Israel's bitter enemy is no more, argue two Israeli authors, but Assad's reconstructed regime, backed by Russia and Iran, poses new challenges

Official statement says both feeling well, will isolate for 2-3 weeks; unclear if they'd been vaccinated; Israel reportedly funded shipment of Sputnik V doses to Syria last month

Former Assad intelligence official found guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity for Assad regime, in first case of its kind worldwide

An article from an Assad ally suggests that Damascus may be looking to shift away from the Shiite axis even as Tehran tries to build up local support with Lebanon-style project

State media reports attack struck targets south and west of capital, which have been reportedly bombed by Israel in the past

James Jeffrey signed a 2016 letter warning Trump would put national security at risk, but after serving under him, longtime diplomat says president's policies made the region safer

Career diplomat Faisal Mekdad, a close ally to Syrian ruler, steps into position after death of Walid al-Moallem, who represented regime internationally amid civil war

Confidant of Assad served as envoy to US during Syria’s talks with Israel in 1990s; in 2006, he wished he could join Hezbollah fighting against Israel

Both have used brutal means to hold on to power, but much of what father Hafez built up has been torn down during civil war that failed to oust his son, Bashar, or change regime

Syrian Sunni Adnan al-Afiyuni, who was close to Shiite ruler Bashar al-Assad, killed by bomb outside capital; cleric was key figure in 2016 deal between regime and insurgents