Syria
Cracks in the Cover Story
A new Russian film fictionalizes the adventures of the spy-diplomat Gen. Alexander Zorin. Draft scripts and his memoir, “The Negotiator,” reveal — perhaps inadvertently — that Russian lies about its military operations in Syria were as central to its strategy as the munitions it fired.
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.
Pedaling Through the Fault Lines of Postwar Damascus
Every Friday, at dawn, 30 cyclists take to the streets of Damascus, riding through ruins and across the fault lines of a country emerging from 14 years of civil war. Among them are ex-rebels, former regime loyalists and foreigners drawn to the challenge of navigating Syria’s shattered landscape.
In Syria’s Fractured Landscape, Salamiyah Stands Apart
In the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, sectarian violence has flared across Syria. But Salamiyah, a city of 100,000 on the edge of the Syrian desert, has stood apart. Home to Ismailis, Sunnis and Alawites, it may be a model for reconciliation and pluralism in post-Assad Syria.
How AI Became the Far Right’s Newest Weapon Against Refugees
Across Europe, far-right parties are weaponizing generative AI to produce hyperbolic, Islamophobic and anti-refugee visuals that spread rapidly on social media, amplifying disinformation and fueling hostility.
How a Hospital Became a Battleground in Syria
New Lines reports from Sweida National Hospital in southern Syria, which became a battleground in July, with doctors and nurses risking their lives, caught between warring Druze and Bedouin-aligned forces.
How Foreign Agendas Hijacked a Local Crisis in Syria
The recent crisis in Sweida may have been sparked by hyperlocal conflicts between Druze and Bedouins, but through international pressure and disinformation it has become a potential turning point in Damascus’ halting efforts to exercise unified sovereignty.