Abby Sewell

A photo-led report documents French UNIFIL peacekeepers searching the Saluki Valley and uncovering abandoned Hezbollah military infrastructure, including cannons, rocket-launcher remnants, ammunition and improvised explosive devices. The images show the extensive devastation in southern Lebanon following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, continued Israeli military activity despite the ceasefire, and the risks faced by Lebanese soldiers dismantling weapons depots. UNIFIL's future is uncertain ahead of a United Nations Security Council vote, with Lebanon supporting the force while critics question its cost and effectiveness.

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and four seriously injured in an explosion at a site in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s first military fatalities since a fragile Hezbollah truce began in June. Israel responded with strikes and evacuation warnings, while Lebanese authorities reported additional casualties. The incident disrupted Rome talks on a 26 June agreement under which Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army would take control in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Negotiators are considering pilot withdrawal zones, but the US ambassador to Lebanon warned that moving too quickly could put civilians at risk.

Turkey has expressed interest in joining a new international security arrangement for Lebanon after the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission ends. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, army and post-war economic recovery, while France and Italy have also considered contributing to a successor force whose mandate remains unclear. The initiative comes amid a fragile Israel-Hezbollah truce, continued Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon, a U.S.-mediated framework linking Israeli withdrawal to Hezbollah’s disarmament, and concerns over possible Syrian intervention.

US and Saudi strikes on Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have intensified the Iraqi government’s effort to balance relations with Washington and Tehran. The Popular Mobilization Forces, formally part of Iraq’s security forces but often autonomous, suffered casualties and several factions have resisted a government deadline to disarm. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faces pressure from the United States to bring the groups under state control, but moving too quickly could trigger internal conflict, while delay risks further US anger. Analysts say the disarmament process could take years, particularly while the wider US-Iran conflict continues.

The fringe Israeli settler group Pioneers of Bashan has repeatedly crossed into southern Syria to pursue a Jewish outpost in territory Israel occupied after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The group invokes biblical claims, Israeli security concerns and protection of Syria’s Druze minority, while leader Amos Azaria has called for depopulating Sunni-majority areas and replacing them with Jewish settlements. Israeli troops have detained and removed the activists, saying their actions divert forces and compromise military operations, although several ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have expressed support. Syrian and Lebanese officials have focused mainly on opposing Israel’s broader military occupation, but Lebanon’s deputy prime minister warned that seemingly fringe settler movements can grow into influential settlement projects.

US-mediated talks in Rome produced agreement on the structure and guidelines for two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces would withdraw and the Lebanese army would assume control. The process follows a June 26 framework linking Israeli withdrawal to Hezbollah’s disarmament, though implementation had stalled and the proposed zones have drawn criticism in Lebanon because Israeli forces are absent from much of the selected territory. Hezbollah rejects the talks and says it will not disarm, while Israeli officials have indicated they intend to maintain an extended occupation. The United States hopes the pilot zones will lead to broader technical negotiations and eventually a comprehensive agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

A U.S.-brokered framework linking Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon to Hezbollah’s disarmament has intensified Lebanon’s longstanding political divisions. Hezbollah and its allies accuse the Western-backed government of accepting an open-ended Israeli occupation and warn that enforcement could trigger civil war, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says the agreement is necessary to restore state sovereignty. Implementation is stalled over the lack of a withdrawal timetable, the limited scope of proposed pilot zones and uncertainty about Cabinet or parliamentary approval. The deadlock reflects Lebanon’s broader struggle to balance state authority, Hezbollah’s military power and Iran’s influence while avoiding a renewed internal conflict.

NATO plans to unveil tens of billions of dollars in military contracts at its summit in Turkey to demonstrate to President Donald Trump that European allies and Canada are converting increased defense spending into usable military capabilities. The projects include replacing aging AWACS surveillance aircraft and expanding access to defense financing through an EU-backed loan system. Trump remains critical of NATO allies, while the Pentagon is pressing for a more Europe-led alliance focused on freeing the United States to prioritize China and the Indo-Pacific. The summit is also overshadowed by disagreement over a possible U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes because of Turkey’s hostility toward Israel and its possession of Russian S-400 systems. European governments face political and budgetary pressure as they seek to increase defense spending amid concerns about Russian hybrid attacks and the war in Ukraine.

Shiite Muslims gathered in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere to commemorate Ashoura, honoring Imam Hussein’s seventh-century death and its symbolism of resistance to oppression. In Karbala and Baghdad, mourners joined processions and some practiced self-flagellation. Lebanese commemorations were especially shaped by recent war losses, including the deaths of Hezbollah members and former leader Hassan Nasrallah, while parts of Nabatiyeh had been damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem portrayed the current conflict as a repetition of the struggle represented by Ashoura and accused the United States and Israel of seeking to eliminate Iran.

Khaled al-Aydi, a Palestinian refugee from Syria with Ukrainian citizenship, allegedly escaped Hezbollah detention in Beirut after being accused of involvement in an Israeli plot to bomb and assassinate targets in Lebanon. Lebanese officials say Ukraine’s embassy sought to facilitate his departure, but General Security refused because of an arrest warrant; his current whereabouts remain unknown. The case highlights Israel’s extensive intelligence penetration of Hezbollah, including alleged recruitment within the group’s support base and major operations involving booby-trapped communications devices and targeted killings. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have arrested or convicted roughly 50 alleged spies since the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war. Al-Aydi’s disappearance risks worsening already strained relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, provoking anger among Hezbollah’s supporters and creating potential pressure from Ukraine and the United States.

Israeli forces allegedly established a small temporary camp in Iraq’s Nukhaib desert during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials who spoke anonymously. The reported staging area may have supported operations in Iran and monitored rocket and drone activity by Iran-linked Iraqi militias. Iraqi forces investigating the site came under aerial attack, killing one fighter and injuring two, but later found no evidence of a long-term base. Satellite imagery showed a man-made track potentially suitable for aircraft, while Iraqi authorities said the force likely stayed for no more than 48 hours. Israel declined to comment, and the episode heightened concerns about Iraq’s sovereignty and its role as a battleground in the regional conflict.

Syria is attempting to capitalize on its neutrality during the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran by presenting itself as a safe corridor for regional trade and an alternative route for oil exports blocked by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil is being moved overland from Iraq through Syria to European markets, although the route is costlier and less efficient. Damascus says it will not align with Iran or Israel, both of which it regards as strategic threats. Syria’s ability to remain outside the conflict has been helped by the prior U.S. military drawdown, but the regional war may undermine Gulf investment needed for reconstruction and worsen economic pressures on the country.

Thirteen Australian women and children who left Roj camp in northeastern Syria remain stranded after Australian authorities reportedly refused to receive them. Syrian officials said the families were turned back before reaching Damascus airport, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Australia would provide no repatriation support. The episode follows an earlier failed attempt to return 34 women and children and comes amid continued instability, detainee escapes and shifting control of territory in northeastern Syria.

Lebanese journalist Zeinab Faraj recounts how Israeli strikes in al-Tiri wounded her and killed her colleague Amal Khalil after the women took shelter while waiting for evacuation. Faraj says Khalil suffered severe injuries and died trapped in rubble after rescue efforts were delayed; Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli military attack forced a Red Cross ambulance to withdraw. Israel said people in the village had violated the ceasefire, denied targeting journalists or blocking rescuers, and said the incident was under review. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned alleged incitement against Khalil and called for an international investigation.

Israel has demolished homes and other structures in villages in southern Lebanon that it occupied after agreeing to a fragile 10-day ceasefire with Hezbollah. Residents and Lebanese officials say the destruction is occurring on a wide scale, leaving displaced civilians with little to return to, while UNIFIL has confirmed demolitions in several areas. Israel says the operations target Hezbollah infrastructure and comply with international law. Lebanon plans to raise the issue during ceasefire talks in Washington, which are also expected to address extending the truce and creating a framework for longer-term peace negotiations.

A 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah is largely holding and has allowed Lebanese civilians to return home, but its durability is uncertain. Israel says it will continue dismantling Hezbollah and plans to maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah demands a complete halt to Israeli attacks and an Israeli withdrawal. Lebanon’s government wants the army to control the border but has been reluctant to confront Hezbollah directly. The United States and Iran each claim credit for the agreement, which may be linked to broader negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The unresolved disputes over disarmament, sovereignty and Israeli military presence could still reignite the conflict.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 168 children and more than 2,100 people during six weeks of renewed fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah, including children killed in homes far from the front lines. Families describe the deaths of Jawad Younes, Taline Shehab and Zeinab al-Jabali, while the Israeli military says it targets Hezbollah militants and facilities, takes precautions and complies with international humanitarian law. Experts say assessing whether individual strikes were proportionate requires knowing the intended targets and whether the presence of children was known. The civilian deaths have fueled accusations of war crimes and, among some Lebanese, both anger at Hezbollah for provoking the conflict and stronger support for its resistance.

Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa said the group will not recognize or follow any agreements emerging from direct Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington. The negotiations are intended to help secure a ceasefire, while Israel is seeking Hezbollah's disarmament and potentially a peace agreement with Lebanon. Safa said Hezbollah would consider discussing its weapons with the Lebanese government only after a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. The remarks come amid intense fighting, Israeli strikes and large-scale displacement and casualties in Lebanon, while relations between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have deteriorated over the group's armed status.

Israel sharply intensified strikes on Lebanon after a tentative U.S.-Iran ceasefire, killing more than 200 people and wounding over 1,000 according to Lebanese officials. Hezbollah retaliated with missile launches toward Israel. The renewed war began after Hezbollah responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, amid disagreement over whether the ceasefire covers Lebanon. Since March 2, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed more than 1,730 people and displaced over 1 million Lebanese, while Israeli forces have invaded southern Lebanon and continued holding positions there. Israel and Lebanon are considering negotiations focused on Hezbollah’s disarmament, but analysts expect prolonged fighting because neither side appears able to impose a decisive settlement.

Israel launched more than 100 coordinated strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including densely populated commercial and residential areas, shortly after a U.S.-Israeli ceasefire with Iran was announced. Israel said the agreement did not cover its conflict with Hezbollah, while Pakistan, identified as a mediator, said it did. The strikes caused panic and extensive damage, with casualties not immediately confirmed. The escalation followed Hezbollah missile attacks after the strikes on Iran and Israeli retaliation, which has killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon and displaced over one million. Displaced families who had prepared to return home abandoned those plans after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said military operations in Lebanon would continue.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has rapidly intensified after Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and what it called Israeli aggression. Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds in Lebanon and displaced more than one million people, while Israeli troops are massing along the border and conducting limited incursions that could develop into a wider ground invasion. Hezbollah says the conflict is an existential struggle tied to its alliance with Iran, although the decision to re-enter the war has angered many Lebanese. Regional tensions are also rising along the Lebanon-Syria border, while Lebanon, Turkey, the United States and others have explored diplomatic efforts without achieving a ceasefire.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says there is no serious current effort to restart U.S.-Iran negotiations, although he believes Tehran remains open to sensible back-channel diplomacy. Turkey is seeking to stay out of the expanding regional war while criticizing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on Gulf states; Ankara has ruled out a military response after NATO defenses intercepted missiles over Turkish territory. Fidan says Iran's leadership transition has strengthened the role of the Revolutionary Guards. He also outlines Turkey's unsuccessful prewar mediation proposal, criticizes Israel's policies in Syria and Gaza, and says Ankara wants to participate in Gaza's postwar administration and any international stabilization force.

Residents fled Beirut’s southern suburbs after Israel issued a blanket evacuation order for Dahiyeh, raising fears of a major bombardment. The evacuation came amid renewed Israel-Hezbollah hostilities triggered by the broader war involving Iran, Israel and the United States; more than 100 people had been killed and over 83,000 displaced in Lebanon. UNIFIL reported ground combat, air attacks and explosions near the southern border, while Israeli forces moved into Lebanon and Hezbollah claimed attacks against advancing troops.

The article argues that Israel’s campaign since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack has systematically weakened Iran’s regional network, particularly Hezbollah, while disrupting Iranian supply routes through Syria and pressuring other allied militias. The Gaza war expanded into conflicts involving Hezbollah and the Houthis, followed by direct Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and damaged Iranian facilities. Iran-backed groups have largely limited their responses, reflecting concerns about their own survival and increasing autonomy from Tehran, although Hezbollah later fired missiles at Israel and Iraqi militias threatened U.S. interests. The consequences for the regional balance of power remain uncertain.

Syrian television, long a leading source of Ramadan entertainment and a constrained outlet for creative expression, is attempting to rebuild after Assad’s fall and years of civil war. Exiled actors and directors are returning, and productions are addressing formerly taboo subjects such as the Hama massacre and Assad-era prisons. The industry nevertheless faces censorship disputes, political divisions over casting, limited government experience and a lack of funding. Its future will depend on how much freedom the new authorities allow, particularly regarding post-Assad abuses and sectarian violence, while returning artists hope drama can support national reconciliation.

Protesters blocked roads in and around Beirut after Lebanon’s Cabinet approved a 300,000-pound tax on every 20 liters of gasoline and proposed raising the value-added tax from 11% to 12% to fund public-sector pay and pension increases. Taxi drivers and other demonstrators said the measures would worsen already severe economic hardship and threatened further nationwide protests. The Cabinet also reviewed the Lebanese army’s progress in a plan to disarm non-state militant groups, including Hezbollah, with the next phase covering parts of southern Lebanon. The plan’s implementation may be delayed by limited resources, continuing Israeli strikes and disputes over the scope of Hezbollah’s required disarmament.

Most residents of Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood have returned about a month after clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces displaced more than 140,000 people and killed at least 23. Residents say government forces avoided the revenge attacks seen in earlier violence elsewhere, and a ceasefire and negotiations over integrating the SDF into the national army are holding. Shops and traffic have resumed, but businesses and households face worsening economic conditions after losing SDF-linked jobs and essential services. Hopes for reconciliation have been strengthened by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language, making Nowruz an official holiday and restoring citizenship to tens of thousands of Kurds.

An internal report shared with The Associated Press alleges that aggressive conduct by Israeli forces toward UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon rose sharply during 2025, including drone-dropped grenades, machine-gun fire and damage to UN vehicles and positions. Israel denies conducting a campaign against UNIFIL and says it is taking steps to limit harm while dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. The report and UN statements come amid continuing Israel-Hezbollah tensions, Israeli military positions north of the Blue Line and allegations that Israeli forces used herbicides in Lebanon. With UNIFIL’s mandate scheduled to end in 2026, Lebanon is seeking a neutral international replacement or follow-up force.

Lebanon’s deputy prime minister, Tarek Mitri, says relations with post-Assad Syria have improved significantly, with Damascus no longer seeking influence over Lebanese internal affairs. Lebanon plans to transfer more than 300 sentenced Syrian prisoners to Syria and is discussing transfers for detainees awaiting trial, while a joint group investigates Lebanese and Syrian disappearances. Mitri rejects claims that former Assad officials in Lebanon are organizing attacks. Relations with Israel remain more difficult: Israel continues strikes and occupies border positions, while Lebanon’s army proceeds with a phased plan to disarm Hezbollah. Mitri says further negotiations with Israel depend on compliance with the ceasefire, including an Israeli withdrawal and an end to strikes, and supports a neutral internationally mandated successor to UNIFIL.

Lebanon’s Cabinet approved an agreement to transfer about 300 Syrian prisoners to Syria to complete their sentences, addressing a major obstacle in efforts to improve relations after Bashar Assad’s ouster. Around 2,000 Syrians are held in Lebanese prisons, including roughly 800 accused of attacks or shootings, many without trial. The agreement leaves unresolved the fate of Lebanese people believed to have disappeared in Syrian prisons and the countries’ disputed border. Protesters in Beirut welcomed solutions for Syrian detainees but demanded comparable amnesty or releases for Lebanese prisoners, including supporters of Islamist groups that fought Assad.

A fragile ceasefire has halted fighting between Syria's government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after government forces captured much of the SDF's former territory in the northeast. More than 173,000 people have been displaced, with Kurdish civilians fearing attacks and shortages in enclaves such as Kobani and Qamishli, while many Arab residents in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour welcomed the SDF's withdrawal after alleging discrimination, arbitrary detention and poor governance. The Syrian Defense Ministry acknowledged violations by its forces and said perpetrators would face legal action. Deep mutual distrust and resentment among Syria's communities threaten to complicate interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's effort to consolidate power while protecting minorities and sustaining the country's political transition.

Thousands of Islamic State detainees are being moved from detention facilities in northeast Syria to secure locations in Iraq at Baghdad's request. The initial transfer involved 150 prisoners, with up to 7,000 potentially relocated, amid growing instability following Syrian government advances and clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Iraq is concerned that detainees could escape and threaten its security, while the transfers are supported by the US-led coalition and the Syrian government. The relocation reflects the continuing threat posed by Islamic State sleeper cells in both Syria and Iraq.

The United States has shifted its support in Syria from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces toward the interim government of Ahmad al-Sharaa. After stalled negotiations over integrating SDF fighters into the national army, clashes in Aleppo prompted a Syrian government offensive that seized most SDF-held territory in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour. Washington declined military intervention and instead mediated a ceasefire. The resulting agreement leaves the SDF with a presence mainly in Hassakeh province and requires its fighters to join the army individually, sharply reducing the force’s autonomy and influence.

The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), an Iranian Kurdish separatist group based in Iraq, claims its armed wing carried out attacks against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to protect protesters during a nationwide crackdown. PAK representative Jwansher Rafati said the operations were conducted by fighters inside Iran and that the group is supporting Iranians who fled to Iraqi Kurdistan. The Associated Press could not verify the reported damage or impact. The claims create renewed tension for Iraq, which agreed with Iran in 2023 to disarm and relocate Iranian Kurdish dissident groups. Iranian state-linked media accuse Kurdish factions of fueling the protests and supporting attacks, while PJAK has denied or not claimed involvement in the reported operations.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, evolved from a social-services movement into a transnational Islamist network with both political and militant offshoots. Although its leaders say the organization renounced violence and seeks Islamic rule through elections, Hamas and other affiliated branches have engaged in armed conflict. The movement rose to power in Egypt after the 2011 uprising but was ousted by the military in 2013 and subsequently crushed. The United States designated the Lebanese chapter a foreign terrorist organization and listed the Egyptian and Jordanian chapters as specially designated global terrorists, deepening regional divisions between governments that view the Brotherhood as a threat and countries more sympathetic to its ideology.

EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa made the bloc's first official visit to Syria, meeting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and pledging €620 million in aid for 2026 and 2027 to support humanitarian needs and reconstruction. The backing comes as Syria attempts to recover from nearly 14 years of civil war, but continues to face economic hardship, sectarian violence and difficulties consolidating control, including clashes in Aleppo between government forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The delegation then visited Lebanon, where von der Leyen welcomed the army's initial implementation of a plan to disarm nonstate groups, particularly Hezbollah, and called for the November 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire and Lebanon's sovereignty to be respected.

Hundreds of worshippers gathered at Mar Elias Church in Damascus before Christmas, months after a June suicide attack killed 25 people. The congregation honored victims, especially three men who tackled the attacker, and framed the gathering as a message of peace and religious steadfastness. The attack deepened Christians’ fears amid sectarian violence, the uncertain authority of Syria’s new government and continuing threats from extremist groups. Many Christians are considering leaving the country, while survivors and clergy continue to seek peace and security.

The U.S. Senate voted to permanently repeal the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, a move expected to be approved by President Donald Trump. UNHCR Lebanon representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said lifting the sanctions could attract reconstruction funding and private investment, create jobs and encourage more Syrian refugees to return. About 400,000 Syrians have returned from Lebanon since Bashar Assad’s ouster, but roughly 1 million remain there, while returning families face destroyed homes, limited employment and inadequate aid. At the same time, around 112,000 Syrians have fled to Lebanon since Assad’s fall, particularly members of religious minorities fearing sectarian violence, and many lack legal status and documentation.

A gunman who killed two U.S. service members and one American civilian near Palmyra had joined Syria’s internal security forces about two months earlier and had recently come under suspicion of links to Islamic State. Officials had reassigned him to guard duty while monitoring him, but he attacked a meeting between U.S. and Syrian officials before being killed by security forces. The incident exposed a major breach in Syria’s rapidly assembled security apparatus, which authorities say has been strained by personnel shortages and the transition after Bashar Assad’s ouster. It also threatens to complicate expanding U.S.-Syria cooperation against Islamic State, although supporters of the partnership argue that former Islamist fighters generally view Islamic State as an enemy and that Syrian forces remain essential to combating the group.

A deadly Islamic State attack that killed two US service members and an American civilian has renewed attention on the roughly 900 US troops stationed in Syria. The force primarily operates in the Kurdish-controlled northeast and at al-Tanf near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders, supporting the fight against Islamic State and limiting the movement of Iranian-backed forces. US troops first entered Syria during Barack Obama's administration and partnered with the Syrian Democratic Forces after Islamic State seized large territory. Although the group lost its territorial control in 2019, sleeper-cell attacks continue. Relations between Washington and Syria have improved since Bashar Assad's ouster, with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa visiting Washington and Syria joining the international coalition against Islamic State, though Syrian forces are not formally part of Operation Inherent Resolve. President Donald Trump has not indicated plans for a near-term full withdrawal, and US envoy Tom Barrack said the remaining forces will stay until Islamic State is defeated.

A year after rebels overthrew Bashar Assad, Syria has gained some freedom and seen more than 1 million refugees and nearly 2 million internally displaced people return, but the country remains deeply damaged. Former prisoners continue to face severe physical and psychological consequences, while sectarian violence, tensions with Kurdish-led forces, Israeli military action, landmines and economic stagnation threaten stability. Reconstruction has been largely limited to individuals repairing their own homes and businesses, with major investment yet to materialize despite an estimated $216 billion rebuilding cost. Many returnees may leave again because of insecurity, unemployment and poor infrastructure.

A U.S.-led raid in Dumayr, Syria, reportedly intended to capture an Islamic State official instead killed Khaled al-Masoud, a Syrian intelligence operative who had infiltrated the group and worked for interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government. His family and Syrian officials say he identified himself as a security officer before being shot and taken away, later dying in unexplained circumstances. The incident allegedly resulted from faulty intelligence or poor coordination involving the Syrian Free Army, while U.S. and Syrian authorities have declined to comment. The killing highlights the risks of expanding U.S.-Syrian counterterrorism cooperation as both sides work against Islamic State remnants.

Pope Leo XIV is traveling from Turkey to Lebanon to offer hope amid the country’s economic collapse, political dysfunction, Christian emigration and fear of renewed war with Israel. His visit will include prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, meetings with victims and young Lebanese, and appeals for coexistence and accountability. Lebanon’s unresolved port-blast investigation and continuing tensions involving Hezbollah and Israel remain central concerns. Syrian Christians also hope the visit will draw attention to their insecurity and declining presence across the region.

Pope Leo XIV’s first foreign trip, including a visit to Lebanon, has raised hopes in a country weakened by economic collapse, political unrest, the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the recent Israel-Hezbollah war. Families of explosion victims hope the pope will keep pressure on Lebanese authorities to pursue accountability, while Christians and Muslims affected by the fighting see his visit as a sign of solidarity. The itinerary includes interfaith meetings and a silent prayer at the port blast site, but excludes southern Lebanon, disappointing residents whose communities remain damaged and vulnerable despite a ceasefire.

Clashes resumed in Syria’s Sweida province between Druze armed groups, led by the de facto National Guard, and government forces, with both sides accusing the other of violating a previous ceasefire. The fighting reportedly wounded people on both sides but caused no reported deaths. Druze representatives alleged that government forces attacked al-Majdal with heavy weapons and drones, while Damascus said Sweida factions attacked de-escalation points. An analyst attributed the escalation to a retaliatory government operation after local security officials seized a checkpoint. The clashes follow deadly July violence involving Druze groups, Bedouin tribes and Syrian security forces, Israeli strikes on government targets, and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that left government forces withdrawn and tens of thousands displaced.

A senior U.S. Treasury official, John K. Hurley, said Washington is urging Lebanon to intensify efforts to block Hezbollah funding and prosecute people using al-Qard al-Hasan, a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution, ahead of Lebanon’s May 2026 parliamentary elections. The U.S. believes Hezbollah may be moving up to $1 billion into Lebanon through cash, gold, exchange houses, banks and cryptocurrency, with Iran, the UAE and Turkey identified as part of the suspected transit network. Lebanon has tightened airport screening and halted direct flights from Iran, but Washington says further action is needed. The pressure comes amid continuing tensions after the Israel-Hezbollah war, ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and stalled reconstruction funding linked to Hezbollah’s refusal to surrender its remaining weapons.

Pope Leo XIV will make his first foreign trip from 27 November to 2 December, visiting Turkey and Lebanon. He will commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with Orthodox Christians, meet religious and political leaders, and pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast, which killed more than 200 people and devastated the Lebanese capital. The itinerary reflects Pope Francis’s unfulfilled wish to visit both countries and will address Christian communities, interfaith relations and regional tensions. Leo will not visit southern Lebanon, despite calls from local Christian groups, or Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, instead visiting the Blue Mosque.

Clashes erupted at Al-Fardan camp in Idlib between Syrian security forces and French-led militants commanded by Omar Diaby, also known as Omar Omsen, after authorities accused the group of serious abuses, including the kidnapping of a girl. Government forces reportedly surrounded the camp but halted plans for a full assault after other foreign fighters arrived and concerns grew about casualties among women and children. A truce required Diaby to surrender heavy weapons. The confrontation highlights the broader dilemma facing Syria's interim authorities: thousands of foreign militants remain in the country, are unpopular among many Syrians and create diplomatic problems, but forcibly removing them could trigger further instability. The interim government has generally favored incorporating them into the new Syrian army, a policy Western governments have tolerated because alternatives appear riskier.

Nearly a year after the November 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Israel continues frequent strikes in Lebanon, saying they prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding. Lebanese officials and residents dispute the military justifications and report extensive civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The ceasefire lacks clear enforcement mechanisms, allowing Israel to act largely on its own interpretation of self-defense while Hezbollah remains largely deterred from retaliation. Analysts warn that this pattern of persistent, lower-intensity violence could become a model for Gaza after its new ceasefire, although mediation by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey could produce a different outcome.

Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild a year after Israel killed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and decimated much of its senior leadership, communications infrastructure and military capability. Israeli officials say the group’s influence and ability to launch a large-scale attack have declined, but acknowledge that it is restoring its capabilities. Hezbollah says it has replaced lost leaders and maintained its political, social-service and military institutions, while U.S. envoy Tom Barrack argues that it continues to receive significant funding despite pressure on Iran-linked supply and financial networks. Lebanon’s government faces international pressure to disarm Hezbollah, but the financially strained Lebanese army may lack the capacity to confront the group. Within Hezbollah’s Shiite support base, pressure to surrender weapons has instead fueled fears of marginalization and renewed support, including strong electoral results in traditional strongholds. The organization remains weakened and more secretive, but its opponents have not succeeded in eliminating its political or military influence.

Former Banque du Liban governor Riad Salameh was released after posting $14 million bail following a year in detention while awaiting trial on corruption charges. He faces allegations including embezzling $42 million and illicit enrichment linked to an apartment rented in France. Salameh, whose tenure ended in 2023, is widely blamed in Lebanon for the financial crisis that began in 2019, although he was previously credited with helping steer the economy after the civil war. The court imposed a travel ban, and investigators are examining the source of his bail funds. His lawyer maintains that evidence will establish Salameh's innocence, while Salameh continues to face criminal cases in Lebanon and abroad.

Thousands of Hezbollah supporters projected images of former leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine onto Beirut’s Raouche rock despite Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s order prohibiting the illumination of national landmarks for partisan purposes. Salam called for measures including arrests and investigations, while Hezbollah argued that the event was protected by freedom of expression and that organizers had obtained permission for the gathering. The display underscored Hezbollah’s continuing organizational strength despite its losses in the war with Israel and growing pressure to surrender its weapons. Lebanon’s government supports placing all arms under state control, but officials fear forcibly disarming Hezbollah could trigger civil conflict; Hezbollah says it will not discuss disarmament while Israel continues airstrikes and maintains positions in southern Lebanon.

A southern Lebanese village buried Shadi Charara, three of his children and a motorcyclist killed in an Israeli drone strike near Bint Jbeil. Charara’s wife and eldest daughter survived with serious injuries. Relatives said the family were ordinary civilians with no affiliation to Hezbollah, while the Israeli military said it was targeting an unnamed Hezbollah militant operating in a civilian area and acknowledged civilian deaths. The strike occurred amid continued Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, prompting condemnation from the European Union and renewed concerns about civilian protection and enforcement of the truce.

More than 164,000 people remain displaced after sectarian clashes in Syria’s southern Sweida province, including Bedouin families sheltering in schools and hotels in Daraa and Damascus. Families say they cannot safely return because homes were destroyed, occupied or looted, while aid is sporadic and the government has offered no clear resettlement plan. Amnesty International documented unlawful killings of Druze civilians, while Bedouin survivors described attacks by Druze militants. A political solution appears distant as Damascus and Sweida’s de facto Druze authorities remain at odds, with Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri calling for southern independence and the government rejecting the demand.

Shiite ministers from Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and an independent bloc withdrew from Lebanon’s cabinet as it prepared to debate an army plan to disarm Hezbollah and place weapons under state control. Hezbollah rejects the plan as legally invalid and says it will not consider disarmament while Israel occupies strategic sites in Lebanon and continues airstrikes. The Lebanese government fears forcible disarmament could spark civil conflict, while the army has collected weapons caches south of the Litani River but has not located Hezbollah’s heavier missiles and drones. Continued Israeli strikes have caused further casualties, and international reconstruction funding may depend on Hezbollah giving up its remaining arsenal.

The worst drought in decades is severely damaging Syria's agriculture as the country attempts to recover from a 14-year civil war. Wheat production is expected to fall to about 1 million tons, forcing greater reliance on imports and aid even though roughly half the population is already food-insecure. Water shortages have also devastated farms in Idlib and neighboring Lebanon, where Lake Qaraoun has nearly dried up and rivers have stopped flowing. Experts attribute the crisis to declining rainfall, climate change and unsustainable groundwater use, warning that Syria's fragile recovery, food security and prospects for refugee return are at risk. Recommended responses include rainwater harvesting, drought-tolerant crops and more efficient irrigation, but long-term climate impacts could make large areas of farmland unproductive.

IAEA inspectors found significant traces of naturally occurring uranium at one of three Syrian locations linked to the destroyed Deir el-Zour facility, supporting concerns that the site may have been connected to a clandestine nuclear program under Bashar Assad. The particles are consistent with uranium ore being converted into uranium oxide, a process associated with nuclear reactors. Israel destroyed the facility in 2007, while Syria later demolished the site and did not fully answer IAEA questions. Syria's interim government under Ahmad al-Sharaa has since granted inspectors renewed access and agreed to cooperate. The IAEA will analyze additional samples and may conduct follow-up work, while also offering assistance with future nuclear energy and medical infrastructure.

Alawite families are leaving Sumariya, a poor Damascus suburb, after armed men allegedly beat residents, detained some men and ordered families to vacate their homes within 48 hours. Although government officials later said no official eviction order had been issued, continued threats and memories of sectarian killings after Bashar Assad’s fall have driven many residents to flee toward Latakia. The episode highlights the insecurity facing Syria’s Alawite minority and the weakness of state protection during the country’s fragile post-Assad transition.

Lebanon’s disarmament of Palestinian refugee camps may help advance legislation granting Palestinian refugees stronger labor and property rights without Lebanese citizenship. Palestinian factions have begun transferring weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces, but the limited initial handovers have prompted skepticism. The plan aims eventually to establish Lebanese security patrols and civilian Palestinian administration in the camps, which have experienced factional violence and deteriorating services. Hamas and other factions oppose the initiative, while Fatah and the Palestinian Liberation Organization support it and Lebanese officials hope to secure broader cooperation.

Syria’s new authorities are recruiting Kurds and members of religious minorities into General Security forces in Afrin, raising hopes that the state may become more inclusive after years of displacement, discrimination, and sectarian violence. Officials say about 1,000 people from across Afrin’s communities have enrolled and that the initiative is part of a national strategy, while denying the use of sectarian quotas. Kurdish representatives and displaced-person advocates remain skeptical, citing the absence of guarantees for community protection, the voluntary return of displaced residents, Kurdish leadership roles, and an effective implementation of the March agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Some families view recruitment as a route to employment and political influence, but others fear Kurdish recruits could be used against the SDF in a future conflict.

Palestinian factions began handing over light weapons to the Lebanese army at Beirut’s Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp, with additional transfers reportedly taking place at al-Bass camp and planned elsewhere. The initiative follows a May agreement between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to place camp weapons under Lebanese state authority. Fatah is participating, but Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad reject the idea that the transfer represents general Palestinian disarmament, and officials disagree over whether organized and personal weapons will be surrendered. The move is viewed as a potential precursor to the more contentious effort to disarm Hezbollah.

Lebanon released Salah Abu-Hussein, an Arab citizen of Israel, after holding him for more than a year following his reported illegal crossing of the land border. The release was negotiated secretly with cooperation from the International Committee of the Red Cross and completed at the Rosh Hanikra crossing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the return, while a Lebanese prisoners’ advocacy group condemned it and called for the release of Lebanese citizens held in Israeli prisons. The case highlights the continuing tensions between Lebanon and Israel, which have no diplomatic relations.

The Trump administration is seeking to end UNIFIL, the roughly 10,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, arguing that it is ineffective, costly and delaying the transfer of full security responsibility to the Lebanese Armed Forces. France and Italy are pushing for at least a one-year renewal, warning that a premature withdrawal could create a vacuum Hezbollah might exploit before Lebanon’s army is ready. A compromise may include a one-year extension followed by a six-month wind-down, but France opposes setting a firm withdrawal date. Israel has reluctantly accepted an extension while continuing to criticize UNIFIL, and Lebanon argues that its overstretched army still needs the mission to maintain stability.

A U.N.-backed commission found that members of several Syrian government-affiliated factions carried out widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings, torture and other abuses against largely Alawite civilians during coastal violence in March. It found no evidence that the attacks were directed by the central government, while also concluding that pro-Assad armed groups likely committed war crimes. The report documented executions, abductions, sexual violence, looting and attacks on journalists, and identified at least six credible abduction cases involving Alawite women. Syrian officials acknowledged the allegations and said the recommendations would guide reforms, but renewed sectarian violence in Sweida and calls for a decentralized, pluralist state continue to threaten Syria's fragile political transition.

Four Shiite Lebanese ministers, including representatives of Hezbollah and the allied Amal Movement, left a Cabinet meeting in protest against a plan requiring the Lebanese state to become the country’s sole armed authority by the end of the year. The walkout, which also prompted independent Shiite minister Fadi Makki to leave, halted discussions. Hezbollah rejects the plan, arguing that Israel must first withdraw from five Lebanese hills and end airstrikes, while Israel and the United States interpret the latest ceasefire agreement as requiring Hezbollah’s disarmament throughout Lebanon. UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army have reportedly discovered an extensive network of tunnels, bunkers and weapons in southern Lebanon. Washington has indicated it would press Israel to withdraw from the area if the Lebanese Armed Forces demonstrate that they can secure the entire country.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani says Iraq used political and military pressure to prevent Iran-aligned armed groups from joining the recent Israel-Iran conflict. He is seeking closer security and economic ties with the United States, including investment in oil, gas, and artificial intelligence, while maintaining relationships with Iran-backed political parties. The future of the U.S.-led coalition and the status of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces remain contentious, with Washington warning that proposed legislation could institutionalize Iranian influence. Drone attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan and the disappearance of researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov highlight Baghdad's limited control over armed factions. Iraq is also cautiously coordinating with Syria's new government against the Islamic State while urging an inclusive political process and opposing Syria's division or foreign military presence.

A Syrian government investigative committee said more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed during several days of sectarian violence on the country’s coast in March. The violence began when armed groups loyal to Bashar Assad attacked forces of the new government, after which security forces and armed civilians mobilized and allegedly committed widespread abuses against Alawite civilians. Nearly 300 suspects were referred for prosecution and 37 were arrested, but the committee said it found no evidence that senior military leaders ordered the attacks. The report comes amid renewed violence in Sweida between Bedouin clans and Druze groups, which has killed hundreds and displaced more than 128,500 people.

US envoy Tom Barrack reaffirmed Washington's support for Syria's new government and argued that the country should remain unified under a strong central authority. He criticized Israel's strikes against Syrian forces and government sites during sectarian clashes in Sweida, saying they came at a damaging moment, while acknowledging that the United States neither authorized nor participated in the intervention. A limited Syria-Israel ceasefire covers troop movements and the Sweida conflict but leaves broader security disputes unresolved. Despite renewed distrust among Syria's minority communities, Barrack said negotiations to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the national army could advance, while Turkey has offered defense assistance to Damascus.

Four days of deadly clashes in Syria’s Sweida province began with fighting between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened and themselves clashed with the Druze. The violence exposed the new government’s difficulty consolidating control and allegations of abuses by government fighters. Israel launched airstrikes while saying it was defending the Druze, and the United States, Turkey and Arab countries helped mediate a ceasefire. The unrest also threatens efforts to integrate Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the national army and to normalize relations between Syria and Israel.

Hezbollah and Iran-backed Iraqi militias have largely stayed out of the Israel-Iran war despite their longstanding ties to Tehran. Hezbollah has been weakened by its recent war with Israel, the death of leader Hassan Nasrallah, damage to its arsenal and the loss of its Syrian supply route, while Lebanese officials warn that another conflict could devastate the country. Iraqi militias are also avoiding escalation because their integration into Iraq’s state security structure has brought political and economic benefits, and they fear becoming Israeli targets. The Houthis condemned U.S. strikes on Iran but did not immediately resume attacks. Analysts caution that the groups could still intervene if Iran suffers overwhelming losses or if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is assassinated.

War-weary Syrians and Lebanese are watching the Israel-Iran conflict from the sidelines with relief that their countries have not been directly drawn in, while some express schadenfreude or support for strikes against the other side. Missiles and drones have fallen in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, causing damage and deaths, but Hezbollah has so far avoided joining the fighting after its losses in last year’s war with Israel. Analysts warn that Israel’s broad objective of dismantling Iran’s regional network could still widen the conflict, leaving Lebanon and other countries vulnerable to renewed war.

A construction worker discovered a 1,500-year-old Byzantine underground tomb complex in Maarat al-Numan, Idlib province, as residents began rebuilding homes damaged during Syria’s civil war. The site contains two burial chambers with six stone tombs each, including a column marked with a cross, while pottery and glass fragments support its Byzantine dating. Archaeological specialists have been sent to secure and examine the discovery. The find highlights both the region’s rich heritage and the extensive damage caused by bombing, looting and unauthorized excavation. Local residents hope preservation and restoration can support displaced communities and help revive tourism and the local economy.