UK restores diplomatic relations with Syria after ministerial visit

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Syrian leadership in Damascus in the UK’s first ministerial visit to Syria in 14 years, saying that “after over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the Syrian people.”

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Iraqi MP questions government after death of Iraqi imam in Syria

Iraq's National Intelligence Service reported that the death of an Iraqi Shiite imam in Syria's Sayyidah Zaynab was the result of a heart attack, coming amid claims on social media that the deceased met a violent end due to sectarianism.

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Kurds and the Israel-Iran clash: New openings or old dangers?

A sad common denominator across all the states ruling over the Kurds—from Iraq and Iran to Turkey and Syria—as well as among many intellectual and media elites of the dominant ethnic and religious groups monopolizing power in those states, is the relentless fear mongering against Kurds. Instead of engaging in such behavior and tossing out accusations of separatism and partition, these actors ought to look in the mirror. They should ask themselves what they continue to do wrong that might push Kurds to consider seeking external alliances or to seize on shifting regional dynamics created by war to challenge a repressive and exclusionary status quo.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Ankara won’t let Syria be dragged into instability after church attack: Erdogan

Erdogan on Monday condemned a suicide attack on a church in Damascus, saying Ankara would not allow extremists to drag neighboring Syria back into instability. 

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Suicide bomber kills at least 20 in Damascus church

At lease 20 people were reported dead in the explosion, with another 52 injured, according to an updated toll by the health ministry.

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UN urges ‘more help’ to Syrian gov’t for refugee return process

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called on the international community to increase support for Syrian returnees, with over 2 million having already returned to their homes since the deposed Bashar al-Assad fled in December.

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Regional countries reopen airspace amid Israel-Iran attacks

Iraq says it will maintain airspace restrictions until 1:00 PM local time, with aircraft and missiles from Iran and Israel having repeatedly crossed its territory and debris having landed across the country.

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Sudani’s alliance denies claims it obtained Syrian intelligence for election smears

The Reconstruction and Development Alliance, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, has denied allegations by MP Youssef al-Kalabi that the Iraqi government received a sensitive intelligence archive from Syria to target political rivals during elections.

Articles

Syrian president receives Iraqi PM’s envoy

Baghdad has remained hesitant in establishing ties with the new Damascus government

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