No country has as much to gain from a stable Syria as Turkey, and few have as much to lose if it implodes. Turkey is home to more than 3m Syrian refugees, and wants Syria to be safe enough for many to return.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan preempted discussions with a Syrian government delegation in Ankara by announcing that the talks would focus on supporting Syria and reconstruction efforts. Addressing parliament on Wednesday,

Crossing the border from Jordan on Dec. 29, one North Jersey man had tears in his eyes. “I hugged the first Syrian person I saw,” he said.

Major airlines are planning to reinstate flights to the Middle East following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Over the last 15 months of conflict, several Western carriers pulled out of flights to Israel, Jordan and Lebanon as missile attacks closed skies over Iraq and Iran in unpredictable airspace.

One of the Israeli hostages freed on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire said Monday in her first comments since being released that she has “returned to life.” Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity.

Fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has been ongoing since December.

The Israeli security cabinet recommended the approval to the ceasefire deal in Gaza, although strikes have continue to kill scores in the Palestinian territory.

Major airlines are planning to reinstate flights to the Middle East following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Over the last 15 months of conflict, several Western carriers pulled out of flights to Israel, Jordan and Lebanon as missile attacks closed skies over Iraq and Iran in unpredictable airspace.

The Middle East is witnessing widespread celebrations after the Gaza ceasefire announcement. In Iran, crowds filled Tehran and Tabriz, chanting for Gaza's resistance. Jordan's streets came alive with car parades and Palestinian flags.

The Israeli security cabinet had earlier recommended to the government that it allow the Qatar, Egypt and US-mediated truce to go into effect on Sunday.

Three Israeli hostages were released Sunday as part of a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. They are the first of 33 that Hamas is expected to free during the first phase of the deal.

The long-awaited ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel that had been set to go into effect on Sunday morning in the Middle East was delayed, with Israel's military accusing ...