Middle East at war
Can Syria’s conquering rebels rebuild a shattered state?
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamist group that led the overthrow of the Assad regime, will need to show it is willing to give political representation to Syria’s diverse sects and minorities.
- by Loveday Morris and Abbie Cheeseman
Latest
Opinion
Syrian conflict
Syria’s new leaders say they’re a moderate force. Australia has labelled them terrorists
While the fall of the Assad regime is momentous for the Middle East, it’s doubtful Syrians will be entering a time of prolonged peace.
- by Amin Saikal
Opinion
Middle East tensions
Netanyahu’s rebuke of Albanese is weak and unprovable but serves his purposes
Israel’s prime minister sees himself as the ultimate defender of Israel against an international left that he portrays as hostile and complicit in antisemitism.
- by Dan Perry
Analysis
Syrian conflict
Peter Dutton said it was too dangerous to go to this Syrian prison camp. We went there anyway
In the power vacuum left by Bashar al-Assad’s fall, amid the weakness of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, nobody knows who will control Syria or how they will rule.
- by Michael Bachelard
The fall of Assad after 14 years of war in Syria ends decades-long dynasty
With no clear successor to Bashar al-Assad, the regime’s downfall throws a fragmented country into further uncertainty.
- by Zeina Karam and Abby Sewell
Assad’s family ‘flees’ to Russia – but Kremlin ‘won’t come’ to Syrian leader’s rescue
Vladimir Putin is said to be disgusted by reports of Syrian troops fleeing their positions.
- by James Kilner and Daniel Hardaker
Netanyahu claims Melbourne synagogue attack linked to Labor’s ‘anti-Israel sentiment’
The Israeli leader cited Canberra’s decision to vote for a UN resolution demanding the end of Israel’s “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.
- by Rob Harris, Ashleigh McMillan and Brittany Busch
Rekindled border dispute blamed for deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Israel has unleashed its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people overnight.
- by Natalie Meltzer and Sally About Aljoud
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Trump demands release of October 7 hostages, warning of ‘hell to pay’
The president-elect’s threat came hours after the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual US-Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.
- by Jill Colvin
Opinion
Opinion
I was detained by Assad’s secret police, but I have no time for Syria’s rebels
Successive US governments have studiously avoided meaningful engagement in Syria. Under Donald Trump, that paralysis may be thrown to the wind.
- by David Livingstone
Israel launches first airstrike on Lebanon since ceasefire
It also said it fired on people trying to return to certain areas in southern Lebanon because they were violating the truce.
- by Kareen Chehayeb and Julia Frankel
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/topic/middle-east-at-war-6h0o