Damascus

Syria Urges Banks to Provision Their Claims on Lebanon

The Central Bank of Syria has given domestic banks a six-month deadline to fully provision their claims on the Lebanese banking sector, estimated at $1.6 billion, according to a circular cited by Reuters. The directive does not specify the exact nature of these claims – whether deposits, placements or financial investments – making their ...

Syria Arrests Major Officer in Charge of Notorious Assad-Era Prison

Syrian authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested a former military official accused of executing detainees at the infamous Saydnaya prison during the rule of former president Bashar al-Assad. In a statement, the interior ministry said the Damascus province's counter-terrorism branch arrested Major General Akram Salloum al-Abdullah. It said ...

Syria: 12 Million Captagon Pills Seized

Nearly 12 million Captagon pills were seized in Al-Dumayr, near Damascus. The smuggling ring leader was arrested and the drugs will be destroyed. Despite ongoing crackdowns, Captagon – Syria’s main export during the civil war – continues to flood the region.  

Jews in Damascus: A Historic Return

In the heart of the Old City, the Faranj synagogue reopens after decades. Prayers, ceremonies and gatherings bring life back to a long-forgotten community. This symbolic return marks a historic turning point for Syria and reflects the revival of a community erased for generations.  

Syrian FM Says Damascus Seeks to "Correct" Ties with Lebanon, Ensure Dignified Refugee Return

Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani said Saturday that Damascus aims to “correct” its relationship with Lebanon and guarantee a “dignified return” for Syrian refugees, in comments broadcast on Syrian state television. Al-Shaibani, appointed earlier this year, said his government is “working to address the effects of the previous ...

SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi Announces Preliminary Deal to Join Syrian Army

The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, has announced a “preliminary agreement” with the Syrian government to integrate SDF fighters into a unified military structure within the Syrian army, according to Al Hadath. In an interview with the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday, Abdi discussed what could be a ...

Syria Bus Blast Kills Five Defense Ministry Personnel

A blast targeting a bus in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor on Thursday killed at least five defense ministry personnel, an official from the ministry told AFP. "An explosive device detonated as a bus carrying oil facility guards affiliated with the defense ministry passed by, killing five of them and wounding 13 others, including civilian ...

Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon: One of Many Unresolved Cases

A high-level Syrian delegation arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to address a long-neglected issue in strained bilateral relations: the case of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons. Officially, the meeting aimed to finalize a judicial agreement to organize the transfer of Syrian nationals incarcerated in Lebanon back to Syria within a legal framework ...

Aoun Urges Truth and Transparency as Members of National Commission for Missing Persons Take Oath

On Wednesday, members of the National Commission for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons were sworn in before the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, who reaffirmed that “the right to know the truth is a sacred right for every family.” The president also called on all parties to cooperate and “break the wall of silence” ...

Syrian Kurdish Leader says Reached first Deal on Merging Forces with Regular Army

  Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi has announced to AFP that he had reached a "preliminary agreement" with Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria's military and security forces. Abdi, who heads the powerful Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), had met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus last week, ...

Burning Issues in the Syrian Visit to Beirut

Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani is visiting Beirut this Friday for his first official trip since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Long postponed, the visit marks a symbolic step toward restoring ties between Lebanon and Syria after a decade of mistrust. It follows a series of technical missions by Syrian officials exploring ...

Syria Votes Again: Is Real Change Finally Possible?

On Sunday, October 5, between 6,000 and 7,000 delegates cast votes at 62 polling stations across 11 governorates to elect Syria’s new legislative assembly. The People’s Assembly will have 210 seats, 119 of which have been filled so far, 40 fewer than under the Assad regime. Candidates must meet strict requirements, including age and ...