Syria Hands Down Sentences in 2025 Coastal Massacres Trial
A Syrian court has delivered its first verdicts over the March 2025 violence: a death sentence, a life term, an acquittal and 20 years for a soldier whose case file included a video of a kneeling man being shot.
The Attacks on an Open Letter to Iran’s Political Prisoners Are Misguided
An open letter in solidarity with Iran’s political prisoners drew vitriolic condemnation from parts of the anti-imperialist left. Yet much of the criticism the signatories faced was either mistaken or myopic.
Syria’s Fuel Price Protests Test the Limits of Post-Assad Dissent
Syria raised diesel prices 40% overnight, sparking protests in Idlib. Yet locals say they support the state nevertheless. While Syrians are struggling financially, the protests show that they are also exploring a new relationship with dissent.
Somaliland’s Uphill Struggle for Recognition in Washington
Last December, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, sparking hope that others, especially the U.S., might follow suit. This week, President Abdullahi is going to make his pitch to the Trump administration, but even with support from some powerful Republican lawmakers, he faces an uphill battle.
In Dubai, Trade Continues on the Front Lines of the Iran War
After more than six months of war with Iran, the UAE has vowed to stop all trade with its neighbor. Yet fruit and vegetables from Iran still reach the Gulf states daily, showing how tightly the region’s economies are bound together.