Bashar al-Assad

A fuel stand in rebel-held, besieged Eastern Ghouta, Syria, Feb. 12, 2017.

The lucrative business of smuggling supplies into Syria's besieged Eastern Ghouta

A recent government offensive shut down smuggling tunnels rebels used to bring in supplies to besieged Eastern Ghouta. With nearly 300,000 people reportedly on the brink of famine, only a pair of businessmen can provide supplies. But they aren’t cheap.

The lucrative business of smuggling supplies into Syria's besieged Eastern Ghouta
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Yahoo News in this handout picture provided by SANA on February 10, 2017, Syria.

Lack of political will stands in the way of bringing Assad to court

Lack of political will stands in the way of bringing Assad to court
A Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter points towards blue sheets spread over streets as a cover from snipers as he walks on the rubble of damaged buildings in Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, August 7, 2016.

Both sides brace for a crucial battle over Syria's Aleppo

Both sides brace for a crucial battle over Syria's Aleppo
Samia Abdullah holds up a picture of her brother Emad who disappeared in 1984 when he was 20 years old. His family thinks he's still alive in a Syrian prison.

'I just want one hair, one bone to bury, and I will be fine'

'I just want one hair, one bone to bury, and I will be fine'
Young migrants and refugees walk through a town in northern Serbia toward the Hungarian border. There's a fear that young men like these might bring violence with them.

These men say they're leaving Syria because they don't want to fight anyone

These men say they're leaving Syria because they don't want to fight anyone
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meet at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.

Putin makes Assad an offer he can't refuse

The embattled Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, appeared in Moscow on Tuesday night, for his first trip outside of his country since the uprising against him began in 2011. It’s a sign of his dependence on Russian military assistance. And it seems Vladimir Putin summoned Assad to get a sense of how flexible he is on his role in any political settlement or transition in Syria. Syria's secular elite shares a deep comfort level with the arrival of Russian forces.

Putin makes Assad an offer he can't refuse
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen during an interview in Damascus in January.

How pro-Assad hackers pretending to be women tricked Syrian rebels

There's a cyberwar being waged in Syria. And while the hacking is high tech, the methods being used are very old.

How pro-Assad hackers pretending to be women tricked Syrian rebels
US President Barack Obama speaks at a meeting with more than 20 foreign defense chiefs to discuss the coalition efforts in the ongoing campaign against ISIS at Joint Base Andrews in Washington on October 14, 2014.

American warplanes have effectively become Assad's best weapon

Everyone agrees that ISIS needs to be stopped in Iraq and Syria, but there's almost no agreement among Western countries and their allies on how to get rid of Bashar al-Assad. And as they focus on terrorist groups, they may find themselves actually turning to Assad for help.

American warplanes have effectively become Assad's best weapon