The Levant Files

A deadly escalation has unfolded southwest of the Syrian capital, as Israeli forces launched a combined helicopter and artillery assault on the town of Beit Jinn. The operation, which followed a rare ground incursion, has left at least 13 people dead, dozens wounded, and sparked a wave of displacement across the slopes of Mount Hermon. According to a Syria TV correspondent, the violence began at dawn on Friday when helicopters and artillery belonging to the Israeli army bombarded the town. The strikes resulted in what local sources are describing as a massacre, with 13 killed and approximately 25 injured. The aerial and artillery bombardment was reportedly precipitated by a direct confrontation on the ground. Correspondents stated that an Israeli military patrol had penetrated Beit Jinn earlier that morning to arrest three young men. The incursion sparked immediate clashes between local residents and the Israeli forces. Following the skirmish, the Israeli patrol withdrew from the town ...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has submitted a formal pardon request to President Isaac Herzog , seeking to end his six-year-long corruption trial , arguing that doing so would serve the "national interest" and allow him to focus on critical affairs of state. According to the Times of Israel , the President's Residence confirmed receiving the request on Sunday, which included a 111-page document prepared by Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad , along with a personal letter signed by the prime minister. Herzog's office stated that the president will "sincerely consider the request" after receiving opinions from relevant authorities within the Justice Ministry's Pardons Department . In a video statement released shortly after the submission, Netanyahu defended his decision, stating that "nearly a decade has passed since the investigations against me began" and emphasizing that while his personal interest would be to see the legal proces...

If the focus of the latest İmralı visit is Syria, should we assume that Ankara has granted Öcalan proxy authority over its Syria policy? By Namık Tan There is no center in Syria yet—no state center—that can stand on its own or lift the country up by itself. For such a center to take root and grow stronger, to put it simply, the United States must lift its sanctions. President Trump has been using his authority to suspend these sanctions for 180-day periods. However, he does not have the power to lift them unilaterally. For Congress's view of El-Shara to align with what Trump and Ambassador Barrack want, Damascus must mend its ties with the SDF and Israel—or at least with one of them. According to the leaked phone call recordings between Special Envoy Witkoff and Russian officials, as well as Army Secretary Driscoll's contacts in Kyiv—including with ambassadors from NATO member states—the Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine to surrender by gifting Donbas and Crimea to Put...

The Syrian city of Suwayda is experiencing heightened security tensions following an arrest campaign targeting figures opposed to the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, amid claims of a foiled coup attempt. According to Enab Baladi, National Guard forces backed by Sheikh al-Hijri launched arrests in the southern Syrian province beginning Friday evening, November 28. The detainees include two prominent Druze sheikhs, Raed al-Metni and Marwan Rizk, along with Asim Abu Fakhr, Ghandi Abu Fakhr, and another individual from the al-Safadi family. The local network Suwayda 24 confirmed the total number of detainees stands at five. Disturbing videos circulated on social media showing alleged scenes of torture and humiliation of Sheikh al-Metni, including the shaving of his moustache and verbal abuse. The National Guard deployed checkpoints at main entrances and roads throughout the province in parallel with the arrest campaign. While the National Guard has not issu...

In a display of Christian solidarity with unmistakable geopolitical undertones, Pope Leo XIV joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in the Phanar district of Istanbul for the Throne Feast honoring Saint Andrew , the Apostle considered the founder of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Patriarchal and Synodal Divine Liturgy, presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria co-celebrating, drew an assembly of hierarchs from both churches, representatives of other Christian confessions, diplomats, government officials, and faithful from around the world. The Greek government was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos , underscoring Athens' continued close relationship with the historic seat of Orthodox Christianity . A Symbol of Unity in Divided Times The Pope arrived at the Phanar at approximately 10:30 local time, greeted by the Ecumenical Patriarch in a scene laden with historical symbolism...

Russia is advancing on two fronts of international diplomacy, offering to equip allied nations with combat-proven weapons systems while bracing for additional European Union sanctions expected throughout the coming year. The developments underscore the deepening divide between Moscow and Western powers amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. According to Russian newspaper Izvestia, President Vladimir Putin proposed launching a large-scale program to supply the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with Russian weaponry during a summit in Bishkek on November 27. Separately, the publication reported that the European Commission confirmed the EU continues working on new anti-Russian sanctions, with the European Parliament indicating at least three new packages could be adopted in 2026. During his address at the CSTO summit, Putin called for initiating a broad program to equip the organization's Collective Forces with Russian weapons systems that have "proven their effectiven...

In a significant display of diplomatic and developmental support during one of the most challenging periods in Palestinian history, China has completed two major infrastructure projects in the West Bank city of Ramallah, reinforcing Beijing's commitment to Palestinian development and self-determination. According to Xinhua, Palestinian and Chinese officials gathered on Wednesday to mark the completion of the China-Palestine Friendship Square and the extension of Beijing Road. The ceremony, held in Ramallah, saw Zeng Jixin, head of the Chinese office in Palestine, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa jointly unveil plaques commemorating the newly completed projects. The investment comes at a particularly sensitive juncture for the Palestinian territories, as the region continues to navigate ongoing political uncertainty and humanitarian challenges. China's decision to press forward with infrastructure development signals its sustained engagement with Palestinian natio...

Syria's fragile post-revolutionary order is teetering on the edge of collapse after violent overnight clashes between pro-regime demonstrators and anti-detention protesters erupted across Lattakia and Homs, leaving security forces overwhelmed and civilians caught in the crossfire. As gunshots rang out through residential neighbourhoods and security vehicles were set ablaze, the spectre of the nation's devastating civil war loomed large once again over two of its most strategically vital cities. According to The Syrian Observer, anti-riot forces blocked regime supporters travelling from Damascus from entering Homs' al-Nuzha and al-Zahra neighbourhoods—both focal points of earlier demonstrations calling for decentralisation and the liberation of political prisoners. Security units ordered the dispersal of rallies to prevent further escalation into predominantly Alawite areas. In Lattakia, opposing protests continued late into the night following earlier rallies organised by S...

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau was overthrown in a military coup on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 , just two days after the country held tightly contested elections, marking the latest in a troubling wave of unconstitutional power seizures sweeping across the African continent . Embaló, who fled the capital Bissau amid gunfire and troop movements, is now in exile in neighboring Senegal under the protection of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to diplomatic sources familiar with the situation. The coup came as tensions remained high following Sunday's elections, which multiple opposition parties had challenged as fraudulent. Preliminary results had shown Embaló leading, though his main rivals rejected the outcome and called for protests. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, military units reportedly surrounded the presidential palace and key government buildings. By dawn, a group of officers appeared on state television anno...

In an unprecedented moment for Christian unity, Pope Leo IV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gathered at the ancient site of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea , marking 1,700 years since the historic assembly that shaped the foundations of Christian doctrine. According to Ertnews, this marked the first time in history that a Pope of Rome has traveled to Nicaea, fulfilling the vision of Pope Francis, who alongside Patriarch Bartholomew had intensively promoted interfaith dialogue . The small town of Iznik , home to approximately 20,000 residents in Turkey's Bursa province, was adorned with Turkish Republic emblems and symbols commemorating the papal apostolic journey. The gathering took place at an archaeological site on the shores of the lake, where the ruins of the Basilica of St. Neophytos lay submerged until 2014. The two religious leaders prayed together at the very location where, in 325 AD, Emperor Constantine summoned more than 300 church fathers, bishops, and m...

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a high-stakes overnight operation in southern Syria early Friday, targeting a cell of the Jaama Islamiya terror organization. Troops from the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade entered the town of Beit Jinn, located approximately 11 kilometers east of the Israeli border, to apprehend suspects accused of planning imminent attacks and launching rockets against Israel. While the mission resulted in the successful arrest of key terror suspects and the elimination of several gunmen, six IDF reservists were wounded during a heavy ambush. Combined reports from The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, and T24 news site indicate that the operation was launched following intelligence regarding two brothers affiliated with Jaama Islamiya. While the Israeli military confirmed the elimination of three terrorists and the capture of the primary suspects, T24 and Syrian sources reported a higher death toll, alleging that up to 13 people were killed in the clashes ...

PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has issued a stark warning regarding the current dialogue process, stating that a failure to achieve a resolution to the Kurdish issue could trigger a "coup mechanism" within Turkey. This critical message was conveyed by DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit following a historic visit to İmralı Island, where she was accompanied by senior lawmakers from the ruling AKP and MHP coalition. The visit, which marked a significant departure from previous state-intelligence-led meetings, involved members of the parliamentary "National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission." According to details cited by the T24 news site, the delegation included AKP Deputy Chair Hüseyin Yayman and MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız alongside Koçyiğit. This meeting represents a "critical threshold," as it is the first time a political delegation representing the Turkish Grand National Assembly has engaged directly with Öcalan to discus...

The United States is set to cement its diplomatic footprint in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) with the imminent inauguration of its largest diplomatic facility in the entire Middle East. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas is scheduled to officiate the opening of the new Consulate General in Erbil . This massive infrastructure project moves beyond administrative utility; it signals a potential paradigm shift in how Washington views the semi-autonomous region, effectively granting Erbil a diplomatic weight that rivals the capitals of many sovereign nations. According to a report by The New Arab , Rigas will visit Erbil to inaugurate the facility as part of a broader Middle East tour scheduled from November 27 to December 5, 2025. The State Department has indicated that the tour, which also includes stops in Istanbul , Baghdad , and Jerusalem , is intended to emphasize US commitments to stability, security, and religious freedom in the region. Howeve...

Tensions are mounting between Washington and Jerusalem as the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza hits a critical snag. With negotiations deadlocked over the return of the final hostages held by Hamas, Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that the United States, running low on patience, may soon push for a security solution that Israel views as a strategic threat: the introduction of Turkish military boots on the ground in the Gaza Strip. According to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth, the friction centers on the transition to "Phase 2" of the 20-point plan proposed by President Donald Trump. While the Biden administration is pressing Israel to advance to the next stage of the deal, Jerusalem is digging in its heels. Israeli leadership refuses to move forward with the plan's broader reconstruction and political milestones until Hamas returns the bodies of the last two known hostages: Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili and Thai national Sonthaya Rinthak. An Is...

  In a development reminiscent of a Cold War espionage novel, the shadow war between Tehran and Jerusalem has shifted violently to the heart of Africa. New intelligence indicates that the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a covert operation recruiting a local Ugandan construction worker to serve as a forward observer for terror operations. The objective was chillingly clear: to surveil Israeli diplomatic missions in Uganda and Senegal and procure weaponry for potential attacks. According to exclusive materials and a recorded debriefing reviewed by Iran International , European intelligence sources have uncovered the granular details of this recruitment drive. The outlet reports that the Ugandan recruit was explicitly tasked with filming the security perimeters of Israeli embassies and acquiring handguns and grenades, highlighting Tehran’s expanding operational footprint on the continent. The mechanics of the plot reveal a mix of deadly intent an...

The General Scene The general landscape is as follows: The Lebanese state is attempting to knock on all external doors in pursuit of a political solution to halt the Israeli aggression. However, the movements and initiatives aimed at achieving this end are revolving in a vicious cycle—or rather, a dead end. The situation is being pulled in opposing directions. On one side, there is Israel’s deliberate ignition of escalation sparks, its complete violation of Lebanese airspace, and its escalating threats—the latest being the Defense Minister ’s threat to "operate again with force in Lebanon if Hezbollah does not surrender its weapons"—alongside hints of reconsidering the maritime demarcation agreement . On the other side, there is the Party’s [Hezbollah] refusal to bow to Israeli demands, asserting that it is "not concerned with any proposals, old or new, as long as Israel does not abide by the ceasefire agreement , and there is no room for discussion on any topic before...