Behind today's four-way summit between Syria, France, Turkey and Qatar lies Syria's ongoing talks with Israel, writes Sami Moubayed
Damascenes welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy with French flags on all major streets in the Syrian capital. It (...)
After years of isolation Syrian diplomacy is suddenly scoring successes, writes Sami Moubayed
The Doha Agreement, hammered out between warring Lebanese factions last May, seemed tailor-made to suit Syria. Although the Syrians did not go to Qatar, (...)
When the French occupied Syria in 1920, they famously dissected the country, giving four major parts to the newly created state of Lebanon. The French left Syria 26 years later, and Syrian lawmakers claimed that the division was null and void, (...)
Damascus is ready and waiting, but will the guests show up, asks Sami Moubayed
The Syrians continue to uphold their innocence with regard to the presidential crisis in Lebanon, and stress that, "the upcoming Arab Summit in Damascus scheduled for 29 (...)
As political jockeying continues in Beirut, Sami Moubayed considers the Syrian options
Last Christmas, the Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir told Lebanese Christians, "Do not be afraid." At first glance, the Lebanese did not seem (...)
Syria bit the bullet and accepted Bush's invitation. Here's why, explains Sami Moubayed
There was much speculation in Syria on whether to attend the Annapolis conference or not. Reservations stemmed from an earlier no-mention of the occupied Golan (...)
For the most part of nearly three decades, interaction between Syrians and Iraqis was minimal, to say the least-restricted to political fugitives from each country residing in Baghdad and Damascus. Anyone who is someone in Iraq today was a resident (...)
America and Israel spin propaganda circles around the Arabs, fumes Sami Moubayed
The Syrians are disappointed with the synchronised silence of the Arab world over the latest Israeli aerial invasion of Syria, which took place on 6 September. They (...)
Was an Israeli attack on Syria averted by good defence? asks Sami Moubayed
Israeli warplanes violated Syrian airspace on 6 September, penetrating deep into Syrian territory to Deir ez-Zour near the border with Turkey. Syrian defences confronted (...)
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad commits to peace, resistance, the Golan Heights but ignores Lebanon, reports Sami Moubayed from Damascus
There were few surprises in Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's inauguration speech, given at the People's (...)
The Syrians are monitoring developments in the region with increasing alarm, writes Sami Moubayed from Damascus
The Syrians, the public and government alike, are worried about the latest developments taking place on their three borders, with (...)
Following his presidential victory and signs of international acceptance, Bashar Al-Assad might prematurely be assuming smooth political sailing for Damascus, writes Sami Moubayed
Last Wednesday, a smiling President Bashar Al-Assad and his wife (...)
The mood in Damascus is defiant as the Syrians gleefully seem to be celebrating a victory of sorts over the Americans, writes Sami Moubayed in Damascus
As Syria prepares for the forthcoming referendum to re-elect President Bashar Al-Assad into (...)
Syria is steadfast in its political stance, even as the United States tries to win over its president Al-Assad, writes Sami Moubayed
For many years, a popular saying in Washington DC had it that Syria's only ability was the ability to de-stabilise. (...)
Syria embraces refugees from Israel's open offensive on Lebanon, hoping that the war does not spread, writes Sami Moubayed
The latest war on Lebanon means many things for Syria. The West, and particularly US President George W Bush, is accusing the (...)
Internal clashes within Hamas, exacerbated by Syria, only serve to worsen the already existing crisis created by Israel's military operation in Gaza, reports Sami Moubayed
The hunt for Khaled Meshaal has shifted into top gear after Israel accused (...)
Regional instability opens the door for another era of Baath supremacy, writes Sami Moubayed
The ruling Baath Party in Syria issued a communiqué last week "requesting from Baathist party authorities to interfere in state-appointments, so that they (...)
Surprisingly little attention is paid as one Syrian opposition figure chooses exile in Jordan, reports Sami Moubayed
Maamoun Al-Homsi, former deputy for Damascus of the People's Party, fled to Jordan last week to continue a life of opposition in (...)
To the relief of Damascus, the UN's latest report on the assassination of Al-Hariri contains no speculation and confirms Syria's cooperation with the enquiry, reports Sami Moubayed
As expected, the second report of UN investigator Serge Brammertz on (...)
Damascus sees open clashes between security forces and Islamic militants, posing a conundrum for the US that continues to oppose the incumbent Syrian regime, writes Sami Moubayed
The people of Damascus awoke at dawn to the sound of heavy gunfire in (...)
The tide has turned in the favour of Iran and Syria in the ongoing confrontation with Washington, writes Sami Moubayed
Iran's former president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who now leads the powerful Expediency Council after his defeat in the (...)
Obituary:
(1934-2006)
With the death in Damascus of on 3 April Syria has lost one of its literary heavyweights, a great poet and playwright. Considered a great poet and playwright, Al-Maghout died in Damascus at the age of 73 on April 3, 2006, after (...)
The surprise appointment of a new Syrian vice-president sparks debate on how far this may affect the country's future, Sami Moubayed reports from Damascus
In a move that took many Syrians by surprise, President Bashar Al-Assad appointed Najah (...)
The successor of Judge Mehlis notably tones down the politics of the Al-Hariri assassination, exonerating Syria for its cooperation with the UN investigation, writes Sami Moubayed
The new UN report in the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime (...)
A presidential cabinet shake-up leaves Syria's Baath Party more firmly in command, writes Sami Moubayed
President Bashar Al-Assad reshuffled the cabinet of Prime Minister Mohamed Naji Al-Otari 11 February, ending months of speculation in Syria. In (...)