Syria
Iran-backed Iraq militias will curb anti-US escalation
A high-security trip by the US secretary of state highlights concerns over Shia militias’ plans
IraqSyrian drug traffickers could shift routes to Libya
Existing ties and geographical location underpin Libya’s potential as a transit country for Syrian drug smuggling
LibyaSyrian Kurds face a possible loss of autonomy
Northeast Syria’s Kurdish-dominated administration is under pressure from several directions
SyriaSyria's ruler will seek to ride out economic protests
The largest anti-government demonstrations since 2011 coincide with new instability in the Kurdish-controlled northeast
SyriaLebanon will bargain for more Syrian refugee returns
Rising anti-Syrian sentiment has provoked hate speech and new deportations
LebanonSyria’s sovereignty push will depend on Arab ties
Damascus is seeking Arab economic and political backing to normalise its internal and external status
SyriaSyria’s frozen conflict will resist normalisation
Damascus would like to leverage its renewed Arab status to restore territorial control
SyriaIraqi Kurdish strategies will wait on Turkish election
Ankara’s embargo on a northern Iraqi airport has heightened intra-Kurdish tensions
Iraq
