Largest city in eastern Syria; capital of Deir ez-Zor Governorate along the Euphrates
Heavy rainfall in Hatay has broken the Asi River’s banks, submerging fields and villages, washing away roads and bridges, and killing several people. Authorities say agricultural losses cover thousands of hectares as disaster teams assess the damage.
Parliament has convened for the first time under a five-year transitional framework after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The assembly includes appointees by President al-Sharaa and elected members, with debates over representation, a new constitution, and transitional justice shaping the agenda.
Syria's new authorities have begun prosecuting suspects tied to the Assad regime’s abuses as part of a broader push to address past crimes. Arrests include former security and militia figures, with families and rights groups watching closely for transparency and accountability.
A collision on Syria’s Damascus-Deir ez-Zor desert highway between a civilian bus and an Interior Ministry bus has injured around 30 people. Helicopters are evacuating the wounded to hospitals; the cause remains under investigation as authorities work to manage the unfolding emergency.
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.
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.
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.
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.