Alison Meuse
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Russian-backed government troops have entered the ancient city after days of intense clashes with Islamic State militants. Local activists said ISIS warned civilians via loudspeaker to flee. -
The Russian airstrikes have emboldened President Bashar Assad's army to press a major offensive in a crucial city. Thousands of civilians have fled and are massing at the nearby Turkish border. -
A strategic town in the south of Syria long-controlled by opposition fighters has reportedly fallen to regime troops with the assistance of Russian air power.
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Bars and restaurants in Beirut closed Saturday in solidarity with anti-government protests that have grown over the last week. -
In a country with a stunning coastline, a lack of governance has allowed private developers to gobble up prime seaside real estate and shunt aside ordinary Lebanese who depend on public beaches. -
Activists want more pressure on the Syrian regime to stop using the primitive and indiscriminate barrel bombs that have killed thousands in the Syrian civil war. -
Many Syrian refugee children haven't been to school in years. NPR's Deborah Amos visits one school in southern Turkey that serves as a refuge for those lucky enough to attend. -
Beirut's streets are piled with two weeks' worth of uncollected trash. To many Lebanese, it's no surprise. The country has been without a president for more than a year. -
Activists say the Syrian regime continues to attack its people with chlorine gas — with little reaction from an international community once focused on preventing Syria's use of chemical weapons. -
Herbs like za'atar and sumac have long been stars of Lebanese cuisine. Now they're moving out of the kitchen and into beers and cocktails, infusing them with a patriotic taste.
