Syria

Recent attacks on the religious minority in Damascus have fuelled growing distrust towards the state.

The White House said it would monitor the new Syrian government's actions including "taking concrete steps toward normalising ties with Israel"

Many Christians in Syria fear the new Islamist-led government is not doing enough to protect them.

The interior ministry says a man affiliated with IS entered a church and opened fire before blowing himself up.

Major General Bassam Al Hassan claims former Syrian President Assad ordered Austin Tice's execution.

The rules are aimed at "enhancing public safety standards and preserving public decency", state media reports.

The BBC heard from dozens of former officials about their role enforcing the brutality of the Assad regime.

BBC Arabic's Feras Kilani and his colleagues were held at gunpoint, bound and strip-searched while filming in the Golan Heights.