TimeLine Layout

February, 2026

  • 2 February

    Lebanon Says Western States Pushed for Handing Over Assad-Era Figures to Syria

    Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar said the Syrian government has not formally requested that Lebanon hand over members of the former regime. In an interview with Saudi channel Al Arabiya on Saturday, 31 January, Nassar said Western countries had requested the handover of figures from the former Syrian regime. He …

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  • 2 February

    Leveraging the Kurdish National Council and Roj Peshmerga to Break the Deadlock in Syria

    State of Play Northeast Syria, for long the most stable corner of the country, has been plunged into turmoil following a military campaign by the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Following days of fighting, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have now retreated to the Kurdish-majority portions of northeast Syria in …

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  • 2 February

    The Days of the Iranian Regime are Numbered | Special Report

    The protests in Iran this month were the most recent in a series of popular uprisings that reveal a fundamental reality inside the country: The Islamic Republic in its current form is unsustainable. Since 2017, large-scale demonstrations have swept across Iran on four occasions, with masses of citizens from diverse …

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  • 2 February

    A Field Report from Afrin: Assessing the Prospects for Return of Displaced Kurds

    The Afrin Region and the Kurdish Populations The following report, commissioned as a field assignment by the Middle East Forum, is an in-depth examination of the Afrin region located in northwest Syria along the border with Turkey. The region is known for having had a majority Kurdish population prior to …

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  • 2 February

    Some Tales from the Darkside

    The recent demonstrations in Iran that may have killed more than 5,000 civilians and security officers changed from largely peaceful to violent when a number of “agitators” got involved and sought to turn the gatherings focused on the poor economy into a drive to bring about regime change. It has …

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  • 2 February

    Limited turnout at Deir Ezzor settlement center for former SDF members

    Work continued for a second day at the center opened by Syria’s Ministry of Interior in Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria) to settle the status of individuals who were previously affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). A security source at the Internal Security Directorate in Deir Ezzor told Enab Baladi …

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  • 2 February

    Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah

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  • 2 February

    Iran’s “Balkanization” Is Unlikely But Still Can’t Be Ruled Out

    Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, all of which have been Iran’s “frenemies” since 1979 and whose military-strategic interests are increasingly converging, are expected to exploit any large-scale instability that could follow another potential round of US strikes if Trump changes his mind. The Wall Street Journal recently published a …

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  • 2 February

    al-Sharaa from Moscow: Russia Has a Historic Role in Syria’s Stability

    Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow that Russia has a historic role in Syria’s unity and stability, and in the stability of the wider region. He pointed to an upgrade in economic cooperation between the two countries. Al-Sharaa expressed hope …

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  • 2 February

    Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 29, 2026

    Toplines US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the United States and Ukraine have finalized security guarantees for Ukraine. Rubio stated on January 28 that it “could [be] argue[d]” that the United States and Ukraine have finalized security guarantees.[1] Rubio stated that the United States will play a “key …

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