By Ola Rifai President Donald Trump told NBC that he would like Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to play a role in Lebanon. In an interview aired on Sunday and ended dramatically when Trump walked out, the U.S.…
By Ola Rifai 04/17/2026 Eighty years ago today, the First Syrian Republic was established, and Syria emerged as a distinct political entity on the new map of the Arab world. The complex context in which the First…
By Ola Rifai The war with Iran has started, as anticipated. It is flaring up rapidly and fiercely. American and Israeli intentions to attack Iran were crystal clear, regardless of efforts at the diplomatic theatre.…
By Ola Rifai War looms over the region like never before. The Trumpian political order continues to reshape regional dynamics. U.S. F-22 and F-35 jets have been deployed, while European and American officials have…
By Ola Rifai 2/1/2026 2026 ushered in a dramatic shift in Syria’s power balance, where massive political and military setbacks for the Kurds catalysed the end of the Rojava dream. Apparently, the geopolitical map is…
By Ola Rifai 1/10/2026 The 2011 uprising marked a historic turning point for Syria’s Kurds, opening a window of opportunities that transformed Kurdish identity from banishment to empowerment. After years of…
By Ola Rifai 12/8/2024 At this time last year, Syrians at home and abroad were glued to their screens, closely following the rapid developments on the ground. Hardly anyone slept that night. Videos of rebel troops…
By Ola Rifai 9/26/2025 On September 24th, a giant screen lit up Umayyad Square in Damascus, live-streaming President Al-Sharaa’s address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Hundreds of Syrians gathered,…
By Marc Lynch June 10th 2025 Syria’s new government has made significant progress in recent weeks, but still has a tough road ahead of it. On the positive side, the Trump administration appears to be following through…
By Ola Rifai April 1st 2025 This year’s Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, was celebrated differently in Syria, reflecting the significant transformations the country is undergoing. On…