Minorities – War Watch

al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Aleppo (Syria) | Assad, Bashar al- | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Minorities | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria’s President Affirms Kurds’ Rights, in Overture to the Minority
ByChristina Goldbaum January 16, 2026January 17, 2026

President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s announcement on Friday came after days of fighting between the government and Kurdish forces. On Saturday, those forces began withdrawing from a flashpoint east of Aleppo.

Read More Syria’s President Affirms Kurds’ Rights, in Overture to the Minority
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Aleppo (Syria) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Minorities | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

Syrian Military Takes Aleppo Neighborhoods After Clashes With Kurds
ByRaja Abdulrahim January 11, 2026

The takeover ended one of the worst outbreaks of violence between the central government and the Kurdish-led forces since the end of the civil war just over a year ago.

Read More Syrian Military Takes Aleppo Neighborhoods After Clashes With Kurds
Alawite Muslims | Assad, Bashar al- | Civilian Casualties | Demonstrations, Protests and Riots | Homs (Syria) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Latakia (Syria) | Minorities | Syria | Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

Syrian Protests Over Lack of Security Leave 2 Dead
ByRaja Abdulrahim December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

Days after a bombing at a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area, members of the religious minority in Syria demonstrated for better protections.

Read More Syrian Protests Over Lack of Security Leave 2 Dead
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Aleppo (Syria) | Assad, Bashar al- | Damascus (Syria) | Defense and Military Forces | Hayat Tahrir al-Sham | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Minorities | Muslims and Islam | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces

Syria, Rebuilding Its Military, Relies on Loyalists and Religious Teaching
ByRaja Abdulrahim December 11, 2025

Critics say Syria’s fledgling government is hobbling military preparedness as it redoes the country’s forces from scratch.

Read More Syria, Rebuilding Its Military, Relies on Loyalists and Religious Teaching
Alawite Muslims | Assad, Bashar al- | Defense and Military Forces | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Law and Legislation | Middle East and North Africa Unrest (2010- ) | Minorities | Murders, Attempted Murders and Homicides | Politics and Government | Syria | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria Tiptoes Toward Transitional Justice One Year After Assad’s Ouster
ByCarlotta Gall and Saad Alnassife November 29, 2025

Fourteen people are on trial, charged with crimes related to an outbreak of sectarian violence under the new government. The abuses of the old Assad regime still await a reckoning.

Read More Syria Tiptoes Toward Transitional Justice One Year After Assad’s Ouster
Alawite Muslims | Bedouins | Homs (Syria) | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Minorities | Murders, Attempted Murders and Homicides | Syria | War and Armed Conflicts

Grisly Killings of a Married Couple Spark New Sectarian Unrest in Syria
ByEuan Ward November 24, 2025

The government acted quickly to tamp down reprisals in the central city of Homs as it tries to manage repeated waves of bloodshed involving minority groups.

Read More Grisly Killings of a Married Couple Spark New Sectarian Unrest in Syria
Corruption (Institutional) | Elections | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Legislatures and Parliaments | Minorities | Sadr, Moktada Al- | Shiite Muslims | Sudani, Mohammed Shia al- | Trump, Donald J

Iraqis Are Voting for a New Parliament. Here’s What to Know.
ByErika Solomon and Falih Hassan November 11, 2025

Iraq is caught in the conflict between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration insisting that the next government disarm powerful Iran-backed militias.

Read More Iraqis Are Voting for a New Parliament. Here’s What to Know.
Corruption (Institutional) | Elections | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Legislatures and Parliaments | Minorities | Sadr, Moktada Al- | Shiite Muslims | Sudani, Mohammed Shia al- | Trump, Donald J

Iraqis Are Voting for a New Parliament. Here’s What to Know.
ByErika Solomon and Falih Hassan November 11, 2025November 11, 2025

Iraq is caught in a power struggle between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration insisting that the next government disarm powerful Iran-backed militias.

Read More Iraqis Are Voting for a New Parliament. Here’s What to Know.
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Civilian Casualties | Druse (Sect) | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Minorities | Sweida, Syria | Syria

Civilian Massacres Follow Syrian Leaders’ Promises of Peace
ByChristina Goldbaum, Arijeta Lajka, Reham Mourshed and Sanjana Varghese October 22, 2025

Ten months after rebels toppled the long-entrenched Assad regime, little-checked bloodshed has led many Syrians to abandon hope that the years of brutality may be over.

Read More Civilian Massacres Follow Syrian Leaders’ Promises of Peace
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Civilian Casualties | Druse (Sect) | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Minorities | Sweida, Syria | Syria

Civilian Massacres Follow Syrian Leaders’ Promises of Peace
ByChristina Goldbaum, Arijeta Lajka, Reham Mourshed and Sanjana Varghese October 22, 2025October 22, 2025

Ten months after rebels toppled the long-entrenched Assad regime, little-checked bloodshed has led many Syrians to abandon hope that the years of brutality may be over.

Read More Civilian Massacres Follow Syrian Leaders’ Promises of Peace