Bashar al-Assad
The Syrians in European Limbo
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime brought euphoria to millions of Syrians in exile, but also created political and legal uncertainty. As some European states suspend asylum claims or discuss revoking refugee status, activists are campaigning for temporary return permits that would allow Syrians to reconnect without losing protection.
How Assad’s Army Fell
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s army was the result of multiple political, military and social factors. This insider account details its final days and the broader implications for Syria and the region.
Syria’s New Comedy Scene
A group of Syrian comedians is making use of the country’s new freedoms to entertain audiences, while holding a mirror up to society at a moment of rapid change.
New Lines’ Best of Syria Reporting
In this special issue of the Week in Review, we dive into the New Lines archives for a look back at some of our best essays on Syria
With Assad in Moscow, Putin Scrambles To Save Face — and His Syrian Bases
Moscow finds itself in an awkward position, striving to both curtail reputational damage and make inroads with the Syrian rebels, all with the ousted Assads now living under its roof.
Good for the Jews or Bad for the Jews? Israel’s Media on Bashar al-Assad’s Departure
Israeli media coverage of historic turning points in the region has often been entirely inward-looking, but commentary on the fall of the Assad regime in Syria offered moments of compassion and broader perspective — in stark contrast to that on Gaza.
In the Balkans, ‘Stability’ May Not Be the Answer
For decades, the West has pioneered “stabilocracy” in the Balkans, a pernicious brand of diplomacy that prefers agreement to reform. That diplomacy was exported to their relations with Kremlin — with the extreme, bloody conclusion being the war in Ukraine.