The Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs rejected a request submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) demanding that Syrian refugees be given the financial assistance they are owed in dollars instead of Lebanese pounds. The ministry also rejected another request...

Saudi Arabia is planning to invite Bashar al-Assad to an Arab League summit that Riyadh is hosting in May, three sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The move would formally end Assad’s regional isolation. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will travel to Damascus...

Syria’s chief diplomat was in Egypt on Saturday in a step toward normalizing ties between the two countries. It was the first trip to the capital of Cairo for a Syrian foreign minister in over a decade. Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry for talks...

Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II is poised to enter a new phase in the coming weeks. With no suggestion of a negotiated end to the 13 months of fighting between Russia and Ukraine, the Ukrainian defense minister said last week that a spring counteroffensive could begin as...