OSCE PA urges Syria to withdraw recognition of “independence” of Georgia’s Abkhazia, Tskhinvali regions

At its plenary session on Thursday, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Porto Declaration and accompanying resolutions, reaffirming strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine. In the document, the Assembly …

Syria plans to return to its drama ‘golden age’

There are plenty of TV and film production centres in the Middle East, notably Cairo and today’s Dubai. Both have invested millions of dollars to ensure that their facilities are ‘state of the art’ and that local, regional and international programmers can …

Austria to deport convict to Syria in first for EU since Assad's fall

Austria is preparing to deport a Syrian man whose asylum status was revoked due to a criminal conviction, in what is thought to be Europe's first forced deportation to Syria since the fall of President Bashar Al Assad. Rights groups are concerned that …

Beyond the HeadlinesDoes the easing of US sanctions on Syria come with strings attached?

During a visit to the Gulf in May, US President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement that he would lift sanctions on Syria. This week, he kept that promise. He signed an executive order on Monday to waive or review penalties, some of which have been …

Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' 'peace' deal

Syria demands one-third of its occupied Golan Heights and sovereignty over come Lebanese territories in proposed "peace" scenarios with "Israel". Syria is demanding the return of at least one-third of the Golan Heights territory …

Can Trump help repair Israeli ties with Lebanon, Syria?

While the dust is still settling after the 12-day-war between Iran, Israel and the US, diplomacy across the Middle East is on the rise.  According to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "the victory [over Iran] opens the path to …

A New Road to Damascus: Trump Administration Lifts US Sanctions on Syria

Pursuant to a sweeping new executive order (EO) issued on June 30, 2025, the Trump administration has lifted virtually all U.S. sanctions targeting Syria, shuttered the Syria sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), …

Austria deports man to Syria for first time in 15 years

Austria has returned a Syrian with a criminal conviction to his birth country in what it described as the first such deportation since the fall of the Assad regime. “The deportation carried out today is part of a strict and thus fair asylum policy,” …

Thomas Barrack: Syria’s Joining Abraham Accords ‘Could Take Time’

Syria and Israel are engaged in “meaningful” talks through the United States that aim to restore calm along their border, according to Thomas Barrack, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Syria. Barrack said in an interview with The New York Times on …

Israeli media: Israeli army established 10 military sites in Syria, 2 in Mount Hermon area and 8 in Golan Heights