-
Israel's defense minister claims no territorial ambitions in Syria but continues military operations following the fall of Assad. Syria insists on maintaining the 1974 disengagement agreement amid ongoing Israeli incursions and regional instability. Diplomatic talks have failed to produce results, heightening tensions.
-
On December 19, 2025, the US Congress permanently repealed the 2019 Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Signed by President Donald Trump, the repeal removes major economic restrictions, aiming to facilitate Syria's reconstruction and reintegration into the global financial system under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
-
Turkish President Erdogan discussed with Putin the possibility of returning Russian S-400 missile systems, aiming for a refund in the form of discounted energy imports. The Kremlin denied the request, and Turkey remains cautious about rejoining NATO's F-35 program amid ongoing US sanctions and diplomatic tensions.
-
On December 13, 2025, a lone ISIS gunman ambushed US and Syrian forces near Palmyra, Syria. Three Americans, including two service members and one civilian interpreter, were killed. The attacker was killed, and the incident marks the first US military fatalities in Syria since the fall of Bashar Assad last year.
-
Recent attacks in Syria, attributed to ISIS, have resulted in the deaths of four Syrian security personnel and three US troops. The group claimed responsibility for the assault on a patrol in Idlib, amid ongoing efforts to track sleeper cells in the region.
-
As of January 10, 2026, fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo has intensified amid stalled integration talks. Meanwhile, Syria and Israel have resumed U.S.-mediated negotiations in Paris to revive a 1974 disengagement agreement and seek Israeli troop withdrawal from territory seized after Assad's ouster in December 2024.
-
On January 10, 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed multiple airstrikes across Syria targeting ISIS as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. These strikes respond to a December 13 ISIS ambush in Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The operation reflects increased US cooperation with Syria's new government after Bashar al-Assad's ouster in 2024.
-
Israel and Syria have agreed to increase negotiations on a security deal mediated by the US, following recent Israeli military incursions into southern Syria. The talks aim to revive a 1974 disengagement agreement, with both sides seeking security guarantees and confidence-building measures amid ongoing tensions.
-
Syria and Israel are engaging in US-facilitated talks to establish a joint security mechanism aimed at reducing hostilities and restoring a previous disengagement agreement. The negotiations include plans for a coordination unit in Amman and a demilitarized economic zone, amid ongoing tensions since December 2024.
-
As of January 11, 2026, Syrian government forces have regained control of Aleppo's Kurdish-majority neighborhoods Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh following a ceasefire and withdrawal of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The clashes, which began January 7, displaced over 150,000 residents and killed at least 21 civilians. The ceasefire was brokered amid stalled talks on Kurdish integration into Syria's government.
-
President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language and granting citizenship to Kurds, amid recent clashes in Aleppo. The move aims to integrate Kurdish communities into Syria’s national fabric, following years of marginalization and recent military tensions. The decree also designates Nowruz as a national holiday.
-
Syrian government forces entered Deir Hafer after clashes with Kurdish-led SDF, who withdrew following an agreement. Over 11,000 civilians fled the area amid ongoing tensions and negotiations, with US and Turkish interests influencing the situation. The move follows a decree boosting Kurdish rights in Syria.
-
Syrian government forces have expanded into Kurdish-held areas in northeast Syria, following a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The deal involves the integration of Kurdish territories into Damascus, amid ongoing tensions and renewed clashes. The move impacts regional stability and Turkey's security concerns.
-
Syrian government forces entered Deir Hafer after Kurdish-led SDF announced a planned withdrawal east of the Euphrates. The move follows days of tension, with Syrian troops controlling key towns and Kurdish forces regrouping. The situation highlights ongoing conflict and shifting alliances in northern Syria.
-
The Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces reached a deal to transfer control of key territories, including Deir Ezzor and Raqa, to Damascus. The agreement follows recent clashes, with the government capturing strategic cities like Tabqa and Aleppo, amid ongoing tensions over Kurdish autonomy and control of oil resources.
-
Syrian government forces launched an offensive into Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria, capturing key towns and oil fields, including Syria's largest oil and gas fields. Kurdish forces deny secession ambitions and seek US guarantees amid regional tensions. The move follows a recent deal with Kurdish-led forces and regional shifts in control.
-
A ceasefire between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led SDF largely holds, despite mutual accusations of violations. Recent weeks saw Syrian government forces seize key territories, including oil fields and prisons, as negotiations for Kurdish integration into the state continue. Tensions and military actions persist as the situation remains fluid.
-
On February 3, 2026, Syria's interim government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began implementing a historic agreement reached on January 30 to integrate Kurdish forces and institutions into the Syrian state. This follows a government offensive reclaiming large Kurdish-held territories since early January. The deal includes forming a military division with SDF brigades, merging Kurdish civil bodies into state institutions, and deploying government forces to key northeastern cities, aiming to unify Syria and avoid further conflict.
-
Following Kurdish forces' withdrawal, Syrian government troops entered al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, which houses thousands of women, children, and suspected militants linked to ISIS. The move follows clashes and a breakdown in a ceasefire, raising concerns over security and stability in the region.
-
Recent military advances by Syrian government forces have significantly diminished Kurdish-led SDF territory in northeastern Syria. A ceasefire and control transfer of key prisons suggest a shift towards Syrian state dominance, ending years of Kurdish autonomy efforts amid ongoing conflict and US disengagement.
-
Amid Syrian government advances and Kurdish forces' withdrawal, the US has transferred 150 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, with up to 7,000 expected to be moved. The move aims to prevent prison breaks and stabilize regional security, as Syrian forces take control of key detention sites.
-
Recent developments in Syria show a significant shift in US support and regional power dynamics. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's offensive has altered the balance of power, with the US backing his efforts to unify Syria under one government. The US's stance has shifted from supporting Kurdish-led forces to partnering with Damascus, amid regional tensions.
-
Since late January, Syria has begun transferring around 9,000 ISIS detainees from Kurdish-controlled detention centers to Iraqi custody amid ongoing regional instability. The move follows Syrian government advances into northeast Syria, capturing key prisons and camps, and raises concerns over detainee escapes and regional security threats.
-
Syrian government forces have entered Kurdish-controlled areas in northeast Syria following a recent agreement with the SDF to integrate into the Syrian army. Despite a ceasefire extension, clashes and territorial disputes continue, with international actors urging restraint and negotiations to stabilize the region.
-
The US military has transferred 150 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq following the collapse of Kurdish-led forces and prison escapes. Iraq begins legal proceedings, with the US urging other countries to repatriate their citizens. The move aims to prevent ISIS resurgence and stabilize the region.
-
Syria's government and Kurdish-led SDF extended their 15-day ceasefire by one month to facilitate the transfer of Islamic State detainees to Iraq. The extension follows high-level talks involving the US, Kurds, and Damascus, amid ongoing negotiations over Kurdish autonomy and regional stability. No official announcement has yet been made.
-
As of February 2026, the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has sparked nationwide protests following the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot by federal agents. ICE has shifted to targeting immigrants with criminal histories and reduced agent presence in Minneapolis, amid ongoing legal challenges and political debate over enforcement tactics.
-
The US has replaced its envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, with Tom Barrack amid rising tensions over Iran influence and Iraqi politics. Savaya's departure follows reports of poor performance and diplomatic mishandling, with Barrack seen as more hardline on Iran and armed groups. The move reflects broader US-Iraq tensions.
-
NatWest has relaxed its fossil fuel financing restrictions, removing bans on renewing oil and gas loans and dealings with non-transition aligned companies. The move reflects shifting priorities amid energy security concerns, despite criticism from sustainability advocates. The bank aims to halve its climate impact by 2030.
-
On February 7, 2026, Saudi Arabia and Syria announced major investment deals including a $2 billion fund to develop Aleppo's airports, a $1 billion telecommunications project called SilkLink, and a joint low-cost airline, Flynas Syria. These agreements follow the US lifting sanctions on Syria in December 2025 and mark a significant step in Syria's post-war reconstruction.
-
Syria's new leadership advances a deal to integrate Kurdish-held territory into the state, testing stability after 14 years of war. The move follows Damascus's recent territorial gains from Kurdish forces, amid ongoing violence and displacement in the region.
-
As of late February 2026, France has blocked US Ambassador Charles Kushner from accessing government ministers after he failed to attend a summons to explain controversial US comments on far-left violence linked to the death of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon. Kushner later spoke by phone with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, pledging not to interfere in France's domestic affairs.