Mohammad Baraa Katerji had close links to president Bashar al-Assad and Iran-backed militant groups
First visit since start of civil war as Beijing expands its influence in Middle East
Anti-regime demonstrators in Sweida say they are struggling to feed their families
Condemnation over climate summit follows readmission of Syria to Arab League
Readmission to the Arab League sends a chilling message to regime’s victims
Move likely to cause disquiet among those expressing disdain for the pace of reconciliation with Damascus
Syrian leader finds himself courted by Arab regimes eager to solve local problems
Islamic republic pushes for ‘upper hand’ in war-torn country’s reconstruction
Diplomats say Syria’s pariah leader will be expected to make concessions to enable his return to Arab League
Sudan holds a lesson for those heads of state now beating a path to Damascus
Some Arab countries have resisted normalising ties with Syria’s wartime president
Opponents of normalisation say Assad has done little to rehabilitate himself
Captagon is estimated to be worth $57bn annually to the Syrian government
Rare visit by Cairo’s foreign minister is latest signal that regional leaders are moving beyond policy of isolation
The president is positioning himself as a solution to the wicked problems he has created
Ankara’s cross-border incursions and control over northern areas complicate talks
Bashar al-Assad is slowly being brought back into regional diplomatic society
There is no chance of refloating shattered state with the Assad tyranny in place
Syria’s coastal areas prospered after supporting the president in wartime, but now sanctions and Covid are straining ties
UK freezes assets of 6 Assad allies and bans them from travelling to Britain
The country’s economic collapse has been aggravated by the pandemic, Lebanese banking crisis and international isolation
The Turkish president’s spat with France’s Macron has made headlines, but his rivalry with Russia is the bigger menace
The supposed beneficiaries of the US Caesar Act will be pushed faster towards famine
The Turkish leader is meeting frustrating setbacks both at home and abroad
Economic hardship provokes demonstrations in government-controlled southern towns
