Exclusive: ‘We Will Slaughter All of Them.’ The Rebel Behind the Syrian Atrocity Video
Syrian rebel commander Khalid al-Hamad says he bit into a dead enemy soldier’s internal organ because he wanted revenge
Aryn Baker
Aryn Baker is the Middle East Bureau Chief for TIME, a role in which she covers politics, society, the military and the regional war on terror. She also covers both Pakistan and Afghanistan, for which she was Bureau Chief from 2008 to 2010. Before moving permanently to the region, Baker was an associate editor of TIME Asia, based in Hong Kong. In August 2010, Baker’s story about Bibi Aisha, a young Afghan woman whose nose had been cut off on Taliban orders, ignited a national and international discussion about women’s rights, the Taliban and whether or not the U.S. should stay in the country.
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Savage Online Videos Fuel Syria’s Descent Into Madness
A video shows what appears to be a shocking atrocity from the battlefields of Syria
Mali’s Legendary Musicians Struggle to Be Heard in the Shadow of War
Music was once Mali’s best-known cultural export. Why are its musicians still not performing months after the defeat of the Islamists who had banned music?
As Mali Wars With Islamists, a Mormon Runs for President
When Niankoro Yeah Samake lands in Mali on Friday, following a successful California fundraising campaign, to register as a candidate in the country’s upcoming presidential elections, he will be carrying a lot of baggage. There …
No Exit: Syria’s War Through the Eyes of a Fighter on Both Sides
When Siraj heard the news earlier this month that al-Qaeda had embraced Jabhat al-Nusra, a jihadist group recognized in Syria for its discipline and fighting prowess, but deemed a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department, he …
Why Reports of Chemical Weapons Attacks in Syria May Never Be Confirmed
Updated April 13, 2013
One witness said he smelled chlorine. Another remembered the scent of rotting garbage. There were photos of dead farm animals in a yard, and video footage of survivors struggling to breathe. But of the …
Lebanon’s Sects Game: The Problem With Its Byzantine Political System
The appointment of a new Lebanese Prime Minister illustrates the arcane complexity — and absurdity — of the country’s sectarian politics
Will Syria’s Refugee Crisis Drain Jordan of Its Water?
Updated: April 6, 2013
Now that spring has arrived in the Middle East, Syria’s estimated 1.2 million refugees in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan can hope for relief from the snow, the rain and the bitterly cold nights of winter. …
Syria’s Civil War: The Mystery Behind a Deadly Chemical Attack
Reports on bombings in Syria these days have become routine. But when Mohammad Sabbagh, an industrialist from Aleppo, heard about the attack near his hometown on March 19, the details stopped him cold. Survivors and witnesses of …
In Saudi Arabia, Women’s Voices Are Starting to Be Heard
By royal decree, women now make up 20% of the closest thing the conservative Islamic country has to a legislature. In 2015, they will get to vote and run for office. However, they still can’t drive
Saudi Arabia to Tourists: We Are Just Not That Into You
The “Roads of Arabia” exhibit touring the U.S. may pique interest in Saudi Arabia’s sites, but would-be tourists must content themselves with a virtual visit: the country offers no tourism visas
The Art of War: Syria’s Artists Find Pain and Fame on the Front Lines
Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss projected onto a bullet-pocked wall in Damascus. Goya’s iconic execution squad from Third of May 1808 superimposed onto a bombed-out alley. Matisse’s nudes from The Dance skipping over rubble. When …
Why the Syrian Rebels May Be Guilty of War Crimes
A new Human Rights Watch report details abuses by the Free Syrian Army
