Abby Sewell
@sewella.bsky.social
News director for Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Turkey at the Associated Press. Contact asewell @ap.org
Pinned
Abby Sewell
@sewella.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Children brought from Gaza to Lebanon to heal from wounds become caught in another war
Seven-year-old Halima Abou Yassine was brought to Lebanon from Gaza for treatment after an Israeli strike left her near death with a gaping wound in her skull.
apnews.com
I'll start by posting a chain with some links to my recent/relevant work (most, but not all, related to the war in Lebanon):
apnews.com/article/leba...
apnews.com/article/leba...
Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from the national museum in Syria
Via Ghaith AlSayed and @bmroue.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/syri...
Via Ghaith AlSayed and @bmroue.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/syri...
Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from the national museum in Syria
Thieves have broken into the National Museum of Damascus and stolen several ancient statues from the Roman era.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Thieves steal ancient Roman-era statues from the national museum in Syria
Via Ghaith AlSayed and @bmroue.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/syri...
Via Ghaith AlSayed and @bmroue.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/syri...
Two decades ago, Ahmad al-Sharaa was held in a U.S.-run detention center after joining al-Qaida militants fighting against American forces in Iraq.
Few would have predicted that he would become the first Syrian president to visit Washington since the country’s independence:
tinyurl.com/4f3uajpk
Few would have predicted that he would become the first Syrian president to visit Washington since the country’s independence:
tinyurl.com/4f3uajpk
Al-Sharaa to become the first Syrian president to visit the White House after an unlikely rise
Ahmad al-Sharaa, once detained by the U.S. for joining al-Qaida in Iraq, will be the first Syrian president to visit Washington since 1946.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Two decades ago, Ahmad al-Sharaa was held in a U.S.-run detention center after joining al-Qaida militants fighting against American forces in Iraq.
Few would have predicted that he would become the first Syrian president to visit Washington since the country’s independence:
tinyurl.com/4f3uajpk
Few would have predicted that he would become the first Syrian president to visit Washington since the country’s independence:
tinyurl.com/4f3uajpk
Israel’s military said Wednesday that the ceasefire was back on in Gaza after it carried out heavy airstrikes overnight across the Palestinian territory that killed 104 people, including 46 children, according to local health officials
apnews.com/article/isra...
apnews.com/article/isra...
Israel's military says ceasefire is back on as death toll from overnight strikes in Gaza reaches 104
Israel’s military says the ceasefire is back on in Gaza after it carried out heavy airstrikes overnight across the Palestinian territory.
apnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Israel’s military said Wednesday that the ceasefire was back on in Gaza after it carried out heavy airstrikes overnight across the Palestinian territory that killed 104 people, including 46 children, according to local health officials
apnews.com/article/isra...
apnews.com/article/isra...
Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast in his first foreign trip.
A visit to southern Lebanon is not on the agenda, however.
apnews.com/article/pope...
A visit to southern Lebanon is not on the agenda, however.
apnews.com/article/pope...
Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast in his first foreign trip
Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 port blast in Beirut that killed over 200 people during his first foreign visit as pope.
apnews.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast in his first foreign trip.
A visit to southern Lebanon is not on the agenda, however.
apnews.com/article/pope...
A visit to southern Lebanon is not on the agenda, however.
apnews.com/article/pope...
Israel still fires on Lebanon almost a year after a ceasefire. Some predict the same for Gaza
My look at the Lebanon "lessfire" model, with interactive map courtesy of the @apnews.com graphics team
apnews.com/article/leba...
My look at the Lebanon "lessfire" model, with interactive map courtesy of the @apnews.com graphics team
apnews.com/article/leba...
Israel still fires on Lebanon almost a year after a ceasefire. Some predict the same for Gaza
Israel continues to launch near-daily strikes in neighboring Lebanon. That's despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war nearly a year ago.
apnews.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Israel still fires on Lebanon almost a year after a ceasefire. Some predict the same for Gaza
My look at the Lebanon "lessfire" model, with interactive map courtesy of the @apnews.com graphics team
apnews.com/article/leba...
My look at the Lebanon "lessfire" model, with interactive map courtesy of the @apnews.com graphics team
apnews.com/article/leba...
The Syrian government and the main Kurdish-led force in the country’s northeast have agreed in principle on a plan to merge the U.S.-backed force as a cohesive group into the national army, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi told Hogir Abdo for @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/syri...
apnews.com/article/syri...
Syrian Kurdish forces reach agreement with Damascus to merge with national army, commander says
The Syrian government and the main Kurdish-led force in the country's northeast have agreed in principle to merge the U.S.-backed force into the national army.
apnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The Syrian government and the main Kurdish-led force in the country’s northeast have agreed in principle on a plan to merge the U.S.-backed force as a cohesive group into the national army, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi told Hogir Abdo for @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/syri...
apnews.com/article/syri...
An AP photographer from Gaza shares the stories behind her images of the war
apnews.com/article/gaza...
apnews.com/article/gaza...
An AP photographer from Gaza shares the stories behind her images of the war
AP photographer Fatima Shbair tells the stories behind some of her most poignant images from covering the war in her homeland of Gaza.
apnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
An AP photographer from Gaza shares the stories behind her images of the war
apnews.com/article/gaza...
apnews.com/article/gaza...
A breakthrough deal to halt the war in Gaza has been reached. But will it lead, as U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed, to “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”?
@sammymagdy.bsky.social and Lee Keath on next steps:
apnews.com/article/gaza...
@sammymagdy.bsky.social and Lee Keath on next steps:
apnews.com/article/gaza...
What we know about the next steps in the deal to pause the war in Gaza
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a breakthrough deal to pause the war in Gaza and release the remaining hostages. But many questions remain unanswered.
apnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A breakthrough deal to halt the war in Gaza has been reached. But will it lead, as U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed, to “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”?
@sammymagdy.bsky.social and Lee Keath on next steps:
apnews.com/article/gaza...
@sammymagdy.bsky.social and Lee Keath on next steps:
apnews.com/article/gaza...
Minorities had hoped to break into Syria's new political order in the weekend vote but few succeeded
We followed minority candidates from Latakia, Jaramana and Afrin in Syria's parliamentary elections
apnews.com/article/syri...
We followed minority candidates from Latakia, Jaramana and Afrin in Syria's parliamentary elections
apnews.com/article/syri...
Minorities had hoped to break into Syria's new political order in the weekend vote but few succeeded
Syria's first parliamentary elections since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad have revealed deep divisions among the country's minority communities.
apnews.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Minorities had hoped to break into Syria's new political order in the weekend vote but few succeeded
We followed minority candidates from Latakia, Jaramana and Afrin in Syria's parliamentary elections
apnews.com/article/syri...
We followed minority candidates from Latakia, Jaramana and Afrin in Syria's parliamentary elections
apnews.com/article/syri...
A year after losing its longtime leader, Hezbollah is beginning to regroup
@bmroue.bsky.social
and I take a look at where the organization stands one year after it took a series of blows in its most recent war with Israel, culminating in the killing of Nasrallah
apnews.com/article/leba...
@bmroue.bsky.social
and I take a look at where the organization stands one year after it took a series of blows in its most recent war with Israel, culminating in the killing of Nasrallah
apnews.com/article/leba...
A year after losing its longtime leader, Hezbollah is beginning to regroup
Hezbollah is regrouping after suffering significant losses in its recent conflict with Israel. The Lebanese militant group lost its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Israeli airstrikes a year ago ...
apnews.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM
A year after losing its longtime leader, Hezbollah is beginning to regroup
@bmroue.bsky.social
and I take a look at where the organization stands one year after it took a series of blows in its most recent war with Israel, culminating in the killing of Nasrallah
apnews.com/article/leba...
@bmroue.bsky.social
and I take a look at where the organization stands one year after it took a series of blows in its most recent war with Israel, culminating in the killing of Nasrallah
apnews.com/article/leba...
Lebanon's ex-central bank chief accused of corruption, Riad Salameh, released on $14 million bail apnews.com/article/leba...
Lebanon's ex-central bank chief accused of corruption released on $14 million bail
Lebanon's former central bank chief has been released on $14 million bail after a year in jail awaiting trial on corruption charges.
apnews.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Lebanon's ex-central bank chief accused of corruption, Riad Salameh, released on $14 million bail apnews.com/article/leba...
Israeli drone strike kills 5, including 3 children, in southern Lebanon
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the children and their father were U.S. citizens
Via @chehayebk.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/leba...
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the children and their father were U.S. citizens
Via @chehayebk.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/leba...
Israeli drone strike kills 5, including 3 children, in southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon has killed five people, including three children. The attack took place on Sunday.
apnews.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Israeli drone strike kills 5, including 3 children, in southern Lebanon
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the children and their father were U.S. citizens
Via @chehayebk.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/leba...
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the children and their father were U.S. citizens
Via @chehayebk.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/leba...
An Israeli strike on a meeting of Hamas officials in Qatar has cast a cloud of growing concern across Turkey that it could be the next target
With @andywilks61.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/hama...
With @andywilks61.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/hama...
Turkey wary of Israeli threat following airstrike on Hamas in Qatar
An Israeli strike on a meeting of Hamas officials in Qatar has cast a cloud of growing concern across Turkey that it could be the next target.
apnews.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:45 AM
An Israeli strike on a meeting of Hamas officials in Qatar has cast a cloud of growing concern across Turkey that it could be the next target
With @andywilks61.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/hama...
With @andywilks61.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/hama...
Reposted by Abby Sewell
The worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war
Most experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.
@sewella.bsky.social
Most experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.
@sewella.bsky.social
The worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war
The eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are in the grips of one of their worst droughts in decades, which is drying rivers and lakes, shriveling crops and even leading to water cutoffs in major…
buff.ly
September 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war
Most experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.
@sewella.bsky.social
Most experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.
@sewella.bsky.social
Evidence indicates the camera in question belonged to a Reuters video journalist who routinely covered his equipment with a white cloth to protect it from the scorching sun and dust. The journalist, Hussam al-Masri, was killed in the initial strike.
Via @sammymagdy.bsky.social and Sam Mednick
Via @sammymagdy.bsky.social and Sam Mednick
AP reporting raises questions about Israeli strikes that killed 22 people at a Gaza hospital, including five journalists – among them Mariam Dagga, who worked for AP and other news organizations.
AP reporting calls into question why and how Israel attacked a Gaza hospital
Associated Press reporting into an Israeli attack that killed 22 people at a Gaza Strip hospital, including five journalists, raises questions about Israel’s rationale for the attack and the way it was carried out.
bit.ly
September 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Evidence indicates the camera in question belonged to a Reuters video journalist who routinely covered his equipment with a white cloth to protect it from the scorching sun and dust. The journalist, Hussam al-Masri, was killed in the initial strike.
Via @sammymagdy.bsky.social and Sam Mednick
Via @sammymagdy.bsky.social and Sam Mednick
The worst drought in decades is gripping much of the region. It's particularly dire in Syria, where rainfall has been declining for decades, and after a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid.
Our deep dive:
apnews.com/projects/syr...
apnews.com/projects/syr...
Our deep dive:
apnews.com/projects/syr...
apnews.com/projects/syr...
Severe drought is devastating war-torn Syria
The most severe drought in decades is gripping much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East following the impacts of climate change, leading to a particularly dire situation in Syria.
apnews.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The worst drought in decades is gripping much of the region. It's particularly dire in Syria, where rainfall has been declining for decades, and after a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid.
Our deep dive:
apnews.com/projects/syr...
apnews.com/projects/syr...
Our deep dive:
apnews.com/projects/syr...
apnews.com/projects/syr...
US diplomat apologizes for using the word 'animalistic' in reference to Lebanese reporters
apnews.com/article/tom-...
apnews.com/article/tom-...
US diplomat apologizes for using the word 'animalistic' in reference to Lebanese reporters
A U.S. diplomat has apologized for using the word "animalistic" during a press conference in Lebanon.
apnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
US diplomat apologizes for using the word 'animalistic' in reference to Lebanese reporters
apnews.com/article/tom-...
apnews.com/article/tom-...
Four journalists were killed by an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital today, including Mariam Dagga, a freelancer with the @apnews.com. She has a 12-year-old son, who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war.
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital
A hospital strike in southern Gaza has killed at least eight people, including four journalists. The attack happened on Monday.
apnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Four journalists were killed by an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital today, including Mariam Dagga, a freelancer with the @apnews.com. She has a 12-year-old son, who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war.
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza.
tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb
Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif as toll worsens on Gaza journalists
apnews.com/article/mide...
apnews.com/article/mide...
Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif as toll worsens on Gaza journalists
Israel’s military has targeted an Al Jazeera correspondent with an airstrike, killing him, another of its journalists and at least six other people sheltering outside a Gaza City hospital.
apnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif as toll worsens on Gaza journalists
apnews.com/article/mide...
apnews.com/article/mide...
Survivors of the pager attack are easily identifiable, with missing eyes, faces laced with scars, hands with missing fingers. The AP interviewed six of them — offering a rare glimpse into the human cost of the attack
Powerful work by @bmroue.bsky.social @seldeeb.bsky.social @hassanammar.bsky.social
Powerful work by @bmroue.bsky.social @seldeeb.bsky.social @hassanammar.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Survivors of the pager attack are easily identifiable, with missing eyes, faces laced with scars, hands with missing fingers. The AP interviewed six of them — offering a rare glimpse into the human cost of the attack
Powerful work by @bmroue.bsky.social @seldeeb.bsky.social @hassanammar.bsky.social
Powerful work by @bmroue.bsky.social @seldeeb.bsky.social @hassanammar.bsky.social
The Iraqi PM has kept his country on the sidelines amid regional wars, balancing Iraq’s relations with two countries vital to his power and enemies with each other: the U.S. and Iran.
Qassim Abdul-Zahra and I interview PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for @apnews.com:
apnews.com/article/iraq...
Qassim Abdul-Zahra and I interview PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for @apnews.com:
apnews.com/article/iraq...
Iraq's prime minister seeks closer US ties while keeping armed groups at bay
The prime minister of Iraq has kept his country on the sidelines as military conflicts raged nearby for almost two years.
apnews.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The Iraqi PM has kept his country on the sidelines amid regional wars, balancing Iraq’s relations with two countries vital to his power and enemies with each other: the U.S. and Iran.
Qassim Abdul-Zahra and I interview PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for @apnews.com:
apnews.com/article/iraq...
Qassim Abdul-Zahra and I interview PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for @apnews.com:
apnews.com/article/iraq...
Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani as mother Fayrouz makes rare appearance
apnews.com/article/fayr...
apnews.com/article/fayr...
Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani as mother Fayrouz makes rare appearance
Hundreds of people in Lebanon have paid tribute to iconic composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani, who died over the weekend.
apnews.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani as mother Fayrouz makes rare appearance
apnews.com/article/fayr...
apnews.com/article/fayr...