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Sunday

Thursday

Smoke from fighting billows in the edges of the town of Hama, Syria, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024.

Smoke from fighting billows on the edges of Hama, Syria, Dec. 3. Omar Albam/AP hide caption

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Omar Albam/AP

Middle East

Syrian opposition forces enter the key city of Hama, in a new blow to Assad's regime

Syrian rebels have entered another major city, in a further blow to President Bashar Assad after they took over Aleppo days earlier.

Syrian rebels enter second key city

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Monday

Antigovernment fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30.

Antigovernment fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30. Omar Haj Kadour/AFP hide caption

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Omar Haj Kadour/AFP

Middle East

Who are the rebels who have toppled the regime in Syria?

Syrian rebels have swept through the country at lightning pace, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee. But who are they and what are their aims?

Who are the rebels who have seized control of Aleppo, Syria?

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Friday

Friday

Thursday

Hanan Khdour, 47, stands beside the grave of her son Mohammad Khdour in Biddu, West Bank, on Sept. 19, 2024. Mohammad, 17, and his cousin Malek Mansour, 16, also from Biddu, were driving in the hills not too far from their home in February 2024, when a man shot at their car from a distance as they were driving back.

Hanan Khdour, 47, stands beside the grave of her son Mohammad Khdour in Biddu, West Bank, on Sept. 19, 2024. Mohammad, 17, and his cousin Malek Mansour, 16, also from Biddu, were driving in the hills not too far from their home in February 2024, when a man shot at their car from a distance as they were driving back. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

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Maya Levin for NPR

National Security

DOJ silent as families of Americans killed in West Bank, Gaza demand it investigate

The Justice Department vowed to investigate Americans killed by Hamas in the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. But the DOJ has done nothing to investigate deaths of 4 Americans killed in the West Bank and Gaza by Israelis.

DOJ silent as families of Americans killed in West Bank and Gaza demand it investigate

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Friday

Vice President Harris hands out food to people at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2, 2024 during a tour of hurricane damage in the area.

Vice President Harris hands out food to people at the Henry Brigham Community Center in Augusta, Ga., on Oct. 2, during a tour of hurricane damage in the area. Brendan Smialowski/AFP hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Politics

The October surprise: Harris is navigating a pair of them

Devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Escalated tensions in the Middle East. The Harris campaign is navigating a pair of October surprises as Election Day draws closer.

Harris Oct surprises

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Sunday

A portrait of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah sits amid destruction in a area targeted overnight by Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh on Sep. 26, 2024.

A portrait of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah sits amid destruction in an area targeted overnight by Israeli airstrikes in Saksakiyeh on Sept. 26. Mahmous Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mahmous Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

From pager blasts to Nasrallah’s killing: 12 days that transformed a bloody conflict

NPR steps back and takes a closer look at the days leading up to the killing of Hezbollah's leader. Experts say this development has transformed an already complex and deadly conflict.

Saturday

Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appears via a video link, during a Nov. 3, 2023, rally in Beirut to commemorate Hezbollah fighters who were killed in South Lebanon while fighting against the Israeli forces.

Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and cheer as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appears via a video link, during a Nov. 3, 2023, rally in Beirut to commemorate Hezbollah fighters who were killed in South Lebanon while fighting against the Israeli forces. Hussein Malla/AP hide caption

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Hussein Malla/AP

Analysis

Middle East crisis — explained

Analysis: Hassan Nasrallah’s killing transforms an already deadly regional conflict

With Hassan Nasrallah dead in Israeli airstrikes, the Iran-backed militant group is facing enormous challenges as the region is yet again thrown into uncertainty.

Tuesday

Civil Defense first-responders carry a wounded man whose handheld pager exploded at al-Zahraa hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024.

Civil Defense first-responders carry a wounded man whose handheld pager exploded at al-Zahraa hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024. Hussein Malla/AP hide caption

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Hussein Malla/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Hezbollah accuses Israel as thousands hurt in unusual pager blasts

The attack raises fears of an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, and comes following warnings from Israeli officials of possible military action against the Lebanese group.

Tuesday

An Jordanian citizen votes in historic elections for the Parliament of Jordan's 138-seat lower house on Tuesday in Amman, Jordan. Voters are deciding their representatives in the 20th Lower House of Parliament.

An Jordanian citizen votes in historic elections for the Parliament of Jordan's 138-seat lower house on Tuesday in Amman, Jordan. Voters are deciding their representatives in the 20th Lower House of Parliament. Jordan Pix/Getty Images hide caption

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Jordan Pix/Getty Images

Year of Global Elections

Jordanian voters go to polls amid fears of a wider war

For the first time, political parties in Jordan are enabled to play a bigger role, relying on their platforms, amid fears of a wider war in the region.

Tuesday

People walk past a billboard showing a portrait of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (top) next to Palestine Square in the Tehran on Aug. 12, 2024.

People walk past a billboard showing a portrait of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (top) next to Palestine Square in the Tehran on Aug. 12, 2024. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

U.S. charges Hamas leaders with terrorism over October attack in Israel

The Justice Department is charging six Hamas leaders with terrorism, including the architect of the group’s deadly Oct. 7 attack against Israel.

Wednesday

A new Israel-Hamas cease-fire talk starts this week. Is anything different this time?

A boy walks through the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern Gaza Strip on August 14. Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

A new Israel-Hamas cease-fire talk starts this week. Is anything different this time?

So often, telling the story of the Israel-Hamas war is reduced to a catalog of numbers.

A new Israel-Hamas cease-fire talk starts this week. Is anything different this time?

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Thursday

Vice President Harris speaks after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the vice president's ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House on July 25.

Vice President Harris speaks after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the vice president's ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House on July 25. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Middle East crisis — explained

Harris says she 'will not be silent' about humanitarian toll in Gaza

In her remarks, which came after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris also said she held an “unwavering commitment to Israel."