Damascus

ISIS numbers grow as Syrian instability continues, Iraq warns

In the rare interview, al-Shatri said Iraqi intelligence estimates suggest that ISIS’s presence in Syria has grown from roughly 2,000 fighters a year ago to as many as 10,000 terrorists today.

 A soldier in an ISIS uniform prepares ammunition.
A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

Kobane under siege: Humanitarian corridors open amid Syria's Kurdish crackdown

Syrian citizens celebrate and raise Syrian flags on January 20, 2026 in Raqqa, Syria.

As end of ceasefire between Syrian gov’t and Kurds approaches, region asks if it will continue

HTRS-100 air traffic control radar system, produced by the Turkish defense company ASELSAN.

Turkey deploys advanced radar at Damascus airport, raising Israeli concerns


Israeli-Syrian security pact expected to be signed by end of year - report

"There is progress in the talks with Israel" and “by the end of the year,” the two countries are expected to sign several agreements,  the official said.

 Illustrative of an Israel flag and Syria flag, with soldiers and weapons.

Syrian foreign minister to discuss lifting of US sanctions in Washington this week, Axios reports

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is due to meet US lawmakers in Washington to discuss lifting sanctions and advancing a security deal with Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham was cited as saying.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, August 12, 2025.

Syria's Sharaa says talks with Israel could yield results 'in coming days'

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said talks with Israel on a security pact may conclude within days, stressing respect for Syria’s airspace and UN monitoring.

 (L-R) Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the backdrop of Syrian and Israeli flags (illustrative)

Syria, US, Jordan back pact to stabilize Sweida, launching transitional phase

Damascus said the agreement includes an understanding with Washington to seek security arrangements with Israel regarding southern Syria.

 Members of Syrian security forces ride on a back of a truck after Syrian troops entered the predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Tuesday following two days of clashes, in Sweida, Syria July 15, 2025.

Israel proposes new Syria security pact based on Egypt treaty, offers withdrawal

Israel has presented Syria with a new security proposal, modeled on the 1979 Egypt peace pact, featuring a demilitarized zone and no-fly zone south of Damascus, in exchange for phased withdrawals.

IDF soldier operating on Israel's border with Syria, September 9, 2025.

Damascus condemns Israeli airstrikes on military sites in Homs, Latakia, and Palmyra

The ministry called on the international community, especially the UNSC, to take a firm and clear stance to halt these repeated violations and ensure respect for Syria’s territorial integrity.

Operations of IDF troops in southern Syria, August 20, 2025.

Is new Syrian faction Saraya al-Jawad local, proxy or propaganda? Experts weigh in

Experts say the group may be an independent local offshoot of coastal networks or a proxy for actors using a new label to disrupt regional security.

A youth rides his bicygle next to a destroyed car following clashes between Syria's new authorities and supporters of deposed president Bashar al-Assad in the town of Jableh in the coastal province of Latakia on March 10, 2025.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s US visa sets stage for UN debut, high-stakes diplomacy

It will be al-Sharaa’s first appearance before the UN since taking office, lending the speech both political and symbolic weight.

Members of US Congress meet with Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa, August 19, 2025.

Damascus pushes for normality with diplo ties as airstrikes reportedly puncture calm - analysis

The visits come after reported airstrikes in Homs and Lattakia and explosions at Damascus airport.

SYRIAN PRESIDENT Ahmed al-Sharaa attends the opening of the Damascus International Fair, the first held since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, in Damascus, last week. ‘Sharaa is engineering something I call neo-jihadism,’ says the writer.

In Damascus’ former Jewish quarter, optimism about the Syrian Jewish future is hard to muster

The Jewish Quarter of Damascus, once thriving with synagogues and schools, now holds only five Jews. Locals fear sectarian violence, even as some in exile see hope of return.

Damascus' Jewish Quarter, as seen in August 2025, betrays signs of the local exodus and decade of civil war.