War and Armed Conflicts – Page 2 – War Watch

Assad, Bashar al- | Defense and Military Forces | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Politics and Government | Raqqa (Syria) | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria Advance on Kurdish-Held Areas as Washington Urges Restraint
ByEuan Ward January 18, 2026January 18, 2026

Government troops drew closer to Raqqa, the largest city overseen by the Kurds, raising U.S. concerns about the renewal of a wider conflict in the region.

Read More Syria Advance on Kurdish-Held Areas as Washington Urges Restraint
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
Demonstrations, Protests and Riots | Espionage and Intelligence Services | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Mossad | Netanyahu, Benjamin | Pahlavi, Reza (1960- ) | War and Armed Conflicts

Why Israel Is Wary of Intervening in Iran
ByDavid M. Halbfinger January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Israel is unlikely to do much to try to precipitate a regime change in Iran, seeing the government as far from the brink of collapse and the current protests as insufficient to push it to that point.

Read More Why Israel Is Wary of Intervening in Iran
Assad, Bashar al- | Damascus (Syria) | Hikes and Hiking | History (Academic Subject) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Syria | War and Armed Conflicts

How a Syrian Hiking Club Is Rediscovering the Country
ByRaja Abdulrahim and Diego Ibarra Sanchez January 13, 2026January 13, 2026

The nearly 14-year civil war prevented Syrians from traveling freely to many parts of their own country. After the conflict ended a year ago, a group of outdoor enthusiasts began exploring newly accessible areas, fueled by a sense of adventure and hope.

Read More How a Syrian Hiking Club Is Rediscovering the Country
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
al-Zubaidi, Aidarous (1967- ) | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Saudi Arabia | Secession and Independence Movements | Southern Transitional Council (Yemen) | United Arab Emirates | War and Armed Conflicts | Yemen

Saudi Official Accuses U.A.E. of Helping Yemeni Separatist to Escape
ByVivian Nereim January 8, 2026January 9, 2026

Aidarous al-Zubaidi is wanted on treason charges in Yemen after he led a lightning military offensive that escalated a bitter feud between the Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Read More Saudi Official Accuses U.A.E. of Helping Yemeni Separatist to Escape
Aoun, Joseph (1964- ) | Aoun, Michel (1935- ) | Arms Control and Limitation and Disarmament | Hezbollah | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran-Israel Proxy Conflict | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Netanyahu, Benjamin | Peace Process | Salam, Nawaf | War and Armed Conflicts

Lebanon Claims Progress in Disarming Militant Groups Like Hezbollah
ByEuan Ward January 8, 2026January 8, 2026

The military said it had completed the first phase of a plan to demilitarize armed groups as fears grew that Israel was preparing a new offensive against Hezbollah.

Read More Lebanon Claims Progress in Disarming Militant Groups Like Hezbollah
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Assad, Bashar al- | Damascus (Syria) | Golan Heights | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Peace Process | Syria | United States International Relations | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria and Israel Revive Security Talks Mediated by the U.S.
ByChristina Goldbaum January 6, 2026January 6, 2026

The talks, in Paris, are the latest bid to reduce tensions between two longtime enemies. A deal would help both curry favor with the Trump administration.

Read More Syria and Israel Revive Security Talks Mediated by the U.S.
Defense and Military Forces | Houthis | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Saudi Arabia | Secession and Independence Movements | Southern Transitional Council (Yemen) | Territorial Disputes | War and Armed Conflicts | Yemen

Yemeni Forces, Backed by Saudi Arabia, Reclaim Territory From Separatists
BySaeed Al-Batati and Vivian Nereim January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

An offensive by Yemeni government-allied forces appeared to turn the tide in a conflict that has become a proxy clash between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Read More Yemeni Forces, Backed by Saudi Arabia, Reclaim Territory From Separatists
Hadhramaut Province | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Saudi Arabia | Secession and Independence Movements | Southern Transitional Council (Yemen) | United Arab Emirates | War and Armed Conflicts | Yemen

Yemen Sends Its Military to Push Out Separatist Faction
ByIsmaeel Naar January 2, 2026January 2, 2026

The Saudi-backed government in Yemen said it would send forces to reclaim territory from a group that the United Arab Emirates supports.

Read More Yemen Sends Its Military to Push Out Separatist Faction