TOPIC

/ people

Tom Barrack

The latest news and top stories on Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, actively engaged in Middle East diplomatic efforts. His responsibilities include discussing Hezbollah’s disarmament with Lebanese authorities.

A dozen officials with the Iran World Cup delegation have been refused visas to enter the United States. Photo: AFP

Fifa World Cup 2026

Iran slams US ‘discriminatory treatment’ over World Cup visa refusals

12 officials, including team manager and press officer, have reportedly been denied entry for the tournament.

6 Jun 2026 - 7:00PM

Middle East

Syria gives Kurds 4 days to accept integration as US signals end of support

21 Jan 2026 - 2:42PM

Middle East

US says it carried out new ‘large-scale’ strikes against Isis in Syria

11 Jan 2026 - 5:54AMvideocam

Syria

Kurdish fighters refuse to leave Syria’s Aleppo after truce

Kurdish fighters defy Aleppo truce, sparking fears of wider conflict amid civilian evacuations and international pressure.

9 Jan 2026 - 8:41PM

Columns of smoke rise from Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighbourhoods amid intense clashes between government forces and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Syria’s year of ‘epic’ transformation earns it Trump’s protection

Washington is lifting sanctions and has rebuked Israel for its attacks, as the US throws its weight behind Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration.

13 Dec 2025 - 4:00PMvideocam

War and conflict

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

Capricious political leaders like Donald Trump and his defence chief may be more dangerous than responsible and battle-tested generals.

12 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Middle East

‘No calm in Beirut’ as more Israeli strikes expected after Hezbollah ultimatum

Israel’s ultimatum to Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah by New Year’s Eve is more about political pressure than an invasion plan, analysts say.

2 Dec 2025 - 5:20PMvideocam

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Sejoud on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Syria leader arrives in US for Trump visit after removal from terror blacklist

Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted Assad, has been working to present a moderate image, in a break from his group’s violent past.

9 Nov 2025 - 7:51AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump hosts Erdogan as US considers lifting ban on F-35 sales to Turkey

The US is concerned about the Nato ally’s relationship with Moscow, including the purchase of a missile system and the buying of Russian oil.

26 Sep 2025 - 5:33AM

Israel-Gaza war

Israel’s annexation plans fuel fears of Palestinians’ annihilation

What is happening in Gaza is tantamount to ‘the final solution’, an academic says, as Israel also plans to annex most of the West Bank.

6 Sep 2025 - 4:00PM

Palestinian children wait to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City on Wednesday. Photo: APA Images/Zuma Press Wire/dpa

Hezbollah

Hezbollah leader rejects disarmament, demands Israel comply with ceasefire first

Israel signalled it would scale back military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese army took action to disarm the Iran-backed group.

26 Aug 2025 - 9:47AM

Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem. Photo: Al Manar TV / Reuters TV via Reuters

Middle East

Syria’s President Sharaa hopes for Kurdish deal to prevent conflict

Turkey and the US back the deal to integrate Syria’s oil-rich northeast into the state and want to resolve the issue peacefully, Sharaa said.

18 Aug 2025 - 2:42AM

Syria

Syria’s elections: a path to inclusion or continued conflict?

A deepening humanitarian crisis and minority grievances complicate Syria’s bid for a centralised state, 14 years after its civil war began.

2 Aug 2025 - 4:00PMvideocam

Defence

How Turkey re-emerged as the West’s ‘indispensable’ defence partner

Europe and the US are recalibrating their security priorities, with renewed respect for Turkey’s strategic importance and defence industry.

29 Jul 2025 - 6:00PM

Turkish soldiers march in a military parade in Istanbul last August. Photo: AFP

Syria

Bedouin fighters leave Syrian Druze-majority city of Sweida after deadly clashes

Withdrawal follows fighting and a US-brokered agreement, with humanitarian aid now entering the southern province.

21 Jul 2025 - 11:56AM

Bedouin fighters ride a truck in the village of Al-Mazraa, after days of violence in the Sweida. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Israeli military strikes targets at Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen

Two missiles were launched from Yemen towards Israel just hours later, the Israeli army said.

7 Jul 2025 - 10:54AM

Middle East

Hezbollah will not disarm or surrender under threat from Israel

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the Lebanese militant group will only disarm after Israel’s aggression stops first.

6 Jul 2025 - 5:52PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Tom Barrack

Iran slams US ‘discriminatory treatment’ over World Cup visa refusals

12 officials, including team manager and press officer, have reportedly been denied entry for the tournament.

Syria gives Kurds 4 days to accept integration as US signals end of support

US says it carried out new ‘large-scale’ strikes against Isis in Syria

Kurdish fighters refuse to leave Syria’s Aleppo after truce

Kurdish fighters defy Aleppo truce, sparking fears of wider conflict amid civilian evacuations and international pressure.

Syria’s year of ‘epic’ transformation earns it Trump’s protection

Washington is lifting sanctions and has rebuked Israel for its attacks, as the US throws its weight behind Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

Capricious political leaders like Donald Trump and his defence chief may be more dangerous than responsible and battle-tested generals.

‘No calm in Beirut’ as more Israeli strikes expected after Hezbollah ultimatum

Israel’s ultimatum to Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah by New Year’s Eve is more about political pressure than an invasion plan, analysts say.

Syria leader arrives in US for Trump visit after removal from terror blacklist

Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted Assad, has been working to present a moderate image, in a break from his group’s violent past.

Trump hosts Erdogan as US considers lifting ban on F-35 sales to Turkey

The US is concerned about the Nato ally’s relationship with Moscow, including the purchase of a missile system and the buying of Russian oil.

Israel’s annexation plans fuel fears of Palestinians’ annihilation

What is happening in Gaza is tantamount to ‘the final solution’, an academic says, as Israel also plans to annex most of the West Bank.

Hezbollah leader rejects disarmament, demands Israel comply with ceasefire first

Israel signalled it would scale back military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese army took action to disarm the Iran-backed group.

Syria’s President Sharaa hopes for Kurdish deal to prevent conflict

Turkey and the US back the deal to integrate Syria’s oil-rich northeast into the state and want to resolve the issue peacefully, Sharaa said.

Syria’s elections: a path to inclusion or continued conflict?

A deepening humanitarian crisis and minority grievances complicate Syria’s bid for a centralised state, 14 years after its civil war began.

How Turkey re-emerged as the West’s ‘indispensable’ defence partner

Europe and the US are recalibrating their security priorities, with renewed respect for Turkey’s strategic importance and defence industry.

Bedouin fighters leave Syrian Druze-majority city of Sweida after deadly clashes

Withdrawal follows fighting and a US-brokered agreement, with humanitarian aid now entering the southern province.

Israeli military strikes targets at Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen

Two missiles were launched from Yemen towards Israel just hours later, the Israeli army said.

Hezbollah will not disarm or surrender under threat from Israel

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the Lebanese militant group will only disarm after Israel’s aggression stops first.

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?