31posts
The Middle East entering Eid al-Fitr in 2026 is a place where the joy of celebration and the wounds of war exist side by side. A look at how a religious holiday becomes a stage for politics and diplomacy.
Apr 10, 2026As Ramadan 2026 draws to a close, Eid al-Fitr celebrations have arrived across the Middle East. Yet the realities in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon cast shadows just as deep as the festival's light.
Apr 9, 2026
More than two and a half years after the Gaza war began in October 2023, this is the story of how Palestinians are preserving their identity through art and culture — even amid the ruins.
Apr 8, 2026As the war in Gaza drags on, international fatigue continues to grow — yet the reality for the children living through it remains viscerally real. We take another look at the faces hidden behind the numbers.
Apr 7, 2026As the 2026 Ramadan comes to a close and Eid al-Fitr begins, this year's celebration carries a weight unlike any other for Muslims in Gaza. A closer look at the gap between the meaning of the festival and the reality on the ground.
Apr 6, 2026
As the Gaza war passes its one-year mark in October 2024 and the conflict continues into 2026, we examine the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian civilians—especially children—and the historical context behind it.
Apr 5, 2026
The world's largest stateless ethnic group, the Kurds. We explore their enduring desire for independence that has persisted for over a century since the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, and the reality they face within today's Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Apr 4, 2026We examine the historical tragedy and present reality of the Kurds, the world's largest stateless people. Their struggle for self-determination — split across four nations: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria — continues into 2026.
Apr 3, 2026The promise of a Kurdish homeland made after World War I — and then taken away. This is the story of 40 million people living without a country of their own, and it's still unfolding today.
Apr 2, 2026The Kurdish people were erased from the map by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. We explore why 40 million people scattered across four countries still dream of a place to call home.
Apr 1, 2026
Nearly a year and a half after the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria stands at a crossroads between reconstruction and fragmentation. We take a closer look at Syria today, as the world's attention turns back to it once more.
Mar 31, 2026
As Ramadan 2026 drew to a close, the guns in Gaza refused to fall silent. We examine the structural reasons behind the repeated collapse of ceasefire negotiations.
Mar 30, 2026As Ramadan 2026 draws to a close, Eid al-Fitr is setting the entire Middle East alight. We look beneath the surface of a celebration that goes far beyond religion — encompassing politics, society, and family all at once.
Mar 29, 2026
Approximately 100 days since the Assad regime collapsed in late 2024, Syria in spring 2026 teeters precariously between the promise of reconstruction and the crisis of division. We examine the challenges of the new transitional government and the international community's perspective.
Mar 28, 2026Over a year since the Assad regime collapsed in late 2024, Syria still sways between reconstruction and division. Is the new government's promise of inclusive politics being fulfilled?
Mar 27, 2026Over a year since the Assad regime collapsed in late 2024, Syria in 2026 stands at the crossroads of reconstruction. Despite international attention and support, the old shadows of sectarian conflict and power vacuum still loom.
Mar 26, 2026Approximately 500 days have passed since the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024. Where does Syria stand now? We examine Syria's present, wavering between the hope of reconstruction and the crisis of division.
Mar 23, 2026
Iran-US relations are once again in turmoil since the launch of the second Trump administration. Between a maximum pressure strategy and diplomatic reopening, where is the Middle East heading?
Mar 22, 2026
Every March 21, hundreds of millions across Iran and the Middle East and Central Asia celebrate Nowruz (New Year). But this ancient festival is not merely a spring welcome — it carries the long-standing tension between the Islamic Republic and Persian identity.
Mar 21, 2026Every March 21, tens of millions of Kurds light fires on mountaintops to welcome the new year. But behind these flames lies far more than a simple celebration — it carries decades of suppressed identity crying out to be heard.
Mar 20, 2026
Approximately 100 days after the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2025, Syria walks a tightrope between hope and chaos in a new power vacuum.
Mar 19, 2026
With 15 years of civil war coming to an end after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria faces its first true spring in 2026. We look at the hope re-emerging on the streets of Damascus and the wounds that have yet to heal.
Mar 18, 2026Approximately 100 days since the Assad regime collapsed in late 2024, Syria teeters precariously between the hope of reconstruction and the crisis of division. Is a new Syria truly possible?
Mar 17, 2026Following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria has entered a new transitional period. Amid discussions of international sanctions relief and reconstruction competition, where is Syria's future headed?
Mar 16, 2026Following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria stands at a crossroads of reconstruction amid a new power vacuum and complex international interests. As of 2026, we examine the geopolitical contest surrounding Syria's future.
Mar 15, 2026As Ramadan, the greatest holy month in Islam, begins, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue their fast amid the ruins. We examine the paradoxical landscape where faith and survival intersect.
Mar 13, 2026Approximately 100 days since the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria stands at a historic turning point where extreme chaos and hope coexist. We examine the new power structure, the international community's perspective, and the possibility of millions of refugees returning.
Mar 12, 2026As Ramadan progresses in earnest, reports have emerged that temporary ceasefire negotiations for the Gaza Strip have resumed with Qatari mediation. However, optimism and pessimism intertwine in a pattern reminiscent of the past.
Mar 11, 2026As Ramadan 2026 begins, Palestinians in Gaza cling to their faith amid war and famine. We look into the paradoxical reality where the sound of shells and the adhan (call to prayer) coexist.
Mar 10, 2026Following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria has reached a new turning point. As of 2026, amid discussions of international sanctions relief and competition over reconstruction, where is Syria's future headed?
Mar 9, 2026Why do the Pashtun people, living across the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, still dream of 'one country'? We examine the history of division created by the Durand Line and the current state of Pashtun nationalism.
Mar 8, 2026