Middle Orient

Since the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza on March 18, the embattled population has weathered renewed attacks on civilian populations and a massacre of humanitarian workers. In between the atrocities, Eid al-Fitr, the holy celebration at the end of Ramadan, brought mourning rather than festivities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres …

Krak des Chevaliers was built in 1142 and has witnessed one conflict after the next. Standing proudly in the sun on a high ridge in western Syria is the best-preserved crusader castle in the world. Built almost a millennium ago, Krak des Chevaliers sits on what was once known as …

The reverberations from Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary continue to be felt, with Orban’s move to leave the ICC drawing criticism from across Europe. The country’s Jewish community has also been left divided on the ever-closer alliance between the two leaders. Hungary’s decision to leave the jurisdiction of the International Criminal …

Over 100,000 Israelis have reportedly stopped showing up for reserve duty. While their reasons differ, the scale demonstrates the war’s waning legitimacy. No one can state precise numbers. No political party or leader calls for it explicitly. But anyone who has spent time at anti-government protests or on Hebrew-language social …

Israeli forces have advanced miles into Syrian territory — confiscating land and homes, killing farmers, and seeking to divide the region’s diverse population. As it resumes military operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel has expanded its ground incursions across southern Syria in recent weeks, while also launching airstrikes throughout the …

Israel’s army is pummeling Gaza with an intensity that parallels the deadliest phase of the war, displacing civilians en masse from Rafah and Gaza City. Since Israel shattered the ceasefire in Gaza last month, Palestinians have been facing horrors reminiscent of the first days of Israel’s genocidal onslaught. According to …

As Lebanon and Syria grapple with profound political transformations and the long shadows of conflict, the notion of federalism—a once-taboo idea—is steadily reentering public discourse. But in a region where divisions often take the form of sectarian identity, the question remains: could federalism, or a deepening of cantonal structures, offer …

The French, deeply attached to republicanism, have divided their modern history into five distinct republics, each marked by a significant historical turning point. In our view, this tradition reflects their desire to compensate for their brief and unsuccessful attempt to restore the monarchy between 1870 and 1883—an era commonly associated …

Until now, speculation suggested that President Ahmad al-Sharaa might visit Saudi Arabia in mid-April. However, a statement issued Sunday by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a different agenda: President Sharaa is set to embark on two key diplomatic visits next week, first to Turkey, followed by the United …

After Israel killed a string of its leaders, Hamas anointed new commanders to top ranks, this time shrouding their identities in secrecy to protect them from assassination. Israel vowed to crush Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack, launching a blistering offensive in Gaza that has massively weakened the …