DAMASCUS, SYRIA—The theater was sold out on opening night: men wearing suits and ties, jeans and T-shirts; women in conservative black abayas, in designer head scarves and high heels. They were all there, a mixing of the sects and social classes. It was like Baghdad, circa 2002. "When I got on stage, I felt that I was in Iraq," said Rasim al-Joumayli, 69, one of Iraq's most famous comedic actors ...
Syria has expressed readiness to help curb Middle East instability in exchange for peace with Israel but will not easily give up its alliance with Iran as demanded by the Jewish state.
Moscow's respected business daily Kommersant reported that Russia's arms-trading monopoly Rosoboronexport has begun to fulfill an arms deal it secretly signed with Syria this year to sell five MiG-31E jet fighters, considered among the best in the world, and an additional unspecified number of the newest MiG-29M/M2 fighter-bombers.
_ The Japanese nongovernmental organization Peace On is planning to open a small private school for children of Iraqi refugees in Syria, modeled after the "terakoya" temple schools in Japan's Edo period that taught reading and writing to children of commoners.
Iran - Syria - Palestine Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Mohammad Reza Baqeri conferred here Sunday with high ranking Syrian officials on the latest developments in the Middle East region and the Palestinians in particular.
Prime Minister of the Palestinian unity government Ismail Haniyeh had said Sunday that Palestinians were proud of relations with Islamic states, Iran in particular.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Mohammad Reza Baqeri conferred yesterday with high ranking Syrian officials on the latest developments in the Middle East region and the Palestinians in particular.
From its ancient ruins to its surprising night life, Syria is archaeologically stunning, budget friendly and, equally important, largely safe for Western tourists.
A nation without a state of 25 million people, the Kurds have their own language, customs and culture. They are ethnically distinct from the surrounding Arab, Turk and Persian races. Kurdish populations are scattered through Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.
JERUSALEM — Israel is preparing for an imminent war with Iran, Syria and/or their non-state clients. Israeli military intelligence has projected that a major attack could come from any of five adversaries in the Middle East. Officials said such a strike could spark a war as early as July 2007.