Abby Sewell

Trump says the U.S. has begun 'major combat operations in Iran' President Donald Trump says the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran” after Israel launched strikes.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran” after Israel launched strikes despite ongoing nuclear talks:

apnews.com/article/iran...

Public rift erupts between son of Iran's last shah and Kurdish Iranian dissidents Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi is clashing with Kurdish Iranian dissident groups, exposing splits in the Iranian opposition.

Public rift erupts between, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah, and Kurdish Iranian dissidents

With Stella Martany

apnews.com/article/iran...

Syria's TV dramas are testing Ramadan series' boundaries after Assad's fall Syria's well-known TV dramas are returning to Ramadan screens as the industry tries to rebuild after years of war and the fall of the Assad dynasty.

Ramadan in the Arab world is a time of fasting and prayer, but it brings another beloved tradition: the much-anticipated TV drama series shot each year to be aired during the holy month.

I delved into Syria's TV industry as it seeks its footing in the post-Assad order:

apnews.com/article/syri...

A Kurdish-majority neighborhood in Syria recovers from clashes with hope for the future A month after violent clashes in a Kurdish-majority neighborhood in Syria's Aleppo, tens of thousands of residents have returned.

Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in Syria's Aleppo recovers from clashes with hope for the future
apnews.com/article/syri...

Village in southern Lebanon buries a child and father killed in Israeli drone strike Mourners in southern Lebanon have buried a father and his young son killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a Hezbollah member.

Village in southern Lebanon buries a child and father killed in Israeli drone strike

apnews.com/article/leba...

UN peacekeepers in Lebanon allege surge in Israeli violence toward them U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon say they have faced increased violence from Israeli forces over the past year.

U.N. peacekeepers with UNIFIL patrolling southern Lebanon have faced a dramatic surge of “aggressive behavior” by Israeli forces over the last year, including drone-dropped grenades and machine-gun fire, according to an internal report seen by @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/isra...

Lebanon's relations with Syria have made a dramatic positive shift post-Assad, deputy PM says Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri says relations with Syria have improved significantly since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Lebanon's relations with Syria have made a dramatic positive shift post-Assad, deputy PM Tarek Mitri says

apnews.com/article/leba...

A father awaits Rafah crossing reopening after 2-year separation from family in Gaza Tens of thousands of Palestinians await the reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza so they can reunite with family.

Stranded in Egypt for the past two years, Raed Belal has had to watch helplessly as his wife and children in the Gaza Strip endured bombardment, displacement and hunger. Now he finally has hope he might return to them

apnews.com/article/rafa...

A US shift marked Kurdish-led forces' fall from power in Syria The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have fallen from power in Syria as the U.S. shifts its backing to the country's new leaders in Damascus.

After months of stalled negotiations, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces lost most of their territory to a government offensive in a matter of days. They may have miscalculated by counting on U.S. support.

Who's on Trump's Board of Peace and who said no Several countries have said they'll join President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. A few European nations have declined invitations.

Several countries have said they will sign onto Trump’s Board of Peace, while a few European nations have declined their invitations. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites. Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

A US shift marked Kurdish-led forces' fall from power in Syria The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have fallen from power in Syria as the U.S. shifts its backing to the country's new leaders in Damascus.

Analysts say the SDF miscalculated, taking a hard stance in negotiations with the new leaders in Damascus on the assumption that if a military conflict erupted between them, Washington would support the SDF

apnews.com/article/syri...

Kurdish separatist group claims to have mounted ‘armed operations' in Iran to defend protesters A representative of an Iranian Kurdish separatist group in Iraq says the group’s armed wing has launched attacks on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for Tehran's violent crackdown on proteste...

Kurdish separatist group claims to have mounted ‘armed operations' in Iran to defend protesters

With Stella Martany:

apnews.com/article/iran...

US to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns The State Department says it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United State...

Syria is on the list but was already under a ban anyway. Lebanon is newly added. Iraq is there as well. (As are many others, clearly, but I'm just naming the ones in my patch. Full list in the story)

US to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries

apnews.com/article/trum...

Kurdish fighters evacuated from Aleppo after days of violent clashes Kurdish fighters have been evacuated from a contested neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, after days of violent clashes with government forces.

Kurdish fighters evacuated from Aleppo after days of violent clashes

apnews.com/article/alep...

Civilians flee Aleppo as clashes between Syrian government and Kurdish forces escalate Fighting has escalated in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. Tens of thousands fled two Kurdish neighborhoods on Wednesday after the military ordered evacuations amid deadly clashes between government f...

Civilians flee Aleppo as clashes between Syrian government and Kurdish forces escalate
apnews.com/article/syri...

Syrian and Israeli officials set to resume US-mediated talks in Paris Syrian and Israeli officials are set to resume U.S.-mediated talks in Paris, aiming for a security agreement to ease tensions.

Syrian and Israeli officials set to resume US-mediated talks in Paris

apnews.com/article/syri...

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending Israel says it's suspending humanitarian organizations that have failed to meet its new rules to vet international groups working in Gaza.

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending.

They include some of the world’s most prominent and outspoken aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders:

apnews.com/article/gaza...

Hundreds mourn in Syria's Homs after deadly mosque bombing Hundreds of mourners have gathered outside a mosque in Homs, Syria, after a bombing killed eight people and wounded 18.

Hundreds mourn in Syria's Homs after deadly mosque bombing

apnews.com/article/syri...

Gate of the Sun is like The Brothers Karamazov for me. Every few years I return and read it again and every time I discover something new and different in it

Terribly sad story about the attack on a small congregation in June. Three men died jumping on a suicide bomber. In total, 25 died.

Thana al-Masoud, widow of hero Boutros Bechara: “There’s no holiday, neither this year nor next year nor the one after it."

“Our Lord chose them to be saints."

Syrian church marks Christmas and reaffirms faith months after deadly attack Hundreds of worshippers have gathered at Mar Elias Church in Syria to remember those lost in a suicide attack.

Syrian church marks Christmas and reaffirms faith months after deadly attack

apnews.com/article/syri...

Clashes flare as top Turkish officials visit Syria ahead of a deadline for Kurdish integration Clashes have erupted between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the city of Aleppo. This comes as top Turkish officials visited Damascus on Monday to discuss a deal between the government ...

Clashes erupted between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters Monday as top Turkish officials visited Damascus ahead of a deadline to implement a deal between the government and the #SDF

apnews.com/article/turk...

Israeli military expansion in Syria raises tensions as they carve out a buffer zone Israel’s military raids and strikes over the past year aiming to carve out a buffer zone in southern Syria have raised tensions, frustrated locals and also appear to have scuttled chances — despite U....

Israeli military raids in Syria raise tensions as they carve out a buffer zone

Via @chehayebk.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/syri...

Attacker who killed US troops in Syria was a recent recruit to security forces, official says A Syrian security guard who attacked and killed three U.S. citizens in Syria had joined the internal security forces two months earlier.

The man who killed three U.S. citizens in Syria had joined Syria’s internal security forces as a security guard two months earlier and was recently reassigned amid suspicions that he might be affiliated with the Islamic State, a Syrian official told the @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/syri...

In post-Assad Syria's chaos, Alawite women face sexual violence A woman from Syria's Alawite minority has spoken about her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and raped by gunmen.

Since the fall of Bashar Assad in Syria a year ago, dozens of women from the Alawite religious sect — to which Assad belonged — have been subjected to kidnappings and sexual assault.

@bmroue.bsky.social e spoke with survivors, family members and rights groups:

apnews.com/article/syri...

On anniversary of the fall of Bashar Assad, Syrians and their country struggle to heal Mohammad Marwan has been struggling to rebuild his life after being released from Syria’s Saydnaya prison a year ago.

On anniversary of the fall of Bashar Assad, Syrians and their country struggle to heal

apnews.com/article/syri...

US raid allegedly killed Syrian undercover agent instead of Islamic State group official A U.S. operation in Syria last month mistakenly killed a man who had been working undercover against the Islamic State group, according to his family, a war monitor and officials.

US raid allegedly killed Syrian undercover agent instead of Islamic State official

The case of Khaled al-Masoud, the apparent result of lack of communication between the US-led mission and Damascus, showed the limits of increased security coordination:

apnews.com/article/syri...

Iraq retracts a terror designation it imposed on Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis Iraqi officials have retracted a decision to label Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels as terrorist organizations.

Iraq’s government imposed and then retracted a terror designation for Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, saying was a mistake.

Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Stella Martany report on the highly awkward situation the Iraq state has found itself in:

apnews.com/article/iraq...

Lebanon 'far from' diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, prime minister says Lebanon’s prime minister says that his country is “far from” diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that his country was “far from” diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, despite a move toward direct negotiations between the two countries aimed at defusing tensions

apnews.com/article/leba...

Pope Leo XIV's visit highlights Christian resilience in Lebanon despite regional turmoil Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon highlights the country's religious pluralism and sends a message to Christians not to abandon the region.

Pope Leo XIV’s visit highlights Christian resilience in Lebanon despite regional turmoil

Via @bmroue.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/pope...