Syria’s president since 2000, central figure in the civil war era
The defence ministry has reported an explosion at an army site in Deir Ezzor. The blast has killed 11 or more soldiers and wounded several as authorities investigate the incident. A funeral procession for the martyrs has been held, following another recent arms-depot explosion in Idlib and previous incidents at military sites.
Thousands cheered as Assala Nasri returns to Damascus after a 15-year exile, performing at a festival in the capital. The event, attended by government officials and backed by the Ministry of Culture, signals a broader cultural reopening under the new administration. The singer’s homecoming follows decades of conflict and regime repression, and she plans further performances across Syria.
Syrian authorities have detained pilots and senior officers in Tartous for alleged planning and executing airstrikes on populated areas, as a broader crackdown continues against Assad-era figures after the regime’s overthrow in December 2024. Investigations link several air bases and command centers to raids that caused civilian casualties and displacement.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has criticised Lebanon’s participation in US-mediated talks with Israel in Rome and has rejected a June framework that ties Israeli withdrawals to verified disarmament and Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones. Technical teams have met in Rome while Israeli strikes, demolitions and clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and Beirut is pressing Washington for verification guarantees.
Netanyahu has met with Trump at the White House for discussions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid ongoing US-Israeli hostilities. Talks aim to coordinate strategy on Iran, with emphasis on preventing nuclear development and managing wider regional tensions. The week features high-stakes diplomacy and looming electoral tests in both countries.
Syria says negotiations with Israel are advancing toward a security arrangement that could lead to broader peace without Syria relinquishing the Golan Heights. Damascus and Jerusalem are backed by US diplomacy and regional actors, with both sides avoiding confrontation as they explore a UN-monitored buffer and related accords.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian forces have used ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in strikes that hit the Zaporizhstal steel plant and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least seven workers and wounding others. Kyiv has also said Moscow is receiving more North Korean missiles and preparing to deploy more North Korean personnel on Russian territory. Allies are being urged to send more air-defence systems.
Iraq and Turkey have extended and refreshed arrangements for the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, aiming to diversify exports and reduce reliance on Hormuz. A one-year extension is set to keep flows through Ceyhan at about 750,000 barrels per day while broader energy cooperation is pursued. Talks include oil, electricity and water resources, with Ankara signaling a longer-term framework.
Kurdistan Regional Government president Barzani has met Syria's leadership in Damascus to discuss strengthening cooperation and the integration of the SDF into state institutions, with language and cultural rights on the agenda amid ongoing negotiations.
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
A blast in Jaramana, a Damascus suburb, has wounded several people as authorities investigate an explosive device planted in a minivan taxi. Initial casualty figures vary by source, with officials updating counts as the investigation continues. A group has claimed responsibility, and sectarian tensions in the area remain high.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a mutual defence framework. The pact treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while stopping short of detailing automatic troop deployment. It builds on prior defense ties and signals a move toward a more regionally driven security order amid heightened Gulf tensions and Iran-Israel dynamics.
Unified Syrian and Lebanese security concerns frame talks on potential cross-border operations. While Washington presses for pressure points, Damascus faces internal and regional costs. A range of options is considered, from border controls to limited troop movements, with Iran’s retaliation potential guiding calculations.
Syria has signed a memorandum with Russia that will hand civilian control of Hmeimim airport and Tartus’ commercial berth to Damascus and convert military areas at both sites into joint Russian–Syrian training centres. The agreement follows 18 months of talks, sets a three‑month transition and preserves Russian access for naval and air transit duties.
Ukrainian and allied officials report that Russia is expanding North Korean military reinforcement while warning of a broader regional threat. A WHO warehouse in Dnipro was destroyed, triggering renewed calls to protect health facilities. Ukrainian drone strikes have intensified, drawing regional casualties and infrastructure damage.
Colombia has recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, joining the United States as the only UN member state to back Israel’s claim. The move follows the new president’s pledge to align more closely with Israel and to restore ties after disagreements with the previous administration. Reactions are swift, with Syria and other regional powers condemning the decision as a breach of international law.
Syria has agreed to surrender its remaining nuclear material to the IAEA under a US-brokered deal. The move is unlikely to resolve core disputes with Israel or advance a broader security agreement, as negotiations remain stalled over territory, withdrawal lines, and other contentious issues.
A Damascus criminal court has sentenced ousted president Bashar al‑Assad, his brother Maher and several senior former officials — including Atef Najib, who is in custody — to death for murders, torture and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s 14‑year conflict. The rulings have been issued in absentia for Assad and Maher, who are in Russia.
Lebanon has passed legislation abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour. Parliament has also approved a separate general amnesty law that will reduce some long sentences and free inmates detained more than 12 prison years while awaiting trial; the measures respond to severe prison overcrowding and political pressures.
A Damascus court has sentenced Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after a rebel-led rise toppled decades of his family’s rule. He has fled to Moscow, where he is coordinating a new chapter for Syria as international investigations exposed state-led abuses during his reign. The trial marks a decisive moment in a long civil war that drew in regional and global powers.
Lebanon has passed a landmark amnesty law in a show-of-hands vote, replacing death sentences with long prison terms and reducing others. The law aims to ease prison overcrowding but faces opposition from families of soldiers and some factions. Repeal of the death penalty follows years of debate and sectarian pressures.
Israel has stated it will maintain a long-term security presence in southern Lebanon as part of the U.S.-brokered framework to disarm Hezbollah and gradually withdraw Israeli forces. The Lebanese army will deploy in pilot zones, while negotiations in Rome aim to advance the agreement.
Al-Shaibani and Netanyahu have traded statements after Israel attacked the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria, saying there was no Turkish military build-up at the site. Damascus maintains the base remains Syrian, while Ankara denies any Turkish presence. The strike has drawn regional condemnation and heightened tensions among Syria, Turkey and Israel.
Maj. Gen. Adel Issa has been transferred to Syrian custody after Lebanese authorities detained him; he faces charges including intentional homicide, torture leading to death and crimes aimed at inciting civil war. A Damascus referral judge will decide whether to proceed to trial, marking a potential shift in how Lebanon handles figures wanted by Damascus.
Three years into displacement in Gaza’s Deir-al‑Balah camps, women face severe menstrual health challenges as sanitation and water access collapse amid the siege. Pads have vanished, prices have soared, and private, dignified care has become a luxury.
Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity over the May interception of a flotilla heading to Gaza. The justice ministry has requested Interpol red notices as part of a case against 35 people. Israel denies the allegations and vows to continue actions against Ankara.
Israel has launched airstrikes against targets in Syria, citing imminent threats from a Turkish deployment near Aleppo. The move follows recent strikes on Abu al-Duhur airbase and has drawn condemnation from Syria, Turkey, and the US, who call for de-escalation. The situation remains fluid as regional actors weigh their next steps.
Syria has signaled it plans to renew dialogue with Israel on a security deal that would end attacks and permit Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory. Damascus says negotiations are frozen but expected to restart as Washington presses for a deal. Syria emphasizes its goal of regional stability and ceasefire, while Israel faces international pressure amid recent airbase strikes.
A Damascus court has found Ahmad Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, guilty of inciting violence and supporting the regime, delivering a life sentence and additional terms. The ruling comes amid a wave of trials against Assad-era officials as the new authorities push for accountability.
The United States has removed Syria from its state sponsor of terrorism list, and has also delisted the al-Nusrah Front. Damascus says the move unlocks investment and accelerates reconstruction as it seeks to reintegrate with the global economy. Washington frames the step as a path to stability, while analysts caution continued regional risks.
The UN-backed 4+4 committee has forged an initial framework to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within 24 months under a unified executive. While rival institutions signaled tentative support, implementation remains the biggest hurdle as divisions persist and power-sharing is tested.
The Syrian Democratic Forces have dissolved as an independent unit and merged into the Syrian army following a January deal with Damascus. The move ends a decade of de facto autonomy in the northeast and positions the country for a new chapter of peace and reconstruction.
Kurdish-led SDF has dissolved and merged into Syria’s army as part of a broader integration deal approved by the presidency. Abdi has been appointed advisor to the presidency, reflecting a shift in governance and language recognition for Kurdish citizens.
Muslim leaders are urged to unite against what Tehran deems the enemies of Islam, with calls for cooperation and mutual defense as the Iran war enters its sixth month. Reports say West Bank violence and regional tensions are escalating alongside diplomatic engagements in Istanbul and Tehran.
Unrest in Syria’s Sweida province has left 10 government security personnel wounded as clashes unfold between state forces and local armed groups. The fighting follows days of tension over exams and previous attacks, with reports of civilian injuries and ongoing exchanges of fire.
The IAEA board has referred Iran to the UN Security Council after finding Tehran has not cooperated with inspectors and the agency has lost access to sites hit by strikes. Austria has denied a visa to Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, after a U.N. sanctions committee refused an exemption; Iran and allies have condemned the decision and the U.S. registered the committee objection.
Damascus stories study a city caught between the collapse of the Assad regime and a new, fragile order. The collection records fear, memory and shifting power as residents navigate a transformed urban landscape.
The Iran war has entered its seventh month. White House aides warn Tehran can resist pressure and sustain the conflict beyond January 2029, while President Trump argues the war could end immediately after the November midterms. Public remarks differ from private assessments, signaling a possible continuation of hostilities through the president’s term.
The Black Sea has become the world's most dangerous route for commercial shipping as July saw more crew deaths and attacks on 35 vessels, intensifying a broader conflict involving Ukraine, Russia, and allied states. Attacks stretch from Ukrainian ports to global grain markets, prompting warnings from maritime authorities.
The U.S. ambassador has highlighted security responsibilities for Palestinians in the West Bank as settler violence surges, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict intensifying amid Israeli government activity in the occupied territories.
The IAEA has terminated its nearly two‑decade investigation into Syria's undeclared nuclear activities after inspectors visited sites in Deir ez‑Zor and a previously undisclosed location. Inspectors have uncovered a near‑complete reactor, a fuel‑fabrication plant and about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal; the material is now under IAEA containment and surveillance measures.
Authorities across Syria have detained multiple former generals and officers linked to abuses under Bashar al-Assad. The arrests, spanning Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, come as the regime seeks accountability for past crimes while maintaining control amid a fractured state.
The Houthis have targeted civilian and energy facilities in southern Saudi cities, injuring dozens. A coalition spokesperson has condemned the attacks as dangerous and vowed to take all necessary measures to deter the group amid renewed hostilities near Bab al-Mandeb.
A blast in Idlib's Sarmada area has killed and injured civilians as authorities investigate a depot storing weapons and unexploded munitions. Civil defense teams are assessing the site and working to secure surrounding areas amid a pattern of explosions linked to stockpiles left from years of conflict.
Arab News reports GCC members have welcomed Turkiye’s peace efforts, including dissolving the PKK, integrating the SDF into Syria’s security structures, and broader regional cooperation. The GCC Secretary-General backs centralized governance and regional stability as the SDF fate linked to Damascus’s future. Education and higher education ties are also emphasized as part of broader reconciliation.
A survey of how intelligence, counter-terrorism, and national security strategies have evolved since the 2001 attacks, reflecting on failures, reforms and shifting threats as the world marks the 25th anniversary.
Protests over the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso in Hasakeh Province have sparked prison violence at Kobani. Inmates set dormitories ablaze as security forces wage a crackdown; authorities call for restraint while Kurdish groups demand a transparent investigation.
Protests erupt across Syria after the government raises diesel prices by up to 40% and petrol by about 25-28%, citing global costs and an overhaul at Baniyas refinery. Authorities say prices are temporary, with a plan to restart small refineries to meet demand while subsidies target heating and essential sectors. The protests reflect soaring living costs and widespread poverty.
Morocco and Israel have agreed to elevate their diplomatic missions to embassies and appoint ambassadors, expanding economic and air-link cooperation. The move, announced during a New York meeting hosted by the US ambassador to the UN, cements ongoing trilateral cooperation with the United States under the Abraham Accords framework and paves the way for new direct flights and investment deals by year-end.
Iran’s hard-liners are pressing for a tighter clampdown on headscarves as wartime conditions limit government action, while authorities warn activists of risks. Public spaces show growing divergence in dress codes since the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.