Seth J. Frantzman

The US and Damascus have been cooperating against ISIS since 2025, especially after Syria said it would join the coalition against ISIS in November.

In many cities such as Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Damascus, there has been a week of celebration, something unique for Syria after people suffered under more than a decade of war.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian's trip is part of a broader Iranian outreach to countries in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi and Iranian sides “affirmed their commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement in its entirety."

“President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, cooperation, and strengthening ties between the two brotherly countries.”

The BBC says “more than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis."

A year after the Assad regime fell, it would not look good for Israel to be displacing Syrians who have only recently been able to have a life free from conflict.

Hamas says it won't disarm while the IDF is in Gaza and suggests a long-term truce or 'storing' its arms. Meanwhile, the IDF likely won't leave half of Gaza until Hamas disarms.

This year, the Forum featured several key speakers, including Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara’a, who has already stolen the show at other international forums, such as the UN.

Assad is said to be living a life of reclusion in Moscow, but rumors say he is also doing business, while his brother plots a return.