T/syria

  1. Britain Lifts Sanctions on Syrian Security Agencies World, Today

    The move, which is intended to allow Syria’s new leaders the chance to rebuild, follows Britain’s earlier easing of sanctions on Syrian energy companies and the central bank.

  2. Syria’s New President Talked to The New York Times. Here Are 3 Takeaways. Foreign, Yesterday

    Ahmed al-Shara said his government was discussing military support with Russia and Turkey, appealed for a lifting of sanctions and suggested foreign fighters could earn Syrian citizenship.

  3. Syria’s Jihadist-Turned-President Seeks New Allies Foreign, Yesterday

    In an interview with The New York Times, President Ahmed al-Shara urged the United States to lift sanctions and alluded to the possibility of future military support from Russia and Turkey.

  4. Syria Makes Rare Arrests of Palestinian Militant Group Leaders Foreign, April 22

    The arrests marked a pendulum swing for the government. Under the Assad regime, Syria served as a base of operations for several Palestinian armed factions.

  5. It Survived for 2,000 Years, but Syria’s War Battered Palmyra Foreign, April 21

    During a visit to Palmyra, reporters found traces of the many forces that had fought over the city and ancient monuments reduced to rubble.

  6. Syria’s Easter Celebrations Pass Peacefully, in Early Test of New Government Foreign, April 20

    At least in the capital, Damascus, the Christian holiday festivities were protected and joyfully observed. Religious minorities are still wary, however, about the new leaders’ commitment to inclusivity.

  7. Inside a City Swept by Roving Gunmen, Deadly Grudges and Fear Foreign, April 20

    A sectarian-fueled killing spree exposed how fragile peace is in Syria, where the government’s control is limited and tension runs deep after nearly 14 years of civil war.

  8. How Violence Erupted On Syria’s Coast Video, April 20

    Massacres have spread across once-quiet towns on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, in the deadliest outbreak of sectarian violence since rebels toppled the dictator Bashar al-Assad. Christina Goldbaum, The New York Times’s bureau chief in Syria, travel...

  9. G.O.P. Lawmakers in Syria Say They See Opportunity to Help Rebuild the Nation Foreign, April 18

    Two Republican congressmen were expected to meet the country’s new leaders and to visit areas destroyed during the long civil war.

  10. Choking, Shaking, Foaming at the Mouth: Syrians Recount Gas Attack World, April 18

    Syria’s ousted dictator, Bashar al-Assad, unleashed a Sarin gas strike on the suburbs of Damascus in 2013, killing at least 1,500. Now, the survivors want justice.

  11. Un antiguo pueblo en Siria busca la paz entre religiones tras una larga guerra En español, April 18

    La guerra civil siria abrió una brecha entre los habitantes de la pequeña ciudad de Malula, donde dos tercios son cristianos y un tercio musulmanes. ¿Podrán volver a convivir pacíficamente?

  12. U.S. Is Withdrawing Hundreds of Troops From Syria Washington, April 17

    The end of the Assad era has reduced some threats, but the Islamic State has shown renewed strength in the country.

  13. Ancient Syrian Town Seeks Interfaith Peace After Long War Foreign, April 14

    Syria’s civil war drove a wedge between the residents of the small town of Maaloula, where two-thirds are Christian and one-third Muslim. Can they live together peacefully again?

  14. The U.S. Must Now Reckon With a Hegemon in the Mideast: Israel Op Ed, April 14

    Israel, more powerful than ever, has few incentives to make deals with its neighbors.

  15. Memories of the Past Will Define Syria’s Future Op Ed, April 13

    From Syria, an account of life under siege sets a path for the country’s future.

  16. Turkey and Israel Aim to Avoid Clashes in Syria as Tensions Rise Foreign, April 10

    The two sides have started talks to prevent conflicts between their troops in Syria, amid a growing rivalry for influence in the region.

  17. Islamic State Regains Strength in Syria Foreign, April 9

    The U.S. has sent more forces to Syria, tamping down on the immediate threat, but experts warn that the extremist group could break thousands of hardened fighters out of prison.

  18. Stocks Plunge Worldwide, and Trump Faces Mass Protests Podcasts, April 7

    Plus, Wayne Gretzky’s record finally falls.

  19. The April 6 Thepoint live blog included one standalone post:
  20. Inspectors Say More Than 100 Chemical Weapons Sites Could Remain in Syria Foreign, April 6

    The number, far higher than any previous estimate, poses a test for the new government. Experts fear that sarin, chlorine and mustard gas stockpiles could be unsecured.

  21. Surprising Allies for Syria’s New Leaders: Some Jews Who Fled Long Ago Foreign, April 5

    A group of Jews who left Syria decades ago wants sanctions relief for a government with former ties to Al Qaeda, despite wariness from other Jewish groups and from Israel.

  22. Israel Hits Syria With New Strikes and Ground Raid as Tensions Soar Foreign, April 3

    Israel defended the moves as necessary security measures, but Syria accused it of trying to destabilize the country.

  23. Syria Is Trying to Get Up With a Boot on Its Neck Op Ed, April 2

    Trying to rebuild a war-ravaged country without humanitarian aid or sanction relief is like trying to get up with a boot on your neck.

  24. These Militias Refuse to Join Syria’s New Army Foreign, April 1

    The militias that control the Druse religious minority’s heartland in southwestern Syria have resisted the new government’s attempts to bring all armed groups under its control.

  25. Israel Digs In Beyond Its Northern Border Interactive, March 31

    Israel has built a growing network of outposts and fortifications in Syria and Lebanon, deepening concerns about a protracted occupation in parts of the two countries.

  26. Syrians Wake Up to a New Government Foreign, March 30

    The list of ministers appears to be a compromise between calls for a diverse cabinet to unite the divided country while keeping allies of the interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, in powerful roles.

  27. Syria’s Leader Announces New Government After Ousting Dictator Foreign, March 29

    The choice of cabinet officials was seen as a litmus test for whether the rebels who ousted Bashar al-Assad would deliver on a pledge to create a government representative of all Syrians.

  28. A Traditional Ramadan Treat Gets a Modern Remake (but Good Luck Getting It) Foreign, March 26

    Marook, a sweet bread eaten during Ramadan in Syria, used to be a simple loaf, but now the list of choices can be as long as the lines of customers.

  29. U.N. Faces Record Humanitarian Aid Shortfall — but Not for Ukrainians Foreign, August 22

    Soaring needs and wealthy countries’ focus on Ukraine have left aid agencies with too little money to address the world’s other crises, forcing them to cut programs.