Alex Martin Astley

Alex Martin Astley

Astley

Alex Martin Astley is a freelance journalist based in Beirut, covering conflict, foreign policy, and social justice issues.

A deal to transfer 300 Syrian prisoners from Lebanon could open the door to cooperation on borders, trade, and refugees after decades of Assad-era coercion

19 February, 2026

The fake Saudi prince affair is more than an embarrassing con, it exposes how patronage and foreign influence still shape Lebanese politics

22 January, 2026

A year on from the ceasefire, displaced civilians in south Lebanon continue to live under near-daily Israeli airstrikes, drones, and military occupation

15 December, 2025

After a decade of war, economic collapse, and political turmoil, Lebanon pins its fragile hopes on Pope Leo XIV's visit as a chance for peace and unity

02 December, 2025

As Pope Leo arrives in Lebanon, the country's migrant women remain invisible, trapped in exploitative conditions where even their most basic freedoms are denied

27 November, 2025

Over a decade after Syria's prison atrocities were exposed by whistleblower ‘Caesar’, families of the missing still search for answers and a grave to mourn at

20 November, 2025

Government restrictions have effectively barred tens of thousands of Syrian children from school in Lebanon, as NGOs step in to teach those left behind

07 October, 2025

In a rapidly evolving political landscape, Palestinian refugees from Yarmouk camp are concerned about their place in Syria's new future

09 September, 2025

Beyond delaying much-needed closure and reparations for survivors and victims' families, a lack of accountability could provoke social violence in Syria

17 July, 2025

After 14 years of war, Syria is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with a race against time to make urban and rural areas safe again

02 July, 2025