Syria’s Cersei Lannister Is Back and Now She Wants Revenge
‘THE REAL DICTATOR’Asma al-Assad was once hailed by Vogue magazine as Syria’s “Rose in the Desert.” But since the death of her mother-in-law, she’s emerged as a brutal power player in her own right.
Russia Is Turning Against Iran—and Assad—in Syria
BYE BYE BASHAR?Vladimir Putin wants a stable Syria, with billions from abroad for his oligarch cronies to rebuild the country. But Assad's infamy and the ayatollahs stand in the way.
ISIS Has Made a Terrifying Comeback in COVID-Plagued Iraq
PAYBACK TIMEA paralyzing pandemic, the redeployment of U.S. troops away from front lines, huge political uncertainty, and a completely collapsed economy: What more could ISIS—or Iran—wish for?
Amid New Syrian Carnage, Turkey Shoots Down Assad’s Planes
CORNEREDTurkey's President Erdogan and the other players may think this is a blood-drenched game of chess, but nobody is winning as new refugee floods threaten Europe.
Syria Hears the Death Rattle of the Arab Spring
LAST GASPTurkey, the last lingering patron of the Syrian opposition, has proven unable to intervene effectively. For domestic reasons, it may be unwilling to do so as well.
The Final Battle for Syria Has Begun
NO WAY OUTIt’s a showdown in Idlib province that pits Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Assad against Turkey and its militia allies. But what’s the U.S. up to? Where’d the TOW missiles come from?
Russia Prepares the Way for Assad’s Brutal Endgame
THE TRIUMPH OF EVILTrump’s petulant decision to pull out troops while pretending sanctions can prevent Turkey from slaughtering former U.S. allies has merely opened the door wide to Assad and Putin.
U.S. Forces Try to Stop Assad Forces From Helping Kurds
DECISION TIMEOn a confused battlefield, the U.S. intervened to stop some Syrian and Russian forces advancing into the region to support the Kurds sparking fears of dangerous flash points.