The Media Line

After SDF withdrawal, Syrian government takes control of Al-Hol, ISIS family detention camp

Experts believe Al-Hol camp represents one of the most dangerous security challenges in the region, citing repeated killings and cases of enforced disappearance.

A group of detainees gather at al-Hol camp after the Syrian government took control of it following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, January 21, 2026.
Members of the Syrian government security forces stand guard as a group of detainees gather at al-Hol camp after the government took control of it following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, January 21, 2026.

High-stakes truce between SDF and Syrian forces: Four days to resolve Hasakah issue - analysis

A Taiwan Coast Guard vessel travels near a China Coast Guard vessel as China conducts military drills around Taiwan, in this handout image provided December 30, 2025.

China massed fishing fleets in East China Sea in apparent Taiwan blockade test

Palestinians stand near the rubble in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 17, 2026

As Israel pushes back, Gaza becomes testing ground for emerging post-war governance - analysis


New Saudi F-35s can be first step to normalization, but Israel must be cautious - opinion

Israel must take a cautious approach to Saudi Arabia, not accepting it completely but understanding that peace will be much better than the current situation.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman waves as he departs following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025.

Voices from the Arab press: Trump's Muslim Brotherhood designation

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

ALI AKBAR VELAYATI (2nd L), top Iranian adviser on international affairs, attends a World Federation of Resistance Scholars conference on ‘resistance to liberate, terrorism to destroy,’ in Beirut, 2016.

Pakistani minister says 90% of social media content is false, urges crackdown

Fizza Abbas, a Karachi-based digital rights activist: “In Pakistan, the line between countering misinformation and constraining dissent has always been a delicate one.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters protest to demand release of their jailed leader and Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Peshawar on December 2, 2025.

New ‘Woman, Life, Freedom' mural unveiled in Ibim, near Gaza border

The installation features six women whose lives and stories represent different facets of courage. Among them is Shirel Haim Pour, a 22-year-old Persian Jew murdered in the October 7 assault.

Hooman Khalili's 19th Woman, Life, Freedom mural in Israel unveiled on December 3, 2025, in Ibim.

Saudi Arabia sends $90 million to rescue Palestinian Authority from financial collapse

The PA’s financial collapse has become a broader diplomatic issue. France, Norway, Spain, and Saudi Arabia have launched efforts to rally outside donors.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman waves as he departs following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025.

Netanyahu presses on with reforms as Likud turmoil intensifies

Senior lawmakers clash over procedure and politics, raising doubts about the governing bloc’s direction and its ability to advance key reforms.

 Netanyahu in the Likud faction meeting

Dell family pledges $6.25 billion to jump-start 'Trump Accounts' for 25 million US children

“Trump Accounts will be the first, real trust funds for every American child, allowing family members, employers, corporations, and generous donors to contribute money that will grow," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump thanks tech billionaire Michael Dell while making an announcement about "Trump accounts" in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Decades of mismanagement, corruption pushed Iran toward water collapse - analysis

“What you see in Khuzestan, Isfahan, Sistan-Baluchestan, and many other places is the result of bad governance, chronic mismanagement," said water policy analyst Nik Kowsar.

Iranian women perform a prayer for rainfall at the Saleh Shrine in Tehran on November 14, 2025, as the country suffers from severe water shortages. Authorities in Tehran warned last week of possible rolling cuts to water supplies in the capital amid what officials call the worst drought in decades.

Netanyahu's pardon request a 'direct attempt to bypass courts,' scholars warn

Legal experts argue that using presidential clemency before a verdict would overturn long-standing norms that reserve pardons for those who have accepted responsibility.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to the courtroom at the Distrcit court in Tel Aviv, before the start of his testimony in the trial against him, October 28, 2025.

UAE rulers order release of thousands of inmates ahead of union day 

UAE leaders have ordered the release of thousands of inmates ahead of Union Day, with multiple emirates issuing coordinated pardons for prisoners who met conduct and time-served criteria.

A policeman enters Dubai's Al-Awir central prison in the United Arab Emirates, on May 21, 2020