Damascus

A man walks next to heavily damaged buildings and destroyed cars following Russian attacks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, May 24, 2022.

Ukrainian doctors train for the possibility of a chemical attack from Russia

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, medical workers have been concerned about the possibility of Russia using chemical agents against civilians. That hasn’t happened yet (none on official record) but a Syrian American nongovernmental organization is helping Ukrainian medical workers prepare for the worst.

Ukrainian doctors train for the possibility of a chemical attack from Russia
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad heads a cabinet meeting, in Damascus, Syria

Report: Syrian government manipulates exchange rates to pocket aid money

Report: Syrian government manipulates exchange rates to pocket aid money
A Syrian grocery shop in Istanbul sells brands that are familiar to Syrian customers, such as canned meats and condensed milk.

Syrian refugees and migrants in Turkey face a difficult decision to return home 

Syrian refugees and migrants in Turkey face a difficult decision to return home 
A group of people protest and carry a heart-shaped sign that says "Refugees welcome here."

Denmark revokes residency permits of some Syrian refugees

Denmark revokes residency permits of some Syrian refugees
Several people are shown preparing meals next to a large pile of rubble and a line of water bottles.

Busy Damascus cemetery points to higher pandemic death toll in Syria

Busy Damascus cemetery points to higher pandemic death toll in Syria
Dr. Amani Ballour treats an injured baby in Feras Fayyad’s documentary “The Cave.”

This doctor treated hundreds in an underground hospital in Syria known as 'The Cave'

Faced with casualties from frequent airstrikes as Syrian forces laid siege to Eastern Ghouta, an area in the suburbs of Damascus, Dr. Amani Ballour helped set up an underground hospital.

This doctor treated hundreds in an underground hospital in Syria known as 'The Cave'
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Baghdadi’s death is a huge blow to ISIS, but history suggests it won’t guarantee a safer world

Common sense would suggest the world is indeed now a much safer place with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's passing. Unfortunately, however, there is no guarantee this will prove to be true in practice. 

Baghdadi’s death is a huge blow to ISIS, but history suggests it won’t guarantee a safer world
Portrait of foreign correspondent and author Sam Dagher.

How Syria's Assad regime clings to power

Throughout Syria's war, President Bashar al-Assad has managed to stay in power through "ruthless desire to rule and perpetuate the reign of this family," says Sam Dagher, foreign correspondent and author of a new book on the Assad family.

How Syria's Assad regime clings to power
Older women hold a cartoon graphic depicting Donald Trump and a Turkish tank.

Does US withdrawal leave Syria open to Russia?

In a Twitter thread, US President Donald Trump said the US withdrawal from Syria would be a thorn in the side of Russia and China, who "love to see us bogged down, watching over a quagmire, & spending big dollars to do so." But analysts disagree.

Does US withdrawal leave Syria open to Russia?
ruins in syria

We’re just beginning to grasp the toll of ISIS' archaeological looting in Syria

According to a new study, a small portion of a site can yield thousands of objects, adding up to millions of dollars.

We’re just beginning to grasp the toll of ISIS' archaeological looting in Syria
A woman walks wearing jeans and a plaid shirt is shown near a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Syria's Assad struggles to reap spoils after military gains

It's been eight years since Syria began its descent into war, and while ISIS is fighting over a final shred of territory in eastern Syria, there are wider economic difficulties the Syrian government faces despite military victories.

Syria's Assad struggles to reap spoils after military gains
Kurdish fighters driving Toyota SUVs with green and yellow flags on top are shown driving in head of US military MRAP vehicles.

US-led coalition says it has started Syria withdrawal

The US-led coalition against ISIS has begun the process of withdrawing from Syria, a spokesman said on Friday.

US-led coalition says it has started Syria withdrawal
Smoke is shown with red backlighting rising past a mountain range as seen from the Damascus, Syria, countryside.

Syria state media says Israeli planes attack targets near Damascus

"Israeli" war planes attacked with missiles unspecified targets near Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Tuesday and injured three Syrian soldiers

Syria state media says Israeli planes attack targets near Damascus
Hadi Jasim was an Iraqi translator for the US military. Now he's a "global guide" at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia.

This Philadelphia museum hired Iraqi and Syrian refugees as tour guides for its Middle East gallery

Refugees from Syria and Iraq help visitors at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology make connections between history and the present day.

This Philadelphia museum hired Iraqi and Syrian refugees as tour guides for its Middle East gallery
man looking out a broken window, surrounded by rubble

Russia-Turkey agreement provides inkling of hope to Syrians in Idlib

The Russian-Turkish agreement to designate a demilitarized zone may have averted an imminent attack on Idlib but many of the Syrians who live there, like Mohammad Hmeidan and his family, are still waiting for a more permanent solution to their displacement.

Russia-Turkey agreement provides inkling of hope to Syrians in Idlib