To grasp how bad things are in Lebanon, consider that Syria—where war and tyranny created the world’s largest refugee ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

“They are also a minority in Syria, who make a natural ally for the Alawites in their effort to counterbalance the Sunni Arab majority,” he said. “Kurds will be key to managing the Arab ...

The criticism from his fellow Alawites will, however, be a cause for concern for Mr Assad. Some are reported to have been arrested after they took to social media platforms to call on the ...

This has caused the military to become increasingly sectarian as the vast majority of the Syrian regime's professional officers are Alawites loyal to the Assad regime, which is mostly comprised of ...

In the Muslim world it had grown open and tolerant. A quarter of its people belong to Christian and other minorities, including Alawites, a sub-sect of the Shia, who dominate the government and army.

Lebanese soldiers patrol a Sunni Muslim neighbourhood in the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon following clashes between Sunni Muslims and Alawites in May 2013. The army is credited with ...

Moreover, Assad’s ouster likely would trigger a second round of killing directed against regime supporters, such as Alawites and other religious minorities. With multiple parties engaged in the ...

This is keeping Iran’s economy afloat and enables it to sustain its ring of fire around Israel, from Hamas, to Hezbollah, to ...

The rest are almost all Lebanese Shia who hope Syria’s leader, who himself belongs to a splinter Shia sect, the Alawites, will be more welcoming than Lebanon’s rival sects. The meagre savings ...