Tag Archives: Bashar al-Assad

The United States has moved to significantly reduce economic sanctions on Syria, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday. The decision marks a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy and follows through on a commitment Trump made to Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during a meeting in Saudi Arabia earlier this year. White House officials described …

Syrian authorities have reported a major drug bust involving the seizure of approximately three million captagon pills along with 50 kilograms of hashish. The operation took place near the border with Lebanon following a security operation against a suspected trafficking group. According to the Syrian interior ministry, security forces detected suspicious activity involving individuals crossing from Lebanon into Syrian territory …

An Islamic State (IS) attack in southern Syria has marked the group’s first acknowledged assault on forces aligned with the country’s newly established government since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. The incident, confirmed by multiple monitoring organizations, underscores the enduring threat posed by militant groups amid Syria’s ongoing political transition. According to reports, the attack targeted a Syrian …

Lebanon’s military has announced the apprehension of a key suspect involved in the 2024 abduction and killing of Pascal Sleiman, a senior official with the Lebanese Forces (LF) party. The suspect was transferred to Lebanese custody with the cooperation of Syria’s new authorities, marking a significant development in a case that stirred national outrage. Background to the Crime and Arrest …

The United States has formally lifted longstanding economic sanctions on Syria, marking a significant shift in policy following the December 2024 ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. This move aims to support Syria’s reconstruction efforts and alleviate humanitarian challenges after more than a decade of civil conflict. Policy Shift and Conditions On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department issued …

Violent confrontations erupted overnight in the outskirts of Damascus, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 individuals, according to Syrian state media. The clashes occurred in the Sahnaya area, a town located southwest of the capital, and were described by authorities as part of an escalation involving armed factions identified as outlaw groups. Casualties and Government Response Syria’s Health …

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently revealed that Israeli fighter jets intercepted Iranian aircraft heading toward Syria last year. These planes were reportedly carrying troops intended to reinforce Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled regime, which was on the verge of collapse at the time. Netanyahu explained that Iran sought to deploy one or two airborne divisions to support Assad, but …

The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States will significantly scale down its military presence in Syria, reducing the number of deployed troops to fewer than 1,000 over the coming months. This marks a notable shift in Washington’s long-standing role in countering the Islamic State (IS) in the region. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the decision on Friday, stating that …