Arezou Rezvani

Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad depended on his military to keep him in power for years. Then in just a matter of days, that same feared military disintegrated as rebel groups took control of the country. Our reporter in Damascus talks to former military members to understand why the military collapsed so fast.

Support our non-profit journalism by joining NPR+ at Plus.NPR.org

As the future of Syria begins to emerge, one minority group is particularly fearful about how they'll be treated. The Alawites feel like they were mistreated by now-deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad, but because he was a member of that sect, they are also unfairly tied to him in the minds of other Syrians. We go to an Alawite neighborhood of Damascus to hear their concerns.

The U.N. estimates over a 100,00 people have gone missing in Syria under the regime of Bashar al-Assad. And many families never knew the fate of their loved ones. Now that the regime has fallen, the search is on for the missing. We join some Syrians on that search.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

A look at why Pakistan is choosing to deport more than a million Afghans now, and what it signals about the changing relationship between Pakistan and its Taliban-led neighbor.

Voices from Gaza in the midst of a communication blackout as Israel forced continue airstrikes on the enclave.

Israel's intensifying military campaign in Gaza is raising the specter of a broader regional war involving Iran-allied groups. Iran's foreign minister says its allies are ready to strike.

People who lost their family and homes in the surprise incursion into Israel by Hamas reckon with the aftermath.

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in the days after Hamas' attack on southern Israel.

In response to Hamas' surprise attack, Israel has put Gaza under siege and unleashed heavy bombardments. Gaza residents tell NPR there is no place to seek shelter, unlike in previous conflicts.

Many Israelis are frantically looking for clues about loved ones believed to be held in Gaza. Ido Dan keeps watching a video that appears to show Hamas militants kidnapping his 12-year-old nephew.

Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, talks about why Iran's government is unwilling to compromise on compulsory headscarf rules.

The death of a young woman in Iranian morality police custody sparked months of protests and a violent crackdown by the government. A year later, a more subdued defiance endures.

There are women in Iran who are continuing to flout mandatory headscarf rules — even though the government's so-called "morality police" force has resumed patrols.

From social security payments to interest rates, a lot hinges on a debt-ceiling deal. Personal finance experts say you should prepare for a possible debt default as you would a recession.

The real estate market is stuck in a state of paralysis this season. Homeowners don't want to sell and give up their cheap mortgages, and buyers feel sidelined by high interest rates.

The office property sector is in trouble as many workplaces remain empty, and that threatens to spark a number of economic problems, including more pain at the country's banks.

There are more empty office spaces now than during the 2008 financial crisis. These vacancies could spell trouble for downtown city centers and the broader commercial real estate market.

With so many people still working from home, companies are cutting back on office space. That spells trouble for small businesses that depend on foot traffic.

There are more empty office spaces now than during the 2008 financial crisis. These vacancies could spell trouble for downtown city centers and the broader commercial real estate market.

What's working from home have to do with the banking crisis? Falling real estate values for office buildings could lead to defaults on loans banks made for the buildings.