US diplomats meet with Syria’s new ruler

An airstrike conducted by joint Iraqi and U.S. forces killed a senior Islamic State leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay’i, in Iraq, who was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world. The Islamic State has been reconstituting in Syria, carrying out numerous attacks, with affiliates in over a dozen countries across three continents, evolving its organization structure. The most deadly attacks in 2024 were linked to the IS-Khorasan affiliate based in Afghanistan, showing...

Syria's new temporary constitution concentrates power in interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's hands, establishing a presidential-type regime without a prime minister, and granting him the authority to appoint key officials and influence the judiciary. The declaration, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, lacks protections for minorities, leading to concerns from experts about the potential for a shift towards an Islamic Republic and the exclusion of minority rights. Kurds have protested against the document, advocating for fair...

Hamas has agreed to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and the remains of four other hostages with dual citizenship, but Israel doubts the proposal's viability. Hamas has linked the release to demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners, aid to Gaza, and talks on the cease-fire's next phase. The offer, seen as an appeal to President Trump, follows recent U.S. efforts to negotiate the release of Mr. Alexander and others held in Gaza, with ongoing...

Dozens of Syrian Druze clerics crossed the armistice line on the Golan Heights into Israel for a pilgrimage to a revered shrine, meeting with Israel's Druze spiritual leader before visiting the tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Galilee. The delegation faced opposition from Syrian Druze, with the group being mainly divided between Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has shown support for Syria's Druze community, sending aid packages and vowing to protect...

The Israel-Hamas negotiations for extending the Gaza cease-fire were stalled as the Trump administration shifted focus to talks with Russia over the Ukraine war. Indirect talks in Doha failed to progress due to disagreements on future steps, with Israel pushing for Gaza demilitarization and Hamas resisting. Meanwhile, concerns persist over the remaining hostages in Gaza and fears of a humanitarian crisis following Israeli restrictions on aid, despite earlier progress in the truce. Full Article

In a report released by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel was accused of targeting hospitals and health facilities in Gaza, including an I.V.F. clinic, in an effort to prevent Palestinian births, leading to the destruction of thousands of embryos. The commission labeled these actions as "genocidal acts" and accused Israel of collectively punishing Palestinians for a Hamas-led attack in 2023. Israeli officials rejected the report, claiming bias and political...