Syrian president amid regional upheaval
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.
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.
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 International Atomic Energy Agency has said it has clarified key elements of its probe into a 2007 Israeli strike on a Syrian facility in Deir ez-Zour, calling the development a rare nuclear-diplomacy success. Separately, IAEA monitors have reported they still cannot verify the location or status of Iran’s near-bomb‑grade uranium stockpile, according to a restricted agency document seen by Bloomberg.
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 region has seen a surge in attacks on commercial vessels and port facilities, with July and August marking the most dangerous period for global maritime trade. Ukrainian drone strikes and Russian countermeasures have disrupted grain exports, prompting warnings from international agencies and driving prices higher.
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.
Latakia authorities have arrested two senior officers linked to Bashar al-Assad’s forces for detaining civilians, extortion, and war-crime involvement. The arrests follow a broader crackdown on regime-era officials accused of rights abuses.
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.
Syria has raised diesel and petrol prices by up to 40% amid global energy pressures and a maintenance overhaul at the Baniyas refinery. The government says the move is temporary and aims to secure supplies, while protests have erupted in multiple regions. Authorities plan to restart small refineries to meet demand and reduce imports.
Leaders from Israel and Morocco have agreed to elevate diplomatic missions to embassies and appoint ambassadors, expanding flights and boosting economic ties. The move comes in a US-hosted New York meeting with Morocco and US backing, reflecting a broader Abraham Accords framework.
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.
Protests erupt in Hasakeh province after the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso, a former Kurdish fighter. Prison authorities report inmates set fires during a security crisis at Kobane prison as government and Kurdish-led groups trade blame. Regional tensions rise as authorities pledge investigation and security forces respond.
A U.S. federal judge has sentenced Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former head of Adra Prison in Syria, to a lengthy term after conviction on torture and immigration fraud charges. He was found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit torture and torture, with prosecutors seeking an 80-year minimum sentence; his lawyers push for five years given age and health. The case marks a rare instance of accountability for abuses linked to the Assad regime.
Syrian President al-Sharaa has told the UN that Israel’s strikes in Syria are unacceptable and that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian. He has urged withdrawal from border areas and signaled openness to a security agreement, as talks with Israel show progress toward a broader peace.
Syria’s Internal Security Forces have killed three members of an armed group during an operation in Al-Sanamayn, Daraa province, as they attempted to arrest a suspect linked to the Islamic State. The security operation has led to a curfew and heightened manhunt as authorities say they dismantled a cell coordinating with IS.
Syria has moved to reinstate thousands of teachers and overhaul the education system, including removing a nationalist subject and banning corporal punishment in schools. New policies allow reinstated teachers to work near their homes and appoint top graduates as teachers without exams, while debates over Kurdish-language education and broader ideological framing continue.
Authorities have detained nine pilots in Latakia after investigations tied to airstrikes across Syria, including Eastern Ghouta, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Hama. They are accused of combat sorties, targeting civilians and facilities, and transporting former regime officers. The case forms part of a broader accountability push following the war’s upheavals.
Global fuel prices have surged amid conflicts in the Middle East and strikes on Iranian refineries. Analysts warn diesel costs are hitting record highs in Europe and the UK, with knock-on effects on transport, food, and industry. Governments are weighing subsidies and demand-reduction measures as inflation pressures mount.
Hundreds of inmates at Roumieh prison have been on hunger strike since September 12 to protest the suspension of Lebanon’s amnesty law. Authorities monitor health as the Constitutional Council prepares to rule next month on the law’s status; overcrowding and lengthy pre-trial detention remain acute problems.
Syria’s President has reaffirmed that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory and has called on Israel to withdraw from areas seized after December 2024. Israel’s defence minister pledges that any territory seized will remain Israeli, while the UN still regards the Golan as Syrian. The exchange follows a UN General Assembly address and renewed threats of action from both sides.
Iraq has begun importing gasoline via a Syrian route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz closure. The operation, under a transit contract with Qatar’s UCC Holding, uses the Banias port and land convoys, with Iraqi authorities planning to scale up to 200 tankers per day. The move follows ongoing talks to restore energy links between Baghdad and Damascus.
Syria has calibrated navigation and landing systems at Damascus and Aleppo airports to enable round‑the‑clock operations. Officials say upgrades will boost flight capacity and open new routes, while Israel’s earlier objections to calibration flights have now eased. The move accompanies a broader drive to rehabilitate Syria’s civil aviation sector and attract investment.
The New Arab reports that a Syrian national, known as Al-Daameesh, has been detained in Batroun after allegedly preparing an IS-aligned attack during the pope’s 2025 Lebanon visit. Authorities say he previously served with Nusra Front and IS, with the cell’s dismantling attributed to security measures around the pope’s trip.
Syria’s energy infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted as gas pipelines and power plants have been disrupted by sabotage, prompting authorities to isolate damaged sections and halt flows to electricity generation. The incidents follow protests over fuel prices and compound post-war reconstruction challenges.
EU foreign affairs chiefs say they will upgrade their partnership with Syria, mobilise more investment, and push for reforms as Syria rebuilds under new leadership following Assad's fall. Talks focus on a modern partnership to replace the old 1970s accord and on stabilising security along the Mediterranean coast.
Syria says intelligence services have thwarted a Hezbollah‑affiliated cell in the Yarmuk basin, arresting three individuals and revealing plans to prepare rocket launch platforms. Hezbollah denies any link, stating it has no presence in Syrian territory. The case unfolds as Israel warns of potential attacks ahead of October elections.
The State Department has amended ITAR to remove Syria from the denial list, allowing case‑by‑case consideration of US arms exports. The move follows steps to ease sanctions and hints at reopening Damascus embassy. Seven countries remain on the denial list as Washington shifts its approach to Damascus.
A bus attack in Homs province has killed seven people and injured four, state media says. The motive remains unclear as authorities investigate. The incident follows a string of security incidents near Damascus and across central Syria amid years of instability.
Syrian officials and Hezbollah representatives have held talks in Turkey to de-escalate tensions, with both Damascus and Hezbollah denying a final agreement. Reuters cites sources indicating discussions focused on stopping arms transfers and dismantling sleeper cells, while Turkey and other actors deny the meeting. The talks are described as an initial attempt to move from battlefield hostilities toward a pragmatic, if cautious, arrangement.
Lebanon faces a delicate test as its government seeks to reassert state authority north of the Litani, amid Israeli incursions and Hezbollah’s entrenched influence. Leaders call for disarmament of Hezbollah while navigating regional tensions and international pressure, with reconstruction and sovereignty on the line.
Syria and Israel face a renewed phase of tensions along the Golan and southern Quneitra as Israeli engineers advance the Sufa 53 line, extending a fortified route inside or near the contested buffer zone. Syria condemns the move as a violation of the 1974 disengagement and UN resolutions, while regional actors urge restraint.
Smuggling attempts along the Lebanon-Syria border have intensified, with recent seizures of explosives and firearms reported by Lebanese and Syrian authorities. The incidents highlight ongoing cross-border trafficking across a 330-375 km frontier, where authorities are tightening controls after renewed seizures this year.
Israeli and Hezbollah-linked activities in the Lebanon-Syria border region have intensified following a recent surge in attacks. Lebanese authorities report casualties and a series of strikes, with Israel asserting it is targeting operatives believed to pose threats from southern Syria to Israeli forces. The situation has prompted ongoing tension along the border.
Turkish President has indicated that Turkish troops remain in northern Iraq and Syria to guard borders and contain PKK and Daesh threats. The number of troops is kept proportional to ground needs, and a reassessment will occur once security conditions and state authority are established across Syria and borders are secure.
A military court in Aleppo has sentenced several defendants connected to the March 2025 coastal violence to death, long prison terms or acquittals. The rulings address charges of inciting civil war, sectarian fighting and attacks on government forces, with further verdicts in September and ongoing trials highlighting accountability efforts.
Lebanese authorities have intercepted a vehicle carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives. Hezbollah says the explosives belong to the group and were intended for use against Israeli forces, while Lebanon vows to pursue those responsible and press for accountability.
Authorities have detained Ali Kayali and several other figures linked to the Bashar al-Assad regime’s forces and militias over alleged war crimes in 2013. The arrests come as Syria intensifies accountability efforts under the new regime authorities.
The US has filed a new indictment accusing Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, of leading a state‑sponsored system of repression that tortured opponents, including American citizens. They have pleaded not guilty and deny the charges as they await trial in New York next June.
The Syrian government has claimed that Israel is exploiting Suweida’s Druze community for political ends and arming a militia. Netanyahu has described a brief call with Syria’s president as pivotal in halting a massacre during July 2025 clashes, though Damascus remains unclear about the call. A ceasefire in Suweida has held since July 2025, with ongoing talks toward a broader, US-backed roadmap.
Israel’s energy ministry has drawn up a national framework to position the country in the growing fusion sector, citing partnerships, funding tracks, and regulatory gaps as it seeks to compete in a multibillion-dollar race for future power sources. The Times of Israel reports a plan to fund research centers, national facilities, and an experimental reactor with international partners, while warning that inaction could leave Israeli firms out of global supply chains.
Jordanian air strikes on southern Syria have killed civilians and damaged homes, triggering Syria’s condemnation for sovereignty violations. Damascus says the strikes targeted IS cells and weapons depots, while Amman cites threats and terrorist activity. The two sides are coordinating to manage fallout and preserve bilateral ties.
Iraq and Syria are expanding bilateral ties, with discussions on exporting Iraqi oil via the Banias pipeline and reviving the Haditha–Banias link. A visit by Iraqi Premier al-Zaidi to Damascus signals momentum in economic, security and social cooperation, aiming to connect Iraq to Mediterranean markets while addressing regional stability.