Brief information on recent developments in Syria, including the impact of Islamic State and the effects of the conflict on Syria’s population.
Recent Developments in Syria (93 KB , PDF)
The ongoing conflict in Syria between government forces, acting on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad, and rebel groups continues to result in violent attacks on towns and provinces across the country. The fighting has resulted in severe numbers of casualties and the displacement of millions more from their homes, and whilst diplomatic attempts to end the fighting are ongoing, the complicated dimensions of the conflict have meant that expectations of an imminent resolution are slim. In addition, the situation in Syria has been increasingly affected by the rise of Islamic State, who have sought to control a number of towns and territories in the country. This In Focus provides brief analysis of the conflict’s impact on the country and its population, and highlights some of the recent developments.
Recent Developments in Syria (93 KB , PDF)
The National Security Bill would update the UK’s national security architecture to deal with modern and evolving threats from hostile states, including espionage, sabotage and foreign electoral inference.
This article summarises recent developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine and assessments of whether Russia could use tactical nuclear weapons in the conflict. Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield, and they have lower explosive yields than ‘strategic’ nuclear weapons. Commentators have argued that the risk of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons is low, but it could rise if Russia faced defeat in Ukraine.
The BBC World Service delivers news in over 40 languages through TV, radio and digital services. It has a weekly reach of 365 million people and is principally funded by the BBC licence fee, with some grants from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In September 2022, the BBC announced plans to “accelerate its digital offering” which, it said, would lead to around 382 job losses and more language services being digital only. It said “tough choices” were necessary to make savings.
