★SYRIA

1. US Weighs Syria Withdrawal As SDF Collapse Raises ISIS Risks

US officials are debating a full withdrawal of roughly 1,000 American troops from Syria following Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s offensive against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, according to reports. The reassessment follows transfers of ISIS detainees to Iraq, rapid Syrian government advances, and growing proximity between Damascus-aligned forces and US personnel. The Wall Street Journal reports the erosion of SDF control risks weakening the primary force constraining ISIS, potentially enabling the group’s reconstitution despite its earlier territorial defeat.

2. Sharaa Arrives Moscow As Putin Schedules Second Kremlin Meeting

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will arrive in Moscow on Wednesday ahead of a scheduled Kremlin meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Syrian state television reported. The visit marks al-Sharaa’s second trip to Russia since October, when he met Putin to discuss bilateral relations and strategic cooperation. Reuters previously reported, citing five Syrian sources, that Russia is withdrawing forces from a northeastern Syrian airport.

3. Syria And Israel Near US-Brokered Security Agreement

Syrian and Israeli officials are reportedly nearing a US-mediated security agreement with “very optimistic” talks underway, opening potential for Syria to join Abraham Accords frameworks and consider opening an Israeli diplomatic mission in Damascus, with planned Syrian-Israeli meetings soon, discussions on strategic and economic cooperation in buffer zones, and US pressure accelerating progress on the security deal.

4. Ceasefire Extended As Fighting And Drone Strikes Persist Kobane

Syrian state-linked media report a 15-day ceasefire extension in Hasakah governorate, while clashes and attacks continue around Kobane despite the truce. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces report Syrian army and allied factions conducted shelling, armored assaults, and drone strikes on villages surrounding Kobane. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports drone strikes killed at least six civilians and wounded others, including children. Both sides accuse each other of ceasefire violations as humanitarian and security conditions remain unstable in northeast Syria.

5. Verify-Syria Debunks Claims Of Kurdish Women Sales Abuse

Syrian fact-checking network Verify-Syria reported that online claims alleging Kurdish women were sold or sexually abused in northeast Syria are false. The organization said videos and photos circulating on social media were manipulated or misattributed, with original footage unrelated to the allegations. Verify-Syria reported no credible evidence supporting claims of auctions or sexual assault, citing source tracing, metadata review, and lack of confirmation from authorities or local organizations in the region.

6. Syrian Official Details Prison Takeovers As SDF Authorities Dispute Releases

Syrian Interior Deputy Minister Abdul Qader said clashes began after a government unit mistakenly entered Sheikh Maqsoud, prompting state intervention, civilian corridors, and Interior Ministry deployments following army advances across Aleppo countryside, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah. He said Al-Aqtan prison was found without records, juveniles were later released, Al-Shaddadi prison was emptied before arrival, and Al-Hol camp is secured. Northeast Syria prison authorities deny mass ISIS releases from Al-Aqtan, say no detainee breakout occurred, and state minors were housed separately or transferred earlier for administrative reasons.

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★IRAN

7. Trump Signals Iran Talks As United States Expands Regional Military Posture

President Donald Trump told Axios that Iran has contacted Washington numerous times seeking talks, describing the situation as in flux after the United States deployed a large naval armada to the Middle East. Trump said no final decision has been made. U.S. officials told Axios and Fox News any agreement would require Iran to remove enriched uranium, curb missile capabilities, and alter support for regional proxies. The Pentagon confirmed the USS Abraham Lincoln entered U.S. Central Command’s Indian Ocean area of operations.

8. Iran States It May Fire Missiles At Israel If US Wages War Against It

Iran’s leadership is reported to have publicly discussed, during military parades and official commentary, the capability and intent to launch ballistic missiles at Israel should the United States initiate wide-scale military action against Iran, highlighting long-range systems like Shahab and Fateh variants capable of reaching Israeli territory as part of Tehran’s deterrent rhetoric amid heightened US-Iran tensions.

9. Iran International Reports Over 36,500 Protesters Killed In Two-Day Crackdown

Iran International’s editorial board says newly obtained classified documents and internal reports indicate that more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during a two-day crackdown on nationwide protests on January 8-9, describing it as the deadliest protest massacre in modern Iranian history. The outlet cites Interior Ministry figures exceeding 30,000 by January 20 and IRGC Intelligence reports listing more than 33,000 and then more than 36,500 killed. The documents also describe extrajudicial executions and killings of wounded detainees in hospitals.

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★ISRAEL

10. Israel Recovers Ran Gvili, Moves Rafah Crossing Reopening Forward

Israel’s military said it recovered and identified police special-forces fighter Ran Gvili’s remains from Gaza on January 26, ending the last unresolved Oct. 7 captive case. The Prime Minister’s Office said Rafah will reopen in a limited mode for pedestrian passage only, under a full Israeli inspection mechanism, as part of President Trump’s 20-point plan. Separately, regional media report Israel has covertly supported anti-Hamas Palestinian militias inside Gaza with intelligence and limited operational assistance, claims Israel has not publicly confirmed. 

11. United States Conditions Gaza Reconstruction On Hamas Disarmament Agreement

A U.S. official told Al Arabiya and Reuters that Washington will not begin Gaza reconstruction until Hamas is disarmed, confirming President Donald Trump aligns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on dismantling the group. The official said the Rafah crossing will reopen for pedestrians only under U.S.-Egypt-Israel security coordination until a capable Palestinian police force is established. Israel announced recovery of the last hostage’s remains, concluding the ceasefire’s first phase, while Netanyahu said the next stage focuses on Hamas disarmament.

12. Israel Conducts Lebanon Strikes Killing Hezbollah Commander, Escalating Border Tensions

Israel’s military said it conducted missile and air strikes against Hezbollah positions across southern and eastern Lebanon, killing Muhammad al-Husseini, identified as Hezbollah’s artillery commander in Arzoun, and another operative, while causing property damage near the border. The Israel Defense Forces reported at least 14 strikes targeting Hezbollah military infrastructure in Nabatieh and Bekaa. Lebanese authorities said two civilians were killed and six wounded, and filed a complaint to the United Nations alleging violations of the November 2024 ceasefire. Separately, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem told Iranian Islam Times that his fighters pinned down 75,000 Israeli troops before the truce, a claim unverified.

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★IRAQ

13. United States Signals Conditional Engagement Maliki Advances Iraqi Government

U.S. officials warned Iraq against forming an Iran-backed government as the Coordination Framework nominated Nouri al-Maliki for prime minister and parliament moved toward electing a president, the constitutional gateway to cabinet formation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Syria envoy Tom Barrack, and Trump envoy Mark Savaya separately stated Washington opposes militia-linked senior appointments and reserves the right to condition engagement on government composition. Maliki initiated outreach to Sunni Azm Alliance leaders and sought Kurdish backing while navigating quorum risks and conflicting reports over the presidential vote schedule.

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★TURKIYE

14. Öcalan Warns Peace Failure Could Trigger Coup Risk

Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan warned Turkish lawmakers that if ongoing peace efforts fail it could prompt a military coup, rejected separatism while advocating “local democracy” for Kurds, comments were part of official parliamentary minutes released following recent lawmaker meetings with him. 

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★SAUDI ARABIA

15. Saudi Arabia Scales Back Neom After Rising Costs

Saudi Arabia has scaled back medium-term ambitions for Neom and The Line, according to people familiar with the matter, reducing the 2030 population target from 1.5 million to fewer than 300,000 and limiting construction to about 2.4 kilometers. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously described Neom as a $1.5 trillion development, while Saudi officials said the first phase alone could cost $320 billion by 2030. Separate reporting, including the Wall Street Journal, reports internal estimates placing Neom’s eventual end-state cost near $8.8 trillion.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.