After Decades of Hostility, Israeli-Syrian Relations Begin to Thaw

The longtime enemies have opened contacts, reflecting a power shift across a Middle East in which they have newfound common ground: antipathy for Iran.

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Israel and Syria in U.S.-Brokered Talks to End Border Conflict, Trump Envoy Says

Thomas J. Barrack Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, says Washington is facilitating the discussions and prioritizing economic development over nation-building in the Middle East.

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Syria Is Notably Silent as Other Arab States Condemn Israeli Attacks on Iran

Syria was once among the closest allies of the Islamic republic, but the new government resents Tehran’s support for the Assad regime and has pledged not to allow attacks on Israel from its territory.

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Syrian Druse Pilgrims Pay Rare Visit to Israel

As part of an effort to deepen its influence in southern Syria, Israel has been seeking stronger ties with the Druse religious minority that holds sway there.

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In Syria, Joy at al-Assad’s Demise Turns to Fear of Israeli Raids

Villagers say they worry that incursions into border areas of Syria by Israel’s military could turn into a prolonged occupation. Israel says the raids are needed to protect the border.

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How the Oct. 7 Attacks Transformed the Middle East

With an Israel-Hamas cease-fire set to begin, the shock waves from their war have reshaped the region in unexpected ways.

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Israel’s Campaign in Syrian Border Area Prompts Fears It Plans to Stay

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for Israeli troops to “take over” a buffer zone with Syria upended decades of relative calm along the de facto border between the two countries.

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Netanyahu Visits Area Israel Recently Seized in Syria, Officials Say

The previously unannounced trip highlighted Israel’s expanded military presence across the de facto border with Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

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Syrian Rebel Leader Calls for Lifting of Sanctions, as Assad Defends Exit

Ahmed al-Shara urged nations to remove sanctions from Syria and the terrorism designation from his group so Syria could rebuild. Bashar al-Assad also gave his first account of fleeing to Russia.

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Israel Carries Out Heavy Strikes on Syria’s Coast, Monitor Says

Overnight strikes targeted former army positions, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor. Israel has said it aims to keep military equipment away from extremists.

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