US Removes Syria from 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' List in 'Historic' Step

THE NEW ARAB: After almost fifty years, Syria was taken off the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism in a move hailed as opening a new chapter.

Screenshot from this TNA article. | The United States initially announced in July its intention to delist Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, a move seen as a vote of confidence in Sharaa [GETTY]
The United States on Monday removed Syria from its blacklist of "State Sponsors of Terrorism" after over 40 years, in a move described as a "historic step" for the country.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the removal "will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability".

Bessent added the moves were "in line with President (Donald) Trump's promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria".

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa welcomed the move, saying: "Today, Syria shakes off a dark stain and tears away a painful chapter of its past to embark on a path of development, reconstruction and rebuilding".

Al-Sharaa thanked US President Donald Trump, as well as countries that have supported Syria. » | Anam Alam | Tuesday, August 25, 2026

US-Syria Realigned | This Is America

August 19, 2026 | Syria is still on the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, but President Donald Trump has notified Congress to remove it.

However, Trump wants much more in return. He’s even floated Syria taking on Hezbollah directly.

Al Sharaa's not going for it. He's playing it safer, sticking to intercepting weapons at the border and betting that's enough to keep Washington off his back, without pulling Syria into the war in Lebanon. P

RESENTER: Alex Marquardt
GUESTS:
William Roebuck: Former US Deputy Special Envoy for the Global Coalition Against ISIS
Wa'el Alzayat: Former Senior Midde East Adviser to US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power

Syria's Ex-First Lady’s New Life in Exile

Dec 15, 2024 | In early December 2024, the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 24 years, finally fell. His entire family had to flee the country and seek refuge abroad. But their escape is not the only drama. Bashar’s wife, born in the UK, is gravely ill. She is battling leukemia, and her condition is worsening. For years, she wasn’t just the president’s wife. She played an important role in the state and its image. But what happens to the wife of Syria’s infamous dictator now? What does life in exile look like for her? And how is she coping with her illness? In this video, we’ll uncover the answers to all these questions.

How the US Blunder in Iran Accelerates Its Decline and Dooms Israel | Andreas Krieg | UNAPOLOGETIC

July 4, 2026 | We sat down with Andreas Krieg for the fourth time on UNAPOLOGETIC, this time in the aftermath of the war on Iran, to ask what it has done to the balance of power across the Middle East. His answer is stark: this is the most fundamental shift in regional order in thirty years, and it has undone the American empire in a way he does not think it can recover from.

We get into why the Gulf no longer believes the United States can protect it, why its bases have become magnets for attack rather than deterrents, and why nobody in the region has a plan B for the order that is now crumbling. Andreas lays out the battle between the Israel lobby and the Gulf lobby that he believes will decide Washington's approach for years to come, the split between Marco Rubio and JD Vance, and why Iran has emerged able to impose its will without ever building a bomb.

We also talk through Iran as a network state, the Strait of Hormuz as a chokepoint, Saudi Arabia's strategic drift, Qatar's network power, Egypt reduced to a beggar state, the violation of Iraqi sovereignty, Syria under Sharaa, and why Andreas argues Israel has become a hammer that sees everything as a nail, isolated and digging itself into a hole it may not climb out of.

UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim.

Bashar El Assad: Power or Death

Dec 8, 2024 | This is the story of a man with two faces. The timid Doctor Bashar, who has long seduced the West and promised to move his country towards more democracy. And the terrible Mister Assad, dictator, who fights his own people in a civil war with hundreds of thousands of victims.

The terrible Mister Assad, dictator who fights his own people Thanks to the testimonies of his relatives and former executives of the regime, the film tells the rise of a man who was not supposed to be president, and deciphers a system that resembles that of the Mafia. With its godfathers, its settling of scores, and its billions in dirty money. Bashar El-Assad received Syria as an inheritance from his father, Hafez El-Assad. He is the one who built this iron dictatorship that has held the country for nearly 50 years. The film also explores the passionate ties that unite France and Syria. Leading French political figures, former ministers and diplomats, take us behind the scenes of this tumultuous relationship. A relationship that the story of Bashar El-Assad perfectly symbolises. French presidents Jacques Chirac and then Nicolas Sarkozy initially considered him a valuable ally and rolled out the red carpet for him. Before bitterly regretting it.

Directed by Christophe Widemann

Israel's 'Kill First' Strategy Is Now Aimed at Turkey | The David Hearst Podcast

Jul 2, 2026 | David Hearst, editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye, says that Donald Trump has signed two contradictory agreements to end his war on Iran. One promises an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”, while the other gives Israeli forces occupying parts of southern Lebanon indefinite leave to remain.

Hearst says the Lebanon framework weakens Lebanese sovereignty, creates a military coordination group run from Washington, and obliges the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, which many in Lebanon see as the only credible deterrent against Israeli attack.

He says that Lebanon has also granted immunity to Israeli troops and generals for war crimes committed during the invasion. He says that the contradiction reflects a tug of war inside the US administration. The Iran deal reflects the thinking of Vice President JD Vance, who opposed regime change in Tehran, while the Lebanon deal bears the imprint of Marco Rubio, who remains committed to that project.

Hearst argues that Israel’s failure to dictate terms to Iran has pushed it to regain power in Lebanon and Syria. But he says Israel is already turning its attention to Turkey, now presenting it as the “new Iran” and warning of a new Sunni axis involving Turkey, Syria and Qatar.

He concludes that Israel means what it says when Netanyahu vows to change the Middle East forever. The main battle line is now shifting to Lebanon and Syria, and hard power will be needed to stop Israel’s strategy of “kill them first”.

Trump Suggestion of a Syrian Crackdown on Hezbollah Confounds Many in Mideast

THE NEW YORK TIMES: During peace talks, President Trump repeatedly floated the idea that Syria could help subdue Hezbollah in Lebanon. The proposal revived bitter memories.

When the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon was threatening to unravel the U.S.-Iran peace deal, President Trump repeatedly floated an idea that took many in the region by surprise.

Neighboring Syria, whose relatively new government is no friend to Hezbollah, could help subdue the Iran-backed Lebanese militia.

The proposal revived bitter memories in Lebanon, which the Syrian military occupied for nearly three decades. It also baffled Syrians, whose government has made clear over and over again that it has no interest in meddling in its neighbors’ affairs or entering into more wars.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa reiterated that stance last week, rebuffing the notion that his U.S.-allied government was preparing to intervene militarily in Lebanon. » | Christina Goldbaum and Raja Abdulrahim | Christina Goldbaum reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Raja Abdulrahim from Amman, Jordan. | Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Family of Death: The Fall of Syria’s Mass-Murderer Dynasty | ENDEVR Documentary

Mar 1, 2026 | On December 8, 2024, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia, ending a 54-year dynasty. Once seen as a hopeful reformer, Assad’s rule turned bloody — half a million dead, millions displaced. This film captures the sudden fall of his regime, revealing Syrians’ struggles, the corruption of the Assad clan, and the hopes and fears of a country finally seeking its own future.

Hungry Man Kitchen: Muhammara | Reupload

Dec 9, 2022 | Muhammara, Mouhammara is a delicious roasted pepper dip originated in Aleppo, Syria.

This walnut and roasted red pepper mezze is very popular throughout the Mediterranean, including Turkey, especially in south-eastern regions, where Arab dishes are more common in the local cuisine because of the Syrian cultural influence.


HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.

HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN: Muhammara. You will Never Buy It from the Store Again!

Dec 9, 2022 | Muhammara (also spelt Mouhammara) is a delicious roasted pepper dip which originated in Aleppo, Syria. This walnut and roasted red pepper mezze is very popular throughout the Mediterranean, including Turkey, especially in south-eastern regions, where Arab dishes are more common in the local cuisine because of the Syrian cultural influence.

HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.

Waleed Asadi: The Basics of a Levantine Kitchen

Feb 1, 2026 | Sharing the basic items used in a typical Levantine kitchen. This makes up the countries of Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.

Each household will have slightly different items and brands but, more or less, this is what a majority of us have stocked at all times.

Epstein Obtained Objects From Islam’s Holiest Site for His Island ‘Mosque’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Jeffrey Epstein’s messages cast light on an unusual building on his private island and show how his connections helped him secure tapestries from Mecca for it.

Screenshot from this NYT article. | A photo released by the House Oversight Committee showed a building once owned by Jeffrey Epstein on Little Saint James, his private island in the Caribbean. He referred to it as a mosque. | Credits: Unavailable
Tapestries embroidered with Quranic verses were shipped from the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest shrine. Tiles came from a mosque in Uzbekistan. A golden metal dome was made to replicate the architecture of ancient Syria.

Jeffrey Epstein spent years making connections across the Middle East, in pursuit of business deals and two intertwined hobbies: acquiring rare Islamic artifacts with which to decorate an unusual building on his private island, and expanding his network of wealthy, powerful people.

Through connections that extended into the royal court of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Epstein secured a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, now the Saudi crown prince, and also obtained elaborate tapestries that once adorned the sacred spaces inside the Kaaba and covered its exterior walls. » | Ephrat Livni | Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Four Ways Trump’s War Is Weakening America

THE NEW YORK TIMES — OPINION: When President Trump attacked Iran on Feb. 28, we called his decision reckless. He went to war without seeking congressional approval or the support of most allies. He offered thin and contradictory justifications to the American people. He failed to explain why this naïve attempt at regime change would end better than earlier attempts by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

In the six weeks since, the recklessness of his war has become clearer yet. He has disdained careful military planning and acted on gut instinct and wishfulness. After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel predicted to Mr. Trump that the attacks would inspire a popular uprising in Iran, the director of the C.I.A. countered that the notion was “farcical,” The Times reported. Mr. Trump proceeded nonetheless. He was so confident that he assembled no plan to respond to an obvious countermove available to Iran: causing a spike in oil prices by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Nor did he develop a feasible strategy for securing the enriched uranium that Iran can use to rebuild its nuclear program.

Last week he careened from illegal and immoral threats about erasing Iranian civilization to a last-minute cease-fire that accomplishes few of his announced war aims. Iran continues to defy a central part of the deal and block most traffic from crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump’s irresponsibility has left the United States on the cusp of a humiliating strategic defeat.

As we have emphasized, Iran’s regime deserves no sympathy. It has spent decades oppressing its people and sponsoring terrorism elsewhere. And the current war, combined with the June attacks by the United States and Israel and other Israeli operations since 2023, weakened Iran in important ways. Its navy, air force and air defenses have been degraded, and its nuclear program has been set back. Its murderous network of regional allies — including Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria’s fallen government — has been eroded.

Yet these successes cannot mask the ways in which the war has weakened the United States. We count four main setbacks for America’s national interests that are the direct result of Mr. Trump’s carelessness. These setbacks likewise weaken global democracy when authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere were already feeling emboldened. » | The Editorial Board | The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom. | Sunday, April 12, 2026

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Gulf Countries Warn of Rising Threat from Iran-backed Militias and Proxies

THE GUARDIAN: Fears grow that Tehran may start activating sleeper cells across Middle East as part of war with US and Israel

Gulf countries have raised concerns over the prospect of attacks by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region, which they fear could destabilise their regimes and escalate the war in the Middle East.

In a joint statement this week, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks on their soil, both as strikes carried out directly from Iran and “through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region”.

On Wednesday, Kuwait said it had foiled a plot to kill state leaders, and arrested six suspects believed to be associated with Iran’s most powerful proxy group, Hezbollah.

For decades, Iran has used proxy militias as a pillar of its foreign and security policy, as a means to export its revolution, expand its regional influence and destabilise enemy countries. The most prominent examples are Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen but other brutal and influential Iran-backed militias also operate in Iraq and Syria.

On Friday, the Houthis confirmed they had launched a missile strike on Israel, the first time the proxy group have admitted involvement in the war in Middle East. » | Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Saturday, March 28, 2026

Family of Death: The Fall of Syria’s Mass-Murderer Dynasty | ENDEVR Documentary

March 1, 2026

How Assad Moved to Crush Syria’s Uprising | The Regime | Full Documentary | FRONTLINE (PBS)

March 11, 2026

‘Deep Dark Son of a B**ch’: Jeffrey Sachs Loses Cool at Netanyahu's Iran War | US News

Mar 4, 2026 | American economist Jeffrey Sachs launches a fierce critique of U.S. foreign policy, accusing Washington and President Donald Trump of misleading the public over wars in the Middle East, including Iran. He questions whether American democracy truly functions on life-and-death decisions, claims wars were sold through narratives and focus groups, and argues interventions from Iraq to Syria were based on phony pretences. Sachs also criticises regime change operations, CIA secrecy, and what he calls a “game” of power politics. He warns America’s greatest risks come from within, not from China.

The President of War

THE NEW YORK TIMES — OPINION: The U.S. military was once a tool of last resort for American presidents.

The tough decision to deploy armed troops for conflict in another country came after diplomacy, political pressure and other peaceful options were exhausted. This clearly doesn’t hold true in the second Trump administration.

In a short video posted on Saturday morning, President Trump stood in a darkened room at a lectern in a white “U.S.A.” hat and announced that the United States military had begun “major combat operations in Iran” and called for the overthrow of its government. He warned that this could be a costly fight, and that American lives could be lost.

In his attempt to project power to all corners of the globe during his second term, Mr. Trump has routinely relied on both the threat and the use of military action to coerce opponents and allies alike into giving him what he wants. Warnings of American military involvement — traditionally viewed by commanders in chief as “break glass in case of emergency” — have now become a weekly, if not daily, occurrence.

The world has watched Mr. Trump launch military operations in Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Iraq and Syria; capture and remove Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, from power; threaten to use military force to take control of Greenland; pressure Mexico to allow U.S. troops in the country to target fentanyl labs; and direct an air campaign to kill suspected drug smugglers at sea. » | W.J. Hennigan | Mr. Hennigan writes about national security for Opinion. | Saturday, February 28, 2026

Huckabee’s Israel Land Remarks Condemned as ‘Dangerous’ as Controversy Rumbles On

THE GUARDIAN: Arab and Islamic governments issue joint statement denouncing the comments made on Tucker Carlson podcast

Arab and Islamic countries jointly condemned remarks by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel had a biblical right to a vast swath of the Middle East.

Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and a fervent Israel supporter, was speaking on the podcast of Tucker Carlson.

In an episode released on Friday, Carlson pushed Huckabee on the meaning of a biblical verse sometimes interpreted as saying that Israel is entitled to the land between the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq.

In response, Huckabee said: “It would be fine if they took it all.”

When pressed, however, he continued that Israel was “not asking to take all of that”, adding: “It was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement.”

The backlash widened sharply on Sunday as more than a dozen Arab and Islamic governments – alongside three major regional organisations – issued a joint statement denouncing the US diplomat’s comments as “dangerous and inflammatory”. » | Agence France-Presse | Sunday, February 22, 2026

Trump Expands Travel Ban and Restrictions to 20 More Countries

THE NEW YORK TIMES: People from Syria, South Sudan and those with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are included in the latest restrictions. More than 35 countries are now under U.S. travel restrictions.

President Trump on Tuesday expanded travel restrictions to include 20 more countries, just weeks after he promised to do so when authorities arrested an Afghan national in the shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington.

The revised policy, which takes effect on Jan. 1, fully blocks travel for individuals from five additional countries — Syria, South Sudan, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso — and also for people with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The Trump administration also added partial travel restrictions for individuals from 15 additional countries, predominantly in Africa. With the expansion, there are now more than 35 countries with U.S. travel restrictions.

Mr. Trump first instituted a travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, in June and vowed after the shooting last month to “permanently pause migration from all third world countries.” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said she recommended to Mr. Trump “a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.”

The partial travel restrictions apply to people from Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe. » | Tyler Pager and Hamed Aleaziz | Reporting from Washington | Tuesday, December 16, 2025