A BBC investigation has found that more than 5,000 people around the world died during November as a result of violence caused by al-Qaeda, its offshoots and groups which subscribe to a similar ideology, commonly referred to as “jihadism”.
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has been unusually quiet about Israel’s conflict with multiple nations in the Middle East. But the weekend’s Israeli attacks on Iran could force him to open a new front in the conflict.
Last weekend, more than 100 Israeli fighter jets bombed targets in Iran. But the first wave of Israeli pilots had a different destination: Their goal was to disable air defense and radar systems in Syria that might be used to warn Iran about air attacks.
In Mezzeh, a neighbourhood reshaped by geopolitical stakes, the lives of ordinary people are caught in a struggle that has fundamentally altered their community, 963 Media writes.
Once one of Damascus’ most prestigious neighbourhoods, Mezzeh has shifted from a symbol of sophistication to a flashpoint in Syria’s complex regional conflict. In recent years, increased militarization—driven by Iranian and Hezbollah presence—has made Mezzeh a target of Israeli airstrikes, disrupting daily life and eroding the neighbourhood’s allure. Originally known for its diplomatic institutions, embassies, and exclusive residential zones, Mezzeh’s transformation illustrates how the Syrian war has reached into even the most established areas of the capital.
Abdi voiced concern over how reduced coalition presence could affect the region’s security, Syria TV says.
Mazlum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has called for sustained diplomatic efforts by international mediators to address escalating tensions with Turkey. Abdi noted that dialogues with the Syrian regime have been in progress for years, despite the limited outcomes thus far.
Russia seeks to persuade Iran not to launch attacks from Syrian territory, Syria TV says.
Since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, Syria has remained closely involved, as Israeli aircraft have intensified strikes on Iranian targets within its borders. This territory has become a hub of military and security activity for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and their affiliated groups.
Despite ongoing airstrikes in Damascus, Homs, and Deir-ez-Zor, Syrian regime forces have not provided official statements regarding these incidents, Shaam Network writes.
Israeli warplanes reportedly launched an airstrike targeting Tal al-Jabiya, northwest of Nawa in Daraa governorate, with no official comment from the Israeli or Syrian authorities.
Sources told al-Watan that this change was influenced by a veto communicated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin to his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler.
The areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern and northeastern Syria have experienced a cautious calm over the past two days following a five-day barrage of intense air and ground bombardments by Turkish forces. This violence had resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, including oil, gas, and electricity facilities, amid accusations from the Turkish administration that the SDF was responsible for an attack on the Aviation and Space Industries Company (TOSAS) near Ankara last Thursday.
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, American officials have insisted that the eventual creation of a Palestinian state that would exist side by side with Israel is the only way to end the conflict in the Middle East. “The only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution,” declared President Joe Biden during his March 2024 State of the Union address. In May, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that “a two-state solution is the only way to ensure a strong, secure, Jewish, democratic state of Israel, as well as a future of dignity, security, and prosperity for the Palestinian people.” And throughout her presidential campaign this year, including after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July, Vice President Kamala Harris has promoted a two-state solution, describing it as the “only path” forward.
It was the first citywide evacuation notice Israel has issued in its five-week war, forcing thousands to flee the ancient city and UNESCO world heritage site.
The Israeli military broadened its air campaign in Lebanon on Wednesday, striking the northeastern city of Baalbek after ordering residents to flee, as the new leader of Hezbollah, in his inaugural speech, said the group is prepared to fight “a long war” with Israel.