Syria
Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is an Arab nation in the Middle East, situated in the Levant region. The country boasts a rich history and some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
In 1963, Syria's government was taken over by the Ba'ath Party, led by Hafez al-Assad. For decades, he and his son and successor, Bashar al-Assad, would rule the country in a reign that has been highly criticized for being totalitarian and for carrying out widespread human rights abuses.
In 2011, a major civil war broke out in Syria, leaving governance of the country fractured between the Russia- and Iran-backed Assad regime based in Syria's largest city and capital of Damascus, US-backed rebel groups led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkey-backed forces, and Islamists under the banner of Hay'at Tahir al-Shams (HTS).
However, in December 2024, HTS and its allies carried out a major offensive from their base of operations in the Idlib province, eventually fully ousting the Assad regime and seizing control of Damascus as well as other major cities such as Homs and Aleppo. Currently, HTS has been spearheading the establishment of a new Syrian interim government. However, the country still remains fractured between them, Assad loyalists, Turkey-backed forces, and the SDF and its allies.
How the IDF reinforced Israel's northern border amid Syrian Druze tensions
In recent months, the IDF thwarted several attempts to transfer tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Syrian Golan region.
Two Israelis arrested by police after returning from Syria with Kalashnikov rifles
Netanyahu confirms ceasefire, Syrian withdrawal from Sweida due to 'forceful action'
Syrian detente hopes dim as president accuses Israel of sowing ‘chaos and destruction’ with strikes
Israel's attacks on Damascus hinder chemical weapons search, Syrian official says
The OPCW will hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday next week to discuss the situation and impact of the Israeli attacks.
Western diplomats were within meters of Israeli strikes in Damascus, sources say
No one in the convoy was injured, and it continued on its way, the people said, declining to give further details on the nationalities or number of those involved.
Tune into today's top stories: Syrian-Druze crisis, deal updates, Jerusalem wildfires
The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs—the top stories, clear and concise.
Russia says Israeli strikes are 'gross violation' of Syria's sovereignty
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the attacks against the Druze Community in Syria were "deeply concerning."
Israel's decisive Syria strikes highlight need for intervention in preventing genocides - analysis
For many Jews, the images of Druze men having their mustaches forcibly shaved conjure up memories of the Holocaust.
'We are witnessing terrible atrocities,' Israeli Druze says from within Syria - N12
"The minute we see terrorists going into hospitals and murdering children and patients, we cannot stand idle," Fares Alawi told the Israeli news site.
Can Israel trust Syria's leadership? The Druze crisis puts emerging ties to the test - analysis
While the Syrian Druze community might not stand with Israel, experts say that Jerusalem has an obligation to protect them against malevolent forces from within President Ahmed Al-Sharaa's camp.
Syria's interim president says protecting Druze a 'priority'
In his first televised statement Sharaa addressed Druze citizens saying "we reject any attempt to drag you into hands of an external party."
Israel's Druze have sacrificed so much, and their families in Syria deserve safety - editorial
The Israeli Druze have given everything for Israel, even when they didn't have to, and now they deserve Israel's helping hand in their time of need.
Slovenia to ban Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, Syrian Bedouin fighters renew offensive in Sweida against Druze
Police collect testimony from Rotter victim in US with FBI • US strikes reportedly only destroyed one of three Iranian nuclear sites • French court rules for release of Lebanese terrorist
Elderly Druze Sheikh dies after humiliation by Syrian HTS
Sources close to the Sheikh confirm his death after a viral video circulated the internet showing Shahine, 80, being publicly humiliated by members of HTS in al-Tha'la.
