Southwestern Syrian city at the cradle of the revolution, capital of Daraa Governorate
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.
The United Nations chief has urged the immediate removal of sanctions on Syria as he concludes a two-day visit, stressing Syria’s crossroads and the need for investment to rebuild infrastructure, institutions and livelihoods. He has met interim leadership, civil society and UN peacekeepers, while calling for international support to accelerate recovery and safe returns for refugees.
A Damascus court has sentenced Bashar al-Assad and Atef Najib to death for crimes including murder, torture, and crimes against humanity linked to the 2011 crackdown in Deraa. Najib, a former security official, had been detained since January 2025 and is the first cousin of Assad. Trials are part of Syria’s transitional authorities pursuing former officials from the regime.