Ahmad Al-Sharaa

Trump suggests Syria take on Hezbollah, alarming Lebanon and Israel.

Congress debates $130 million in military aid to Syrian anti-ISIS forces as their integration into Damascus's military complicates vetting and oversight, while Syria's terrorism designation impedes normalization efforts despite changed regional dynamics.

Monthly Review – The New Syria Remains Far from Stability: Economic Reconstruction, Political Centralization, and Governance Challenges

Despite Assad's late 2024 ouster ending Syria's civil war, impoverished Syrians like Sobhieh al-Saleh remain in tent settlements unable to afford rebuilding homes destroyed during the conflict, with over one million still displaced across camps facing reduced humanitarian aid and mounting reconstruction costs exceeding two hundred billion dollars.

Syria is rebuilding ties with Russia, relying on them for military and economic support.

Syrian president dismisses Central Bank Governor AbdulQader Husrieh and replaces him with Safwat Raslan.

Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former jihadist, to the White House, pledging Syria's entry into the US-led coalition against ISIS, marking a significant diplomatic shift and bolstering counterterrorism efforts.

Russia maintains a military presence in post-Assad Syria with recent deliveries to Tartus.

Syrian President's advisor calls for Muslim Brotherhood to dissolve itself amid controversy.

Syria's first public trial of al-Assad-era officials opens in Damascus with Atef Najib facing charges.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced significant progress following talks in Damascus with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on economy, energy, transportation, and security cooperation, pledging continued political consultations and joint committees to strengthen bilateral state relations.

German President Steinmeier met Syrian HTS leader al-Sharaa in Berlin to expand bilateral relations and negotiate reconstruction contracts, while the author argues Germany historically supported the terrorism that devastated Syria, now profiting from its reconstruction.

Germany's government considers repatriating Syrian migrants amid a hardening stance on immigration.

Syria's new administration rejoins Euro-Mediterranean Partnership after 14-year suspension, seeking regional trade hub status through €620 million EU financial package and normalization agreements, though questions persist about governance capacity and transitional stability delivery.

Syrian authorities arrest Major General Wajih Ali al-Abdullah, a former Assad aide, for alleged abuses against civilians.

Israeli airstrikes kill at least 13 in Lebanon, including a man and his daughter.

Israeli drone strikes near Beirut and southern airstrikes kill at least 17 people, including a child.

Israel seized more land from neighbors since 2023 than it has in decades

Trump suggests Syria fight Hezbollah, sparking fears in Lebanon.

Sharaa Tells Trump Remaining Sanctions Must Be Lifted to Revive Syria’s Economy

Syria held legislative elections in the Kurdish-majority northeast region on Sunday.

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa announced Presidential Decree No. 109 of 2026 on May 17, introducing a new customs law, though the full content details remain restricted behind a subscription paywall.

The EU renewed sanctions on former Assad regime-linked individuals through June 2027 while removing seven Syrian entities, including defense and interior ministries, from its blacklist to support Syria's post-conflict transition and reconstruction efforts.

Saudi Arabia Locks Up Syria's $216B Reconstruction

The UN Security Council Committee unanimously delisted Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham from terrorism sanctions in February 2026, ending asset freezes and travel bans imposed since 2014, marking legal rehabilitation of Syria's transitional authority following Assad's December 2024 fall.

Syria signed billions in investment deals across energy, ports, and manufacturing following the Assad regime's fall, raising recovery hopes but facing enormous challenges including infrastructure devastation, currency collapse, and uncertain project materialization within a fragile security environment.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa refers 54 judges to the Supreme Judicial Council for trial over alleged legal errors.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa appoints new governors for Quneitra, Homs, Latakia, and Deir Ezzor provinces.

Syria's president reshuffles government, replacing ministers and governors in key positions.

Syrian government hopes rational voices within SDF will advance integration deal.

Syrian and Egyptian leaders are reviving relations after years of coolness, seeking to rebalance regional influence.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, agreeing to establish joint committees and strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic, security, and humanitarian issues, including managing 2,500 Syrian detainees and facilitating refugee returns.

Israeli drone strikes near Beirut and southern airstrikes kill at least 17 people, including children.

Israel is anxious about Syria's military reconstruction, citing Turkish support and potential long-term challenges.

Israel has seized 1,000 square kilometers in two years, its largest territorial expansion in decades, across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Syrian President al-Sharaa will visit Washington June 14 at Trump's invitation to discuss sanctions relief, economic support, and regional security, marking his third U.S. visit since assuming office in Syria's post-conflict reconstruction phase.

The limits of burden-shifting in Trump’s counterterrorism strategy

Saudi Arabia condemns a car bombing in Damascus that killed a Syrian soldier and injured several others on May 19, 2026.

Syria introduces a new customs law to modernize administration and combat smuggling.

Syria's foreign minister welcomed the European Union's decision to remove several Syrian institutions, including defense and interior ministries, from sanctions while maintaining restrictions on former regime figures, supporting the country's post-Assad transition and reconstruction efforts.

Syria's new appointments aim to project reform and improve public trust amid deep frustration over services and living conditions.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met the Syrian national football team in Doha, expressing support and wishing them success.

Netanyahu hints at a possible agreement with Syria amidst military escalation and personal attacks.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets the Supreme Fatwa Council to discuss religious and social issues.

Syria's President al-Sharaa met Tuesday with a high-ranking UAE delegation led by Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi to discuss investment opportunities, coinciding with the Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum advancing bilateral economic cooperation.

Syria's newly established sovereign fund revealed holdings of approximately 2.5 billion dollars in properties and 100 billion dollars in planned projects during an investment forum, signaling the government's economic restructuring efforts.

First Syria-UAE Investment Forum marks new era of strategic economic partnership

Syria's new leadership is rebuilding Arab diplomatic ties through high-level visits with Egypt and Lebanon, seeking formal cooperation on security, economy, energy, and refugees after years of regional isolation and Syrian conflict.

Israeli drone strikes near Beirut kill 4 and southern airstrikes kill at least 13

Israeli drone strikes near Beirut kill four, and southern airstrikes claim at least 13 lives, escalating violence despite a ceasefire.