The Sunni businessman and Lebanese politician was crucial to providing economic support to the Assad regime, from national projects to the funding of loyalist militias, Iqtissad writes
Political opposition rejects current efforts to implement the Russian-proposed de-escalation zones, claiming the agreement works to consolidate areas of influence, Souriatna writes
The Syrian opposition’s failure to propose a suitable alternative to Assad has helped the Syrian president to defy international pressure to step down, Walid al-Bunni argues
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the American diplomat says his country gave false hope early on to Syrians who believed the U.S. would intervene militarily against Assad
Regime forces escalate attacks on opposition-held areas as part of a massive campaign to retake the southern province from rebels, Zaman al-Wasl writes
Opposition fighters struggle to hold off pro-regime assault on Daraa as Assad enacts yet another scorched-earth policy on one of Syria’s major cities, Enab Baladi writes
Relocation follows the Assad regime’s successful campaign in May to capture the western Qalamoun, which borders Lebanon, opposition website reports
As fighting in Syria’s south intensifies, Alsouria Net explains the strategic significance of hotly contested areas near the Israeli-occupied Golan
Hezbollah-run media warns of an end to ‘self-restraint’ after U.S. forces targeted Iranian-backed militias, while questions remain as to whether Russia approved the statement
The southern province has seen a surge of violence recently despite lying within one of the four of “de-escalation” zones proposed by Russia
Ras al-Sofuf operation room will tackle regime attempts to advance in the eastern side of the city as Syrian army continues to pound Daraa, opposition website reports
Spokesman for key rebel group responds to claims of huge prisoner swap, describing reports of purported settlement as ‘baseless and unfounded’
Washington aims to limit Tehran’s political weight and break the line of Iranian influence by engaging in deal-making with Russia, Ibrahim Hamidi writes for Saudi-owned newspaper
Russian military website confirms renewed tensions between Syrian army forces and allied Iranian-backed militias in the south, opposition media writes
Coalition president responds to announcement of declaration, which aims to form a reserve army of 34,000 troops to back counterterrorism operations
Banners in the pro-Hezbollah city Nabatieh threaten Syrian workers amid rising tensions between locals and refugees, opposition website writes
In the wake of Khan Sheikhoun, U.S. statements this week exposing the Syrian regime for covering-up its abuses were intended as yet another warning to Assad, Russia and Iran, Walid al-Bunni writes
Abdulnasser Al-Ayed explains that for Russia’s ‘safe zone’ proposal to work, Moscow will need to consider U.S. concerns despite attempts to sideline Washington in the Syrian peace process
Rebel leader Abou Ammar says the international community’s disregard for Tehran and Moscow’s role in Syria will result in an expansion of the conflict beyond Syria’s borders, Alsouria Net writes
Gen. Ali Abdullah Ayoub says Iran, Russia and Hezbollah are the only forces who can foil the conspiracy against Syria, government outlet reports
