Latest from Santiago Montag
Despite Calls for Calm, the Violence in Sweida Shows No Sign of Ending
Sweida, in southern Syria, a province once spared the worst of the country’s civil war, has become one of its most dangerous flash points. What was once an enclave of fragile calm is now a battlefield where sectarian fears, local militias, insurgent networks and outside powers collide.
Syria’s Druze Are Wary in the Wake of Attacks
Syria’s Druze have been targeted in attacks that have left them wary of trusting the state with their security, while Israel is exploiting the tensions to pursue its own aims. Interviews with those who have experienced the violence reveal a community under pressure and vigilant about its prospects.
Israel’s Syria Gambit
Israeli forces have pushed farther into the Golan Heights, displacing residents and raising fears over the region’s future. Although Syrians in the area, echoing their leaders, insist that they want to avoid conflict, many say they have no choice but to resist Israel’s moves — even if the costs are steep.