJ has urged immediate, transparent information on their status as Germany and allies press for health checks and access to legal counsel.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled unanimously that the government’s interpretation of the 1996 immigration law defies its plain text, affecting how immigrants detained under the policy are treated and potentially prompting further Supreme Court review as the White House defends the policy amid growing lawsuits.
Federal judges in New York and Washington have barred the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians. The administration is appealing, arguing DHS can end TPS, while opponents say the process was not followed. The cases affect hundreds of thousands and come as the Supreme Court weighs related immigration and asylum issues.
The UAE has exited OPEC and is re-evaluating its multilateral commitments, signaling a shift in Gulf dynamics. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remain economically intertwined despite strategic disagreements, with both states prioritizing autonomy and continued trade.
Since mid-April's US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has continued air and drone strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon and near Beirut while Hezbollah has been firing explosive drones and rockets at Israeli forces. Lebanese authorities have reported rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage as US-facilitated Israel–Lebanon talks proceed in Washington (25 May 2026).
Thirteen Australian women and children linked to ISIS are returning from al-Roj camp in Syria. Authorities say some will be arrested on arrival; others are under ongoing investigation. The group’s return prompts questions over legal action, security, and welfare for children.
Australian authorities have confirmed four women and nine children detained in Syria’s al-Roj camp have planned to travel home. Some will be arrested on arrival while others face ongoing investigations; children are set to enter reintegration programs. The government has reiterated it will not provide assistance for returnees.
Australian police have returned 3 women and 9 children from Syrian camps to face crimes including owning slaves. Two women and a daughter have been charged in Melbourne with crimes against humanity and slavery; a Sydney arrest relates to ISIS membership. Government says 53 Australians remain in camps as authorities pursue prosecutions.
Syria has named Abdul Hamid Raslan as central bank governor, replacing Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya, who will become ambassador to Canada. Raslan, a longtime banker and former head of the Syrian Development Fund, inherits a system seeking to reconnect with global finance after a period of sanctions and upheaval. The move follows a wider government reshuffle announced by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
A former head of political security in Syria’s Daraa province has denied war-crime charges at his ongoing trial in Damascus, claiming other security agencies are responsible for abuses. The case, part of Syria’s return-to-justice phase since Assad-era officials face trial, has drawn international attention and raised questions about fair process under a reformed judiciary.
The IDMC and NRC have reported 82.2 million people were internally displaced at the end of 2025, a new record driven largely by conflict (32.3 million) and increasingly by climate disasters (29.9 million). Iran and DR Congo account for two‑fifths of conflict‑driven displacements, while Sudan remains the country with the most IDPs. Displacements linked to conflict have surged by 60% year over year.
Syria has been invited to participate in the upcoming G7 summit discussions as a guest state, a move aimed at boosting legitimacy and attracting reconstruction support. Officials say the talks will also focus on Syria’s role as a potential hub for supply chains in a geopolitically tense region, even as the domestic economy remains severely strained and humanitarian needs persist.
In Damascus’s Bab Sharqi district, soldiers have dismantled a bomb when a car exploded nearby, killing a service member and wounding others. State media says 18 are injured; authorities have not claimed responsibility, though IS has previously conducted similar attacks as the Assad era continues.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s directive has tightened the stance on Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, complicating U.S.-Israel efforts to end the war with Iran. Israeli officials say Trump has pledged to move uranium out of Iran, while Tehran insists the stockpile will not leave the country. Negotiations remain unsettled amid mutual distrust and ongoing ceasefire tensions.
Australian authorities have overseen the return of seven women and 12 children linked to Islamic State fighters from the al-Roj camp in northeast Syria. Several women have been charged with slavery or terrorism offences on arrival; others are under investigation. The government maintains it has not provided assistance for these returns and is monitoring ongoing cases.
Syria has completed the final stage of forming its People’s Assembly in the northeast, with Hasakah and Ain al-Arab voting to fill the last 11 seats. The process follows recent reintegration of the region under Damascus and signals ongoing efforts to rebuild state institutions after years of conflict.
The LEGO Foundation has pledged 97 million dollars to expand IRC programs that use play to help millions of conflict‑affected children learn and recover. The partnership spans five years and aims to reach 5 million children across East Africa and the Middle East.
Syria has located remnants of Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions. Eighteen suspects, including high-ranking officials, have been detained as part of ongoing investigations by Syrian authorities with the OPCW.
Multiple sub-counties in Namisindwa District face widespread ground cracks and landslides as heavy rainfall persists. Local leaders warn of evacuations and urge government relief and long-term mitigation, with a focus on protecting vulnerable communities.
A 34-year-old Australian woman has been arrested in Melbourne on charges tied to ISIS, including joining a terrorist organization and entering a declared conflict zone. Police say she travelled to Syria in 2013-14 and was detained in al-Hol camp before returning from Lebanon. Authorities caution that investigations into all adult returnees from Syrian camps are ongoing as more women and children arrive in Australia.
The United States has left its Baghdad ambassador post vacant for 18 months. President Trump has appointed Tom Barrack as Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Syria while he remains ambassador to Turkey. Barrack’s role in Syria and Iraq is expanding amid shifting diplomatic priorities, with several chargés d’affaires having led the Baghdad mission since late 2024.
The Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi has appeared in Manhattan federal court facing eight counts including conspiracy to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran's IRGC. He pleads not guilty, saying he is in a war situation and that children and women are being killed by rockets. He is held in federal custody amid ongoing investigations into suspected attacks in Europe and North America.
Relatives of Dr. Rania al-Abbasi and her six children have confirmed new evidence that they were killed by regime forces after being detained in 2013. A public condolence tent is being set up in Damascus as investigations continue and a missing-person commission has declared the children dead.
Zeinab Ahmad, 31, remains in custody in Melbourne as she seeks bail on two slavery crimes tied to alleged IS-linked enslavement in Raqqa. Court hearings have heard that she and her mother could be released under police-led conditions, including an ankle monitor and religious counseling; a police witness warns these measures may not mitigate risk.
The United States has expanded deportations of third‑country nationals under deals with multiple countries, including Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. Rights groups warn of abuses as deportees face uncertain futures after removal from the U.S., with many lacking ties to the destination nations.
Lebanon has begun rehabilitation on a second airport in Akkar with aims to be operational in weeks and full service by November 2026. Officials say the project will create jobs in a poor province; the airport could host flights to Mersin, Istanbul and Dubai, with plans for further destinations.
Pakistan and Lebanon are expanding defense cooperation as both countries discuss regional security and the evolving Middle East conflict. The talks, held in Rawalpindi, focus on training, professional exchanges, and stronger military links, with Lebanon’s army chief acknowledging Pakistan’s forces’ operational excellence.
Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National and Dulles International face intermittent flight suspensions during America 250 events, with the MWAA warning that airspace closures could affect schedules through late summer. Travelers are urged to monitor updates and contact airlines for changes.
Britain has expanded counter-state threat powers to target proxy groups and those funding them after a spate of antisemitic attacks linked to Iran and other foreign actors. The measures will criminalise support for designated organisations and enable authorities to act against state-backed proxies.
Turkey's President Erdogan has accused Israel of provoking regional instability and has warned that Turkish and Turkish Cypriot rights in the eastern Mediterranean must be protected. Erdogan says the international community has been too silent and calls for a stronger stance against Israel; Netanyahu rebuttals accuse Erdogan of antisemitism and genocide rhetoric. The situation follows exchanges tied to the Lebanon and Syria fronts.
UNHCR has reported that global forced displacement has fallen for the first time in a decade to about 117.8 million at the end of 2025, driven largely by mass returns: roughly 14.7 million displaced people went home last year, including about 1.3 million to Syria. The agency warns many returns have been involuntary or to unsafe, damaged areas.
UN and UNHCR data show 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced by end-2025, with returns rising to 4.36 million refugees and 10.3 million IDPs returning home. Returns are highly concentrated in a few countries; conditions for repatriation remain challenging amid violence and instability.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey are advancing a cross-border railway corridor linking Mecca to Istanbul, with potential extensions to Jordan, Syria and beyond. The plan aims to diversify economies and provide a land route to Europe, but experts say it will not replace sea transport for oil and bulk cargo. Feasibility tests on the Syria–Jordan–Iraq route have shown viability, with studies due by year’s end.
A Hague court has convicted Rafik A. of torturing and raping prisoners during Syria’s civil war and has sentenced him to prison. The case marks the first time sexual violence has been prosecuted as a crime against humanity in the Netherlands; several other Europe-wide trials under universal jurisdiction are ongoing.
A constellation of leaders has moved toward a framework to end the war in the Middle East, with a 60‑day window for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Israel maintains security zones in Lebanon and voices opposition to the draft agreement, while regional actors warn of consequences if the deal collapses.
The Guardian, The New Arab and other outlets report that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has framed the US-Iran interim deal as a strategic victory while keeping troops in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria. Critics warn the agreement may bolster Hezbollah and complicate Israel’s security posture as regional tensions persist.
A 60-day memorandum with Iran is in place to end the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Negotiations will address Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, and post-conflict reconstruction funding.
President Donald Trump has criticised Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon and suggested Syria could take over the fight, remarks that have widened a rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and complicated a U.S.-Iran peace process scheduled for signing. Clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and threaten to derail the tentative deal between Washington and Tehran.
The United States and Iran have signed a framework to end the broader conflict, prompting direct Israel-Lebanon talks. Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon and will keep forces in place to counter Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks de-escalation and a path to sovereignty. Ongoing clashes persist along the border as negotiations continue.
Israel has expanded its buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria and plans to stay indefinitely. The move has displaced millions, with Lebanese and Gazan civilians forced to flee as troops consolidate control near the borders. The government argues these zones prevent attacks, while neighbors and critics warn of long-term repercussions.
The United States and Iran have signed an interim accord to end the war in the Middle East, but the fragile agreement is being tested as Israel accelerates attacks in southern Lebanon. Talks were set to begin in Switzerland within 60 days, but recent bombardments and political pressure threaten any rapid progress.
A German journalist, Eva Maria Michelmann, has been released from a Damascus prison and has returned to Berlin. Her Kurdish-Turkish colleague Ahmet Polad remains detained and unaccounted for. The German government and CPJ had pressed for her release amid a high-profile case that drew international attention.
In Switzerland, US and Iranian officials have opened talks aimed at a longer-term settlement, while Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran and proscribed leaks around Hormuz. The talks seek to reduce regional violence and prevent a broader conflict, but risks remain as rhetoric from Tehran and Washington tests each side.
Reuters and various outlets report that U.S. and Iranian negotiators, with mediators in Burgenstock, have laid the groundwork for a final nuclear deal within 60 days. A 60-day MoU waives sanctions on Iranian oil, while talks seek to ensure safe passage through Hormuz. Israel and Lebanon remain in a fragile ceasefire, with regional tensions persisting.
The government has announced it is strengthening rules to keep under-16s off social platforms as evidence shows current bans are failing. Ministers are considering stronger powers and new digital duty-of-care legislation to hold platforms accountable for harms caused by content and algorithms. The move follows data showing many youths still hold accounts on major platforms.
Former national security adviser John Bolton has pleaded guilty in a Maryland federal court to illegally retaining classified information. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 28, with a maximum five-year sentence and a $2.25 million fine. He has agreed to debriefing, community service, and forfeiture of his federal pension.