Syrian army

Syrian military raises alert level amid movements near Iraqi border

It also remained unclear whether the military movements had affected border crossings or civilian and commercial traffic between the two countries.  

|ByRIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
Cars and coaches line up at al-Tanf crossing on the border between Iraq and Syria, some 300 km southeast of Damascus March 20, 2003. Border traffic remained normal after the start of a U.S.-led attack on Iraq at dawn on Thursday, despite fears that there would be an influx of refugees.
A member of the security personnel arrives at the scene near a burning vehicle following an explosion in Damascus on May 19, 2026.

WATCH: Car bomb explodes near Defense Ministry building in Damascus

Syria’s health ministry said emergency and ambulance teams had responded to the explosion, which killed one soldier and wounded around 12 people.

|ByREUTERS
A flag of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah flutters above the rubble of a building that was hit in January by an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Qannarit, on February 16, 2026.

Does Hezbollah fear Syria’s new government amid Iran tensions? - analysis

Hezbollah is on high alert as Syria’s new government opposes Iran and the group, raising tensions along the Lebanese border amid military buildup and regional uncertainty.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Roj camp, where people believed to be linked to the Islamic State militants are held, near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026.

Syria might close Roj Camp, last site holding ISIS-linked families, soon, officials say

The report comes after other reports have claimed that some 15,000 people left another large camp called Al-Hol. These are some of the 50,000 families of ISIS fighters who surrendered back in 2019.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

US gives nod to Syria to bring foreign jihadist ex-rebels into army, including Uyghurs from China

Syrian officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly formed unit.

JUNE 2, 2025ByREUTERS
Syrian army personnel gather as they head towards Latakia to join the fight against the fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, March 7, 2025.

Syria continues to build its new army as it looks to integrate various armed groups

The backbone of the army are the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham units that came out of Idlib and had fought Assad’s military for years, as well as units from southern Syria and units linked to Turkey.

JUNE 2, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Syrian army personnel gather as they head towards Latakia to join the fight against the fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, March 7, 2025.

Britain holds first high-level military talks with Syria since 2011

Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Marhaf Abu Qasra met with an official British delegation led by political advisor Charles Smith in Damascus.

MAY 18, 2025ByRIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
A meeting between British political advisor Charles Smith (L) and Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Marhaf Abu Qasra (R) in Damascus, May 15, 2025.

Integration, reconstruction: What are the priorities of Syria's new government? - analysis

Syria's transitional government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, held its first meeting on April 7, focusing on reconstruction and unity.

APRIL 9, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
President Ahmed al-Shara'a speaks during the formation of the new Syrian government. March 29, 2025.

In Syria’s Sednaya prison, waiting for loved ones: Many missing, many dead

Syrian detainees return home, but many remain missing or presumed dead amid grim discoveries in Sednaya Prison.

DECEMBER 18, 2024ByRIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
PEOPLE CELEBRATE the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, in Sednaya, Syria, this week. The spectacular collapse of the Assad regime has introduced both uncertainty and opportunity, the writer notes.

IDF calls troops to Golan as rebels force Syrian army from border province

The IDF announced that following a situational assessment, the military would call up additional soldiers for defensive missions in the Golan Heights.

DECEMBER 7, 2024ByMAYA GUR ARIEH
Smoke billows in the distance as damaged cars are seen at the site of Syrian regime airstrikes targeting anti-regime fighters in Aleppo, in northern Syria on November 30, 2024.

Suspicious death of adviser to Syrian President Assad amid military reforms, economic crisis

Luna al-Shibl, Syrian President Assad's adviser, died after a suspected deliberate car accident in Damascus, amid political intrigues and military reforms in Syria.

JULY 7, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
SYRIA’S PRESIDENT Bashar Assad shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during the signing of a cooperation agreement in Damascus, last year. The ICC has never issued an arrest warrant against Ayatollah Khamenei or Assad, the writer points out.

Jordan downs drone from Syria in third incident this month

Jordan, which has intensified military drills along its border with Syria, announced 10 days ago it had foiled a large smuggling operation.

AUGUST 28, 2023ByREUTERS
A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying crystal meth that was flying into Jordanian territory from neighbouring Syria that the Jordanian army downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan August 13, 2023

Tunnels used for missile production in Syria attacked in Monday airstrike

A recent intelligence report by ImageSat International (ISI) based on satellite images revealed details about an attack in Syria attributed to Israel in early March.

MARCH 23, 2023ByMAARIV ONLINE
Satellite documentation of the location of the attack

Arab states need new approach towards Syria, says Saudi foreign minister

Leaders in the Arab world have addressed a need to step up efforts to dealing with Syria.

FEBRUARY 19, 2023ByREUTERS
A US soldier oversees members of the Syrian Democratic Forces as they demolish a YPG fortification and raise a Tal Abyad Military Council flag over the outpost as part of the security mechanism zone agreement, in Syria September 21, 2019.