-
On January 10, 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed multiple airstrikes across Syria targeting ISIS as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. These strikes respond to a December 13 ISIS ambush in Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The operation reflects increased US cooperation with Syria's new government after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in 2024.
-
On November 10, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will make a historic first official visit to Washington. He aims to join the US-led coalition against ISIS, discuss lifting sanctions, and explore Syria's reconstruction. This follows his landmark UN address and a prior meeting with President Trump in May, marking Syria's shift after Assad's ouster.
-
Israeli military strikes in southern Lebanon have killed two people and injured seven, despite a ceasefire since November 2024. The attacks targeted Hezbollah figures and infrastructure, raising fears of renewed conflict amid ongoing tensions and accusations from Lebanon of Israeli aggression and rejection of peace overtures.
-
On November 10, 2025, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, marking the first Syrian presidential visit since 1946. This follows the lifting of U.N. and U.S. sanctions on al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, as Syria seeks to join the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State and rebuild after years of civil war.
-
Recent reports indicate the US is preparing to establish a military base in Damascus to support a potential security agreement between Syria and Israel. Syrian President Sharaa seeks a security deal with Israeli troop withdrawal, amid ongoing negotiations and regional tensions. Sharaa's international legitimacy is rising, complicating Israel's strategic calculus.
-
Turkey issued arrest warrants for 37 Israeli officials, accusing them of genocide in Gaza. Israel dismisses the charges as a PR stunt. The dispute escalates tensions amid ongoing Gaza conflict, with Turkey seeking a role in postwar security arrangements despite Israeli opposition.
-
On November 11, 2025, a Turkish C-130 military cargo plane crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border shortly after departing Azerbaijan en route to Turkey. All 20 personnel aboard, including flight crew, were killed. Search and rescue operations were conducted by Turkish, Georgian, and Azerbaijani authorities. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
-
Recent events highlight increased US pressure on Iraq to curb Iran-backed militias amid regional tensions. US threats, drone attacks, and diplomatic efforts aim to influence Iraq's political landscape, with implications for regional stability and Iraq's balancing act between Iran and the US. The story is current as of December 11, 2025.
-
Israel's defense minister claims no territorial ambitions in Syria but continues military operations following the fall of Assad. Syria insists on maintaining the 1974 disengagement agreement amid ongoing Israeli incursions and regional instability. Diplomatic talks have failed to produce results, heightening tensions.
-
On December 19, 2025, the US Congress permanently repealed the 2019 Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Signed by President Donald Trump, the repeal removes major economic restrictions, aiming to facilitate Syria's reconstruction and reintegration into the global financial system under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
-
Turkish President Erdogan discussed with Putin the possibility of returning Russian S-400 missile systems, aiming for a refund in the form of discounted energy imports. The Kremlin denied the request, and Turkey remains cautious about rejoining NATO's F-35 program amid ongoing US sanctions and diplomatic tensions.
-
On December 13, 2025, a lone ISIS gunman ambushed US and Syrian forces near Palmyra, Syria. Three Americans, including two service members and one civilian interpreter, were killed. The attacker was killed, and the incident marks the first US military fatalities in Syria since the fall of Bashar Assad last year.
-
Recent attacks in Syria, attributed to ISIS, have resulted in the deaths of four Syrian security personnel and three US troops. The group claimed responsibility for the assault on a patrol in Idlib, amid ongoing efforts to track sleeper cells in the region.
-
As of January 10, 2026, fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo has intensified amid stalled integration talks. Meanwhile, Syria and Israel have resumed U.S.-mediated negotiations in Paris to revive a 1974 disengagement agreement and seek Israeli troop withdrawal from territory seized after Assad's ouster in December 2024.
-
Israel and Syria have agreed to increase negotiations on a security deal mediated by the US, following recent Israeli military incursions into southern Syria. The talks aim to revive a 1974 disengagement agreement, with both sides seeking security guarantees and confidence-building measures amid ongoing tensions.
-
Syria and Israel are engaging in US-facilitated talks to establish a joint security mechanism aimed at reducing hostilities and restoring a previous disengagement agreement. The negotiations include plans for a coordination unit in Amman and a demilitarized economic zone, amid ongoing tensions since December 2024.
-
As of January 11, 2026, Syrian government forces have regained control of Aleppo's Kurdish-majority neighborhoods Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh following a ceasefire and withdrawal of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The clashes, which began January 7, displaced over 150,000 residents and killed at least 21 civilians. The ceasefire was brokered amid stalled talks on Kurdish integration into Syria's government.
-
Fighting in Aleppo last week led to at least 23 deaths and the displacement of over 150,000. Kurdish fighters withdrew after clashes with the Syrian government, which then took control of Kurdish-held areas, amid ongoing tensions over Kurdish rights and integration efforts.
-
Syrian government forces entered Deir Hafer after clashes with Kurdish-led SDF, who withdrew following an agreement. Over 11,000 civilians fled the area amid ongoing tensions and negotiations, with US and Turkish interests influencing the situation. The move follows a decree boosting Kurdish rights in Syria.
-
Fighting has intensified in northern Syria between government forces and Kurdish-led SDF, raising fears of a broader conflict over Raqqa. Recent clashes follow negotiations stalling after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with U.S. officials urging restraint amid concerns over regional stability and ISIS resurgence. Civilians are fleeing the violence.
-
Syrian government forces entered Deir Hafer after Kurdish-led SDF announced a planned withdrawal east of the Euphrates. The move follows days of tension, with Syrian troops controlling key towns and Kurdish forces regrouping. The situation highlights ongoing conflict and shifting alliances in northern Syria.
-
The Syrian government has advanced into Kurdish-controlled regions, capturing key areas including Tabqa and the Euphrates Dam, amid ongoing clashes and a new decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language. The move signals increased government control and a shift in regional dynamics.