Syria

Syria's Interior Ministry vowed to act decisively against any group attempting to exploit instability in certain areas of the country to carry out attacks, with a particular focus on combating ISIS.

Sunday's conference, hosted by regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia since Assad's ouster, comes as Damascus urges the West to lift sanctions to help international funding flow more freely.

For many years, Egypt and Syria shared Soviet patronage, briefly formed a short-lived, failed union (the United Arab Republic), and fought monumental battles against their mutual Israeli adversary.

Abu Mohammed al-Julani has yet to articulate any policy positions that alarm regional or international stakeholders or Syrian ethnic and sectarian constituencies.

Retired Lt.-Gen. Keith Kellogg attended an Iranian opposition event in Paris.

Both countries agreed to fix smuggling and border issues as well as Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.

The foiled attack will stoke fears that Islamic State is hoping to stage a comeback in Syria following the fall last month of President Bashar al-Assad.

For both strategic and historical reasons, the Jewish state should annex all of the newly acquired parts of Mount Hermon and formally incorporate them into Israel.

Despite significant setbacks to Iran's axis, including Hezbollah's weakening and loss of Syrian smuggling routes, Tehran maintains dangerous influence in Jordan and the West Bank.

Perhaps Abu Mohammed al-Julani will defy the grim precedent, maybe he will break away from Salafi jihadism and break the cycle that has consumed countless others.