Mideast News
הפגנה ב דמשק סוריה נגד הצתת עץ חג המולד
It doesn't feel like Christmas in Syria as tree in town square set on fire
Thousands of Syrian Christians protest the burning of a Christmas tree by jihadist rebels in a Christian-majority town; The incident raises fears about minority rights under Ahmad al-Sharaa's leadership, as HTS tries to present a moderate image to the international community
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 17:19 | 12.24.24
דמשק סורים חוגגים לאחר הדחת נשיא בשאר אל אסאד
Arab League members urge political transition and stability in post-Assad Syria
Arab nations urge stability in Syria, backing a political process while avoiding foreign interference; concerns grow over armed factions and leadership uncertainties amid calls for unity and peace
Hudhaifa Ebrahim/The Media Line | 13:47 | 12.24.24
חג המולד סוריה דמשק פינת יא אללה
A Sunni Christmas? Syria's Christians uneasy about Islamists under new regime
Ahmad al-Sharaa’s leadership promises unity and respect for Christians, but fears persist over minority treatment and emigration; Lebanon’s economic crisis dims celebrations, with southern villages lacking power as residents rebuild from devastation
Lior Ben Ari | 09:12 | 12.24.24
דמשק סורים חוגגים לאחר הדחת נשיא בשאר אל אסאד
After losing Syria, Iran is considering turning Beirut into a 'smuggling hub'
An anonymous source 'familiar with discussions in Tehran' warns in the London Times that the Islamic Republic is exploring the possibility of smuggling weapons to Hezbollah through the Lebanese capital's airport, a move that could lead to the collapse of the cease-fire
Ynet, News Agencies | 15:06 | 12.23.24
מנהיגh מליציות פרו איראניות בעיראק
Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq agree to stop attacking Israel, a senior official explains why
Iraq's pro-Iranian militia Al-Nujaba Movement has reached an agreement with the Iraqi prime minister to halt military operations against Israel, according to a report in Lebanon; 'The resistance will stop operations in support of Gaza and will not interfere in political changes in Syria' a senior militia official explained.
Lior Ben Ari | 12:50 | 12.23.24
משבר כלכלי באיראן
Iranian discontent brews amid crippling power shortage
Analysis: Iran's devastating economic situation threatens to push frustrated population further amid losses to Hezbollah and fall of Assad regime
Doron Paskin/Calcalist | 23:44 | 12.22.24
מנהיג איראן עלי חמינאי נאום טהרן
Iran's Khamenei asserts 'Zionists haven’t won' in Syria
Iranian supreme leader dismisses claims Hamas and Hezbollah are proxies, saying they act on faith, warns post-Assad Syria’s youth may rise up against its leaders
Lior Ben Ari, news agencies | 17:46 | 12.22.24
אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
US drops $10 million bounty on new Syrian ruler
US delegation meets Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf calls him 'pragmatic' and voices hope for Syrian-led future; announcement follows US strike killing Islamic State leader in Syria Abu Yusif
Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari | 21:51 | 12.20.24
אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
Syria tired of war, poses no threat, rebel leader says
Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Al-Golani says sanctions imposed on Syria under deposed leader Bashar Assad should be lifted and that his HTS group was a victim of the regime; assures West he does not seek to turn Syria into Afghanistan   
ynet | 10:04 | 12.19.24
איראן חשמל טהרן
Iran's currency plunges to historic low as Tehran turns off the street lights
Since Trump's election victory, the Islamic Republic's currency has lost more than 10% of its value; At the same time, Iran's energy crisis is also worsening, despite its vast oil and gas reserves: the electricity grid is shaky due to sanctions, and now that a cold wave has arrived, there is not enough for everyone  
News Agencies | 13:59 | 12.18.24
אמיר קטאר, תמים בן חמד אל-ת'אני עזב במחאה את ועידת הליגה הערבית בטוניז
'Shooting in all directions': How Qatar is grabbing a foothold in Syria
Doha is actively working to secure its place and interests in the region by coordinating with Turkey while masquerading as default mediator;  How will this affect Israel? 
Lior Ben Ari | 09:39 | 12.18.24
מלך ירדן עבדאללה,בשאר אל אסד , סוריה חוגגים לוחם לוחמים סורים הדחה נשיא בשאר אל אסאד
Concerns for Jordan’s future: Why it’s not another Syria
Liberal regime with legitimacy, space for opposition, mostly homogeneous society and strong Western ties: Despite concerns for kingdom's future, it’s far more stable than Assad’s Syria; 'It’s hard to go against Jordan,' expert says; here’s why a rebellion is unlikely
Lior Ben Ari | 19:53 | 12.16.24
בשאר אל-אסד
In first statement after ouster, Bashar Assad says 'did not flee'
Ousted Syrian dictator says 'did not abandon Syria' but was forced to evacuate Russian air base in Latakia, where he was monitoring the fighting
Lior Ben Ari | 17:56 | 12.16.24
רוסיה דגל האופוזיציה הסורית מונף ב שגרירות סוריה ב מוסקבה
Syria unveils new three-starred flag after Assad’s fall
The new Syria is adjusting not only to streets free of statues of Hafez Assad and portraits of his son Bashar but also to the 'Independence Flag,' a 96-year-old banner revived by the rebels, which was, in fact, Syria's first official national flag
Lior Ben Ari | 14:46 | 12.16.24
נשיא טורקיה רג'פ טראיפ ארדואן
Turkey quick to establish facts on the ground in Syria, offers military training
Ankara reopens Damascus embassy 15 years after it closed during civil war atrocities; Turkish defense minister says no signs of ISIS resurgence, wants U.S. troops out and their Kurdish coalition partners eliminated 
News Agencies | 17:12 | 12.15.24
איראן פרסטו אחמדי זמרת בת 27 הופיעה בלי חיג'אב נעצרה
1.6 million views on YouTube: Iranian singer arrested after performing without hijab
Parastoo Ahmadi, 27, defies Iran’s ban on women singing solo before men in viral live performance, sparking global headlines; security forces raid her home, arresting her and two band members for challenging Iran’s modesty laws
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 14:11 | 12.15.24
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in Tehran
Iran will not impede IAEA access, head of UN atomic watchdog says
UN agency report claims Tehran has agreed to stricter monitoring at Fordow nuclear facility following significant acceleration in uranium enrichment nearing weapons-grade levels; 'We have not created and will not create any obstacles,' Iranian official says
Reuters | 12:42 | 12.14.24
סוריה חלב חיילים של צבא בשאר אסד ש נפלו ב שבי של מתנגדיו
Corruption and dependence on Iran and Hezbollah: How Assad's army collapsed
Assad's allies helped him rule Syria, but as soon as they left, the army experienced massive desertions and the civil war was decided  
Reuters | 12:07 | 12.13.24
נשיא טורקיה רג'פ טראיפ ארדואן
Turkey sends intelligence head to Syria in bid to secure country's future
Erdogan reaches for foothold in the region, sending to first official to post-Assad Syria; Blinken heads to Ankara to discuss future with US-backed Kurdish fighters
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 00:01 | 12.13.24
הכוחות הסוריים הדמוקרטיים
US-backed, Erdogan’s rivals and tied to Israel: Who are Syria’s Kurdish forces?
Despite Assad’s fall, Syria rife with militias and terror groups clashing over opposing interests; US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Kurdish-led group active for 9 years, fight ISIS and Turkish-backed rebels while seeing Israel as a model
Lior Ben Ari | 23:24 | 12.11.24
סוריה הצתת קבר חאפז אסד
Syrian rebels torch tomb of Hafez Assad in act of 'vengeance'
Family mausoleum in Latakia province, a stronghold of the Alawite Muslim sect, served as a pilgrimage site during Bashar Assad's rule over Syria
Lior Ben Ari | 17:57 | 12.11.24
עלי חמינאי, מנהיגה העליון של איראן, בנאום: "אין ספק שמה שהתרחש בסוריה תוכנן בחדר הפיקוד האמריקני והישראלי"
Iran's Khamenei says Assad's fall is US-Israel plot
Iran’s Supreme Leader accused the US and Israel of overthrowing the Assad regime in Syria, as tensions rise in Tehran; Revolutionary Guard commanders engage in a blame game, with criticism mounting against Quds Force leadership over Iran’s collapsing influence in Syria and the region
Lior Ben Ari | 12:18 | 12.11.24
קמישלי
Rebels take over 70% of Syria, as Israeli strikes on country's military sites terrifies residents
Leading Syrian rebel faction has remained silent about Israeli strikes on Syrian government military infrastructure; Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in the northwest and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast are trying to reach a permanent cease-fire to ensure 'a political process for Syria’s future'
Lior Ben Ari | 10:47 | 12.11.24
חות'ים מפגינים בתימן
Yemenis wish for fall of the Houthis just as Damascus was liberated from Assad
The collapse of the Axis of Resistance emboldens Yemeni dissidents to hope for the fall of the Houthis; Political researcher in Yemen says: 'What happened in Syria should worry the Houthis' 
Lior Ben Ari | 00:30 | 12.11.24
מקום חיסולו של נסראללה בדאחייה
Nasrallah assassination site becomes pilgrimage center
Although a funeral date has not yet been set for former Hezbollah Secretary-General in Beirut, his supporters and followers have established a commemoration site in his honor  
Lior Ben Ari | 22:22 | 12.10.24
שקי גופות שעברו עינויים בית חולים בפרברי דמשק סוריה
Syrian rebels swear to take revenge after freeing Assad prisoners
Rebel leader says will come after officials in Assad's regime and accuses them of war crimes after prisons holding his opposers are emptied, and they show signs of torture and abuse
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 15:52 | 12.10.24
עלי חמינאי
Fall of Assad sparks blame game among Iranian leadership
IRGC official blasts Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani, accusing him of inaction as Iranian allies collapsed across region, says no one in Tehran anticipated Assad fleeing Syria, leaving Iranian assets and interests compromised
Ynet | 10:51 | 12.10.24
מעבר בין סוריה ל לבנון אל-מסנע ג'דידה ג'דידת יאבוס מעברים יא אללה
Top Assad regime officials find refuge in Beirut's finest hotels
Senior members of the deposed Syrian regime in Lebanon after fleeing to Hezbollah’s protection as rebel forces approached Damascus; coordinated escapes, bribes, and secret crossings highlight the regime’s collapse
ynet correspondents | 09:21 | 12.10.24
Assads acclimate to their new luxurious life in Russia
The fugitive Syrian dictator is believed to be in Moscow with his wife and three children, and is said to have more than $2 billion in assets; Meanwhile, Asma Assad battles cancer for the second time 
Ynet, News Agencies | 22:58 | 12.09.24
כלא סידנאיא ממנו שחררו אסירים
Syrian rebels free prisoners from notorious Assad prison, search for secret cells
White Helmets teams, equipped with search dogs and rescue specialists, scour Saydnaya prison for underground cells hidden behind walls and armored doors; while some located, others remain inaccessible, leaving prisoners’ fates unknown
News agencies | 14:11 | 12.09.24
הדרוזים בסוריה
'Syrians are rid of a tyrant': Israeli and Syrian Druze celebrate Assad's fall
Syrian Druze rebel commander tells Ynet about their desire to break free from ousted Syrian dictator's rule and deep connection with Israeli counterparts
Einav Halabi | 00:40 | 12.09.24
סוריה הברחה הברחות סמים סם המרץ קפטגון
'Poor man's cocaine': What’s next for Assad’s drug empire after his fall?
Syria’s booming Captagon trade fueled regime’s economy, financed Hamas and Hezbollah, and wreaked havoc on Jordan; with Assad gone, questions loom over the future of this lucrative yet destabilizing industry
Lior Ben Ari | 21:43 | 12.08.24
נשיא סוריה בשאר אסד נשיא רוסיה ולדימיר פוטין ביקור מוסקבה
Assad flees to Moscow with family, Kremlin confirms
Ousted Syrian dictator arrives in Moscow with his family and granted humanitarian asylum, Kremlin source says; Russia, Assad’s main patron, claimes he 'resigned' hours after rebels swiftly advanced into Damascus and toppled his regime
Lior Ben Ari, news agencies | 20:54 | 12.08.24
אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
Jihadist leader proclaims victory in Damascus: 'We have defeated the criminal, the future is ours'
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, declares, 'No turning back' after Assad's fall; curfew in place amid unrest, while Iran calls for calm, and Ukraine mocks Russia: 'Dictators who bet on Putin will fall'
Lior Ben Ari, news agencies | 19:38 | 12.08.24
חדרי הארמון הנשיאותי של אסד לאחר פשיטת המורדים
'Make yourselves at home': Syrian rebels reach Assad's palace
Clips show rebels and local residents enter and loot deposed leader's Damascus residence, including his prestigious luxury car collection
Lior Ben Ari | 17:21 | 12.08.24
סוריה מורדים נפילת נפילה שלטון אסד
Where in the world is Assad? Russia claims he stepped down and left Syria; sources say his plane crashed
Rebel sources tell CNN a search for the ousted leader is underway and military and intelligence officials are being questioned; other sources say plane movements on radar are inexplicable and it may have been shot down  
Lior Ben Ari | 15:10 | 12.08.24
יחיא אל-כרדי
Syrian exiles prepare to head home, send messages of peace to Israel
Journalist Nur Golan says Syrians want to rebuild their country and live in peace and stability; Opposition activist accuses UN of ignoring the suffering of Syrians and working for Iran, Russia 
Lior Ben Ari, Alexandra Lukash | 14:19 | 12.08.24
רכב משוריין של צבא סוריה עולה באש בחמה
Assad regime ends; dictator's plane disappears from radar after leaving Damascus
Military chiefs inform ranks that the regime has fallen; Syrian prime minister says ready to support any continuity of governance chosen by the people
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 08:27 | 12.08.24
שיירה של צבא אסד עוזבת את חומס
Syrian rebels announce full control of Homs, push toward Damascus as Assad regime falters
Syrian army reportedly retreats as rebels rally toward capital; US officials predict Assad's regime could fall 'by next week'; Iran reportedly evacuated senior IRGC commanders; Assad denies fleeing, but his location remains unknown
Lior Ben Ari, news agencies | 02:08 | 12.08.24
Tahrir al-Sham members on the frontlines of battle against the Syrian regime
On Israel's doorstep: Sunni rebels capture Quneitra in southern Syria
Following unprecedented advances by HTS and other rebel groups in the cities of Hama and Daraa, sources confirm they have taken over Quneitra province in southern Syria, a stone throw away from the Israeli border; IDF is 'calling up additional forces for defensive missions in the Golan Heights area, adjacent to the Israel-Syria border'
Yoav Zitun, Lior Ben Ari | 14:00 | 12.07.24
מורדים בסוריה השתלטו על שדה תעופה צבאי בעיר חמה שנכבשה במסגרת הקרבות נגד צבא אסד
Syrian rebels rally toward Homs, threatening third major city in country
Anti-Assad forces continue to push against Syrian army while taking control of two critical border crossings; IDF bolsters forces on border; source says Hezbollah aiding regime
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 19:54 | 12.06.24
דיון ב מועצת הנגידים של סבא"א נגד איראן מטה וינה רפאל גרוסי גרעין
Iran 'dramatically' increasing enrichment to near bomb grade, IAEA chief says
UN watchdog head reports Tehran's nuclear program enriched uranium to up to 60% purity and adds rate is expected to more than double itself in the near future
Reuters | 18:45 | 12.06.24
Christians at church in Aleppo
Aleppo’s Christians celebrate Christmas amid changing leadership
After opposition factions take control of Aleppo, the city’s Christian community prepares for the holidays while navigating newfound freedoms and lingering uncertainties
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 14:36 | 12.06.24
סוריה חלב מנהיג הייאת תחריר א שאם אבו מוחמד אל ג'ולאני מסייר בעיר סיור ניצחון מצודת חלב
Syrian rebel leader says his aim is to end Assad regime
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham chief Abu Mohammed al-Golani tells CNN severed ties with jihadist groups, urges US, Russian, Turkish and Iranian forces to leave Syria, seeks to ease fears of Sunni extremism and expresses hope for displaced Syrians to return home
Lior Ben Ari, news agencies | 13:25 | 12.06.24
סוריה מורדים ש נכנסו ל עיר חמה
Syrian rebels enter Hama, pushing army from key city
Capture of Hama, which had remained in government hands throughout the civil war triggered by a 2011 rebellion against Assad, to send shockwaves through Damascus and fears of a continued rebel march south
News Agencies | 16:03 | 12.05.24
מורדים סורים בפרברי העיר חמה סוריה
Syrian rebels advance close to Hama city, piling pressure on Assad and his allies
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Tehran would consider sending troops to Syria if Damascus asked; Russian President Vladimir Putin urges end to 'terrorist aggression' in Syria
Reuters | 07:20 | 12.04.24
מורדים ב סוריה חלב מסירים תמונה של אסד
Sunni rebels advance deeper into Syria, Assad prepares for counterattack
Syrian rebels, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, have captured key areas near Hama and Aleppo, exploiting Assad's weakened allies; As civilians flee, fears grow in Aleppo under rebel rule, with minorities wary despite promises of protection 
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 19:02 | 12.03.24
Cairo talks consider ousted Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan’s role in postwar Gaza
Egypt is trying to broker an agreement in the long-standing conflict between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, and bridge internal divisions within Fatah 
Mina Nader and Jacob Wirtschafter / The Media Line | 18:19 | 12.03.24
Opposition forces on their way to Aleppo, Syria, Dec. 1, 2024
Aleppo and Idlib under opposition control, with eyes on Hama
The opposition’s victories follow fierce battles with regime forces and Iranian-backed militias, reshaping control in northern Syria
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 09:48 | 12.03.24
סוריה מצודת חלב מתקפת פתע של מתנגדי בשאר אסד
From the 'Jewel of Syria' to a symbol of sectarian bloodshed: This is Aleppo
Anti-Assad forces seize one of world’s oldest cities, once home to vibrant Jewish community that fled before 1948; divided during Syria’s civil war, 2016 recapture by Assad marked turning point, but regime now faces renewed fight for control
Lior Ben Ari | 20:10 | 12.02.24
אזרחי אוזבקיסטן בשדה התעופה באיחוד האמירויות לאחר שסורבו כניסה
Dozens of Uzbek nationals denied entry to UAE and interrogated after murder of Chabad rabbi
Uzbekistan’s UAE embassy reports nearly 100 Uzbeks barred from entering Abu Dhabi under unclear circumstances; women and children detained but later released, while passports of dozens of men aged 20-40 confiscated, leaving them stranded at airport
Itamar Eichner | 19:45 | 12.02.24
בסיס אל-נייראב ב חלב סוריה
US, UAE discussed lifting Assad sanctions in exchange for Syrian break with Iran, sources say
The discussions took place before anti-Assad rebels swept into Aleppo last week in their biggest offensive in Syria for years;  If Assad embraces Iranian help for a counter-offensive, that could complicate efforts to drive a wedge between them
Reuters | 15:41 | 12.02.24
President Bashar al-Assad meets with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
At least 25 killed as Russian, Syrian jets intensify bombing of Syrian rebel territory
The Syrian army and its ally Russia say they target the hideouts of insurgent groups and deny attacking civilians; army also says it had recaptured several towns that rebels had overrun in recent days
Reuters | 07:25 | 12.02.24
סוריה מצודת חלב מתקפת פתע של מתנגדי בשאר אסד
Rebels have captured Assad's palace in Aleppo; Syrian president says 'Terrorism only understands power, we will break it'
Two Iraqi militias loyal to Iran are considering deploying forces to Syria, framing their potential involvement as vital to protecting the 'resistance axis'; A militia spokesperson warned that Syria’s instability could spill into Iraq, justifying urgent action
Lior Ben Ari, News Agencies | 17:24 | 12.01.24
אבו מוחמד אל-ג'ולאני
Assad's worst nightmare: Meet Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani
Northwestern Syria is now entirely out of Syrian president's control, mostly due to Sunni coalition known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, a Salafist Jihadi organization headed by an elusive figure who broke contact with both ISIS and Al Qaida to take his group in a new direction
Ynet | 11:55 | 12.01.24
מורדים בחלב, סוריה
US blames Assad's reliance on Russia, Iran for loss of Aleppo control
White House National Security Council spokesperson says US had nothing to do with Hayat Tahir Al Shams (HTS) offensive; Russia vows support for Damascus regime
News agencies | 08:23 | 12.01.24
חלב
Syrian rebels capture Aleppo International Airport amid rapid gains in northern offensive
Russian and Syrian forces continue to launch airstrikes to repel rebel advances, as death toll rises to 327; Syrian regime says preparing counteroffensive; army forces reportedly withdraw from Hama, military source denies
Lior Ben Ari, Niv Shaoivich | 20:03 | 11.30.24
נג'יב מיקאתי
Lebanon’s wealthiest man seeks to bring order, but Hezbollah stands in the way
Long aligned with Hezbollah and Syrian regime, Western-educated billionaire Najib Mikati pledged to steer Lebanon out of its economic crisis but has proven too weak to effect meaningful change on the ground
Lior Ben Ari | 15:42 | 11.30.24
קרבות בין מורדים לצבא סוריה חלב
As Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, army closes airport and roads, sources say
Russia promises Assad regime extra military aid to thwart rebels onslaught; sources say new hardware would start arriving in next 72 hours
Reuters | 08:04 | 11.30.24
לוחמים בארגון המורדים הג'יהאדיסטי הייאת תחריר א שאם חלב סוריה
In Aleppo countryside, the opposition turns the tables on the Syrian regime
For the first time in years, Syrian opposition groups have launched a significant military operation against regime forces, indicating a potential strategy shift for the diminished opposition
Rizik Alabi/The Media Line | 22:33 | 11.28.24
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