Sharaa's hopes of stitching Syria back together under the rule of his Islamist-led government are complicated by the country's mix of sectarian and ethnic groups.

The Israeli military on Wednesday struck the Syrian regime’s General Staff headquarters in Damascus, following warnings from Tel Aviv that it would escalate operations in defense of Syria’s Druze minority amid ongoing violence in Suwayda province.

ANKARA, Turkey — Israeli airstrikes on Damascus — targeting the Syrian military headquarters, Defense Ministry, and areas around it — aim to sabotage Syria’s efforts to establish peace and security, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry says.

Poor infrastructure, regional conflict and sporadic Israeli airstrikes are holding back more airlines from returning to Syria, industry officials told Reuters, hampering efforts to rebuild a shattered economy after 14 years of civil war.

Syria has shut the Kassab border crossing with Turkey as massive wildfires edge dangerously close to the Turkish province of Hatay. Sparked amid severe drought and recent sectarian unrest, the fires have destroyed swathes of Syria’s green belt and now threaten cross-border regions.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey sent two firefighting aircraft Saturday to help battle wildfires in neighboring Syria as Turkish firefighters battled a blaze on their side of the border and one person was reported dead in the country’s west.

Sharaa’s visit to Baku last weekend highlighted a dramatic shift in regional alliances, prompting a mix of concern, suspicion, and strategic recalculation across Iranian media.

The UAE president’s visit to Turkey comes as Turkish and Emirati involvement intensifies in regional diplomatic efforts, spanning conflicts from Syria-Israel talks to the South Caucasus.

Millions of Syrians fled during the civil war more than a decade ago. After the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad in December, many are considering returning home. But what is left to return to?

A U.S. envoy says that Syria’s central government and the Kurds remain at odds over plans on merging their forces after the latest round of talks. U.S.

The PKK disarmament ceremony also could mark a new era for the Kurds, one of the largest stateless groups in the world with over 30 million people living across Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. The PKK has said it will now shift from armed resistance to political dialogue and regional cooperation.