ISIS has ramped up its operations, targeting territories held by both the SDF and the transitional government, Ultra Syria writes.
The fall of the regime has spurred political and social realignment across Syrian expatriate communities, especially among Alawites, al-Modon writes.
Despite concerns about Sharaa’s background, Israeli officials now describe him as pragmatic and independent of Ankara, according to Axios.
Barrack, who met twice with Sharaa in recent weeks, including during President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to Riyadh, underscored the fragility of Syria’s transition.
Sharaa’s perceived moderation and Syria’s strategic importance—especially its proximity to Israel, its Kurdish population, and its history with Iran—make it a higher Western priority.
Political researcher Sarkis Qassarjian sees U.S. policy in Syria as part of a wider effort to deconflict regional rivalries and create space for long-term economic projects, Ultra Syria writes.
The U.S. State Department reiterated its ongoing support for the Syrian transitional government, emphasizing the need for transparency in its decision-making process.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barak confirmed to the agency that Washington had reached a “verbal understanding” with the Syrian transitional government regarding the plan
This is Barrack’s second major appearance in the region, following what was described as a “historic” trip to Damascus earlier this year, Syria TV writes.
The visit is anticipated to include a series of official engagements, with the UN address serving as the centrepiece, Syria TV writes.
The drawdown follows an earlier announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense on 18 April, in which Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed plans to reduce American troop numbers in Syria, Enab Baladi writes.
While the transitional Syrian government has taken steps to contain and restrict the movements of foreign combatants, the issue has proven deeply complex, al-Hal writes.
Barak praised the evolving cooperation between the United States and Turkey on Syria, according to Syria TV.
Western policy towards Syria’s new regime blends incentives with discipline—a “diplomacy of conditionalities.”
Barrack’s language reveals much about how America wants to be understood. In diplomacy—as in literature—meaning lies not only in what is said but in how the message is structured.
SANA described the event as a “practical indicator of a new phase” in Syrian-American relations, Zaman al-Wasl writes.
“For now, this is about coexistence, not normalization,” one source involved in the talks said.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Bahrain on May 10 marked a significant milestone in Syrian-Gulf relations, Enab Baladi writes.
Some Russian analysts suggest the attack may have been aimed not at Moscow, but at Syria’s new president, Syria TV writes.
The al-Hol agreement signals a new phase of coordination between the Autonomous Administration, the Syrian state, and international stakeholders, Enab Baladi writes.
