Syrian conflict

A man visits a cemetery on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Douma, near Damascus, Syria, Sept. 24, 2015.

Syria's civil war has created a black market for burial plots — and prices are soaring

In Damascus, the cemeteries are at capacity. Now war profiteers are renting out graves as you would apartments, charging as much as $1,000 per year for a plot of land.

Syria's civil war has created a black market for burial plots — and prices are soaring
A fuel stand in rebel-held, besieged Eastern Ghouta, Syria, Feb. 12, 2017.

The lucrative business of smuggling supplies into Syria's besieged Eastern Ghouta

The lucrative business of smuggling supplies into Syria's besieged Eastern Ghouta
Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad walk past rubble after they advanced on the southern side of the Castello road in Aleppo, Syria.

Surrounded, hungry and afraid, many in Aleppo, Syria still refuse to leave

Surrounded, hungry and afraid, many in Aleppo, Syria still refuse to leave
lesbos

Many of those helping refugees on Lesbos are themselves the descendants of refugees

Many of those helping refugees on Lesbos are themselves the descendants of refugees
Syria Mass.

Syrians in the US respond to their demonization: 'People looking at us as terrorists'

Syrians in the US respond to their demonization: 'People looking at us as terrorists'
Syrian children

Closing the borders to refugees also means shutting out children who need a better education

Refugee children arrive in the US with sporadic schooling, language confusion, poor instruction, and school-based discrimination.

Closing the borders to refugees also means shutting out children who need a better education
summer in syria

Inside the Assad regime’s surreal 'Summer in Syria' campaign

Despite an ongoing war that has seen 7 million of its citizens internally displaced, Syria's government is still trying to roll out the welcome wagon to tourists.

Inside the Assad regime’s surreal 'Summer in Syria' campaign
Military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, march outside the Crimean city of Simferopol, March 4, 2014.

This is how Ukraine could end up derailing any progress in Syria

When it comes to pursuing US goals in Syria, the Obama administration finds itself in an awkward partnership with Russia. Events in Ukraine are making that partnership even more awkward.

This is how Ukraine could end up derailing any progress in Syria
Syrian refugees children

Syrian refugees move into Bulgaria, after losing hope of returning home

As the Syrian war continues, hope is waning in the refugee camps in neighboring countries. Some Syrians who fled to Turkey are now heading into Bulgaria to start new lives. And Bulgarians are growing weary and wary of welcoming them.

Syrian refugees move into Bulgaria, after losing hope of returning home
Kurds call it the "martyr cemetery." Dozens of freshly-covered graves have stretched its boundaries.

In Syria, Kurds are fighting their own war against Islamists, and winning

Kurdish areas of Syria have recently been threatened by Islamist fighters. But a 50,000-strong Kurdish military force is reclaiming their land, village by village.

In Syria, Kurds are fighting their own war against Islamists, and winning
Free Syrian Army fighters prepare rockets

Islamist rebels use the faces of martyrs to recruit new ones

Images of smiling corpses might seem like a turn-off to many, but Islamist rebels in Syria have been posting these photos on social sites to attract new fighters.

Islamist rebels use the faces of martyrs to recruit new ones