Syria

EU updates asylum guidance for Syrian refugees a year after fall of Bashar al-Assad<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//15//syrias-al-sharaa-seeks-extradition-of-kremlin-ally-al-assad-in-first-moscow-trip/">Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of Kremlin ally al-Assad in first Moscow trip<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Between 2018 and 2019, the al-Assad regime transferred some $250 million (\u20ac237 million) in cash to Moscow, with at least 18 luxury apartments bought by clan members in the city, according to media reports.<\/p>\n<p>The US State Department estimated al-Assad's family wealth at between $1 billion (\u20ac950 million) and $2 billion (\u20ac1.9 billion) in 2022, funded from \"arms and drug trafficking and the rental economy\" through shell companies.<\/p>\n<p>Syria's transitional government under al-Sharaa has requested al-Assad's extradition for trial. Russia has refused to hand him over, with the Kremlin maintaining that President Vladimir Putin personally granted him asylum and that it would remain unchanged.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765178076,"updatedAt":1765371282,"publishedAt":1765190809,"firstPublishedAt":1765190809,"lastPublishedAt":1765371281,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/50\/21\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c2982653-37dc-5ef9-a670-ed18f5377dac-9575021.jpg","altText":"FILE: Bashar al-Assad steps off the plane as he arrives at Vnukovo airport in Moscow, 14 March 2023","caption":"FILE: Bashar al-Assad steps off the plane as he arrives at Vnukovo airport in Moscow, 14 March 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/50\/21\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0d3e092b-8467-5d2a-a42e-078ac9d16711-9575021.jpg","altText":"People wrapped in Syrian flags watch paragliders fly overhead during the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, 8 December 2025","caption":"People wrapped in Syrian flags watch paragliders fly overhead during the first anniversary of the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, 8 December 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2310,"urlSafeValue":"brezar","title":"Aleksandar Brezar","twitter":"@brezaleksandar"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":491,"slug":"moscow","urlSafeValue":"moscow","title":"Moscow","titleRaw":"Moscow"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":7970,"slug":"luxury","urlSafeValue":"luxury","title":"Luxury","titleRaw":"Luxury"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":16440,"slug":"life","urlSafeValue":"life","title":"Life","titleRaw":"Life"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2818557}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"APGcGJKRJfM","dailymotionId":"x9v9tcw"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/10\/95\/04\/ED_PYR_3110954_20251208203640.mp4","editor":"","duration":100000,"filesizeBytes":17383197,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/10\/95\/04\/SHD_PYR_3110954_20251208203640.mp4","editor":"","duration":100000,"filesizeBytes":25597021,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/10\/95\/04\/FHD_PYR_3110954_20251208203640.mp4","editor":"","duration":100000,"filesizeBytes":80110819,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews Parsi","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":2,"slug":"amazon-translate","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"en","storyId":9575021,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/08\/one-year-after-syria-ouster-al-assad-lives-under-strict-russian-supervision-in-moscow-exil","lastModified":1765371281},{"id":2851667,"cid":9570681,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Interview with Syrian Ex-Refugee","daletPyramidId":3494719,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German-Syrian activist urges Berlin to retain asylum among ongoing persecution fears","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Activist urges Germany to retain Syria asylum amid persecution fears","titleListing2":"Critics warn Syria remains unsafe for minorities after Germany's call to end asylum for Syrians","leadin":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argues against granting asylum to Syrians after al-Assad's regime fell, but critics warn the country remains unsafe for minorities and women.","summary":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argues against granting asylum to Syrians after al-Assad's regime fell, but critics warn the country remains unsafe for minorities and women.","keySentence":"","url":"german-syrian-activist-urges-berlin-to-retain-asylum-among-ongoing-persecution-fears","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/04\/german-syrian-activist-urges-berlin-to-retain-asylum-among-ongoing-persecution-fears","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany should no longer grant asylum to Syrians now that President Bashar al-Assad's regime has fallen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, but critics warn the country remains unsafe for minorities and women.\n\nTareq Alaow, a former Syrian refugee and spokesperson on refugee policy for Pro Asyl, cautioned against hasty conclusions. After al-Assad's ouster in early December 2024, he initially felt hopeful.\n\n\"For me, it was a moment of hope that we could build a democracy and a constitutional state in Syria \u2014 until reality hit us hard,\" Tareq said.\n\nOn 29 January, Ahmed al-Sharaa \u2014 a former leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani \u2014 became interim president.\n\nThis is when Tareq's enthusiasm turned into concern. \"These are jihadists,\" Tareq warned. Shortly after Assad fell, Syria's new rulers began persecuting minorities, LGBTQ+ people and women, he said.\n\n\"They have no interest in addressing crimes against humanity, because they themselves committed crimes against humanity in northwestern Syria,\" he added.\n\nMany Syrians fear al-Sharaa has not distanced himself from his past as leader of the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.\n\nReligious minorities under attack?\n\nReports have emerged of massacres targeting religious minorities, particularly the Alawites \u2014 to which the al-Assad family belonged.\n\nOn 6 March, heavy fighting broke out between al-Sharaa's forces and members of the Alawite community. Around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the violence, according to United Nations figures.\n\nVictims were murdered, tortured and their bodies mutilated, according to one report. Some atrocities were filmed and shared on social media. In several videos, perpetrators could be heard saying \"We have come to kill the Alawites,\" according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group.\n\nSyria's transitional government justified the fighting by claiming al-Assad loyalists had attacked security forces in Latakia province, which has a large Alawite population.\n\nFurther clashes occurred in July between government forces and Druze communities in Suwayda province. UN experts warned of killings, abductions, kidnappings, looting, property destruction and sexual violence against women and girls.\n\nAl-Sharaa called for a ceasefire and described the clashes as a \"challenge\". He also promised to hold anyone who harmed civilians to account in both cases, but was met with scepticism by both Alawite and Druze leaders.\n\nMeanwhile, many Syrians remain distrustful, questioning whether al-Sharaa truly controls his own security forces.\n\nWho is Ahmed Al-Sharaa?\n\nSeveral years ago, the United States offered a $10 million bounty for Al-Sharaa, then known as al-Jolani. Until 2024, he was considered a wanted terrorist in America.\n\nToday, world powers \u2014 including Washington \u2014 are receiving him. The UN Security Council lifted sanctions against him in November, and he is now internationally recognised as Syria's leader.\n\n\"What hurts is that the international community is now trying to legitimise exactly this group under Ahmad al-Sharaa in Syria. As long as they have someone to talk to in Syria, they're willing to turn a blind eye,\" Tareq said.\n\nHe believes it is dangerous that world powers are engaging with jihadists, warning this could trigger a new wave of displacement. He criticised the current refugee policy as unsustainable.\n\n\"The goal seems to be to keep people from fleeing to Germany or Europe as much as possible. But that's not going to work,\" Tareq said.\n\nPeople flee because of wars and crises in their home countries, he explained. Sending people back will not help. \"If things escalate again in two years, they will flee again.\"\n\nHe fled Syria after being persecuted for documenting human rights violations. He was sent to the battlefield where ISIS was supposed to kill him. The al-Assad regime \"wanted to wash its hands\" and avoid killing him directly, Tareq said.\n\nHe sees similar patterns emerging under the new government. The persecution of minorities occurred under the al-Assad regime in the 1960s as well, he noted.\n\n\"The difference is that the al-Assad regime relied on nationalist ideology. The new rulers rely on religious ideology. The methods are the same.\"\n\nEuropean response needed\n\nTareq believes Europe must increase pressure on Syria's current rulers. Only if people feel safe can they return permanently.\n\nHe criticised Germany's response: \"Even during the massacre of the Druze, the German representative at a meeting in Syria did not say a single word about the massacres.\"\n\nThe human rights activist speaks extensively with people from Syria. \"The majority say: 'If there were real stability in the country, we would return to rebuild it.'\"\n\nThe experience Syrians have gained in Germany and Europe could help rebuild Syria's infrastructure, housing and cities \u2014 and democracy itself, he said. \"That would be essential after almost 60 years of dictatorship.\"\n\nBut security and political foundations are currently missing. \"Given the widespread availability of weapons across the country, I see no safety. Even the smallest conflict can escalate to a degree that affects everyone in the region,\" he warned.\n\nHe expects more from Europe's democratic governments: \"We need more political pressure on the new rulers.\"\n\nPublic statements by European politicians would help protect people on the ground by showing these events are being watched from abroad, Tareq argued.\n\nHe insisted human rights protections should be made a condition for receiving development funding.\n\n\"We have political weight. We can exert diplomatic pressure on Syria's rulers. So far, that has unfortunately not happened.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany should no longer grant asylum to Syrians now that President Bashar al-Assad's regime has fallen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, but critics warn the country remains unsafe for minorities and women.<\/p>\n<p>Tareq Alaow, a former Syrian refugee and spokesperson on refugee policy for Pro Asyl, cautioned against hasty conclusions. After al-Assad's ouster in early December 2024, he initially felt hopeful.<\/p>\n<p>\"For me, it was a moment of hope that we could build a democracy and a constitutional state in Syria \u2014 until reality hit us hard,\" Tareq said.<\/p>\n<p>On 29 January, Ahmed al-Sharaa \u2014 a former leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani \u2014 became interim president.<\/p>\n<p>This is when Tareq's enthusiasm turned into concern. \"These are jihadists,\" Tareq warned. Shortly after Assad fell, Syria's new rulers began persecuting minorities, LGBTQ+ people and women, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\"They have no interest in addressing crimes against humanity, because they themselves committed crimes against humanity in northwestern Syria,\" he added.<\/p>\n<p>Many Syrians fear al-Sharaa has not distanced himself from his past as leader of the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Religious minorities under attack?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Reports have emerged of massacres targeting religious minorities, particularly the Alawites \u2014 to which the al-Assad family belonged.<\/p>\n<p>On 6 March, heavy fighting broke out between al-Sharaa's forces and members of the Alawite community. Around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the violence, according to United Nations figures.<\/p>\n<p>Victims were murdered, tortured and their bodies mutilated, according to one report. Some atrocities were filmed and shared on social media. In several videos, perpetrators could be heard saying \"We have come to kill the Alawites,\" according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//06//81//808x539_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg/" alt=\"A gunman walks by the remains of a house destroyed during the recent sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 19 September 2025. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/384x256_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/640x427_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/750x500_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/828x552_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/1080x720_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/1200x800_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/1920x1281_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A gunman walks by the remains of a house destroyed during the recent sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 19 September 2025. <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Syria's transitional government justified the fighting by claiming al-Assad loyalists had attacked security forces in Latakia province, which has a large Alawite population.<\/p>\n<p>Further clashes occurred in July between government forces and Druze communities in Suwayda province. UN experts warned of killings, abductions, kidnappings, looting, property destruction and sexual violence against women and girls.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Sharaa called for a ceasefire and described the clashes as a \"challenge\". He also promised to hold anyone who harmed civilians to account in both cases, but was met with scepticism by both Alawite and Druze leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, many Syrians remain distrustful, questioning whether al-Sharaa truly controls his own security forces.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who is Ahmed Al-Sharaa?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Several years ago, the United States offered a $10 million bounty for Al-Sharaa, then known as al-Jolani. Until 2024, he was considered a wanted terrorist in America.<\/p>\n<p>Today, world powers \u2014 including Washington \u2014 are receiving him. The UN Security Council lifted sanctions against him in November, and he is now internationally recognised as Syria's leader.<\/p>\n<p>\"What hurts is that the international community is now trying to legitimise exactly this group under Ahmad al-Sharaa in Syria. As long as they have someone to talk to in Syria, they're willing to turn a blind eye,\" Tareq said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6640625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//54//39//01//808x535_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg/" alt=\"US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syria&#x27;s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, 10 November 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/384x255_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/640x425_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/750x498_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/828x550_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/1080x717_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/1200x797_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/1920x1275_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syria&#x27;s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, 10 November 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He believes it is dangerous that world powers are engaging with jihadists, warning this could trigger a new wave of displacement. He criticised the current refugee policy as unsustainable.<\/p>\n<p>\"The goal seems to be to keep people from fleeing to Germany or Europe as much as possible. But that's not going to work,\" Tareq said.<\/p>\n<p>People flee because of wars and crises in their home countries, he explained. Sending people back will not help. \"If things escalate again in two years, they will flee again.\"<\/p>\n<p>He fled Syria after being persecuted for documenting human rights violations. He was sent to the battlefield where ISIS was supposed to kill him. The al-Assad regime \"wanted to wash its hands\" and avoid killing him directly, Tareq said.<\/p>\n<p>He sees similar patterns emerging under the new government. The persecution of minorities occurred under the al-Assad regime in the 1960s as well, he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\"The difference is that the al-Assad regime relied on nationalist ideology. The new rulers rely on religious ideology. The methods are the same.\"<\/p>\n<h2><strong>European response needed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Tareq believes Europe must increase pressure on Syria's current rulers. Only if people feel safe can they return permanently.<\/p>\n<p>He criticised Germany's response: \"Even during the massacre of the Druze, the German representative at a meeting in Syria did not say a single word about the massacres.\"<\/p>\n<p>The human rights activist speaks extensively with people from Syria. \"The majority say: 'If there were real stability in the country, we would return to rebuild it.'\"<\/p>\n<p>The experience Syrians have gained in Germany and Europe could help rebuild Syria's infrastructure, housing and cities \u2014 and democracy itself, he said. \"That would be essential after almost 60 years of dictatorship.\"<\/p>\n<p>But security and political foundations are currently missing. \"Given the widespread availability of weapons across the country, I see no safety. Even the smallest conflict can escalate to a degree that affects everyone in the region,\" he warned.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//28//syrians-in-europe-weigh-up-returning-home-one-year-after-al-assads-fall/">Syrians in Europe weigh up returning home one year after al-Assad\u2019s fall<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//23//exclusive-who-are-syrias-druze-and-why-are-they-under-attack/">Exclusive: Who are Syria's Druze and why are they under attack?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He expects more from Europe's democratic governments: \"We need more political pressure on the new rulers.\"<\/p>\n<p>Public statements by European politicians would help protect people on the ground by showing these events are being watched from abroad, Tareq argued.<\/p>\n<p>He insisted human rights protections should be made a condition for receiving development funding.<\/p>\n<p>\"We have political weight. We can exert diplomatic pressure on Syria's rulers. So far, that has unfortunately not happened.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764776757,"updatedAt":1764865563,"publishedAt":1764842034,"firstPublishedAt":1764842034,"lastPublishedAt":1764849116,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ff3e709c-ca9a-5a5c-a822-b60a4f9bdb69-9570681.jpg","altText":"German-Syrian warns: Deportations won\u2019t work \u2014 a new refugee wave is looming","caption":"German-Syrian warns: Deportations won\u2019t work \u2014 a new refugee wave is looming","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/06\/81\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b38e81de-c10e-59e0-9b16-e8b07cfa6c66-9570681.jpg","altText":"A gunman walks by the remains of a house destroyed during the recent sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 19 September 2025. ","caption":"A gunman walks by the remains of a house destroyed during the recent sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 19 September 2025. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/39\/01\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ddcb0193-ee8c-59be-80c9-d9f8d41f19c6-9543901.jpg","altText":"US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, 10 November 2025","caption":"US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, 10 November 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":680}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2854,"urlSafeValue":"resnik","title":"Diana Resnik","twitter":null},{"id":3348,"urlSafeValue":"muller-f","title":"Franziska M\u00fcller","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":12788,"slug":"asylum","urlSafeValue":"asylum","title":"asylum","titleRaw":"asylum"},{"id":12035,"slug":"deportation","urlSafeValue":"deportation","title":"Deportation","titleRaw":"Deportation"},{"id":13450,"slug":"migration","urlSafeValue":"migration","title":"migration","titleRaw":"migration"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"LeZZenwjbUs","dailymotionId":"x9v17ag"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/87\/01\/09\/ED_PYR_3087019_20251204114037.mp4","editor":"","duration":173040,"filesizeBytes":26172118,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/87\/01\/09\/SHD_PYR_3087019_20251204114037.mp4","editor":"","duration":173040,"filesizeBytes":39384207,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/87\/01\/09\/FHD_PYR_3087019_20251204114037.mp4","editor":"","duration":173040,"filesizeBytes":133870202,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/04\/german-syrian-activist-urges-berlin-to-retain-asylum-among-ongoing-persecution-fears","lastModified":1764849116},{"id":2851689,"cid":9570814,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"EU ASYLUM GUIDANCE SYRIANS","daletPyramidId":3495976,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"EU updates asylum guidance for Syrian refugees a year after fall of Bashar al-Assad","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"EU updates asylum guidance for Syrians a year after al-Assad's fall","titleListing2":"EU updates asylum guidance for Syrian refugees a year after fall of Bashar al-Assad","leadin":"The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.","summary":"The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.","keySentence":"","url":"eu-updates-asylum-guidance-for-syrian-refugees-a-year-after-fall-of-bashar-al-assad","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/03\/eu-updates-asylum-guidance-for-syrian-refugees-a-year-after-fall-of-bashar-al-assad","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The European Union issued updated guidance for asylum applications by Syrian nationals on Wednesday that reflects new conditions in Syria a year after the\u00a0fall of former long-time leader, Bashar al-Assad.\n\nThe changes may influence the result of asylum requests of some 110,000 Syrians who were still awaiting an asylum decision at the end of September.\n\nThe European Union Agency for Asylum said opponents of al-Assad and military service evaders \"are no longer at risk of persecution.\"\n\nBut the agency said other groups may be considered at risk in the post-Assad\u00a0Syria, including people affiliated with the former government and members of the\u00a0Alawites, Christians, and\u00a0Druze ethnic-religious groups.\n\nWhile decisions on asylum applications are made at a national level, the agency's guidance is used to inform the 27 EU member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland.\n\nThe goal is to create greater coherence between the 29 nations granting international protection.\n\nThe number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.\n\nStill, Syrians had the most number of cases awaiting a decision at first instance.\n\nSyria's civil war, which began in March 2011, killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country's pre-war population of 23 million.\n\nMore than 5 million Syrians fled the country as refugees. While most sought refuge in neighbouring countries like Turkey, many also went to Europe, contributing to the continent's\u00a02015 refugee crisis.\n\nThe asylum agency said the situation in Syria is \"considered improved but volatile\" since al-Assad's fall late last year and that \"indiscriminate violence continues to take place\" in certain parts of the country.\n\nAt-risk groups\n\nMany Syrians had high hopes after\u00a0al-Assad was ousted\u00a0in an offensive by insurgent groups in early December.\n\nHowever, sectarian killings against members of al-Assad\u2019s Alawite minority sect in\u00a0Syria\u2019s coastal region\u00a0and against the Druze minority in the southern\u00a0province of Suwayda\u00a0earlier this year has claimed hundreds of lives.\n\nStill, the agency said it now considers Damascus, the capital, to be safe.\n\nThe agency also cited two other groups living in Syria who should remain eligible for refugee status: LGBTQ+ people and Palestinians in Syria who no longer receive United Nations assistance or protection.\n\nSince al-Assad's ouster, more than 1 million people have returned to Syria and nearly 2 million internally displaced people have returned to their regions, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The European Union issued <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euaa.europa.eu//news-events//syria-updated-euaa-country-guidance-outlines-changing-international-protection-needs/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">updated guidance for asylum applications by Syrian nationals<\/a> on Wednesday that reflects new conditions in Syria a year after the fall of former long-time leader, Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n<p>The changes may influence the result of asylum requests of some 110,000 Syrians who were still awaiting an asylum decision at the end of September.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union Agency for Asylum said opponents of al-Assad and military service evaders \"are no longer at risk of persecution.\"<\/p>\n<p>But the agency said other groups may be considered at risk in the post-Assad Syria, including people affiliated with the former government and members of the Alawites, Christians, and Druze ethnic-religious groups.<\/p>\n<p>While decisions on asylum applications are made at a national level, the agency's guidance is used to inform the 27 EU member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//08//14//808x539_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian army fighters walk past an abandoned cinema in downtown Homs, 21 November, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/384x256_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/640x427_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/750x500_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/828x552_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/1080x720_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/1200x800_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/1920x1280_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian army fighters walk past an abandoned cinema in downtown Homs, 21 November, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The goal is to create greater coherence between the 29 nations granting international protection.<\/p>\n<p>The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Syrians had the most number of cases awaiting a decision at first instance.<\/p>\n<p>Syria's civil war, which began in March 2011, killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country's pre-war population of 23 million.<\/p>\n<p>More than 5 million Syrians fled the country as refugees. While most sought refuge in neighbouring countries like Turkey, many also went to Europe, contributing to the continent's 2015 refugee crisis.<\/p>\n<p>The asylum agency said the situation in Syria is \"considered improved but volatile\" since al-Assad's fall late last year and that \"indiscriminate violence continues to take place\" in certain parts of the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1993361165221568880\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>At-risk groups<\/h2>\n<p>Many Syrians had high hopes after al-Assad was ousted in an offensive by insurgent groups in early December.<\/p>\n<p>However, sectarian killings against members of al-Assad\u2019s Alawite minority sect in Syria\u2019s coastal region and against the Druze minority in the southern province of Suwayda earlier this year has claimed hundreds of lives.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the agency said it now considers Damascus, the capital, to be safe.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//28//syrians-in-europe-weigh-up-returning-home-one-year-after-al-assads-fall/">Syrians in Europe weigh up returning home one year after al-Assad\u2019s fall<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//21//estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says/">Estimated \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The agency also cited two other groups living in Syria who should remain eligible for refugee status: LGBTQ+ people and Palestinians in Syria who no longer receive United Nations assistance or protection.<\/p>\n<p>Since al-Assad's ouster, more than 1 million people have returned to Syria and nearly 2 million internally displaced people have returned to their regions, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764782110,"updatedAt":1764793731,"publishedAt":1764784544,"firstPublishedAt":1764784544,"lastPublishedAt":1764784544,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_eb22998d-1ab2-5fef-9378-3a9370708c59-9570814.jpg","altText":"Refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, arrive at the train station of the south German border town Passau, 16 September, 2015","caption":"Refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, arrive at the train station of the south German border town Passau, 16 September, 2015","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/08\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_23cd8fb1-8e2c-511d-874e-c5361f6ec0ed-9570814.jpg","altText":"Syrian army fighters walk past an abandoned cinema in downtown Homs, 21 November, 2025","caption":"Syrian army fighters walk past an abandoned cinema in downtown Homs, 21 November, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"},{"id":15936,"slug":"syrian-refugees","urlSafeValue":"syrian-refugees","title":"Syrian Refugees","titleRaw":"Syrian Refugees"},{"id":8151,"slug":"refugees","urlSafeValue":"refugees","title":"Refugees","titleRaw":"Refugees"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"twitter","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2846570},{"id":2845534},{"id":2852269}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"sYr3dFA9ypQ","dailymotionId":"x9uzwh8"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/81\/40\/06\/ED_PYR_3081406_20251203202857.mp4","editor":"","duration":77000,"filesizeBytes":14553096,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/81\/40\/06\/SHD_PYR_3081406_20251203202857.mp4","editor":"","duration":77000,"filesizeBytes":20604870,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/81\/40\/06\/FHD_PYR_3081406_20251203202857.mp4","editor":"","duration":77000,"filesizeBytes":61622533,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/03\/eu-updates-asylum-guidance-for-syrian-refugees-a-year-after-fall-of-bashar-al-assad","lastModified":1764784544},{"id":2850531,"cid":9565939,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"DEADLY ISRAELI ATTACK ON SYRIA","daletPyramidId":3454074,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"At least 13 people killed by Israeli forces during raid on a southern Syrian village","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Israel kill at least 13 people during a raid on a Syrian village","titleListing2":"At least 13 people killed by Israeli forces during raid on a southern Syrian village","leadin":"At least 13 people have been killed including women and children by Israeli forces during a raid on a southern Syrian village. One local man said 'When we tried to take injured people to the hospital, they struck the car carrying them'.","summary":"At least 13 people have been killed including women and children by Israeli forces during a raid on a southern Syrian village. One local man said 'When we tried to take injured people to the hospital, they struck the car carrying them'.","keySentence":"","url":"at-least-13-people-killed-by-israeli-forces-during-raid-on-a-southern-syrian-village","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/29\/at-least-13-people-killed-by-israeli-forces-during-raid-on-a-southern-syrian-village","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Israeli forces have killed at least 13 people, including women and children, in their deadliest attack on Syria since they seized southern part of the country a year ago.\n\nAccording to Syrian officials and state news agency SANA, Israeli forces raided the village of Beit Jin seeking to detain local men, but opened fire when they were confronted by residents on Friday, also causing dozens of families to flee the area. Syria's Foreign Ministry defined the attack as a \"horrific massacre\".\n\nIsrael said on Friday that it had carried out an operation in Beit Jin to apprehend members of the Jamaa Islamiya militant group who were planning IED and rocket attacks into Israel. It said other militants opened fire on the troops, injuring six soldiers, and that forces returned fire, supported by aircraft. According to Israel, the operation has now ended, all suspects have been detained and several militants were killed.\n\nA local official, Walid Okasha, told The AP that those killed were civilians. Victims also included a couple and their two children, as well as the children's uncle and another man who had married the previous day.\n\nFiras Daher, a Beit Jin resident, said that troops moved in around 3 a.m. and encountered \u201cslight resistance, with light weapons.\u201d He said Israeli forces responded with drones, helicopters and heavy machine-gun fire. \u201cWhenever anyone moved inside the village, or any car moved, it would get hit. When we tried to take injured people to the hospital, they struck the car carrying them,\u201d he said.\n\nSince the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Israeli forces have seized a stretch of southern Syria that once formed part of a UN-monitored buffer zone created under a 1974 disengagement agreement.\n\nIsraeli troops have since carried out regular operations in towns and villages both inside and beyond the zone, including raids to capture people it accuses of being militants. Israel has also conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military sites and has pushed for a demilitarised area south of Damascus.\n\nArmed residents have confronted Israeli raids several times. In April, troops stormed the town of Nawa and, after being challenged by locals, carried out airstrikes that killed nine people. A month earlier, Israeli forces killed six people during similar clashes in the village of Koayiah.\n\nDuring a previous raid in Beit Jin in June, Israeli forces detained several people it described as Hamas members, a claim disputed by locals, and killed a man whose family said suffered from schizophrenia.\n\nOn Friday, Syria's government urged the international community to take \u201curgent action\u201d to stop Israeli operations whilst condemning the incursion as a violation of national sovereignty.\n\nTensions rose further in the region earlier this week when an Israeli strike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah official described by Israel as the group\u2019s chief of staff.\n\nOn Tuesday, the United Nations said Israel had killed at least 127 civilians, including children, in its strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire a year ago.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Israeli forces have killed at least 13 people, including women and children, in their deadliest attack on Syria since they seized southern part of the country a year ago. <\/p>\n<p>According to Syrian officials and state news agency SANA, Israeli forces raided the village of Beit Jin seeking to detain local men, but opened fire when they were confronted by residents on Friday, also causing dozens of families to flee the area. Syria's Foreign Ministry defined the attack as a \"horrific massacre\". <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//19//israeli-airstrike-on-palestinian-refugee-camp-in-lebanon-kills-13-government-officials-say/">Israeli airstrike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills 13, government officials say<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//28//video-shows-israeli-forces-killing-two-palestinian-men-after-apparent-surrender/">Video shows Israeli forces killing two Palestinian men after apparent surrender<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Israel said on Friday that it had carried out an operation in Beit Jin to apprehend members of the Jamaa Islamiya militant group who were planning IED and rocket attacks into Israel. It said other militants opened fire on the troops, injuring six soldiers, and that forces returned fire, supported by aircraft. According to Israel, the operation has now ended, all suspects have been detained and several militants were killed.<\/p>\n<p>A local official, Walid Okasha, told The AP that those killed were civilians. Victims also included a couple and their two children, as well as the children's uncle and another man who had married the previous day.<\/p>\n<p>Firas Daher, a Beit Jin resident, said that troops moved in around 3 a.m. and encountered \u201cslight resistance, with light weapons.\u201d He said Israeli forces responded with drones, helicopters and heavy machine-gun fire. \u201cWhenever anyone moved inside the village, or any car moved, it would get hit. When we tried to take injured people to the hospital, they struck the car carrying them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Israeli forces have seized a stretch of southern Syria that once formed part of a UN-monitored buffer zone created under a 1974 disengagement agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli troops have since carried out regular operations in towns and villages both inside and beyond the zone, including raids to capture people it accuses of being militants. Israel has also conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military sites and has pushed for a demilitarised area south of Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>Armed residents have confronted Israeli raids several times. In April, troops stormed the town of Nawa and, after being challenged by locals, carried out airstrikes that killed nine people. A month earlier, Israeli forces killed six people during similar clashes in the village of Koayiah.<\/p>\n<p>During a previous raid in Beit Jin in June, Israeli forces detained several people it described as Hamas members, a claim disputed by locals, and killed a man whose family said suffered from schizophrenia.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Syria's government urged the international community to take \u201curgent action\u201d to stop Israeli operations whilst condemning the incursion as a violation of national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions rose further in the region earlier this week when an Israeli strike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah official described by Israel as the group\u2019s chief of staff. <\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, the United Nations said Israel had killed at least 127 civilians, including children, in its strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire a year ago. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764401625,"updatedAt":1764410954,"publishedAt":1764404364,"firstPublishedAt":1764404364,"lastPublishedAt":1764404364,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/59\/39\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c78e51da-792d-57ef-8647-11abb89c9250-9565939.jpg","altText":"Syrian Civil Defence worker checks armored vehicle that was destroyed during an Israeli forces raid in the southern Syrian village of Beit Jin, Syria, Friday, 28 Nov 2025.","caption":"Syrian Civil Defence worker checks armored vehicle that was destroyed during an Israeli forces raid in the southern Syrian village of Beit Jin, Syria, Friday, 28 Nov 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":10505,"slug":"israel-attack","urlSafeValue":"israel-attack","title":"Israel attack","titleRaw":"Israel attack"},{"id":22976,"slug":"killer-drone","urlSafeValue":"killer-drone","title":"Killer drone","titleRaw":"Killer drone"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2851229}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/29\/at-least-13-people-killed-by-israeli-forces-during-raid-on-a-southern-syrian-village","lastModified":1764404364},{"id":2850209,"cid":9564496,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA REFUGEE RETURN FEATURE","daletPyramidId":3442387,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syrians in Europe weigh up returning home one year after al-Assad\u2019s fall","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syrians in Europe weigh up going home one year after al-Assad\u2019s fall","titleListing2":"Syrians in Europe weigh up returning home one year after al-Assad\u2019s fall","leadin":"Euronews spoke to Syrians about their experiences of going back to the country after years as refugees and the push-and-pull factors that made them go. Some were enthusiastic to stay, while others were wary of the country\u2019s future.","summary":"Euronews spoke to Syrians about their experiences of going back to the country after years as refugees and the push-and-pull factors that made them go. Some were enthusiastic to stay, while others were wary of the country\u2019s future.","keySentence":"","url":"syrians-in-europe-weigh-up-returning-home-one-year-after-al-assads-fall","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/28\/syrians-in-europe-weigh-up-returning-home-one-year-after-al-assads-fall","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing period, I\u2019ve never experienced the same freedom, the freedom of speech,\u201d Osama Mufdi beamed, shaking his head in disbelief.\n\nThe Syrian entrepreneur spoke to Euronews from his brand-new office in Damascus, a city he was forced to flee just over a decade ago.\n\nNow, he is one of over 1 million Syrians who have returned to the country since the fall of notorious dictator Bashar al-Assad after almost 14 years of brutal war.\n\nNearly 7 million Syrians have left the country since 2011. While most went to neighbouring countries, over 1 million went to Europe.\n\nNow, with new authorities ruling from Damascus under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, many are weighing whether to return.\n\nThe initial return 'a dream'\n\nBy late 2024, Syria seemed to have fallen into a stalemate, with a mosaic of militias controlling but al-Assad \u2013 the al-Assad dynasty's next-in-line, who assumed power from his father Hafez in 2000 \u2013 maintaining a tight fist over the capital and roughly 70% of Syrian territory.\n\n\u201cWe had reached a point of disappointment, of giving up on the Syrian regime. We felt that it would never fall, that we had lost forever,\u201d Mufdi said, shaking his head.\n\nHe was at that point living in Liverpool and saw no return to his home country.\n\nHowever, this all seemed to change when forces under an Islamist umbrella organisation called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an operation that toppled the al-Assad regime on 8 December 2024.\n\nMufdi was able to book flights back to Syria. He was back in Damascus within days of al-Assad\u2019s fall.\n\nHe was not the only one. Kefah Ali Deeb is a Syrian human rights activist, artist and writer who was imprisoned multiple times by the al-Assad regime during the revolution. Like Mufdi, she fled Syria in 2014, ending up in Berlin.\n\n\u201cAfter al-Assad fell, I booked a ticket and went back immediately. I thought, I can go back, and they won't detain me on the border,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cI stayed and spent a week in Damascus. For me, it was like a dream.\u201d\n\nDestroyed infrastructure and decimated society\n\nWill Todman, chief of staff at the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, recently returned from Syria.\n\nTodman told Euronews that he met others like Mufdi and Ali Deeb, who had become dual nationals with the means to initially visit when the regime fell.\n\n\u201cThey returned to scope out the situation in Syria. I spoke to some who have decided to invest in new businesses and move their families back to Syria. However, most of these maintain the ability to leave if the situation deteriorates,\u201d he explained.\n\nWhile Mufdi relocated permanently to Syria to open a charity and new business projects, Ali Deeb soon returned to Germany, where she remained.\n\nShe told Euronews that she wanted to move back, but \u201cit has become very complicated for me,\u201d with her small child. Her Syrian husband was also reticent about returning.\n\n\u201cHe told me to slow down. \u2018Let's see how things go. How will the situation be? Everything now is chaotic,\u2019\u201d she recalled.\n\nMuch of Syria has been destroyed. Over a third of the country\u2019s hospitals remain out of operation, while millions of children are unable to access education.\n\nHundreds of thousands of former homes have been reduced to rubble. The World Bank estimates that just repairing physical damage will cost over \u20ac90 billion.\n\nYears of international sanctions and internal corruption have also left Syria\u2019s finances in tatters.\n\nMany questions, few answers\n\nMohamad Harastani helped set up an NGO supporting Syrians returning to the country called Syria Meets Europe. He told Euronews that these factors are stopping many Syrians from making the move.\n\n\u201cFor a doctor who is working right now in a hospital in Germany, if he closed everything and went back to Syria, where is he going to work? How much pay will he get? Where will he put his children,\" he asked.\n\nTodman claims that the feeling is often mutual on both ends. \u201cMany Syrians I spoke to said they do not want many refugees to return yet, as public services are already overburdened and there is insufficient housing.\u201d\n\nIt\u2019s not just about money. Ali Deeb was also wary of how free she would be as a woman, and as a writer and activist. The Sunni Jihadist past of many in the new authorities has caused widespread alarm.\n\nWhile secular, she is originally from the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shia Islam which al-Assad also hailed from.\n\nShe brings up outbreaks of violence in March of this year in Alawite neighbourhoods of the coastal Latakia province, where she was born.\n\nAlawite groups claim government-affiliated Sunni forces carried out targeted attacks upon them. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 1600 civilians were killed.\n\nThen in July, similar deadly clashes broke out in the southern Suweyda province, where the majority of the population is from the Druze minority, another Shia offshoot. There were 1,200 reported fatalities.\n\nSyrian President al-Sharaa promised to hold anyone who harmed civilians to account in both cases, but was met with scepticism by both Alawite and Druze leaders.\n\nEuronews reached out to the Syrian authorities for comment.\n\nAli Deeb said that the attacks shocked, but didn\u2019t surprise her. \u201cIt is very difficult for a dictator like Bashar Al-Assad, with all the roots he had, to fall without blood.\u201d\n\nYet, Todman explained to Euronews that these events have affected the demographics of those going back.\n\n\u201cMinorities are nervous about returning, and when the new government took power, there was a large outflow of Alawites to Lebanon,\u201d he said.\n\n'You can't leave the country for someone else to fix'\n\nMany Syrians in Europe are also finding little solace by staying on the continent, as countries harden their stances on migration and refugee status.\n\nThe Social Democrat-led government in Copenhagen started offering Syrians up to \u20ac27000 to return to Syria earlier this year.\n\nDenmark was also the first in the EU to declare certain parts of the country as \u2018safe\u2019 following the fall of al-Assad, prompting an Europe-wide rethink on Syrians\u2019 refugee status.\n\nThe British centre-left government also recently changed long-standing refugee policy, allowing it to revoke refugee status once countries are deemed safe.\n\nGermany, which took in over 1 million Syrians during the war, has also hardened its stance.\n\nEarlier this month, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said of Syrians: \u201cThere are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, and therefore we can also begin with repatriations.\u201d\n\nBack in Damascus, Mufdi sounded upbeat and focused on the pull factors of a country he said offered opportunities for those who go back.\n\nWith sanctions being lifted and the authorities on an international charm offensive, he said he was working on renovating properties for what he hoped would be an increasing global market.\n\nThe entrepreneur trumpeted the authorities' openness to those returning who wanted to set up businesses. \u201cYou have direct access to any minister. You knock on the door, and you walk in. You just say what you want to discuss and get what you want from them,\u201d he claimed.\n\nWhile he said he maintained strong ties with the UK, he was not looking back and encouraged other Syrian refugees to do the same.\n\n\u201cI think everyone must come back when they can. They're missing out on so much, missing out on rebuilding the country. You can't just leave the country for someone else to fix,\" Mufdi concluded.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing period, I\u2019ve never experienced the same freedom, the freedom of speech,\u201d Osama Mufdi beamed, shaking his head in disbelief.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian entrepreneur spoke to Euronews from his brand-new office in Damascus, a city he was forced to flee just over a decade ago. <\/p>\n<p>Now, he is one of over 1 million Syrians who have returned to the country since the fall of notorious dictator Bashar al-Assad after almost 14 years of brutal war.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly 7 million Syrians have left the country since 2011. While most went to neighbouring countries, over 1 million went to Europe. <\/p>\n<p>Now, with new authorities ruling from Damascus under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, many are weighing whether to return.<\/p>\n<h2>The initial return 'a dream'<\/h2>\n<p>By late 2024, Syria seemed to have fallen into a stalemate, with a mosaic of militias controlling but al-Assad \u2013 the al-Assad dynasty's next-in-line, who assumed power from his father Hafez in 2000 \u2013 maintaining a tight fist over the capital and roughly 70% of Syrian territory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had reached a point of disappointment, of giving up on the Syrian regime. We felt that it would never fall, that we had lost forever,\u201d Mufdi said, shaking his head.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"A boy climbs the stairs of a war-damaged building as a security officer stands guard in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, 21 August 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A boy climbs the stairs of a war-damaged building as a security officer stands guard in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, 21 August 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He was at that point living in Liverpool and saw no return to his home country.<\/p>\n<p>However, this all seemed to change when forces under an Islamist umbrella organisation called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an operation that toppled the al-Assad regime on 8 December 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Mufdi was able to book flights back to Syria. He was back in Damascus within days of al-Assad\u2019s fall. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: People dance at a bar as they enjoy the first night of the weekend in Damascus, 3 October 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: People dance at a bar as they enjoy the first night of the weekend in Damascus, 3 October 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He was not the only one. Kefah Ali Deeb is a Syrian human rights activist, artist and writer who was imprisoned multiple times by the al-Assad regime during the revolution. Like Mufdi, she fled Syria in 2014, ending up in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter al-Assad fell, I booked a ticket and went back immediately. I thought, I can go back, and they won't detain me on the border,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI stayed and spent a week in Damascus. For me, it was like a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Destroyed infrastructure and decimated society<\/h2>\n<p>Will Todman, chief of staff at the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, recently returned from Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Todman told Euronews that he met others like Mufdi and Ali Deeb, who had become dual nationals with the means to initially visit when the regime fell.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey returned to scope out the situation in Syria. I spoke to some who have decided to invest in new businesses and move their families back to Syria. However, most of these maintain the ability to leave if the situation deteriorates,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"Syria&#x27;s President Ahmed al-Sharaa waves as he greets supporters outside of the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump, 10 November 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syria&#x27;s President Ahmed al-Sharaa waves as he greets supporters outside of the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump, 10 November 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>While Mufdi relocated permanently to Syria to open a charity and new business projects, Ali Deeb soon returned to Germany, where she remained.<\/p>\n<p>She told Euronews that she wanted to move back, but \u201cit has become very complicated for me,\u201d with her small child. Her Syrian husband was also reticent about returning. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe told me to slow down. \u2018Let's see how things go. How will the situation be? Everything now is chaotic,\u2019\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: A general view shows the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, 7 October 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: A general view shows the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, 7 October 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Much of Syria has been destroyed. Over a third of the country\u2019s hospitals remain out of operation, while millions of children are unable to access education. <\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of thousands of former homes have been reduced to rubble. The World Bank estimates that just repairing physical damage will cost over \u20ac90 billion.<\/p>\n<p>Years of international sanctions and internal corruption have also left Syria\u2019s finances in tatters.<\/p>\n<h2>Many questions, few answers<\/h2>\n<p>Mohamad Harastani helped set up an NGO supporting Syrians returning to the country called Syria Meets Europe. He told Euronews that these factors are stopping many Syrians from making the move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor a doctor who is working right now in a hospital in Germany, if he closed everything and went back to Syria, where is he going to work? How much pay will he get? Where will he put his children,\" he asked. <\/p>\n<p>Todman claims that the feeling is often mutual on both ends. \u201cMany Syrians I spoke to said they do not want many refugees to return yet, as public services are already overburdened and there is insufficient housing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian sunbathers play racquetball at a public beach on the Mediterranean Sea, in Latakia, 8 October 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian sunbathers play racquetball at a public beach on the Mediterranean Sea, in Latakia, 8 October 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just about money. Ali Deeb was also wary of how free she would be as a woman, and as a writer and activist. The Sunni Jihadist past of many in the new authorities has caused widespread alarm.<\/p>\n<p>While secular, she is originally from the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shia Islam which al-Assad also hailed from. <\/p>\n<p>She brings up outbreaks of violence in March of this year in Alawite neighbourhoods of the coastal Latakia province, where she was born. <\/p>\n<p>Alawite groups claim government-affiliated Sunni forces carried out targeted attacks upon them. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 1600 civilians were killed.<\/p>\n<p>Then in July, similar deadly clashes broke out in the southern Suweyda province, where the majority of the population is from the Druze minority, another Shia offshoot. There were 1,200 reported fatalities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"FILE - A car drives by a destroyed statue in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 25 July 2025.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE - A car drives by a destroyed statue in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 25 July 2025.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Syrian President al-Sharaa promised to hold anyone who harmed civilians to account in both cases, but was met with scepticism by both Alawite and Druze leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Euronews reached out to the Syrian authorities for comment. <\/p>\n<p>Ali Deeb said that the attacks shocked, but didn\u2019t surprise her. \u201cIt is very difficult for a dictator like Bashar Al-Assad, with all the roots he had, to fall without blood.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//14//clashes-erupt-between-druze-and-syrian-government-forces-in-suwayda/">Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//23//exclusive-who-are-syrias-druze-and-why-are-they-under-attack/">Exclusive: Who are Syria's Druze and why are they under attack?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Yet, Todman explained to Euronews that these events have affected the demographics of those going back. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMinorities are nervous about returning, and when the new government took power, there was a large outflow of Alawites to Lebanon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>'You can't leave the country for someone else to fix'<\/h2>\n<p>Many Syrians in Europe are also finding little solace by staying on the continent, as countries harden their stances on migration and refugee status.<\/p>\n<p>The Social Democrat-led government in Copenhagen started offering Syrians up to \u20ac27000 to return to Syria earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>Denmark was also the first in the EU to declare certain parts of the country as \u2018safe\u2019 following the fall of al-Assad, prompting an Europe-wide rethink on Syrians\u2019 refugee status. <\/p>\n<p>The British centre-left government also recently changed long-standing refugee policy, allowing it to revoke refugee status once countries are deemed safe.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//56//44//96//808x539_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Members of Syrian government security forces stand on a vehicle as they pass by a truck carrying UN humanitarian aid on his way toward Suweyda, 28 August 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/1920x1281_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Members of Syrian government security forces stand on a vehicle as they pass by a truck carrying UN humanitarian aid on his way toward Suweyda, 28 August 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Germany, which took in over 1 million Syrians during the war, has also hardened its stance. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said of Syrians: \u201cThere are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, and therefore we can also begin with repatriations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Back in Damascus, Mufdi sounded upbeat and focused on the pull factors of a country he said offered opportunities for those who go back. <\/p>\n<p>With sanctions being lifted and the authorities on an international charm offensive, he said he was working on renovating properties for what he hoped would be an increasing global market.<\/p>\n<p>The entrepreneur trumpeted the authorities' openness to those returning who wanted to set up businesses. \u201cYou have direct access to any minister. You knock on the door, and you walk in. You just say what you want to discuss and get what you want from them,\u201d he claimed. <\/p>\n<p>While he said he maintained strong ties with the UK, he was not looking back and encouraged other Syrian refugees to do the same.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think everyone must come back when they can. They're missing out on so much, missing out on rebuilding the country. You can't just leave the country for someone else to fix,\" Mufdi concluded.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764277334,"updatedAt":1764319503,"publishedAt":1764309642,"firstPublishedAt":1764309642,"lastPublishedAt":1764319502,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9a6ab631-daad-537b-9d7e-20405bbdba43-9564496.jpg","altText":"A Syrian couple smokes hookah at Latakia's Mediterranean seaside corniche, in the coastal city of Latakia, 3 October 2025","caption":"A Syrian couple smokes hookah at Latakia's Mediterranean seaside corniche, in the coastal city of Latakia, 3 October 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da9c543f-46fb-5978-8fb6-a21eb268843d-9564496.jpg","altText":"A boy climbs the stairs of a war-damaged building as a security officer stands guard in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, 21 August 2025","caption":"A boy climbs the stairs of a war-damaged building as a security officer stands guard in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, 21 August 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3b4166ab-67d9-5d65-98a9-a070e5f11428-9564496.jpg","altText":"Syrian sunbathers play racquetball at a public beach on the Mediterranean Sea, in Latakia, 8 October 2025","caption":"Syrian sunbathers play racquetball at a public beach on the Mediterranean Sea, in Latakia, 8 October 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_09b62650-129c-5c9a-b688-ca4ff303216a-9564496.jpg","altText":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the country's civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen near Damascus, 4 August 2025","caption":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the country's civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen near Damascus, 4 August 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab215322-b748-5aa8-8545-c9a5562137dd-9564496.jpg","altText":"FILE: Members of Syrian government security forces stand on a vehicle as they pass by a truck carrying UN humanitarian aid on his way toward Suweyda, 28 August 2025","caption":"FILE: Members of Syrian government security forces stand on a vehicle as they pass by a truck carrying UN humanitarian aid on his way toward Suweyda, 28 August 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bd0e6032-1902-5da3-af5e-2109f34fbe9e-9564496.jpg","altText":"FILE: A general view shows the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, 7 October 2025","caption":"FILE: A general view shows the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, 7 October 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6ccd011e-51d5-5dc8-b746-abb5fbb7d490-9564496.jpg","altText":"FILE: People dance at a bar as they enjoy the first night of the weekend in Damascus, 3 October 2025","caption":"FILE: People dance at a bar as they enjoy the first night of the weekend in Damascus, 3 October 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9bbb9792-6ec5-5357-9978-528c597a1432-9564496.jpg","altText":"FILE - A car drives by a destroyed statue in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 25 July 2025.","caption":"FILE - A car drives by a destroyed statue in the Druze-majority town of Suweyda, 25 July 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/44\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0747e0e7-ddf4-596c-b884-4061415bfa26-9564496.jpg","altText":"Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa waves as he greets supporters outside of the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump, 10 November 2025","caption":"Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa waves as he greets supporters outside of the White House following a meeting with US President Donald Trump, 10 November 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/29\/85\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_38f7b05f-9037-53b6-93a5-d4bb0e48de3f-9382985.jpg","altText":"FILE: Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defence Ministry building, in Damascus, 19 July 2025","caption":"FILE: Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defence Ministry building, in Damascus, 19 July 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3236,"urlSafeValue":"holyoke","title":"Gregory Holyoke","twitter":"@GregoryHolyoke"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":8151,"slug":"refugees","urlSafeValue":"refugees","title":"Refugees","titleRaw":"Refugees"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":7},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/28\/syrians-in-europe-weigh-up-returning-home-one-year-after-al-assads-fall","lastModified":1764319502},{"id":2847610,"cid":9552802,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA FIRST TRIAL INTO MARCH VIOLENCE","daletPyramidId":3343741,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria begins first public trial over deadly clashes in minority's coastal heartland","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria opens first public trial over deadly clashes in coastal region","titleListing2":"Syria begins first public trial over deadly clashes in minority's coastal heartland","leadin":"Half of the 14 defendants were loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, while the other half were members of the new government's security forces.","summary":"Half of the 14 defendants were loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, while the other half were members of the new government's security forces.","keySentence":"","url":"syria-begins-first-public-trial-over-deadly-clashes-in-minoritys-coastal-heartland","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/18\/syria-begins-first-public-trial-over-deadly-clashes-in-minoritys-coastal-heartland","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The first trial of some of the hundreds of suspects linked to deadly violence in Syria's coastal provinces earlier this year started on Tuesday.\n\nState media reported that 14 defendants appeared at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo following a monthslong, state-led investigation into the clashes in March involving government forces and supporters of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.\n\nSeven of the suspects in the court were al-Assad loyalists, while the other seven were members of the new government's security forces. A judge was heard during the televised proceedings asking the defendants if they were military or civilian.\n\nAl-Assad's supporters are being prosecuted for \"sedition, incitement to civil war ... attacks against law enforcement, murder, looting, and vandalism\", according to the indictment.\n\nThe trial follows pressure from the public and the international community for judicial reform in Syria after decades under the autocratic rule of the al-Assad dynasty.\n\nDespite initial state media reports that charges could be brought against the suspects quickly, the judge adjourned the session and set the following hearings for December.\n\nCharges against the defendants could include sedition, inciting civil war, attacking security forces, murder, looting and leading armed gangs, according to state media.\n\nConsidering the scale of the violence and the number of suspects, it is unclear how long the proceedings will take. In total, the investigating committee referred 563 suspects to the judiciary over the March clashes along the country's Mediterranean coast.\n\nThe violence erupted there after armed groups aligned with al-Assad ambushed the security forces of the new government under Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.\n\nA counteroffensive then spiralled into revenge attacks and the massacre of hundreds of civilians in the region from the Alawite minority, to which al-Assad belongs.\n\nThe attacks on the Alawite community piled pressure on al-Sharaa. Since taking power in December, his government has sought to step out from diplomatic isolation and convince the US to drop crippling sanctions and boost trade to rebuild the war-torn country.\n\nThe government's investigating committee in July concluded that over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed during several days of violence.\n\nYet the inquiry said there was no evidence that Syria's new military leaders had ordered attacks on the Alawite community.\n\nA United Nations investigation in August found that violence targeting civilians by government-aligned factions had been \"widespread and systematic\".\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The first trial of some of the hundreds of suspects linked to deadly violence in Syria's coastal provinces earlier this year started on Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p>State media reported that 14 defendants appeared at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo following a monthslong, state-led investigation into the clashes in March involving government forces and supporters of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n<p>Seven of the suspects in the court were al-Assad loyalists, while the other seven were members of the new government's security forces. A judge was heard during the televised proceedings asking the defendants if they were military or civilian.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//21//estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says/">Estimated \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//15//syrias-al-sharaa-seeks-extradition-of-kremlin-ally-al-assad-in-first-moscow-trip/">Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of Kremlin ally al-Assad in first Moscow trip<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Al-Assad's supporters are being prosecuted for \"sedition, incitement to civil war ... attacks against law enforcement, murder, looting, and vandalism\", according to the indictment.<\/p>\n<p>The trial follows pressure from the public and the international community for judicial reform in Syria after decades under the autocratic rule of the al-Assad dynasty.<\/p>\n<p>Despite initial state media reports that charges could be brought against the suspects quickly, the judge adjourned the session and set the following hearings for December.<\/p>\n<p>Charges against the defendants could include sedition, inciting civil war, attacking security forces, murder, looting and leading armed gangs, according to state media.<\/p>\n<p>Considering the scale of the violence and the number of suspects, it is unclear how long the proceedings will take. In total, the investigating committee referred 563 suspects to the judiciary over the March clashes along the country's Mediterranean coast. <\/p>\n<p>The violence erupted there after armed groups aligned with al-Assad ambushed the security forces of the new government under Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//55//28//02//808x454_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Burnt cars remain in the middle of a street following the recent wave of violence in the town of Jableh, Syria&#x27;s coastal region, 10 March, 2025.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/384x216_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/640x360_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/750x422_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/828x466_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/1080x608_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/1200x675_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/1920x1080_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Burnt cars remain in the middle of a street following the recent wave of violence in the town of Jableh, Syria&#x27;s coastal region, 10 March, 2025.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Omar Albam\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>A counteroffensive then spiralled into revenge attacks and the massacre of hundreds of civilians in the region from the Alawite minority, to which al-Assad belongs.<\/p>\n<p>The attacks on the Alawite community piled pressure on al-Sharaa. Since taking power in December, his government has sought to step out from diplomatic isolation and convince the US to drop crippling sanctions and boost trade to rebuild the war-torn country.<\/p>\n<p>The government's investigating committee in July concluded that over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed during several days of violence. <\/p>\n<p>Yet the inquiry said there was no evidence that Syria's new military leaders had ordered attacks on the Alawite community.<\/p>\n<p>A United Nations investigation in August found that violence targeting civilians by government-aligned factions had been \"widespread and systematic\".<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763465090,"updatedAt":1763469512,"publishedAt":1763469465,"firstPublishedAt":1763469465,"lastPublishedAt":1763469465,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_17ced0e5-cceb-52f5-a0d4-cc8abac68b05-9552802.jpg","altText":"Suspects stand inside a holding cell, left, as judges preside over Syria's first public trial related to clashes in March, at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo, 18 Nov, 2025.","caption":"Suspects stand inside a holding cell, left, as judges preside over Syria's first public trial related to clashes in March, at the Palace of Justice in Aleppo, 18 Nov, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ghaith Alsayed\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/28\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3e847564-da5f-5317-94b0-51329e0441cf-9552802.jpg","altText":"FILE: Burnt cars remain in the middle of a street following the recent wave of violence in the town of Jableh, Syria's coastal region, 10 March, 2025.","caption":"FILE: Burnt cars remain in the middle of a street following the recent wave of violence in the town of Jableh, Syria's coastal region, 10 March, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Omar Albam\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3238,"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","title":"Kieran Guilbert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":30276,"slug":"alawites","urlSafeValue":"alawites","title":"Alawites","titleRaw":"Alawites"},{"id":10547,"slug":"syrian-politics","urlSafeValue":"syrian-politics","title":"Syrian politics","titleRaw":"Syrian politics"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":9607,"slug":"trial","urlSafeValue":"trial","title":"Trial","titleRaw":"Trial"},{"id":12313,"slug":"violence","urlSafeValue":"violence","title":"Violence","titleRaw":"Violence"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2845534},{"id":2844619},{"id":2851404}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/18\/syria-begins-first-public-trial-over-deadly-clashes-in-minoritys-coastal-heartland","lastModified":1763469465},{"id":2846570,"cid":9548901,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Developments in Suwayda","daletPyramidId":3310683,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda","titleListing2":"Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda","leadin":"Violent clashes erupted in Suwayda between the Druze National Guard and Syrian government forces, involving heavy weapons and drones, in the latest major escalation of fighting between the two sides.","summary":"Violent clashes erupted in Suwayda between the Druze National Guard and Syrian government forces, involving heavy weapons and drones, in the latest major escalation of fighting between the two sides.","keySentence":"","url":"clashes-erupt-between-druze-and-syrian-government-forces-in-suwayda","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/14\/clashes-erupt-between-druze-and-syrian-government-forces-in-suwayda","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Violent clashes erupted on Thursday night in western Suwayda governorate between the newly formed Druze National Guard and Syrian government General Security forces, involving heavy weapons and drones in the most significant escalation in the region in months.\n\nThe fighting lasted for hours and included mutual targeting of contact lines using drones, mortars and heavy machine guns, the sources said. No information was available on any changes to control maps.\n\nThe National Guard, founded by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze leader, blamed government forces for the escalation.\n\nThe town of al-Majdal \"was subjected to a large-scale attack that lasted for more than an hour, through several axes, using heavy and medium weapons and attack drones,\" the National Guard said in a statement.\n\nHis forces \"valiantly repelled the attempt, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking forces in terms of equipment and personnel.\"\n\nThe state-run Syrian News Agency quoted a security source as saying \"outlaw groups are targeting with mortars and heavy machine guns the towns of Wolga, Tal al-Aqra, Tal Hadid and al-Mazraa in rural Sweida.\" There was no immediate official comment from the General Security Service or the Syrian government.\n\nThe almost daily skirmishes that have continued for months escalated into large-scale clashes.\n\nAccording to media reports, General Security Forces carried out \"several attacks and violations\" from their positions, using drones and heavy machine guns.\n\nThe National Guard intensified strikes on the \"sources of fire\" with heavy machine guns and mortars in response.\n\n'Will Syria become a peaceful country?'\n\nIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is keeping an eye on the latest developments and decisions by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stating, \"I'm going to look at what is actually being done, what is actually being achieved.\"\n\n\"Does Syria become a peaceful country? Does he weed out the jihadists in his own military? Does he work forward with me to achieve a demilitarised zone in southwest Syria that abuts the Golan Heights?\" Netanyahu asked in a televised interview on Thursday.\n\n\"What do we do to secure our Druze brothers, the Syrian Druze brothers of Israel, who were mutilated, massacred, almost as bad as in the 7 October massacre that was conducted by Hamas in Gaza,\" he said.\n\nIf the demilitarisation of southwest Syria and permanent protection for the Druze minority does take place, \"we can move on,\" Netanyahu concluded.\n\nSpeaking at an event in London on Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said that the events in Suwayda \"stemmed from accumulated social tensions that escalated into clashes, sparked by Israeli interference.\"\n\nThe government is \"working carefully to contain the crisis\", al-Shibani said, noting that more than 70 relief convoys have been sent to the province. He added that \"there are parties in the province that do not want a settlement.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Violent clashes erupted on Thursday night in western Suwayda governorate between the newly formed Druze National Guard and Syrian government General Security forces, involving heavy weapons and drones in the most significant escalation in the region in months.<\/p>\n<p>The fighting lasted for hours and included mutual targeting of contact lines using drones, mortars and heavy machine guns, the sources said. No information was available on any changes to control maps.<\/p>\n<p>The National Guard, founded by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze leader, blamed government forces for the escalation.<\/p>\n<p>The town of al-Majdal \"was subjected to a large-scale attack that lasted for more than an hour, through several axes, using heavy and medium weapons and attack drones,\" the National Guard said in a statement. <\/p>\n<p>His forces \"valiantly repelled the attempt, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking forces in terms of equipment and personnel.\"<\/p>\n<p>The state-run Syrian News Agency quoted a security source as saying \"outlaw groups are targeting with mortars and heavy machine guns the towns of Wolga, Tal al-Aqra, Tal Hadid and al-Mazraa in rural Sweida.\" There was no immediate official comment from the General Security Service or the Syrian government.<\/p>\n<p>The almost daily skirmishes that have continued for months escalated into large-scale clashes. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//08//syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins/">Syria's minorities demand safeguards for pluralism after clashes between Druze and Bedouins<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//23//exclusive-who-are-syrias-druze-and-why-are-they-under-attack/">Exclusive: Who are Syria's Druze and why are they under attack?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>According to media reports, General Security Forces carried out \"several attacks and violations\" from their positions, using drones and heavy machine guns.<\/p>\n<p>The National Guard intensified strikes on the \"sources of fire\" with heavy machine guns and mortars in response.<\/p>\n<h2>'Will Syria become a peaceful country?'<\/h2>\n<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is keeping an eye on the latest developments and decisions by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stating, \"I'm going to look at what is actually being done, what is actually being achieved.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"Does Syria become a peaceful country? Does he weed out the jihadists in his own military? Does he work forward with me to achieve a demilitarised zone in southwest Syria that abuts the Golan Heights?\" Netanyahu asked in a televised interview on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>\"What do we do to secure our Druze brothers, the Syrian Druze brothers of Israel, who were mutilated, massacred, almost as bad as in the 7 October massacre that was conducted by Hamas in Gaza,\" he said. <\/p>\n<p>If the demilitarisation of southwest Syria and permanent protection for the Druze minority does take place, \"we can move on,\" Netanyahu concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at an event in London on Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said that the events in Suwayda \"stemmed from accumulated social tensions that escalated into clashes, sparked by Israeli interference.\"<\/p>\n<p>The government is \"working carefully to contain the crisis\", al-Shibani said, noting that more than 70 relief convoys have been sent to the province. He added that \"there are parties in the province that do not want a settlement.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763125553,"updatedAt":1763126830,"publishedAt":1763126826,"firstPublishedAt":1763126826,"lastPublishedAt":1763126826,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/54\/84\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1cb5fa9a-bc65-5b1b-b214-c82323879ab7-9548418.jpg","altText":"A member of the Syrian General Security sits atop a vehicle equipped with an anti-aircraft gun, southern Syria, Thursday 28 August 2025","caption":"A member of the Syrian General Security sits atop a vehicle equipped with an anti-aircraft gun, southern Syria, Thursday 28 August 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Omar Sanadiki\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5412,"slug":"benjamin-netanyahu","urlSafeValue":"benjamin-netanyahu","title":"Benjamin Netanyahu","titleRaw":"Benjamin Netanyahu"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":10973,"slug":"microdrones","urlSafeValue":"microdrones","title":"Microdrones","titleRaw":"Microdrones"},{"id":12952,"slug":"clashes","urlSafeValue":"clashes","title":"Clashes","titleRaw":"Clashes"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2846373},{"id":2851689}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"\u064a\u0648\u0631\u0648\u0646\u064a\u0648\u0632","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"ar","storyId":9548418,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/14\/clashes-erupt-between-druze-and-syrian-government-forces-in-suwayda","lastModified":1763126826},{"id":2844619,"cid":9539763,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"UN LIFTS SANCTIONS ON SYRIAN PRESIDENT ","daletPyramidId":3231299,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"UN lifts sanctions against Syria's al-Sharaa before historic White House visit","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"UN lifts sanctions against Syria's al-Sharaa before White House visit","titleListing2":"UN lifts sanctions against Syria's al-Sharaa before historic White House visit","leadin":"The sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.","summary":"The sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.","keySentence":"","url":"un-lifts-sanctions-against-syrias-al-sharaa-before-historic-white-house-visit","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/07\/un-lifts-sanctions-against-syrias-al-sharaa-before-historic-white-house-visit","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The UN Security Council voted Thursday to lift sanctions on Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and government members days before his historic White House visit, the first by a Syrian president to Washington since 1946.\n\nThe resolution dropping UN sanctions tied to al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab passed with 14 members in favour and China abstaining.\n\n\"The Council is sending a strong political signal that recognises Syria is in a new era since (ousted ruler Bashar) al-Assad and his associates were toppled in December 2024,\" US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said.\n\nChinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said Beijing supports the Syrian people, but the Washington-led proposal inadequately addressed \"the legitimate concerns of all parties\" regarding counterterrorism and security in Syria.\n\nUS officials pushed to pass the mostly symbolic motion before Monday, when President Donald Trump hosts al-Sharaa in the first Syrian presidential visit to Washington since the country's independence.\n\nThe sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.\n\nSyria's foreign ministry said the nearly unanimous vote \"reflects the growing confidence in President al-Sharaa's leadership\" and \"represents a victory for Syrian diplomacy, which has succeeded in restoring international recognition of Syria's status and its pivotal role in the region.\"\n\nSyria is expected to join the US-led anti-IS coalition during al-Sharaa's Washington visit, which involves some 80 countries working to prevent the Jihadist group's resurgence.\n\nThe effort forms part of Trump's strategy to rebuild Syria relations after the al-Assad family's 50-year rule ended in a lightning offensive led by al-Sharaa, also ending nearly 14 years of civil war.\n\nAl-Sharaa has sought to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials remained wary of his past al-Qaida connections. The US previously designated his former rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organisation.\n\nOther Syria sanctions remain, most stringently those imposed by Congress under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, requiring congressional votes for permanent removal.\n\nThe Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat and Republican welcomed Thursday's UN action in a bipartisan statement, saying Congress should act to \"bring the Syrian economy into the 21st century.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The UN Security Council voted Thursday to lift sanctions on Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and government members days before his historic White House visit, the first by a Syrian president to Washington since 1946.<\/p>\n<p>The resolution dropping UN sanctions tied to al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab passed with 14 members in favour and China abstaining.<\/p>\n<p>\"The Council is sending a strong political signal that recognises Syria is in a new era since (ousted ruler Bashar) al-Assad and his associates were toppled in December 2024,\" US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said Beijing supports the Syrian people, but the Washington-led proposal inadequately addressed \"the legitimate concerns of all parties\" regarding counterterrorism and security in Syria.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//53//97//59//808x539_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg/" alt=\"FILE - In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria&#x27;s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/384x256_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/640x427_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/750x500_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/828x552_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/1080x720_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/1200x800_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/1920x1281_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE - In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria&#x27;s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Saudi Royal Palace\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>US officials pushed to pass the mostly symbolic motion before Monday, when President Donald Trump hosts al-Sharaa in the first Syrian presidential visit to Washington since the country's independence. <\/p>\n<p>The sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Syria's foreign ministry said the nearly unanimous vote \"reflects the growing confidence in President al-Sharaa's leadership\" and \"represents a victory for Syrian diplomacy, which has succeeded in restoring international recognition of Syria's status and its pivotal role in the region.\"<\/p>\n<p>Syria is expected to join the US-led anti-IS coalition during al-Sharaa's Washington visit, which involves some 80 countries working to prevent the Jihadist group's resurgence. <\/p>\n<p>The effort forms part of Trump's strategy to rebuild Syria relations after the al-Assad family's 50-year rule ended in a lightning offensive led by al-Sharaa, also ending nearly 14 years of civil war.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//21//estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says/">Estimated \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//05//14//trump-meets-with-syrias-interim-president-in-saudi-arabia-and-lifts-sanctions-on-damascus/">Trump meets Syria\u2019s 'young, attractive' al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and lifts sanctions on Damascus<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Al-Sharaa has sought to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials remained wary of his past al-Qaida connections. The US previously designated his former rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n<p>Other Syria sanctions remain, most stringently those imposed by Congress under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, requiring congressional votes for permanent removal.<\/p>\n<p>The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat and Republican welcomed Thursday's UN action in a bipartisan statement, saying Congress should act to \"bring the Syrian economy into the 21st century.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1762489004,"updatedAt":1762513853,"publishedAt":1762513803,"firstPublishedAt":1762513803,"lastPublishedAt":1762513803,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/63\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b253ded8-69cc-5f48-999f-ba0225d1bd12-9539763.jpg","altText":"Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa receives the final version of the provisional electoral system for the People's Assembly, in Damascus, 27 July 2025","caption":"Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa receives the final version of the provisional electoral system for the People's Assembly, in Damascus, 27 July 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/97\/59\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ce545521-6acb-5920-a903-854a9986877e-9539759.jpg","altText":"FILE - In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia","caption":"FILE - In this photo provided by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Saudi Royal Palace\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":12824,"slug":"sanctions","urlSafeValue":"sanctions","title":"Sanctions","titleRaw":"Sanctions"},{"id":11644,"slug":"conflict-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"conflict-in-syria","title":"Conflict in Syria","titleRaw":"Conflict in Syria"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2844818}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/07\/un-lifts-sanctions-against-syrias-al-sharaa-before-historic-white-house-visit","lastModified":1762513803},{"id":2840400,"cid":9521453,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"WORLD BANK SYRIA REBUILD","daletPyramidId":3068552,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Estimated \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"World Bank estimates \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after civil war","titleListing2":"Estimated \u20ac185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says","leadin":"Syria's civil war began in 2011 when mass protests against the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiralled into armed conflict.","summary":"Syria's civil war began in 2011 when mass protests against the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiralled into armed conflict.","keySentence":"","url":"estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/21\/estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Rebuilding Syria after over\u00a0more than a decade of civil war\u00a0is expected to cost about $216 billion (\u20ac185 billion), the World Bank said in an assessment published on Tuesday.\n\nThe cost is almost 10 times Syria's gross domestic product for 2024.\n\nThe conflict destroyed large swathes of the country and battered critical infrastructure, including its electrical grid.\n\nThe World Bank says the rebuilding may cost between $140 billion and $345 billion, but their \"conservative best estimate\" is $216 billion.\n\nThe World Bank estimates that rebuilding infrastructure will cost $82 billion (\u20ac70 billion). It estimated the cost of damages for residential buildings at $75 billion (\u20ac64 billion) and $59 billion (\u20ac50 billion) for non-residential structures.\n\nThe province of Aleppo and the Damascus countryside, where fierce battles took place, will require the most investment, according to the assessment.\n\n\"The challenges ahead are immense, but the World Bank stands ready to work alongside the Syrian people and the international community to support recovery and reconstruction,\" World Bank Middle East Director Jean-Christophe Carret said in a statement.\n\nDespite re-establishing diplomatic relations with the West and signing investment deals worth billions of dollars with Gulf countries since former President Bashar al-Assad fled Syria, the country is still struggling financially.\n\nWhile the United States and Europe have lifted\u00a0many of the sanctions imposed during the rule of the al-Assad dynasty, the impact on the ground has so far been limited.\n\nCuts to international aid have worsened living conditions for many. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syria's population lives in poverty.\n\nSyria's civil war began in 2011 when mass protests against the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiralled into armed conflict.\u00a0\n\nThe grinding conflict killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and displaced as many more with vast areas of the country destroyed.\n\nMore than 6 million Syrians were registered as refugees or asylum seekers by the end of 2024, mainly in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.\n\nThe EU is home to around 1.3 million Syrians, mainly distributed across Germany, Sweden and Austria.\n\nAl-Assad was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive\u00a0in December after ruling the country for more than 20 years.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Rebuilding Syria after over more than a decade of civil war is expected to cost about $216 billion (\u20ac185 billion), the World Bank said in an assessment published on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The cost is almost 10 times Syria's gross domestic product for 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The conflict destroyed large swathes of the country and battered critical infrastructure, including its electrical grid.<\/p>\n<p>The World Bank says the rebuilding may cost between $140 billion and $345 billion, but their \"conservative best estimate\" is $216 billion.<\/p>\n<p>The World Bank estimates that rebuilding infrastructure will cost $82 billion (\u20ac70 billion). It estimated the cost of damages for residential buildings at $75 billion (\u20ac64 billion) and $59 billion (\u20ac50 billion) for non-residential structures.<\/p>\n<p>The province of Aleppo and the Damascus countryside, where fierce battles took place, will require the most investment, according to the assessment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//14//53//808x539_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg/" alt=\"A man sits in front of war-damaged buildings in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, 4 October, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/384x256_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/640x427_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/750x500_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/828x552_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1080x720_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1200x800_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1920x1280_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A man sits in front of war-damaged buildings in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, 4 October, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"The challenges ahead are immense, but the World Bank stands ready to work alongside the Syrian people and the international community to support recovery and reconstruction,\" World Bank Middle East Director Jean-Christophe Carret said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Despite re-establishing diplomatic relations with the West and signing investment deals worth billions of dollars with Gulf countries since former President Bashar al-Assad fled Syria, the country is still struggling financially.<\/p>\n<p>While the United States and Europe have lifted many of the sanctions imposed during the rule of the al-Assad dynasty, the impact on the ground has so far been limited.<\/p>\n<p>Cuts to international aid have worsened living conditions for many. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syria's population lives in poverty.<\/p>\n<p>Syria's civil war began in 2011 when mass protests against the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiralled into armed conflict. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//14//53//808x539_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian children remove rubble in the once rebel-held Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo, 20 January, 2017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/384x256_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/640x427_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/750x500_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/828x552_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1080x720_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1200x800_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/1920x1280_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian children remove rubble in the once rebel-held Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo, 20 January, 2017<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The grinding conflict killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and displaced as many more with vast areas of the country destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>More than 6 million Syrians were registered as refugees or asylum seekers by the end of 2024, mainly in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>The EU is home to around 1.3 million Syrians, mainly distributed across Germany, Sweden and Austria.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Assad was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive in December after ruling the country for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761064984,"updatedAt":1761067527,"publishedAt":1761067501,"firstPublishedAt":1761067501,"lastPublishedAt":1761067501,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f7da0d05-b4c1-5cd1-b4d8-e3e2f49d55f3-9521453.jpg","altText":"Residents walk through rubble with damaged electricity lines at the mountain resort town of Zabadani, 18 May, 2017","caption":"Residents walk through rubble with damaged electricity lines at the mountain resort town of Zabadani, 18 May, 2017","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f47847ac-db05-5c21-ad97-93c6365653a1-9521453.jpg","altText":"Syrian children remove rubble in the once rebel-held Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo, 20 January, 2017","caption":"Syrian children remove rubble in the once rebel-held Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo, 20 January, 2017","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/14\/53\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1422f4e6-fe8e-545c-9b81-9e87260f2717-9521453.jpg","altText":"A man sits in front of war-damaged buildings in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, 4 October, 2025","caption":"A man sits in front of war-damaged buildings in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, 4 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":7171,"slug":"world-bank","urlSafeValue":"world-bank","title":"World Bank","titleRaw":"World Bank"},{"id":4427,"slug":"civil-war","urlSafeValue":"civil-war","title":"Civil War","titleRaw":"Civil War"},{"id":14224,"slug":"reconstruction","urlSafeValue":"reconstruction","title":"reconstruction","titleRaw":"reconstruction"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2832303},{"id":2844818}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/21\/estimated-185bn-needed-to-rebuild-syria-after-14-years-of-civil-war-world-bank-says","lastModified":1761067501},{"id":2838857,"cid":9512345,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA AL SHARAA IN MOSCOW","daletPyramidId":3010158,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of Kremlin ally al-Assad in first Moscow trip","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of al-Assad in first Moscow trip","titleListing2":"Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of Kremlin ally al-Assad in first Moscow trip","leadin":"The interim president of Syria arrived on an unprecedented visit to the Russian capital on Wednesday, where he is expected to demand that the Kremlin extradites toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad \u2014 who received asylum in Russia following his ouster \u2014 to face trial back in his country.","summary":"The interim president of Syria arrived on an unprecedented visit to the Russian capital on Wednesday, where he is expected to demand that the Kremlin extradites toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad \u2014 who received asylum in Russia following his ouster \u2014 to face trial back in his country.","keySentence":"","url":"syrias-al-sharaa-seeks-extradition-of-kremlin-ally-al-assad-in-first-moscow-trip","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/15\/syrias-al-sharaa-seeks-extradition-of-kremlin-ally-al-assad-in-first-moscow-trip","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Syria\u2019s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived on an unprecedented official visit to Moscow on Wednesday, less than a year after he led a swift rebel offensive that ousted one of Russia's top foreign allies, the dictator Bashar al-Assad.\n\nAl-Assad was an ally of Russia, and Moscow\u2019s scorched-earth intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria\u2019s civil war, keeping al-Assad in his seat until his swift removal in December.\n\nNow, al-Sharaa, who was greeted at the Kremlin with full honours, is expected to demand al-Assad's extradition so he can face a trial back home.\n\nAl-Sharaa, who has also courted the US and the West since he came to power in December 2024, has taken a pragmatic approach with Moscow, allowing Russia to retain control over its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast despite being on opposite ends of the 13-year war.\n\nIn the run-up to the meeting, the Kremlin said that the future of the bases was on Moscow's agenda.\n\nAl-Sharaa did not mention the Russian military facilities in his brief televised remarks at the start of the meeting. Instead he chose to talk about the \u201chistoric ties\u201d between the countries and noted the importance of developing them.\n\nIn turn, he was hailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin for organising Syria's parliamentary elections, which Putin said were a \u201cbig success\u201d.\n\nAl-Assad uneasy subject for Moscow\n\nDespite not explicitly mentioning the elephant in the room, it is widely expected that al-Sharaa will broach the subject of al-Assad's future in Russia.\n\nMoscow, which has focused on its all-out war in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, did not try to jump to al-Assad's help and assist in repelling the rebel offensive. However, Russia did give asylum to al-Assad after he fled the country.\n\nIn a recent interview with the CBS News show 60 Minutes, al-Sharaa said the Syrian authorities \u201cwill use all available legal means\" to demand the trial of al-Assad.\n\nThe Kremlin has largely avoided the subject so far.\n\nSpeaking to reporters Monday, Russia\u2019s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasised that Moscow granted asylum to al-Assad on humanitarian grounds as \u201che and his family faced physical extermination.\u201d\n\nLavrov rejected claims that the former Syrian president had recently been treated for poisoning, saying that he \u201chad no problems in living in our capital and there have been no poisonings.\u201d\n\nAl-Sharaa's top-level trip to Moscow was preceded by visits from Russian delegations to Damascus in January and September, while Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Moscow in July.\n\nFor the new Syrian government, maintaining ties with Russia was important for rebuilding the war-shattered country and offered a way to diversify its foreign policy.\n\nFor the Kremlin, it's essential to keep its naval and air bases in Syria, outposts crucial for maintaining Russia's military presence in the Mediterranean.\n\nIn the CBS interview, al-Sharaa noted that \u201cRussia has close and long-standing relations with Syria, which relate to the basic structure of the state and to energy and food, for which Syria depends partly on Russian supplies, as well as some old strategic interests.\"\n\n'Tough guy, strong past'\n\nSyria\u2019s war which began in March 2011 killed nearly 500,000 people and displaced half the prewar population of 23 million. More than 5 million Syrians fled as refugees, some of them to Europe.\n\nAlthough many Syrians initially hoped for stability after al-Assad was ousted, militant attacks on members of the Alawite minority in March and the Druze minority in July claimed hundreds of lives and revived security concerns.\n\nAl-Sharaa has notably held an in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump in May, where Trump lauded Al-Sharaa as a \u201cyoung, attractive guy\".\n\n\"Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter,\" Trump said.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s got a real shot at holding it together ... He\u2019s a real leader. He led a charge, and he\u2019s pretty amazing,\" the US president added.\n\nThe meeting between the two leaders paved the way for the US to lift its sanctions imposed on al-Assad to put pressure on his regime amid growing reports of war crimes and human rights violations.\n\nMoscow's indiscriminate tactics of attrition during its military intervention in Syria in favour of al-Assad launched in 2015 resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and aggravated the Syrian refugee crisis.\n\nA 2020 UN Human Rights Council report stated that the Russian air force's actions in Syria \"amounted to a war crime\".\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Syria\u2019s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived on an unprecedented official visit to Moscow on Wednesday, less than a year after he led a swift rebel offensive that ousted one of Russia's top foreign allies, the dictator Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Assad was an ally of Russia, and Moscow\u2019s scorched-earth intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria\u2019s civil war, keeping al-Assad in his seat until his swift removal in December.<\/p>\n<p>Now, al-Sharaa, who was greeted at the Kremlin with full honours, is expected to demand al-Assad's extradition so he can face a trial back home.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Sharaa, who has also courted the US and the West since he came to power in December 2024, has taken a pragmatic approach with Moscow, allowing Russia to retain control over its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast despite being on opposite ends of the 13-year war.<\/p>\n<p>In the run-up to the meeting, the Kremlin said that the future of the bases was on Moscow's agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Sharaa did not mention the Russian military facilities in his brief televised remarks at the start of the meeting. Instead he chose to talk about the \u201chistoric ties\u201d between the countries and noted the importance of developing them. <\/p>\n<p>In turn, he was hailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin for organising Syria's parliamentary elections, which Putin said were a \u201cbig success\u201d. <\/p>\n<h2>Al-Assad uneasy subject for Moscow<\/h2>\n<p>Despite not explicitly mentioning the elephant in the room, it is widely expected that al-Sharaa will broach the subject of al-Assad's future in Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow, which has focused on its all-out war in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, did not try to jump to al-Assad's help and assist in repelling the rebel offensive. However, Russia did give asylum to al-Assad after he fled the country.<\/p>\n<p>In a recent interview with the CBS News show 60 Minutes, al-Sharaa said the Syrian authorities \u201cwill use all available legal means\" to demand the trial of al-Assad.<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin has largely avoided the subject so far.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters Monday, Russia\u2019s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasised that Moscow granted asylum to al-Assad on humanitarian grounds as \u201che and his family faced physical extermination.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Lavrov rejected claims that the former Syrian president had recently been treated for poisoning, saying that he \u201chad no problems in living in our capital and there have been no poisonings.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//51//23//45//808x539_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg/" alt=\"Confetti and flowers are dropped from a helicopter during a celebration marking the 10th years since the victory of rebel forces over al-Assad&#x27;s army in Idlib, 28 March 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/384x256_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/640x427_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/750x500_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/828x552_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/1080x720_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/1200x800_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/1920x1281_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Confetti and flowers are dropped from a helicopter during a celebration marking the 10th years since the victory of rebel forces over al-Assad&#x27;s army in Idlib, 28 March 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Al-Sharaa's top-level trip to Moscow was preceded by visits from Russian delegations to Damascus in January and September, while Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Moscow in July.<\/p>\n<p>For the new Syrian government, maintaining ties with Russia was important for rebuilding the war-shattered country and offered a way to diversify its foreign policy.<\/p>\n<p>For the Kremlin, it's essential to keep its naval and air bases in Syria, outposts crucial for maintaining Russia's military presence in the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p>In the CBS interview, al-Sharaa noted that \u201cRussia has close and long-standing relations with Syria, which relate to the basic structure of the state and to energy and food, for which Syria depends partly on Russian supplies, as well as some old strategic interests.\"<\/p>\n<h2>'Tough guy, strong past'<\/h2>\n<p>Syria\u2019s war which began in March 2011 killed nearly 500,000 people and displaced half the prewar population of 23 million. More than 5 million Syrians fled as refugees, some of them to Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Although many Syrians initially hoped for stability after al-Assad was ousted, militant attacks on members of the Alawite minority in March and the Druze minority in July claimed hundreds of lives and revived security concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Sharaa has notably held an in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump in May, where Trump lauded Al-Sharaa as a \u201cyoung, attractive guy\". <\/p>\n<p>\"Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter,\" Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s got a real shot at holding it together ... He\u2019s a real leader. He led a charge, and he\u2019s pretty amazing,\" the US president added.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting between the two leaders paved the way for the US to lift its sanctions imposed on al-Assad to put pressure on his regime amid growing reports of war crimes and human rights violations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//05//08//macron-supports-easing-sanctions-on-syria-after-meeting-interim-president-al-sharaa/">Macron supports easing sanctions on Syria after meeting interim President al-Sharaa<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//05//14//trump-meets-with-syrias-interim-president-in-saudi-arabia-and-lifts-sanctions-on-damascus/">Trump meets Syria\u2019s 'young, attractive' al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and lifts sanctions on Damascus<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Moscow's indiscriminate tactics of attrition during its military intervention in Syria in favour of al-Assad launched in 2015 resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and aggravated the Syrian refugee crisis.<\/p>\n<p>A 2020 UN Human Rights Council report stated that the Russian air force's actions in Syria \"amounted to a war crime\". <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1760530644,"updatedAt":1760549916,"publishedAt":1760533071,"firstPublishedAt":1760533071,"lastPublishedAt":1760538598,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e6ffa431-e1cc-541c-b94f-9b8bbff7b09f-9512345.jpg","altText":"Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrives at the Grand Kremlin Palace for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow,, 15 October 2025","caption":"Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrives at the Grand Kremlin Palace for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow,, 15 October 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1619,"height":910},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/23\/45\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bd52dacd-4f52-594c-88dd-84f7f1df5339-9512345.jpg","altText":"Confetti and flowers are dropped from a helicopter during a celebration marking the 10th years since the victory of rebel forces over al-Assad's army in Idlib, 28 March 2025","caption":"Confetti and flowers are dropped from a helicopter during a celebration marking the 10th years since the victory of rebel forces over al-Assad's army in Idlib, 28 March 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2310,"urlSafeValue":"brezar","title":"Aleksandar Brezar","twitter":"@brezaleksandar"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":8263,"slug":"vladimir-putin","urlSafeValue":"vladimir-putin","title":"Vladimir Putin","titleRaw":"Vladimir Putin"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2845297}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"Kdt54LIV9sg","dailymotionId":"x9s6org"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/26\/98\/79\/09\/ED_PYR_2698799_20251015173842.mp4","editor":"","duration":109000,"filesizeBytes":17710933,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/26\/98\/79\/09\/SHD_PYR_2698799_20251015173842.mp4","editor":"","duration":109000,"filesizeBytes":25814945,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/26\/98\/79\/09\/FHD_PYR_2698799_20251015173842.mp4","editor":"","duration":109000,"filesizeBytes":84741431,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/15\/syrias-al-sharaa-seeks-extradition-of-kremlin-ally-al-assad-in-first-moscow-trip","lastModified":1760538598},{"id":2836432,"cid":9497412,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS","daletPyramidId":2906816,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria holds its first parliamentary election since ousting of Bashar al-Assad","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria holds first parliamentary election since al-Assad's ousting","titleListing2":"Syria holds its first parliamentary election since ousting of Bashar al-Assad","leadin":"Syria held its first elections since the ousting of strongman President Bashar al-Assad in December in what the people hope will propel the country towards economic stability, prosperity and peace.","summary":"Syria held its first elections since the ousting of strongman President Bashar al-Assad in December in what the people hope will propel the country towards economic stability, prosperity and peace.","keySentence":"","url":"syria-holds-its-first-parliamentary-election-since-ousting-of-bashar-al-assad","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/06\/syria-holds-its-first-parliamentary-election-since-ousting-of-bashar-al-assad","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Syria held its first parliamentary election on Sunday, nearly a year after a surprise rebellion toppled longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December.\n\nSecurity forces were deployed around polling stations nationwide. Electoral college members entered polling booths to fill our their ballots, which were then placed in a sealed box until they were pulled out and counted in front of candidates, journalists and observers from the Syrian bar association.\n\nThe election however did not feature a direct vote by Syrian citizens.\n\nThe new People\u2019s Assembly features 210 seats, 40 less than under al-Assad. Members of the new assembly will also serve two-and-a-half year terms.\n\nIncumbent President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint 70 members to the assembly, the remaining 140 will be voted on by subcommittees, overseen by 11-person Supreme Committees, who were appointed by al-Sharaa.\n\nOfficials say this election was not a direct vote as they lacked \u201creliable census data\u201d after millions of people were displaced by 14-years of brutal civil war.\n\nAround 7,000 people are eligible were eligible for voting and cast their ballots at regional electoral colleges, but elections were postponed indefinitely in the Sweida province and in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces due to tensions between the local authorities and Damascus.\n\nCandidates also have to meet certain criteria to be eligible to run in the election. Around 70% of MPs are required to be academics or experts while 30% of those who\u2019ll occupy the 140 available seats are required to be \u201cnotable members\u201d of their community, and hold academic degrees.\n\nThe new People\u2019s Assembly will be tasked with passing a new elections law and constitution as the country moves through its post-Assad political transition.\n\nCritics argue the elections fall short of full democracy, noting that the electoral college system may favour well-connected candidates, consolidating power within the interim government.\n\nIn the capital, Damascus, 490 candidates competed for 10 seats, with only 500 voters in the electoral college.\n\nBut for others, the election was a sign of progress. Initial results on Sunday evening showed few women and minorities winning seats.\n\nLara Eezouki, a member of the national elections committee in Damascus, noted that the new assembly includes all sects and groups and said it's \"the first time in Syria\u2019s history that the ballot box truly rules \u2014 when the results are not prearranged.\u201d\n\nComparing elections under Assad to those today, Rim Yajizi, a lawyer, member of Damascus\u2019s electoral body and candidate for the People\u2019s Assembly, said, \u201cIt\u2019s enough to mention the freedom factor, the electoral statements and the debates we watched and participated in. We had never seen anything like it before.\u201d\n\nIn Latakia city, a former al-Assad stronghold and home to a large Alawite community, three Sunni candidates won the vote.\n\nIn March 2025, sectarian revenge attacks killed hundreds of Alawite civilians along Syria\u2019s Mediterranean coast in Latakia and Tartus provinces after armed groups affiliated with the former president attacked security forces of the new interim government.\n\n\u201cAll those who said that the situation in Latakia was good (before) are wrong,\u201d said Rola Daya, one of the newly elected legislators. \u201cOf course, internal tensions remain \u2014 it will take time to resolve. Transitional justice is needed so we can move toward civil peace.\u201d\n\nThe elections are a historic moment after more than 50 years of dynastic, oppressive al-Assad rule \u2013 Bashar and his father Hafez \u2013 and are another test for the new government.\n\nSyrians hope this new election, and elected government, will pave the way for future direct elections and lead the country to a free and democratic future. They also hope the new government will lead to greater economic stability and revive an economy battered by war.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Syria held its first parliamentary election on Sunday, nearly a year after a surprise rebellion toppled longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December.<\/p>\n<p>Security forces were deployed around polling stations nationwide. Electoral college members entered polling booths to fill our their ballots, which were then placed in a sealed box until they were pulled out and counted in front of candidates, journalists and observers from the Syrian bar association.<\/p>\n<p>The election however did not feature a direct vote by Syrian citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The new People\u2019s Assembly features 210 seats, 40 less than under al-Assad. Members of the new assembly will also serve two-and-a-half year terms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//74//12//808x539_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa waves as he enters a polling station where electoral members are voting in a parliamentary election in Damascus, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/384x256_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/640x427_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/750x500_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/828x552_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1080x720_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1200x800_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1920x1281_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa waves as he enters a polling station where electoral members are voting in a parliamentary election in Damascus, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Omar Sanadiki\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Incumbent President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint 70 members to the assembly, the remaining 140 will be voted on by subcommittees, overseen by 11-person Supreme Committees, who were appointed by al-Sharaa.<\/p>\n<p>Officials say this election was not a direct vote as they lacked \u201creliable census data\u201d after millions of people were displaced by 14-years of brutal civil war.<\/p>\n<p>Around 7,000 people are eligible were eligible for voting and cast their ballots at regional electoral colleges, but elections were postponed indefinitely in the Sweida province and in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces due to tensions between the local authorities and Damascus.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//74//12//808x539_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg/" alt=\"Electoral college members collect their ballots for a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/384x256_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/640x427_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/750x500_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/828x552_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1080x720_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1200x800_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1920x1281_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Electoral college members collect their ballots for a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Omar Albam\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Candidates also have to meet certain criteria to be eligible to run in the election. Around 70% of MPs are required to be academics or experts while 30% of those who\u2019ll occupy the 140 available seats are required to be \u201cnotable members\u201d of their community, and hold academic degrees.<\/p>\n<p>The new People\u2019s Assembly will be tasked with passing a new elections law and constitution as the country moves through its post-Assad political transition.<\/p>\n<p>Critics argue the elections fall short of full democracy, noting that the electoral college system may favour well-connected candidates, consolidating power within the interim government.<\/p>\n<p>In the capital, Damascus, 490 candidates competed for 10 seats, with only 500 voters in the electoral college.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//74//12//808x539_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg/" alt=\"Officials count the votes of electoral college members in a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/384x256_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/640x427_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/750x500_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/828x552_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1080x720_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1200x800_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1920x1281_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Officials count the votes of electoral college members in a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Omar Albam\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>But for others, the election was a sign of progress. Initial results on Sunday evening showed few women and minorities winning seats.<\/p>\n<p>Lara Eezouki, a member of the national elections committee in Damascus, noted that the new assembly includes all sects and groups and said it's \"the first time in Syria\u2019s history that the ballot box truly rules \u2014 when the results are not prearranged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Comparing elections under Assad to those today, Rim Yajizi, a lawyer, member of Damascus\u2019s electoral body and candidate for the People\u2019s Assembly, said, \u201cIt\u2019s enough to mention the freedom factor, the electoral statements and the debates we watched and participated in. We had never seen anything like it before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Latakia city, a former al-Assad stronghold and home to a large Alawite community, three Sunni candidates won the vote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//74//12//808x539_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian election officials count ballots shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia&#39;s Governor building, in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/384x256_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/640x427_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/750x500_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/828x552_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1080x720_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1200x800_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/1920x1281_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian election officials count ballots shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia&#39;s Governor building, in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Hussein Malla\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In March 2025, sectarian revenge attacks killed hundreds of Alawite civilians along Syria\u2019s Mediterranean coast in Latakia and Tartus provinces after armed groups affiliated with the former president attacked security forces of the new interim government.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll those who said that the situation in Latakia was good (before) are wrong,\u201d said Rola Daya, one of the newly elected legislators. \u201cOf course, internal tensions remain \u2014 it will take time to resolve. Transitional justice is needed so we can move toward civil peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The elections are a historic moment after more than 50 years of dynastic, oppressive al-Assad rule \u2013 Bashar and his father Hafez \u2013 and are another test for the new government.<\/p>\n<p>Syrians hope this new election, and elected government, will pave the way for future direct elections and lead the country to a free and democratic future. They also hope the new government will lead to greater economic stability and revive an economy battered by war.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759724415,"updatedAt":1759746109,"publishedAt":1759729670,"firstPublishedAt":1759729670,"lastPublishedAt":1759729750,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab647a8f-c6ad-588b-ba7b-edfc57b9b97a-9497412.jpg","altText":"A Syrian election official shows a ballot paper during the counting of ballots, shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia's Governor building, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","caption":"A Syrian election official shows a ballot paper during the counting of ballots, shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia's Governor building, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Hussein Malla\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5be91048-d2ac-5022-ba97-d6d5f454bbdb-9497412.jpg","altText":"Officials count the votes of electoral college members in a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","caption":"Officials count the votes of electoral college members in a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Omar Albam\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0f6f2cec-171a-5c1f-a6de-121e49ba1e83-9497412.jpg","altText":"Syrian election officials count ballots shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia's Governor building, in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","caption":"Syrian election officials count ballots shortly after polling stations closed at Latakia's Governor building, in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Hussein Malla\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0fd612a0-ce1b-5b57-a480-33bf3236656e-9497412.jpg","altText":"Electoral college members collect their ballots for a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","caption":"Electoral college members collect their ballots for a parliamentary election at a polling station in Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Omar Albam\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/74\/12\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1efb2165-b0fe-5bc8-a338-a2d967e09652-9497412.jpg","altText":"Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa waves as he enters a polling station where electoral members are voting in a parliamentary election in Damascus, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","caption":"Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa waves as he enters a polling station where electoral members are voting in a parliamentary election in Damascus, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Omar Sanadiki\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All right reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3270,"urlSafeValue":"fouda","title":"Malek Fouda","twitter":"themalekfouda"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30248,"slug":"fall-of-assad","urlSafeValue":"fall-of-assad","title":"Fall of Assad","titleRaw":"Fall of Assad"},{"id":9287,"slug":"parliamentary-elections","urlSafeValue":"parliamentary-elections","title":"Parliamentary elections","titleRaw":"Parliamentary elections"},{"id":28476,"slug":"voter","urlSafeValue":"voter","title":"voter","titleRaw":"voter"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":4}],"related":[{"id":2845297}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"VSRs_a54Fwg","dailymotionId":"x9rpx18"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/26\/15\/16\/01\/ED_PYR_2615161_20251006102041.mp4","editor":"","duration":121000,"filesizeBytes":20289478,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/26\/15\/16\/01\/SHD_PYR_2615161_20251006102041.mp4","editor":"","duration":121000,"filesizeBytes":30494124,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/26\/15\/16\/01\/FHD_PYR_2615161_20251006102041.mp4","editor":"","duration":121000,"filesizeBytes":95453447,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/06\/syria-holds-its-first-parliamentary-election-since-ousting-of-bashar-al-assad","lastModified":1759729750},{"id":2832638,"cid":9475174,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA MASS GRAVE","daletPyramidId":2764920,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"25 bodies recovered from a mass grave near Damascus, site believed to hold at least 175","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"25 bodies recovered from a mass grave near Damascus","titleListing2":"25 bodies recovered from a mass grave near Damascus, site believed to hold at least 175","leadin":"Officials say the victims were killed by Assad's forces in an ambush while fleeing eastern Ghouta during the recent civil war.","summary":"Officials say the victims were killed by Assad's forces in an ambush while fleeing eastern Ghouta during the recent civil war.","keySentence":"","url":"25-bodies-recovered-from-a-mass-grave-near-damascus-site-believed-to-hold-at-least-175","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/20\/25-bodies-recovered-from-a-mass-grave-near-damascus-site-believed-to-hold-at-least-175","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Search teams pulled 25 bodies out of a mass grave on Friday in a suburb of Damascus. It is believed that the site contains at least 175 bodies, officials said.\n\nThe bodies were found in an agricultural field in the suburb of Otaiba, and according to authorities, they belonged to people who had been killed in an ambush by the forces of then-President Bashar Assad as they were fleeing the besieged enclave of eastern Ghouta, which was then under the control of opposition forces.\n\nIt is one of the latest grim remnants to surface from the country's nearly 14-year civil war that ended with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.\n\nFamily members with missing loved ones came to the site in hopes of finding answers. Among them was Samira Alloush, who was looking for her son, Anas Ahmad Alloush, who had been among those besieged in Ghouta. He was 19 when he went missing in 2014.\n\nHis mother had held out hope that he would turn out to be alive and in prison and that he would resurface when the prisons were emptied after Assad's fall. However, among the dirt-encrusted clothes on the ground, she recognised her son's jacket.\n\n\"I had hope that he would come out of prison and we would sit together again,\" she said with tears.\n\nAmer Fahed, commander of operations in the Damascus countryside for the civil defence group known as the White Helmets, said that they will not yet begin to excavate or exhume the mass grave until a specific mechanism is determined by the National Commission for Missing Persons.\n\nThe body count could be higher\n\nAmmar Al-Issa, an official with the missing persons' commission who was present at the scene, said the number of bodies could be higher, as 200 to 300 people were believed to have been killed in the February 2014 ambush.\n\nHundreds of bodies have been found in mass graves scattered around the country since Assad's fall, but many more likely remain to be uncovered.\n\nAn estimated 150,000 people were detained or went missing in Syria since 2011, when mass anti-government protests were met by a brutal crackdown and spiralled into civil war. Many of them are likely buried in unmarked mass graves.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Search teams pulled 25 bodies out of a mass grave on Friday in a suburb of Damascus. It is believed that the site contains at least 175 bodies, officials said.<\/p>\n<p>The bodies were found in an agricultural field in the suburb of Otaiba, and according to authorities, they belonged to people who had been killed in an ambush by the forces of then-President Bashar Assad as they were fleeing the besieged enclave of eastern Ghouta, which was then under the control of opposition forces.<\/p>\n<p>It is one of the latest grim remnants to surface from the country's nearly 14-year civil war that ended with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.<\/p>\n<p>Family members with missing loved ones came to the site in hopes of finding answers. Among them was Samira Alloush, who was looking for her son, Anas Ahmad Alloush, who had been among those besieged in Ghouta. He was 19 when he went missing in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>His mother had held out hope that he would turn out to be alive and in prison and that he would resurface when the prisons were emptied after Assad's fall. However, among the dirt-encrusted clothes on the ground, she recognised her son's jacket.<\/p>\n<p>\"I had hope that he would come out of prison and we would sit together again,\" she said with tears.<\/p>\n<p>Amer Fahed, commander of operations in the Damascus countryside for the civil defence group known as the White Helmets, said that they will not yet begin to excavate or exhume the mass grave until a specific mechanism is determined by the National Commission for Missing Persons. <\/p>\n<h2>The body count could be higher<\/h2>\n<p>Ammar Al-Issa, an official with the missing persons' commission who was present at the scene, said the number of bodies could be higher, as 200 to 300 people were believed to have been killed in the February 2014 ambush.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of bodies have been found in mass graves scattered around the country since Assad's fall, but many more likely remain to be uncovered.<\/p>\n<p>An estimated 150,000 people were detained or went missing in Syria since 2011, when mass anti-government protests were met by a brutal crackdown and spiralled into civil war. Many of them are likely buried in unmarked mass graves.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1758348188,"updatedAt":1758355910,"publishedAt":1758349740,"firstPublishedAt":1758349740,"lastPublishedAt":1758349891,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/47\/51\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_85ffac57-7c65-5451-923f-40e63089c7da-9475174.jpg","altText":"Syrian Civil Defense workers collect human remains found in Otaiba, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. ","caption":"Syrian Civil Defense workers collect human remains found in Otaiba, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Omar Albam","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1142,"urlSafeValue":"aktan","title":"Sertac Aktan","twitter":"@sertac_aktan"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":19562,"slug":"massgrave","urlSafeValue":"massgrave","title":"massgrave","titleRaw":"massgrave"},{"id":21852,"slug":"dead-body","urlSafeValue":"dead-body","title":"dead body","titleRaw":"dead body"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2829916},{"id":2828913},{"id":2827819}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"93Hv2E99Uz8","dailymotionId":"x9qvoh0"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/25\/00\/14\/02\/ED_PYR_2500142_20250920081154.mp4","editor":"","duration":69840,"filesizeBytes":13454006,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/25\/00\/14\/02\/SHD_PYR_2500142_20250920081154.mp4","editor":"","duration":69840,"filesizeBytes":18844638,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/25\/00\/14\/02\/FHD_PYR_2500142_20250920081154.mp4","editor":"","duration":69840,"filesizeBytes":56628095,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/09\/20\/25-bodies-recovered-from-a-mass-grave-near-damascus-site-believed-to-hold-at-least-175","lastModified":1758349891},{"id":2828913,"cid":9452419,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Green Syria worst drought in decades","daletPyramidId":2626690,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Worst drought in decades threatens Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria\u2019s fragile recovery at risk as worst drought in years unfolds","titleListing2":"Worst drought in decades is threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war","leadin":"Experts say rainfall has been declining for decades in Syria, where a fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following 14 years of civil war.","summary":"Experts say rainfall has been declining for decades in Syria, where a fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following 14 years of civil war.","keySentence":"","url":"worst-drought-in-decades-threatens-syrias-fragile-recovery-from-years-of-civil-war","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2025\/09\/05\/worst-drought-in-decades-threatens-syrias-fragile-recovery-from-years-of-civil-war","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The worst drought in decades is gripping much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, drying out rivers and lakes, shrivelling crops and leading to dayslong tap water cutoffs in major cities.\n\nThe situation is particularly dire in Syria, where experts say rainfall has been declining for decades and where the fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid.\n\nSmall-farmer Mansour Mahmoud al-Khatib said that during the war, he couldn't reach his fields in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab some days because militants from the Lebanese Hezbollah militia allied with then-President Bashar Assad would block the roads. That problem vanished when Hezbollah withdrew after Assad fell in a December rebel offensive, but the drought has devastated his farm, drying up the wells that irrigate it.\n\n\u201cThe land is missing the water,\u201d al-Khatib told The Associated Press recently as he watched workers feed the wheat he did manage to harvest into a threshing machine. \u201cThis season is weak; you could call it half a season. Some years are better and some years are worse, but this year is harsh.\u201d\n\nIn a good year, his land could produce as much as 800 to 900 kilograms of wheat per dunam, an area equal to 0.1 hectares. This year, it yielded about a quarter that much, he said. He hired only six or seven workers this harvest season instead of last year\u2019s 15.\n\nSyria's withering crops\n\nBecause the drought followed a prolonged war, farmers who were already financially stretched have had little ability to cope with its effects, said Jalal Al Hamoud, national food security officer for the UN\u2019s Food and Agriculture Organisation in Syria.\n\nBefore the uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011, Syrian farmers produced an average of 3.5 million to 4.5 million tonnes of wheat per year, which was enough to meet the country\u2019s domestic needs, according to Saeed Ibrahim, director of agricultural planning and economics in Syria\u2019s Agriculture Ministry.\n\nThat annual yield dropped to 2.2 million to 2.6 million tonnes during the war, and in recent years, the government has had to import 60 to 70 per cent of its wheat to feed its roughly 23 million people. This year's harvest is expected to yield only 1 million tonnes, forcing the country to spend even more of its strained resources on imports.\n\nMudar Dayoub, a spokesperson for Syria's Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, said this year\u2019s wheat crop will only last for two or three months and that the government is \"currently relying on signing contracts to import wheat from abroad\u201d and on donations, including from neighbouring Iraq.\n\nBut in a country where the World Food Program estimates that half the population is food-insecure, Ibrahim warned that \u201ctotal reliance on imports and aid threatens food security\u201d and is \u201cunsustainable.\u201d\n\nThe drought isn't the only major issue facing Syria, where postwar reconstruction is projected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Since Assad fled, the country has been rattled by outbreaks of sectarian violence, and there's growing doubt about whether the new authorities will be able to hold it together. Without jobs or stability, millions of refugees who fled during the war are unlikely to come home.\n\nInterconnected crises\n\nA dam on the Litani River in neighbouring Lebanon's fertile Bekaa Valley forms Lake Qaraoun, a reservoir that spans about 12 square kilometres.\n\nOver the years, climate change has led to a gradual decline in the water flowing into the reservoir, said Sami Alawieh, head of the Litani River National Authority.\n\nThis summer, after an unusually dry winter left Lebanon without the water reserves it usually banks through snow and rainfall, it has shrunk to the size of a pond, surrounded by a vast expanse of parched land.\n\nAlthough an average of 350 million cubic metres of water flows into the lake during the rainy season each year, meeting about one-third of Lebanon's annual demand, this year the incoming water didn't exceed 45 million cubic metres, he said.\n\nLebanon\u2019s water woes have further exacerbated the drought in Syria, which partially relies on rivers flowing in from its western neighbour.\n\nThe largest of those is the Orontes, also known as the Assi. In Syria\u2019s Idlib province, the river is an important source of irrigation water, and fishermen make their living from its banks. This year, dead fish littered the dried-out river bed.\n\n\u201cThis is the first time it\u2019s happened that there was no water at all,\u201d said Dureid Haj Salah, a farmer in Idlib\u2019s Jisour al-Shugour. Many farmers can't afford to dig wells for irrigation, and the drought destroyed not only summer vegetable crops but decades-old trees in orchards, he said.\n\n\u201cThere is no compensation for the loss of crops,\" Haj Salah said. \"And you know the farmers make just enough to get by.\"\n\nMostafa Summaq, director of water resources in Idlib province, said the groundwater dropped by more than 10 metres in three months in some monitoring wells, which he attributed to farmers overpumping due to a lack of rain.\n\nLocal officials are considering installing metered irrigation systems, but it would be too expensive to do without assistance, he said.\n\nClimate shocks bring a drier climate\n\nMost experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.\n\nClimate change makes some regions wetter and others drier, and the Middle East and Mediterranean are among those that are drying out, said Matti Kummu, a professor at Aalto University in Finland who specializes in global food and water issues. Syria, specifically, has shown a trend of reduced rainfall over the past 40 years, while it has been using water at an unsustainable rate.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s not enough water from rainfall or from snowmelt in the mountains to recharge the groundwater,\u201d Kummu said. Due to increasing irrigation needs, he said, \"the groundwater table is going lower and lower, which means that it\u2019s less accessible and requires more energy (to pump).\" At some point, the groundwater might run out.\n\nEven with limited means, the country could take measures to mitigate the impacts, such as increased rainwater harvesting, switching to more drought-tolerant crops and trying to put more effective irrigation systems in place, even simple ones.\n\nBut \u201cin the long term, if the situation in terms of the climate change impacts continues\" as currently projected, how much of the croplands will be arable in the coming decades is an open question, Kummu said.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The worst drought in decades is gripping much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, drying out rivers and lakes, shrivelling crops and leading to dayslong tap water cutoffs in major cities.<\/p>\n<p>The situation is particularly dire in Syria, where experts say rainfall has been declining for decades and where the fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid.<\/p>\n<p>Small-farmer Mansour Mahmoud al-Khatib said that during the war, he couldn't reach his fields in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab some days because militants from the Lebanese Hezbollah militia allied with then-President Bashar Assad would block the roads. That problem vanished when Hezbollah withdrew after Assad fell in a December rebel offensive, but the drought has devastated his farm, drying up the wells that irrigate it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe land is missing the water,\u201d al-Khatib told The Associated Press recently as he watched workers feed the wheat he did manage to harvest into a threshing machine. \u201cThis season is weak; you could call it half a season. Some years are better and some years are worse, but this year is harsh.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9441237,9393864\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//07//29//the-beauty-industry-loves-argan-oil-but-moroccos-trees-are-under-pressure-from-drought-and/">The beauty industry loves argan oil but Morocco\u2019s trees are under pressure from drought and demand<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//08//29//how-flash-droughts-driven-by-climate-change-sparked-record-wildfires-in-spain/">How flash droughts driven by climate change sparked record wildfires in Spain<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In a good year, his land could produce as much as 800 to 900 kilograms of wheat per dunam, an area equal to 0.1 hectares. This year, it yielded about a quarter that much, he said. He hired only six or seven workers this harvest season instead of last year\u2019s 15.<\/p>\n<h2>Syria's withering crops<\/h2>\n<p>Because the drought followed a prolonged war, farmers who were already financially stretched have had little ability to cope with its effects, said Jalal Al Hamoud, national food security officer for the UN\u2019s Food and Agriculture Organisation in Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Before the uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011, Syrian farmers produced an average of 3.5 million to 4.5 million tonnes of wheat per year, which was enough to meet the country\u2019s domestic needs, according to Saeed Ibrahim, director of agricultural planning and economics in Syria\u2019s Agriculture Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>That annual yield dropped to 2.2 million to 2.6 million tonnes during the war, and in recent years, the government has had to import 60 to 70 per cent of its wheat to feed its roughly 23 million people. This year's harvest is expected to yield only 1 million tonnes, forcing the country to spend even more of its strained resources on imports.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//45//24//19//808x539_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian farmers thresh their wheat in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/384x256_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/640x427_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/750x500_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/828x552_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1080x720_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1200x800_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1920x1280_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian farmers thresh their wheat in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Omar Sanadiki<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Mudar Dayoub, a spokesperson for Syria's Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, said this year\u2019s wheat crop will only last for two or three months and that the government is \"currently relying on signing contracts to import wheat from abroad\u201d and on donations, including from neighbouring Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>But in a country where the World Food Program estimates that half the population is food-insecure, Ibrahim warned that \u201ctotal reliance on imports and aid threatens food security\u201d and is \u201cunsustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//08//29//how-flash-droughts-driven-by-climate-change-sparked-record-wildfires-in-spain/">drought isn't the only major issue facing Syria, where postwar reconstruction is projected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Since Assad fled, the country has been rattled by outbreaks of sectarian violence, and there's growing doubt about whether the new authorities will be able to hold it together. Without jobs or stability, millions of refugees who fled during the war are unlikely to come home.<\/p>\n<h2>Interconnected crises<\/h2>\n<p>A dam on the Litani River in neighbouring Lebanon's fertile Bekaa Valley forms Lake Qaraoun, a reservoir that spans about 12 square kilometres.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, climate change has led to a gradual decline in the water flowing into the reservoir, said Sami Alawieh, head of the Litani River National Authority.<\/p>\n<p>This summer, after an unusually dry winter left Lebanon without the water reserves it usually banks through snow and <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//05//20//lowest-winter-rainfall-in-syria-for-almost-70-years-triggers-water-crisis-in-damascus/">rainfall, it has shrunk to the size of a pond, surrounded by a vast expanse of parched land.<\/p>\n<p>Although an average of 350 million cubic metres of water flows into the lake during the rainy season each year, meeting about one-third of Lebanon's annual demand, this year the incoming water didn't exceed 45 million cubic metres, he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//45//24//19//808x539_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg/" alt=\"A drone view shows dramatically low water levels at Lake Qaraoun, one of the Lebanon&#39;s largest reservoirs, in Qaraoun village, eastern Lebanon.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/384x256_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/640x427_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/750x500_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/828x552_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1080x720_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1200x800_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1920x1280_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A drone view shows dramatically low water levels at Lake Qaraoun, one of the Lebanon&#39;s largest reservoirs, in Qaraoun village, eastern Lebanon.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Hussein Malla<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Lebanon\u2019s water woes have further exacerbated the drought in Syria, which partially relies on rivers flowing in from its western neighbour.<\/p>\n<p>The largest of those is the Orontes, also known as the Assi. In Syria\u2019s Idlib province, the river is an important source of irrigation water, and fishermen make their living from its banks. This year, dead fish littered the dried-out river bed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the first time it\u2019s happened that there was no water at all,\u201d said Dureid Haj Salah, a farmer in Idlib\u2019s Jisour al-Shugour. Many farmers can't afford to dig wells for irrigation, and the drought destroyed not only summer vegetable crops but decades-old trees in orchards, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is no compensation for the loss of crops,\" Haj Salah said. \"And you know the farmers make just enough to get by.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9440370,9438463\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//08//28//climate-change-intensified-weather-that-fuelled-deadly-wildfires-in-turkiye-greece-and-cyp/">Climate change intensified weather that fuelled deadly wildfires in T\u00fcrkiye, Greece and Cyprus<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//08//28//deforestation-linked-to-thousands-of-heat-related-deaths-each-year-study-warns/">Deforestation linked to thousands of heat-related deaths each year, study warns<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Mostafa Summaq, director of water resources in Idlib province, said the groundwater dropped by more than 10 metres in three months in some monitoring wells, which he attributed to farmers overpumping due to a lack of rain. <\/p>\n<p>Local officials are considering installing metered irrigation systems, but it would be too expensive to do without assistance, he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Climate shocks bring a drier climate<\/h2>\n<p>Most experts agree that Syria and the broader region appear headed toward worse climate shocks, which they aren't prepared to absorb.<\/p>\n<p>Climate change makes some regions wetter and others drier, and the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//09//03//drought-and-doubts-can-the-european-union-help-greece-and-other-thirsty-member-states/">Middle East and Mediterranean are among those that are drying ou<\/strong><\/a>t, said Matti Kummu, a professor at Aalto University in Finland who specializes in global food and water issues. Syria, specifically, has shown a trend of reduced rainfall over the past 40 years, while it has been using water at an unsustainable rate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//45//24//19//808x539_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg/" alt=\"A Syrian boy holds a dead fish in the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/384x256_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/640x427_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/750x500_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/828x552_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1080x720_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1200x800_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/1920x1280_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A Syrian boy holds a dead fish in the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Omar Albam<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s not enough water from rainfall or from snowmelt in the mountains to recharge the groundwater,\u201d Kummu said. Due to increasing irrigation needs, he said, \"the groundwater table is going lower and lower, which means that it\u2019s less accessible and requires more energy (to pump).\" At some point, the groundwater might run out.<\/p>\n<p>Even with limited means, the country could take measures to mitigate the impacts, such as increased rainwater harvesting, switching to more drought-tolerant crops and trying to put more effective irrigation systems in place, even simple ones.<\/p>\n<p>But \u201cin the long term, if the situation in terms of the climate change impacts continues\" as currently projected, how much of the croplands will be arable in the coming decades is an open question, Kummu said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757058881,"updatedAt":1757060147,"publishedAt":1757060143,"firstPublishedAt":1757060143,"lastPublishedAt":1757060143,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0c28acc9-dc61-5d5e-b914-691eb88ca554-9452419.jpg","altText":"A drone view shows the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.","caption":"A drone view shows the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Omar Albam","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_89a61f8d-10b7-5d79-9a1c-75a7d5ff61c9-9452419.jpg","altText":"A drone view shows dramatically low water levels at Lake Qaraoun, one of the Lebanon's largest reservoirs, in Qaraoun village, eastern Lebanon.","caption":"A drone view shows dramatically low water levels at Lake Qaraoun, one of the Lebanon's largest reservoirs, in Qaraoun village, eastern Lebanon.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Hussein Malla","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2d954ca6-b8ca-5327-a70b-31085ffcabdb-9452419.jpg","altText":"Syrian farmers thresh their wheat in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria.","caption":"Syrian farmers thresh their wheat in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Omar Sanadiki","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/24\/19\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a2a2d661-f41d-5cbe-9dbb-d4e6eb9e78cd-9452419.jpg","altText":"A Syrian boy holds a dead fish in the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.","caption":"A Syrian boy holds a dead fish in the dried up Orontes River in Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib, Syria.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Omar Albam","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":9403,"slug":"drought","urlSafeValue":"drought","title":"Drought","titleRaw":"Drought"},{"id":15386,"slug":"climate-change","urlSafeValue":"climate-change","title":"climate change","titleRaw":"climate change"},{"id":4427,"slug":"civil-war","urlSafeValue":"civil-war","title":"Civil War","titleRaw":"Civil War"},{"id":15474,"slug":"rain","urlSafeValue":"rain","title":"rain","titleRaw":"rain"},{"id":319,"slug":"agriculture","urlSafeValue":"agriculture","title":"Agriculture","titleRaw":"Agriculture"},{"id":17454,"slug":"river","urlSafeValue":"river","title":"river","titleRaw":"river"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":3},{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2832638}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"ABBY SEWELL and OMAR SANADIKI","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"green-news","urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/green-news\/green-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"green","verticals":[{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"},"themes":[{"id":"green-news","urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News","url":"\/green\/green-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":35,"urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/green\/2025\/09\/05\/worst-drought-in-decades-threatens-syrias-fragile-recovery-from-years-of-civil-war","lastModified":1757060143},{"id":2827819,"cid":9446372,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Displacement of AlSumaria residents in Syria","daletPyramidId":2591619,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Alawites flee homes in Damascus suburb after threats from armed group","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Alawites flee homes in Damascus suburb after threats from armed group","titleListing2":"Alawites flee homes in Damascus suburb after threats from armed group","leadin":"Residents in the al-Sumaria neighbourhood Euronews spoke to say the Syrian government has done little to protect them.","summary":"Residents in the al-Sumaria neighbourhood Euronews spoke to say the Syrian government has done little to protect them.","keySentence":"","url":"alawites-flee-homes-in-damascus-suburb-after-threats-from-armed-group","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/02\/alawites-flee-homes-in-damascus-suburb-after-threats-from-armed-group","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Many residents of a suburb in northwest Damascus have fled their homes, following repeated threats and arbitrary arrests from an armed faction. \n\nMost of the affected families in the al-Sumaria neighbourhood are Alawites, the religious minority group to which the ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad belongs. \n\nThe development comes as Syria's interim government struggles to contend with the internal security challenges left by almost 14 years of civil war. \n\nThe crisis in the Syrian capital's al-Sumaria district, which is home to around 6,000 residents, escalated late last month. \n\nSince last Wednesday, many of them have abandoned their homes, following the arrival of a faction armed with guns and swords, according to testimony collected by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). \n\nSamer, a resident who wished to use a pseudonym due to safety concerns, told Euronews that members of the faction had ordered people to evacuate the area immediately. \n\nThey also detained some people \"as a means of pressure on their families to comply\", Samer added. \n\nAlthough the government later intervened and issued reassurances through the media for residents to stay, the faction returned again and made direct threats, sparking a new wave of forced migration, he said.\n\nAli, who is also from the neighbourhood, said he left with his family as soon as the militants entered \"out of fear for my children\". \n\n\"I heard that the (crisis) was over and things were back to normal, so I thought about going back, but my neighbour called me at night and said, 'Don't go back, the faction has re-entered and has given us a deadline to leave.\" \n\nNour, another resident who fled, told Euronews that the faction's members, dressed in General Security uniforms, \"lurked in the streets and terrorised residents, closing shops and preventing people from going out\". \n\nThey broke into homes in a \"barbaric\" manner, searched them without permission and wrote signs on the walls \u2014 including the letters \"X\" and \"O\" \u2014 without explaining their meaning, she said. \n\nThe group then announced a \"24-hour deadline to evacuate\", she added.\n\nNour claimed the armed group assaulted and beat women inside their homes, where no men were present, and confiscated their mobile phones. \n\nSome families tried to rent cars to move their belongings, she said, but the faction prevented them from doing so. \n\nAbu Huzaifa, the alleged leader of the group, rejected the Syrian government's directive for residents to stay, the SOHR reported. \n\nAs well as ordering people to evacuate, he insulted Syria's transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa, the human rights group said. \n\nDespite the government's insistence that the area was safe, reports suggested continued tension and fear among residents.\n\nThe UN expressed \"grave concern\" about developments in al-Sumaria, including reports of \"threats of forced evictions\" and \"violations against innocent civilians, including women and children\". \n\nIn a statement, it called for \"restraint\", stressing that UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is \"following developments closely\".\n\nAt a press conference, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for \"carefully addressing the complex issues of housing, land and property, and transitional justice\" in Syria. \n\n\"The protection of civilians in accordance with the rule of law and international standards\" remains the top priority, Dujarric emphasised.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Many residents of a suburb in northwest Damascus have fled their homes, following repeated threats and arbitrary arrests from an armed faction. <\/p>\n<p>Most of the affected families in the al-Sumaria neighbourhood are Alawites, the religious minority group to which the ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad belongs. <\/p>\n<p>The development comes as Syria's interim government struggles to contend with the internal security challenges left by almost 14 years of civil war. <\/p>\n<p>The crisis in the Syrian capital's al-Sumaria district, which is home to around 6,000 residents, escalated late last month. <\/p>\n<p>Since last Wednesday, many of them have abandoned their homes, following the arrival of a faction armed with guns and swords, according to testimony collected by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). <\/p>\n<p>Samer, a resident who wished to use a pseudonym due to safety concerns, told Euronews that members of the faction had ordered people to evacuate the area immediately. <\/p>\n<p>They also detained some people \"as a means of pressure on their families to comply\", Samer added. <\/p>\n<p>Although the government later intervened and issued reassurances through the media for residents to stay, the faction returned again and made direct threats, sparking a new wave of forced migration, he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//44//51//08//808x454_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg/" alt=\"Al-Sumaria neighborhood is empty of residents after a faction loyal to the Syrian government forced residents to leave it, August 30, 2025.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/384x216_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/640x360_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/750x422_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/828x466_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1080x608_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1200x675_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1920x1080_cmsv2_75347ee4-83b0-5059-bf19-61a71490fda1-9445108.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Al-Sumaria neighborhood is empty of residents after a faction loyal to the Syrian government forced residents to leave it, August 30, 2025.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Ali, who is also from the neighbourhood, said he left with his family as soon as the militants entered \"out of fear for my children\". <\/p>\n<p>\"I heard that the (crisis) was over and things were back to normal, so I thought about going back, but my neighbour called me at night and said, 'Don't go back, the faction has re-entered and has given us a deadline to leave.\" <\/p>\n<p>Nour, another resident who fled, told Euronews that the faction's members, dressed in General Security uniforms, \"lurked in the streets and terrorised residents, closing shops and preventing people from going out\". <\/p>\n<p>They broke into homes in a \"barbaric\" manner, searched them without permission and wrote signs on the walls \u2014 including the letters \"X\" and \"O\" \u2014 without explaining their meaning, she said. <\/p>\n<p>The group then announced a \"24-hour deadline to evacuate\", she added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//44//51//08//808x539_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg/" alt=\"A door of a house marked &quot;X,&quot; indicating an order for the family living there to leave, in Al-Sumaria, a northwest suburb of Damascus, August 30, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/384x256_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/640x427_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/750x500_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/828x552_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1080x720_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1200x800_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/51\/08\/1920x1281_cmsv2_8ef605f1-5528-592f-8e00-9423a43195a5-9445108.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A door of a house marked &quot;X,&quot; indicating an order for the family living there to leave, in Al-Sumaria, a northwest suburb of Damascus, August 30, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Omar Sanadiki\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Nour claimed the armed group assaulted and beat women inside their homes, where no men were present, and confiscated their mobile phones. <\/p>\n<p>Some families tried to rent cars to move their belongings, she said, but the faction prevented them from doing so. <\/p>\n<p>Abu Huzaifa, the alleged leader of the group, rejected the Syrian government's directive for residents to stay, the SOHR reported. <\/p>\n<p>As well as ordering people to evacuate, he insulted Syria's transitional president Ahmed<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////arabic.euronews.com//2025//05//23//complaint-before-icc-against-ahmed-al-sharaa-massacres-alawites-druze-syria-minorities/"> <\/a>al-Sharaa, the human rights group said. <\/p>\n<p>Despite the government's insistence that the area was safe, reports suggested continued tension and fear among residents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9446351,9427182\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//news//2025//09//02//for-the-first-time-in-14-years-syria-resumes-oil-exports-with-a-shipment-of-600000-barrels/">For the first time in 14 years, Syria resumes oil exports with a shipment of 600,000 barrels<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//20//syria-and-israel-hold-first-direct-talks-in-us-brokered-meeting/">Syria and Israel hold first direct talks in US-brokered meeting<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The UN expressed \"grave concern\" about developments in al-Sumaria, including reports of \"threats of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////arabic.euronews.com//2025//08//15//seizure-real-estate-farms-security-investment-without-legal-basis-forced-displacemen/">forced evictions<\/a>\" and \"violations against innocent civilians, including women and children\". <\/p>\n<p>In a statement, it called for \"restraint\", stressing that UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is \"following developments closely\".<\/p>\n<p>At a press conference, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for \"carefully addressing the complex issues of housing, land and property, and transitional justice\" in Syria. <\/p>\n<p>\"The protection of civilians in accordance with the rule of law and international standards\" remains the top priority, Dujarric emphasised.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756804861,"updatedAt":1756812460,"publishedAt":1756811186,"firstPublishedAt":1756811186,"lastPublishedAt":1756811186,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/63\/72\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4668106e-adcc-5765-802e-f6f071b0d7de-9446372.jpg","altText":"An Alawite family leaves their home passing through a checkpoint of Syrian government security forces in Sumaria, a suburb northwest of Damascus, 30 August 2025","caption":"An Alawite family leaves their home passing through a checkpoint of Syrian government security forces in Sumaria, a suburb northwest of Damascus, 30 August 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1619,"height":910}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":147,"slug":"immigration","urlSafeValue":"immigration","title":"Immigration","titleRaw":"Immigration"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":10831,"slug":"un","urlSafeValue":"un","title":"UN","titleRaw":"UN"},{"id":12035,"slug":"deportation","urlSafeValue":"deportation","title":"Deportation","titleRaw":"Deportation"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2822202},{"id":2819201},{"id":2832638}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84011001","84012005","84021001","84022001","84031001","84032001","84111001","84112004","84191001","84192010","84211001","84212001","84251001","84252002"],"slugs":["a_and_e_movies","arts_and_entertainment","automotive","automotive_general","business","business_general","law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_issues","law_government_and_politics","science","science_space_astronomy","society","society_general","travel","travel_adventure_travel"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"ar","storyId":9445108,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/09\/02\/alawites-flee-homes-in-damascus-suburb-after-threats-from-armed-group","lastModified":1756811186},{"id":2827990,"cid":9446351,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA OIL","daletPyramidId":2591470,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"For the first time in 14 years, Syria resumes oil exports with a shipment of 600,000 barrels","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria resumes oil exports after 14 years, with 600,000 barrels a day","titleListing2":"For the first time in 14 years, Syria resumes oil exports with a shipment of 600,000 barrels","leadin":"Before 2010, when the protests against Bashar al-Assad led to a civil war in the country, oil provided more than half of Syria's income.","summary":"Before 2010, when the protests against Bashar al-Assad led to a civil war in the country, oil provided more than half of Syria's income.","keySentence":"","url":"for-the-first-time-in-14-years-syria-resumes-oil-exports-with-a-shipment-of-600000-barrels","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/2025\/09\/02\/for-the-first-time-in-14-years-syria-resumes-oil-exports-with-a-shipment-of-600000-barrels","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced on Monday the resumption of heavy oil exports from the western port of Tartus for the first time in 14 years.\n\nThe ministry said in a statement: \"Today (Monday), 600,000 barrels of heavy oil were exported from the Tartus oil terminal aboard the tanker Nessus Christiana for BeServ Energy.\"\n\nStrengthening Syria's presence in markets\n\nThe move came \"within the framework of government directives and the plans of the General Directorate of Petroleum at the Ministry of Energy to enhance Syria's presence in foreign oil markets, in a step that is the first in years\", the statement said.\n\n\"This achievement is an important step in revitalising the oil sector and expanding the horizons of co-operation with international companies, to be followed by subsequent exports in the coming period,\" it added.\n\nRe-exporting\n\nIn June, Syria re-exported non-crude petroleum products from the Banias refinery in Tartus province, with an initial shipment of 30,000 metric tonnes sent to international markets.\n\nBaniyas, located about 35km north of Tartus, is a small but strategic coastal city that is home to Syria's largest oil refinery and an oil port specialised in exporting and importing crude.\n\nIn 2010, before the outbreak of the civil war, black gold accounted for 20% of Syria's GDP, half of its exports, and more than 50% of state revenues.\n\nThe country used to produce 390,000 barrels of oil per day, but production has declined sharply, reaching only 40,000 barrels per day in 2023.\n\nFirst ship arrives since the lifting of sanctions\n\nA few days ago, Tartus governorate reported the arrival of the first cargo ship to the country since the lifting of economic sanctions on Damascus.\n\nThe M J ship arrived Wednesday at Tartus port, carrying 19,000 tonnes of Romanian barley, the governorate said in a statement.\n\n\"It is the first ship of its kind to arrive at Syrian ports without passing through Turkey or Lebanon,\" it said.\n\nOn Monday, the US Treasury Department announced the removal of sanctions imposed on Syria from the Code of Federal Regulations, explaining that the decision will come into effect on Tuesday.\n\nIn early July, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end the sanctions imposed on Syria by the United States against the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011, followed by several European countries announcing the lifting of economic sanctions on Damascus.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced on Monday the resumption of heavy oil exports from the western port of Tartus for the first time in 14 years.<\/p>\n<p>The ministry said in a statement: \"Today (Monday), 600,000 barrels of heavy oil were exported from the Tartus oil terminal aboard the tanker Nessus Christiana for BeServ Energy.\"<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Strengthening Syria's presence in markets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The move came \"within the framework of government directives and the plans of the General Directorate of Petroleum at the Ministry of Energy to enhance Syria's presence in foreign oil markets, in a step that is the first in years\", the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>\"This achievement is an important step in revitalising the oil sector and expanding the horizons of co-operation with international companies, to be followed by subsequent exports in the coming period,\" it added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <iframe src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.facebook.com//plugins//post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSyrMOfE%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0u36j97BbUUL5UaJZdTQfmGFdqzkUEYNuBgrmaoBKpd14Dq3sW8pux46dPyAfNb2Gl&show_text=true&width=500\%22 width=\"500\" height=\"784\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Re-exporting<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In June, Syria re-exported non-crude petroleum products from the Banias refinery in Tartus province, with an initial shipment of 30,000 metric tonnes sent to international markets.<\/p>\n<p>Baniyas, located about 35km north of Tartus, is a small but strategic coastal city that is home to Syria's largest oil refinery and an oil port specialised in exporting and importing crude.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9401831,9436447\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//26//ukraine-knocks-out-17-of-russias-oil-refining-capacity-creating-shortages-and-disrupting-e/">Ukraine knocks out 17% of Russia's oil refining capacity, creating shortages and disrupting exports <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//08//03//opec-agrees-to-boost-oil-production-by-548000-barrels-per-day-from-september/">OPEC+ agrees to boost oil production by 547,000 barrels per day from September<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In 2010, before the outbreak of the civil war, black gold accounted for 20% of Syria's GDP, half of its exports, and more than 50% of state revenues.<\/p>\n<p>The country used to produce 390,000 barrels of oil per day, but production has declined sharply, reaching only 40,000 barrels per day in 2023.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>First ship arrives since the lifting of sanctions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A few days ago, Tartus governorate reported the arrival of the first cargo ship to the country since the lifting of economic sanctions on Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>The M J ship arrived Wednesday at Tartus port, carrying 19,000 tonnes of Romanian barley, the governorate said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\"It is the first ship of its kind to arrive at Syrian ports without passing through Turkey or Lebanon,\" it said.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, the US Treasury Department announced the removal of sanctions imposed on Syria from the Code of Federal Regulations, explaining that the decision will come into effect on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>In early July, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//01//donald-trump-signs-executive-order-lifting-us-sanctions-on-syria/">US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end the sanctions imposed on Syria<\/strong><\/a> by the United States against the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011, followed by several European countries announcing the lifting of economic sanctions on Damascus.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756804434,"updatedAt":1756806785,"publishedAt":1756806779,"firstPublishedAt":1756806779,"lastPublishedAt":1756806779,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/61\/46\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3a5d1386-9c13-58d5-8eff-de539e5238aa-9446146.jpg","altText":"An oil field controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Rumailan, Hasakah governorate, northeast Syria, 30 July 2017.","caption":"An oil field controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Rumailan, Hasakah governorate, northeast Syria, 30 July 2017.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1274}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":1802,"slug":"damascus","urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus","titleRaw":"Damascus"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":13222,"slug":"oil","urlSafeValue":"oil","title":"Oil","titleRaw":"Oil"},{"id":15854,"slug":"export","urlSafeValue":"export","title":"export","titleRaw":"export"},{"id":12824,"slug":"sanctions","urlSafeValue":"sanctions","title":"Sanctions","titleRaw":"Sanctions"},{"id":27610,"slug":"crude-oil","urlSafeValue":"crude-oil","title":"crude oil","titleRaw":"crude oil"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"html","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2836570}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"},{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"ar","storyId":9446146,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/09\/02\/for-the-first-time-in-14-years-syria-resumes-oil-exports-with-a-shipment-of-600000-barrels","lastModified":1756806779},{"id":2826589,"cid":9437998,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"ISRAELI STRIKES DAMASCUS","daletPyramidId":2533626,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Israeli drone strikes kill six Syrian soldiers in Damascus suburb, reports claim","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Israeli drone strikes kill six soldiers in Damascus, reports claim","titleListing2":"Israeli drone strikes kill six Syrian soldiers in Damascus suburb, reports say","leadin":"Syrian state media and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the latest drone strikes on Tuesday in the southern Damascus suburb of Kiswah killed six soldiers.","summary":"Syrian state media and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the latest drone strikes on Tuesday in the southern Damascus suburb of Kiswah killed six soldiers.","keySentence":"","url":"israeli-drone-strikes-kill-six-syrian-soldiers-in-damascus-suburb-reports-claim","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/27\/israeli-drone-strikes-kill-six-syrian-soldiers-in-damascus-suburb-reports-claim","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Israeli drone strikes on a southern suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus killed six soldiers and wounded others, according to state-run media and Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.\n\nThe drone raid struck the southern Damascus suburb of Kiswah on Tuesday, Syrian state outlet Al-Ikhbariah reported.\n\nThe Observatory said the drones targeted a road that links Damascus with the southern province of Suwayda, the site of deadly clashes last month between the Bedouin and Druze communities.\n\nIsrael intervened during the fighting last month in what it said was protecting the Druze, a community of some 1 million that mostly lives in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.\n\nSince the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on different parts of the country, targeting military assets.\n\nThe Observatory added that the area struck on Tuesday was part of al-Assad\u2019s military positions prior to December.\n\nIn addition to the six soldiers killed, three people were wounded, it added.\n\nEarlier on Tuesday, an Israeli drone strike near the southern town of Quneitra killed one person, according to Al-Ikhbariah and the Observatory.\n\nSyria\u2019s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike near Quneitra, saying it violates international law and threatens peace and stability in the region.\n\nThe Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Israeli drone strikes on a southern suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus killed six soldiers and wounded others, according to state-run media and Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.<\/p>\n<p>The drone raid struck the southern Damascus suburb of Kiswah on Tuesday, Syrian state outlet Al-Ikhbariah reported.<\/p>\n<p>The Observatory said the drones targeted a road that links Damascus with the southern province of Suwayda, the site of deadly clashes last month between the Bedouin and Druze communities.<\/p>\n<p>Israel intervened during the fighting last month in what it said was protecting the Druze, a community of some 1 million that mostly lives in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9412633,9383483\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//08//syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins/">Syria's minorities demand safeguards for pluralism after clashes between Druze and Bedouins<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//23//exclusive-who-are-syrias-druze-and-why-are-they-under-attack/">Exclusive: Who are Syria's Druze and why are they under attack?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on different parts of the country, targeting military assets.<\/p>\n<p>The Observatory added that the area struck on Tuesday was part of al-Assad\u2019s military positions prior to December.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the six soldiers killed, three people were wounded, it added.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli drone strike near the southern town of Quneitra killed one person, according to Al-Ikhbariah and the Observatory.<\/p>\n<p>Syria\u2019s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike near Quneitra, saying it violates international law and threatens peace and stability in the region.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756290983,"updatedAt":1756293069,"publishedAt":1756293029,"firstPublishedAt":1756293029,"lastPublishedAt":1756293029,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/43\/79\/98\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d2a200cd-cae4-5604-acbd-63999dff1474-9437998.jpg","altText":"Syrian security officers stand guard in a war-damaged building in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.","caption":"Syrian security officers stand guard in a war-damaged building in Zamalka on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Omar Sanadiki","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11644,"slug":"conflict-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"conflict-in-syria","title":"Conflict in Syria","titleRaw":"Conflict in Syria"},{"id":157,"slug":"israel","urlSafeValue":"israel","title":"Israel","titleRaw":"Israel"},{"id":15554,"slug":"airstrike","urlSafeValue":"airstrike","title":"Airstrike","titleRaw":"Airstrike"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2824796},{"id":2823644}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/27\/israeli-drone-strikes-kill-six-syrian-soldiers-in-damascus-suburb-reports-claim","lastModified":1756293029},{"id":2824895,"cid":9427953,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"US COALITION ISIS CAPTURE","daletPyramidId":2472952,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"US-led coalition in Syria captures leader of so-called Islamic State group ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"US-led coalition in Syria captures senior IS group commander","titleListing2":"US-led coalition captures senior commander of so-called Islamic State in Syria","leadin":"The IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago and attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a so-called caliphate in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.","summary":"The IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago and attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a so-called caliphate in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.","keySentence":"","url":"us-led-coalition-in-syria-captures-leader-of-so-called-islamic-state-group","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/20\/us-led-coalition-in-syria-captures-leader-of-so-called-islamic-state-group","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"US-led coalition forces captured a senior Islamic State commander believed to be the group's leader in a pre-dawn helicopter raid Wednesday near Syria's Turkish border, killing one Iraqi citizen during the operation.\n\nThe operation took place in Atmeh, a town near the Turkish border, and an IS group commander alleged to be Abu Hafs al-Qurashi was taken away. At the same time, an Iraqi citizen was killed, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.\n\nThe observatory said the man captured had a\u00a0French-speaking woman\u00a0with him, and it is not known if she was taken by US forces or Syrian security, who later cordoned off the area.\n\nThe US military has not responded to requests from the media for comment, and it is not immediately clear if the man captured is IS\u2019 main leader.\n\nTwo years ago, the IS group announced that a man called\u00a0Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurashi\u00a0had been named as its new leader after Turkish authorities killed his predecessor.\n\nThe IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago. It attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a self-proclaimed \"caliphate\" in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.\n\nDespite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, the IS group's militants still carry out\u00a0deadly attacks\u00a0in both countries and elsewhere.\n\nAll previous IS leaders have adopted Al-Qurashi as part of their surname, implying a connection to Quraish, the tribe to which Islam\u2019s Prophet Muhammad belonged.\n\nThe IS group claims its leaders hail from the tribe, and al-Qurashi is used as a nom de guerre -- all part of the terror organisation's propaganda, as it is largely invented and its handful of leaders are unrelated, according to reports.\n\nIts first leader, the self-proclaimed emir and caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, did not take on the Al-Qurashi name, despite claiming he hailed from the tribe without providing evidence.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>US-led coalition forces captured a senior Islamic State commander believed to be the group's leader in a pre-dawn helicopter raid Wednesday near Syria's Turkish border, killing one Iraqi citizen during the operation.<\/p>\n<p>The operation took place in Atmeh, a town near the Turkish border, and an IS group commander alleged to be Abu Hafs al-Qurashi was taken away. At the same time, an Iraqi citizen was killed, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.<\/p>\n<p>The observatory said the man captured had a\u00a0French-speaking woman\u00a0with him, and it is not known if she was taken by US forces or Syrian security, who later cordoned off the area.<\/p>\n<p>The US military has not responded to requests from the media for comment, and it is not immediately clear if the man captured is IS\u2019 main leader.<\/p>\n<p>Two years ago, the IS group announced that a man called\u00a0Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurashi\u00a0had been named as its new leader after Turkish authorities killed his predecessor.<\/p>\n<p>The IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago. It attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a self-proclaimed \"caliphate\" in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, the IS group's militants still carry out\u00a0deadly attacks\u00a0in both countries and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9308997,8676444\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//05//30//so-called-islamic-state-group-claims-first-attack-on-syrian-forces-since-fall-of-al-assad/">So-called Islamic State group claims first attack on Syrian forces since fall of al-Assad<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//08//24//islamic-state-group-claims-responsibility-for-solingen-stabbings-that-left-three-dead/">Islamic State group claims responsibility for Solingen stabbings that left three dead<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>All previous IS leaders have adopted Al-Qurashi as part of their surname, implying a connection to Quraish, the tribe to which Islam\u2019s Prophet Muhammad belonged.<\/p>\n<p>The IS group claims its leaders hail from the tribe, and al-Qurashi is used as a nom de guerre -- all part of the terror organisation's propaganda, as it is largely invented and its handful of leaders are unrelated, according to reports.<\/p>\n<p>Its first leader, the self-proclaimed emir and caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, did not take on the Al-Qurashi name, despite claiming he hailed from the tribe without providing evidence.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755691828,"updatedAt":1755698222,"publishedAt":1755695705,"firstPublishedAt":1755695705,"lastPublishedAt":1755698222,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/42\/79\/53\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4396e8ec-9cfb-530c-a692-e56cf86e1f44-9427953.jpg","altText":"FILE: US Army soldiers sit in Blackhawk helicopter en route for a \"presence patrol\" near Syrian border in northwestern Iraq, 18 May 2003","caption":"FILE: US Army soldiers sit in Blackhawk helicopter en route for a \"presence patrol\" near Syrian border in northwestern Iraq, 18 May 2003","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"BRENNAN LINSLEY\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1338}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":13363,"slug":"united-states","urlSafeValue":"united-states","title":"United States ","titleRaw":"United States "},{"id":11808,"slug":"islamic-state-jihadist-group","urlSafeValue":"islamic-state-jihadist-group","title":"Islamic State Jihadist Group","titleRaw":"Islamic State Jihadist Group"},{"id":274,"slug":"terrorism","urlSafeValue":"terrorism","title":"Terrorism","titleRaw":"Terrorism"},{"id":154,"slug":"iraq","urlSafeValue":"iraq","title":"Iraq","titleRaw":"Iraq"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2831789}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/20\/us-led-coalition-in-syria-captures-leader-of-so-called-islamic-state-group","lastModified":1755698222},{"id":2824796,"cid":9427182,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIAN FM MEETS ISRAELI DEL PARIS","daletPyramidId":2468710,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria and Israel hold first direct talks in US-brokered meeting","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria and Israel hold first direct talks in US-brokered meeting","titleListing2":"Syria and Israel hold first direct talks in US-brokered meeting","leadin":"In US-brokered talks, Syria and Israel discussed restoring a 1974 ceasefire to de-escalate tensions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.","summary":"In US-brokered talks, Syria and Israel discussed restoring a 1974 ceasefire to de-escalate tensions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.","keySentence":"","url":"syria-and-israel-hold-first-direct-talks-in-us-brokered-meeting","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/20\/syria-and-israel-hold-first-direct-talks-in-us-brokered-meeting","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Syria and Israel held their first acknowledged direct talks Tuesday as Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with an Israeli delegation in US-brokered discussions aimed at de-escalating regional tensions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.\n\nThe two sides spoke about restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement, which had established a buffer zone between Syria and Israel, according to Syria's state-run news agency SANA. \n\nNeither Syrian nor Israeli officials offered an official statement outlining details about what was said during the meeting, but a senior Trump administration official confirmed the talks. \n\nWashington has been pushing for the two countries to normalise relations amid a recent surge of tensions between them, in line with US President Donald Trump's vision of a \"prosperous Middle East,\" which includes a \u201cstable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours, including Israel,\" a US official told AP.\n\n\u201cThe United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours,\" they added, speaking on the condition of anonymity. \n\n\"We want to do everything we can to help achieve that,\u201d the official added.\n\nThe meeting marks the first time Syria has acknowledged holding direct talks with Israel and comes at a time when tensions between the two countries peaked, following the fall of al-Assad in December.\n\nShortly after the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's forces overthrew the former dictator's regime, Israeli troops took control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone that had been established under the 1974 ceasefire deal. \n\nIsrael launched airstrikes on military sites in what it claimed was an attempt to prevent hostile forces from establishing themselves and instead create a demilitarised zone south of Damascus. \n\nLast month, Israel again intervened, launching dozens of airstrikes, when violence erupted in Syria's Suwayda province between Bedouin clans and the Druze minority on the other.\n\nIsrael claimed it was protecting the Druze community, parts of which live in Israel.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Syria and Israel held their first acknowledged direct talks Tuesday as Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with an Israeli delegation in US-brokered discussions aimed at de-escalating regional tensions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.<\/p>\n<p>The two sides spoke about restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement, which had established a buffer zone between Syria and Israel, according to Syria's state-run news agency SANA. <\/p>\n<p>Neither Syrian nor Israeli officials offered an official statement outlining details about what was said during the meeting, but a senior Trump administration official confirmed the talks. <\/p>\n<p>Washington has been pushing for the two countries to normalise relations amid a recent surge of tensions between them, in line with US President Donald Trump's vision of a \"prosperous Middle East,\" which includes a \u201cstable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours, including Israel,\" a US official told AP.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours,\" they added, speaking on the condition of anonymity. <\/p>\n<p>\"We want to do everything we can to help achieve that,\u201d the official added.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting marks the first time Syria has acknowledged holding direct talks with Israel and comes at a time when tensions between the two countries peaked, following the fall of al-Assad in December.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's forces overthrew the former dictator's regime, Israeli troops took control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone that had been established under the 1974 ceasefire deal. <\/p>\n<p>Israel launched airstrikes on military sites in what it claimed was an attempt to prevent hostile forces from establishing themselves and instead create a demilitarised zone south of Damascus. <\/p>\n<p>Last month, Israel again intervened, launching dozens of airstrikes, when violence erupted in Syria's Suwayda province between Bedouin clans and the Druze minority on the other.<\/p>\n<p>Israel claimed it was protecting the Druze community, parts of which live in Israel.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755669363,"updatedAt":1755687789,"publishedAt":1755676395,"firstPublishedAt":1755676395,"lastPublishedAt":1755676395,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/42\/71\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1503cff5-f260-5115-a20d-1834b677bfcb-9427182.jpg","altText":"FILE: Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Defence Ministry building in Damascus, 19 July 2025","caption":"FILE: Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Defence Ministry building in Damascus, 19 July 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3110,"urlSafeValue":"dom","title":"Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom","twitter":"@evelyn_dom"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":157,"slug":"israel","urlSafeValue":"israel","title":"Israel","titleRaw":"Israel"},{"id":13363,"slug":"united-states","urlSafeValue":"united-states","title":"United States ","titleRaw":"United States "},{"id":11950,"slug":"middle-east","urlSafeValue":"middle-east","title":"Middle East","titleRaw":"Middle East"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2817123},{"id":2816616},{"id":2826589}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"sun1Mn3cWdI","dailymotionId":"x9p4fv4"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/22\/66\/66\/02\/ED_PYR_2266662_20250820110312.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":12360577,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/22\/66\/66\/02\/SHD_PYR_2266662_20250820110312.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":17082506,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/22\/66\/66\/02\/FHD_PYR_2266662_20250820110312.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":50399427,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/20\/syria-and-israel-hold-first-direct-talks-in-us-brokered-meeting","lastModified":1755676395},{"id":2823644,"cid":9420930,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TURKEY SYRIA DEFENCE AGREEMENT","daletPyramidId":2425427,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defence pact, officials say","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defence pact","titleListing2":"Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defence pact, officials say","leadin":"Syria's interim government has faced mounting challenges in restoring order after nearly 14 years of civil war following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December.","summary":"Syria's interim government has faced mounting challenges in restoring order after nearly 14 years of civil war following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December.","keySentence":"","url":"turkey-to-provide-weapons-and-support-to-syria-under-new-defence-pact-officials-say","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/14\/turkey-to-provide-weapons-and-support-to-syria-under-new-defence-pact-officials-say","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Turkey will provide weapons, military equipment and logistical support to Syria\u00a0under a newly signed defence\u00a0agreement, Turkish Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday.\n\nThe announcement came a day after Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on military training and consultancy, reinforcing Turkey's support to Syria's interim government.\n\nLast month, Syria requested Turkey's support\u00a0to strengthen its defence capabilities following sectarian violence in the country that also drew intervention by Israel.\n\nUnder the agreement, Turkey would share its \"knowledge and experience\" and supply military equipment, weapons systems and logistical materials to help strengthen the country\u2019s capabilities, Turkish Defence Ministry officials said.\n\nSyria's\u00a0interim government has faced mounting challenges\u00a0in restoring order\u00a0after nearly\u00a014 years of civil war following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December.\n\nMost recently, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of\u00a0Suwayda\u00a0between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other.\n\nTurkey has been supportive of Syria\u2019s new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war.\n\nOn Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Israel and Kurdish fighters to cease actions that threaten Syria\u2019s stability, accusing them of undermining efforts to re-establish itself.\n\nSpeaking during a news conference in Ankara, Fidan accused the US-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of stalling the implementation of an agreement that was reached in March to merge with the Syrian army.\n\nLast week, representatives of Syria's\u00a0various ethnic and religious groups held a conference\u00a0in Hassakeh and called for the formation of a decentralised state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.\n\nThe Syrian government criticised that meeting and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions.\n\nIt said that as a result it long longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for those talks.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Turkey will provide weapons, military equipment and logistical support to Syria\u00a0under a newly signed defence\u00a0agreement, Turkish Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement came a day after Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on military training and consultancy, reinforcing Turkey's support to Syria's interim government.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Syria requested Turkey's support\u00a0to strengthen its defence capabilities following sectarian violence in the country that also drew intervention by Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Under the agreement, Turkey would share its \"knowledge and experience\" and supply military equipment, weapons systems and logistical materials to help strengthen the country\u2019s capabilities, Turkish Defence Ministry officials said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.728\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//41//10//02//808x590_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg/" alt=\"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria&#39;s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus, 7 August, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/384x280_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/640x466_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/750x546_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/828x603_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1080x786_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1200x874_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1920x1398_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria&#39;s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus, 7 August, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Syria's\u00a0interim government has faced mounting challenges\u00a0in restoring order\u00a0after nearly\u00a014 years of civil war following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December.<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of\u00a0Suwayda\u00a0between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has been supportive of Syria\u2019s new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Israel and Kurdish fighters to cease actions that threaten Syria\u2019s stability, accusing them of undermining efforts to re-establish itself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//32//09//808x539_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg/" alt=\"Bedouin fighters gesture as they gather in the village of Busra al-Harir, 22 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/384x256_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/640x427_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/750x500_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/828x552_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/1080x720_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/1200x800_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/1920x1280_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Bedouin fighters gesture as they gather in the village of Busra al-Harir, 22 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Speaking during a news conference in Ankara, Fidan accused the US-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of stalling the implementation of an agreement that was reached in March to merge with the Syrian army.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, representatives of Syria's\u00a0various ethnic and religious groups <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//08//syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins/">held a conference\u00a0in Hassakeh<\/a> and called for the formation of a decentralised state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian government criticised that meeting and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>It said that as a result it long longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for those talks.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755188147,"updatedAt":1755188758,"publishedAt":1755188728,"firstPublishedAt":1755188728,"lastPublishedAt":1755188728,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/42\/09\/30\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2cda4e58-a422-56ab-b947-cb5c0d768c8e-9420930.jpg","altText":"Two Syrian army officers inspect the site of an Israeli strike at a military airbase near Hama, 3 April, 2025","caption":"Two Syrian army officers inspect the site of an Israeli strike at a military airbase near Hama, 3 April, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg","altText":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus, 7 August, 2025","caption":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Damascus, 7 August, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1456},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/32\/09\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_672aee0f-e38e-52e8-bccd-6279684dffff-9383209.jpg","altText":"Bedouin fighters gesture as they gather in the village of Busra al-Harir, 22 July, 2025","caption":"Bedouin fighters gesture as they gather in the village of Busra al-Harir, 22 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":284,"slug":"turkey","urlSafeValue":"turkey","title":"Turkiye (Turkey)","titleRaw":"Turkiye (Turkey)"},{"id":28774,"slug":"national-security","urlSafeValue":"national-security","title":"national security","titleRaw":"national security"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2826579},{"id":2826589}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/14\/turkey-to-provide-weapons-and-support-to-syria-under-new-defence-pact-officials-say","lastModified":1755188728},{"id":2823238,"cid":9418747,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TURKEY-SYRIA CALL ON YPG","daletPyramidId":2409302,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Israel and Kurdish fighters should stop destabilising Syria, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan says","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Turkey says Israel and Kurdish fighters shouldn't destabilise Syria","titleListing2":"Minister Fidan to YPG\/SDF: They play a spoilsport role by not integrating into the system","leadin":"Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the interim government in Damascus has struggled to maintain stability and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war.","summary":"Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the interim government in Damascus has struggled to maintain stability and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war.","keySentence":"","url":"israel-and-kurdish-fighters-should-stop-destabilising-syria-turkish-fm-hakan-fidan-says","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/13\/israel-and-kurdish-fighters-should-stop-destabilising-syria-turkish-fm-hakan-fidan-says","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Israel and Kurdish fighters should stop threatening the security and stability of Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.\n\nSpeaking at a news conference in Ankara with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Fidan accused Israel and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of undermining the country\u2019s efforts to re-establish itself after more than a\u00a0decade of civil war.\n\nHe said Israel had \"fuelled certain difficulties\" in Syria and warned that Israeli security \"cannot be achieved through undermining the security of your neighbours.\"\n\nTo the contrary, you should make sure your neighbouring countries are prosperous and secure. If you try to destabilise these countries, if you take steps to that end, this could trigger other crises in the region.\"\n\nSince Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the\u00a0interim government\u00a0in Damascus has\u00a0struggled to maintain stability\u00a0and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war.\n\nMost recently, hundreds were killed in\u00a0clashes in the southern province of Suwayda\u00a0between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other.\n\nMeanwhile, tensions have also risen between the central government and the US-allied SDF that controls north-eastern Syria.\n\nImplementation of an agreement reached in March to merge the SDF with the new Syrian army has stalled and there have been scattered outbreaks of violence between the two sides.\n\nLast week,\u00a0representatives of Syria's various ethnic and religious groups\u00a0held a conference in the north-eastern Syrian city of Hassakeh and called for the formation of a decentralised state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.\n\nThe Syrian government criticised the meeting and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions.\n\nIt said that as a result it no longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for the Paris talks.\n\nFidan accused the SDF of trying to turn instability in Syria into an \"opportunity for themselves.\"\n\nAnkara views the SDF with hostility as the group is spearheaded by the People's Protection Units (YPG), seen as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) that recently entered a\u00a0peace process with Turkey\u00a0after a more than 40-year insurgency.\n\nThe SDF has said it is not party to the deal between Ankara and the PKK.\n\n\"At this point, we are beginning to witness developments that we are finding increasingly difficult to tolerate,\" Fidan said.\n\n\"The upper echelons of the YPG need to stop playing for time because the chaos they\u2019re waiting for (in Syria) will not take place, and even if it does, it will not be to their advantage.\"\n\nHe added: \"They shouldn\u2019t take us for fools. We have good intentions, but that doesn\u2019t mean we will turn a blind eye to your mischievous or devious ways.\"\n\nTurkey has been\u00a0supportive of Syria\u2019s new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war.\n\n\"Not every actor in the region is as constructive as us,\" Fidan said. \"There are certain people who have been meddling in the affairs of Syria, chief among them the Israeli administration.\"\n\nAl-Shibani, meanwhile, said Israel\u2019s actions \"undermine the security of our citizens,\" adding that \"certain countries want Syria to disintegrate based on ideologies, based on ethnicity, and obviously we are against all these efforts.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Israel and Kurdish fighters should stop threatening the security and stability of Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at a news conference in Ankara with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Fidan accused Israel and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of undermining the country\u2019s efforts to re-establish itself after more than a\u00a0decade of civil war.<\/p>\n<p>He said Israel had \"fuelled certain difficulties\" in Syria and warned that Israeli security \"cannot be achieved through undermining the security of your neighbours.\"<\/p>\n<p>To the contrary, you should make sure your neighbouring countries are prosperous and secure. If you try to destabilise these countries, if you take steps to that end, this could trigger other crises in the region.\"<\/p>\n<p>Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the\u00a0interim government\u00a0in Damascus has\u00a0struggled to maintain stability\u00a0and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//41//87//47//808x539_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg/" alt=\"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a news conference in Moscow, 27 May, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/384x256_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/640x427_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/750x500_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/828x552_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/1080x720_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/1200x800_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/1920x1280_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a news conference in Moscow, 27 May, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Most recently, hundreds were killed in\u00a0clashes in the southern province of Suwayda\u00a0between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, tensions have also risen between the central government and the US-allied SDF that controls north-eastern Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Implementation of an agreement reached in March to merge the SDF with the new Syrian army has stalled and there have been scattered outbreaks of violence between the two sides.<\/p>\n<p>Last week,\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//08//syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins/">representatives of Syria's various ethnic and religious groups<\/a>\u00a0held a conference in the north-eastern Syrian city of Hassakeh and called for the formation of a decentralised state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian government criticised the meeting and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//41//10//02//808x539_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg/" alt=\"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/384x256_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/640x427_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/750x500_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/828x552_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1080x720_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1200x800_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>It said that as a result it no longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for the Paris talks.<\/p>\n<p>Fidan accused the SDF of trying to turn instability in Syria into an \"opportunity for themselves.\"<\/p>\n<p>Ankara views the SDF with hostility as the group is spearheaded by the People's Protection Units (YPG), seen as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK) that recently entered a\u00a0peace process with Turkey\u00a0after a more than 40-year insurgency.<\/p>\n<p>The SDF has said it is not party to the deal between Ankara and the PKK.<\/p>\n<p>\"At this point, we are beginning to witness developments that we are finding increasingly difficult to tolerate,\" Fidan said.<\/p>\n<p>\"The upper echelons of the YPG need to stop playing for time because the chaos they\u2019re waiting for (in Syria) will not take place, and even if it does, it will not be to their advantage.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//37//69//35//808x539_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg/" alt=\"An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, 17 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/384x256_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/640x427_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/750x500_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/828x552_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1080x720_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1200x800_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1920x1280_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, 17 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He added: \"They shouldn\u2019t take us for fools. We have good intentions, but that doesn\u2019t mean we will turn a blind eye to your mischievous or devious ways.\"<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has been\u00a0supportive of Syria\u2019s new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war.<\/p>\n<p>\"Not every actor in the region is as constructive as us,\" Fidan said. \"There are certain people who have been meddling in the affairs of Syria, chief among them the Israeli administration.\"<\/p>\n<p>Al-Shibani, meanwhile, said Israel\u2019s actions \"undermine the security of our citizens,\" adding that \"certain countries want Syria to disintegrate based on ideologies, based on ethnicity, and obviously we are against all these efforts.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755084369,"updatedAt":1755103711,"publishedAt":1755088952,"firstPublishedAt":1755088952,"lastPublishedAt":1755088952,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_79f57791-25a6-51b8-8b21-d544654f9060-9418747.jpg","altText":"Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defence Ministry building in Damascus, 19 July, 2025","caption":"Syrian soldiers raise the Syrian national flag in front of the Syrian Defence Ministry building in Damascus, 19 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/87\/47\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_293970a5-d572-5678-b8ff-b37222caa66f-9418747.jpg","altText":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a news conference in Moscow, 27 May, 2025","caption":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a news conference in Moscow, 27 May, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg","altText":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025","caption":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_46e27c89-1a03-5738-bd91-7ff2e9f52250-9376935.jpg","altText":"An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, 17 July, 2025","caption":"An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, 17 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":284,"slug":"turkey","urlSafeValue":"turkey","title":"Turkiye (Turkey)","titleRaw":"Turkiye (Turkey)"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":13980,"slug":"ypg","urlSafeValue":"ypg","title":"YPG","titleRaw":"YPG"},{"id":16354,"slug":"sdf","urlSafeValue":"sdf","title":"SDF","titleRaw":"SDF"},{"id":28658,"slug":"hakan-fidan","urlSafeValue":"hakan-fidan","title":"Hakan Fidan","titleRaw":"Hakan Fidan"},{"id":157,"slug":"israel","urlSafeValue":"israel","title":"Israel","titleRaw":"Israel"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":3}],"related":[{"id":2819201}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"dR9dZsTBWeM","dailymotionId":"x9ope9i"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/22\/19\/08\/06\/ED_PYR_2219086_20250813164832.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":11916494,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/22\/19\/08\/06\/SHD_PYR_2219086_20250813164832.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":16538770,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/22\/19\/08\/06\/FHD_PYR_2219086_20250813164832.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":48736860,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["80023001","80122009","80122011","80222009","80222011","84111001","84112001","84211001","84212004"],"slugs":["aggregated_all_moderate_content","human_made_disasters_high_and_medium_risk","human_made_disasters_high_medium_and_low_risk","law_government_and_politics","law_government_and_politics_general","society","society_ethnic_specific","terrorism_high_and_medium_risk","terrorism_high_medium_and_low_risk"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"en","storyId":9418747,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/13\/israel-and-kurdish-fighters-should-stop-destabilising-syria-turkish-fm-hakan-fidan-says","lastModified":1755088952},{"id":2822202,"cid":9412633,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA MINORITIES PROTECTIONS","daletPyramidId":2371534,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria's minorities demand safeguards for pluralism after clashes between Druze and Bedouins","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syrian groups demand pluralism safeguards after minorities clash","titleListing2":"Syria's minorities demand decentralised state and constitution that guarantees pluralism","leadin":"Syria's post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against minorities, raising fears about the future of the country.","summary":"Syria's post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against minorities, raising fears about the future of the country.","keySentence":"","url":"syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/08\/syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Hundreds of representatives of Syria\u2019s various ethnic and religious groups called for the formation of a decentralised state on Friday and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.\n\nThe declaration came at the conclusion of a one-day conference where some 400 representatives of Syria's ethnic and religious minorities gathered in an attempt to assert the rights of their communities in the country's evolving political framework following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last December.\n\nThe transition is to include\u00a0elections scheduled for September\u00a0and the eventual drafting of a constitution, a process that could take years.\n\nThe post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against minorities, raising fears about the future.\n\nIn their statements, the representatives condemned recent acts of violence by pro-government gunmen against the country\u2019s minorities, primarily Alawites, Druze and\u00a0Christians, and argued that these amount to crimes against humanity.\n\nGhazal Ghazal, the spiritual leader of Syria's Alawite minority said extremist ideology in Syria is imposing its will on Syrians in the name of religion and killing minorities.\n\nHe called for setting up a decentralised or federal system in Syria that protects religious and cultural rights of all components of the Syrian people.\n\nThe conference was held in Hassakeh, a north-eastern Syrian city under the control of the Kurdish-led and US-backed\u00a0Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).\n\nElham Ahmad, a senior official with the autonomous administration in northeast Syria, said she hopes to see the emergence of a Syria built on cultural and ethnic pluralism.\n\n\"This conference sends a message of civil peace and national reconciliation,\" she said.\n\nViolence against minorities following the December fall of the al-Assad family dynasty have killed hundreds of people and sent shockwaves throughout the country.\n\nThe violence occurred despite pledges from interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaeda\u2019s\u00a0branch in Syria, that all Syrians would be equally treated.\n\nHakemat Habib, one of the conference organisers, said that central governments and \"tyrannical regimes\" over the past decades have failed and that a democratic and decentralised state agreed upon by all Syrians is the only way to move forward.\n\n\"Syrian identity includes all Syrians,\" he said.\n\nDruze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, whose fighters\u00a0clashed with pro-government\u00a0gunmen last month, told the conference in a televised speech that \"pluralism is not a threat but a treasure that strengthens unity.\"\n\nAlso on Friday, a top commander with the SDF, Sipan Hamo, blasted al-Sharaa's government and accused it of continuing Syria's decades-old \"dictatorship.\"\n\nHamo said in an interview with a local media outlet that the SDF wants to join the national army but the al-Sharaa\u2019s government is not giving hope for a democratic state.\n\nThe interim government in Damascus did not comment on the conference.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Hundreds of representatives of Syria\u2019s various ethnic and religious groups called for the formation of a decentralised state on Friday and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.<\/p>\n<p>The declaration came at the conclusion of a one-day conference where some 400 representatives of Syria's ethnic and religious minorities gathered in an attempt to assert the rights of their communities in the country's evolving political framework following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last December.<\/p>\n<p>The transition is to include\u00a0elections scheduled for September\u00a0and the eventual drafting of a constitution, a process that could take years.<\/p>\n<p>The post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against minorities, raising fears about the future.<\/p>\n<p>In their statements, the representatives condemned recent acts of violence by pro-government gunmen against the country\u2019s minorities, primarily Alawites, Druze and\u00a0Christians, and argued that these amount to crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//45//98//808x539_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg/" alt=\"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/384x256_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/640x427_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/750x500_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/828x552_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1080x720_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1200x800_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1920x1280_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Michael Sohn<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Ghazal Ghazal, the spiritual leader of Syria's Alawite minority said extremist ideology in Syria is imposing its will on Syrians in the name of religion and killing minorities.<\/p>\n<p>He called for setting up a decentralised or federal system in Syria that protects religious and cultural rights of all components of the Syrian people.<\/p>\n<p>The conference was held in Hassakeh, a north-eastern Syrian city under the control of the Kurdish-led and US-backed\u00a0Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).<\/p>\n<p>Elham Ahmad, a senior official with the autonomous administration in northeast Syria, said she hopes to see the emergence of a Syria built on cultural and ethnic pluralism.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9388532,9386128\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//07//25//french-court-to-decide-if-al-assad-can-be-stripped-of-immunity-and-tried-for-syrian-chemic/">France's highest court upholds some of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's legal protections<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//23//syria-asks-turkey-for-defence-support-after-sectarian-clashes-officials-in-ankara-say/">Syria asks Turkey for defence support after sectarian clashes, officials in Ankara say<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"This conference sends a message of civil peace and national reconciliation,\" she said.<\/p>\n<p>Violence against minorities following the December fall of the al-Assad family dynasty have killed hundreds of people and sent shockwaves throughout the country.<\/p>\n<p>The violence occurred despite pledges from interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaeda\u2019s\u00a0branch in Syria, that all Syrians would be equally treated.<\/p>\n<p>Hakemat Habib, one of the conference organisers, said that central governments and \"tyrannical regimes\" over the past decades have failed and that a democratic and decentralised state agreed upon by all Syrians is the only way to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>\"Syrian identity includes all Syrians,\" he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//37//69//35//808x539_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian Druze run away from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers as they protest on the Syrian side of the border with Israel, 16 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/384x256_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/640x427_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/750x500_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/828x552_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1080x720_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1200x800_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/1920x1280_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian Druze run away from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers as they protest on the Syrian side of the border with Israel, 16 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, whose fighters\u00a0clashed with pro-government\u00a0gunmen last month, told the conference in a televised speech that \"pluralism is not a threat but a treasure that strengthens unity.\"<\/p>\n<p>Also on Friday, a top commander with the SDF, Sipan Hamo, blasted al-Sharaa's government and accused it of continuing Syria's decades-old \"dictatorship.\"<\/p>\n<p>Hamo said in an interview with a local media outlet that the SDF wants to join the national army but the al-Sharaa\u2019s government is not giving hope for a democratic state.<\/p>\n<p>The interim government in Damascus did not comment on the conference.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1754670449,"updatedAt":1754672147,"publishedAt":1754671589,"firstPublishedAt":1754671589,"lastPublishedAt":1754672147,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/26\/33\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3c517714-45be-586a-9c12-ede9a3002930-9412633.jpg","altText":"Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","caption":"Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg","altText":"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025","caption":"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Michael Sohn","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/69\/35\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_680f15b8-27e8-55bc-b5bd-dbc47f089cc4-9376935.jpg","altText":"Syrian Druze run away from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers as they protest on the Syrian side of the border with Israel, 16 July, 2025","caption":"Syrian Druze run away from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers as they protest on the Syrian side of the border with Israel, 16 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":12581,"slug":"democracy","urlSafeValue":"democracy","title":"Democracy","titleRaw":"Democracy"},{"id":194,"slug":"minorities","urlSafeValue":"minorities","title":"Minorities","titleRaw":"Minorities"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2824724},{"id":2827819},{"id":2828690}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/08\/syrias-minorities-demand-safeguards-for-pluralism-after-clashes-between-druze-and-bedouins","lastModified":1754672147},{"id":2821958,"cid":9411002,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TURKEY SYRIA TALKS DAMASCUS","daletPyramidId":2361683,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Turkish FM meets Syria's interim president in aftermath of Druze and Bedouin clashes","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Turkish FM meets Syria's president in aftermath of Suwayda clashes","titleListing2":"Turkish FM meets Syria's interim president in aftermath of Druze and Bedouin clashes","leadin":"Last month, Syria requested Turkey\u2019s support to strengthen its defence capabilities following violence that increased tensions in the country and drew an Israeli military intervention.","summary":"Last month, Syria requested Turkey\u2019s support to strengthen its defence capabilities following violence that increased tensions in the country and drew an Israeli military intervention.","keySentence":"","url":"turkish-fm-meets-syrias-interim-president-in-aftermath-of-druze-and-bedouin-clashes","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/07\/turkish-fm-meets-syrias-interim-president-in-aftermath-of-druze-and-bedouin-clashes","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Turkish Foreign Minister\u00a0Hakan Fidan met with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on Thursday, as the new government struggles to unify and assert control over the country.\n\nSyria's state-run news agency SANA said only that the \"two sides discussed regional and global developments and ways to enhance joint cooperation in various fields.\"\n\nAnkara has been a strong backer of the interim government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u00a0was toppled in a lightning rebel offensive in December.\n\nLast month, Syria requested Turkey's support to strengthen its defence capabilities following\u00a0sectarian violence\u00a0that increased tensions in the country and drew an Israeli military intervention.\n\nClashes erupted last month between members of Bedouin tribes and armed factions from the\u00a0Druze religious minority in\u00a0the southern Suwayda province.\n\nGovernment forces that intervened, ostensibly to quell the fighting, ended up siding with the Bedouins.\n\nIsrael then launched strikes on government convoys in Suwayda and on the Defence Ministry headquarters in Damascus, saying it was acting to protect the Druze.\n\nTurkey has been vocally critical of Israeli intervention in Syria and also wants to curb the influence of the Kurdish groups controlling north-eastern Syria.\n\nThe Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been a key US ally in the fight against the so-called Islamic State terrorist group.\n\nAnkara however regards the SDF as a terrorist group and the Syrian off-shoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK), which waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.\n\nIn March, the SDF and Damascus reached an agreement to merge their forces, but its details were vague and the deal has not been implemented.\n\nTurkish defence ministry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, accused the SDF on Thursday of not following through on its commitment.\n\nThey said Ankara remains \"committed to supporting the Syrian administration\u2019s fight against terrorist organizations and to providing the requested training, advisory, and technical assistance to strengthen its defence and security capacity.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Turkish Foreign Minister\u00a0Hakan Fidan met with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on Thursday, as the new government struggles to unify and assert control over the country.<\/p>\n<p>Syria's state-run news agency SANA said only that the \"two sides discussed regional and global developments and ways to enhance joint cooperation in various fields.\"<\/p>\n<p>Ankara has been a strong backer of the interim government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u00a0was toppled in a lightning rebel offensive in December.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Syria requested Turkey's support to strengthen its defence capabilities following\u00a0sectarian violence\u00a0that increased tensions in the country and drew an Israeli military intervention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.728\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//41//10//02//808x590_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg/" alt=\"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria&#39;s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus, 7 August, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/384x280_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/640x466_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/750x546_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/828x603_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1080x786_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1200x874_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1920x1398_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria&#39;s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus, 7 August, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Clashes erupted last month between members of Bedouin tribes and armed factions from the\u00a0Druze religious minority in\u00a0the southern Suwayda province.<\/p>\n<p>Government forces that intervened, ostensibly to quell the fighting, ended up siding with the Bedouins.<\/p>\n<p>Israel then launched strikes on government convoys in Suwayda and on the Defence Ministry headquarters in Damascus, saying it was acting to protect the Druze.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey has been vocally critical of Israeli intervention in Syria and also wants to curb the influence of the Kurdish groups controlling north-eastern Syria.<\/p>\n<p>The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been a key US ally in the fight against the so-called Islamic State terrorist group.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//41//10//02//808x539_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg/" alt=\"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/384x256_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/640x427_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/750x500_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/828x552_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1080x720_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1200x800_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Ankara however regards the SDF as a terrorist group and the Syrian off-shoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party (PKK), which waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.<\/p>\n<p>In March, the SDF and Damascus reached an agreement to merge their forces, but its details were vague and the deal has not been implemented.<\/p>\n<p>Turkish defence ministry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, accused the SDF on Thursday of not following through on its commitment.<\/p>\n<p>They said Ankara remains \"committed to supporting the Syrian administration\u2019s fight against terrorist organizations and to providing the requested training, advisory, and technical assistance to strengthen its defence and security capacity.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1754588539,"updatedAt":1754589729,"publishedAt":1754589702,"firstPublishedAt":1754589702,"lastPublishedAt":1754589702,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2b7bc479-a8d0-56f6-b917-767d1e1eb4ac-9411002.jpg","altText":"Druze militiamen ride past the site of an alleged Israeli army strike on the main road outside the Druze-majority town of Suwayda, 25 July, 2025","caption":"Druze militiamen ride past the site of an alleged Israeli army strike on the main road outside the Druze-majority town of Suwayda, 25 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c24934d6-92c9-59d8-af3a-41d252eff2d9-9411002.jpg","altText":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025","caption":"Syrians who had fled their homes during the civil war gather to celebrate their return to their homes in Arbeen, 4 August, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/10\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_38df7f83-5c2e-59d0-90fd-092bca9f0036-9411002.jpg","altText":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus, 7 August, 2025","caption":"Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus, 7 August, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1456}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":284,"slug":"turkey","urlSafeValue":"turkey","title":"Turkiye (Turkey)","titleRaw":"Turkiye (Turkey)"},{"id":27206,"slug":"druze","urlSafeValue":"druze","title":"Druze","titleRaw":"Druze"},{"id":25570,"slug":"bedouins","urlSafeValue":"bedouins","title":"Bedouins","titleRaw":"Bedouins"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2818448},{"id":2826670}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/07\/turkish-fm-meets-syrias-interim-president-in-aftermath-of-druze-and-bedouin-clashes","lastModified":1754589702},{"id":2819201,"cid":9391948,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS","daletPyramidId":2252298,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since the fall of al-Assad","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since the fall of al-Assad","titleListing2":"Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad, with voting scheduled to take place between 15 and 20 September. ","leadin":"The announcement comes amid mounting unrest, particularly after deadly clashes erupted in Suwayda province between Bedouin and Druze fighters.","summary":"The announcement comes amid mounting unrest, particularly after deadly clashes erupted in Suwayda province between Bedouin and Druze fighters.","keySentence":"","url":"syria-to-hold-first-parliamentary-elections-since-the-fall-of-al-assad","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/07\/28\/syria-to-hold-first-parliamentary-elections-since-the-fall-of-al-assad","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, with voting scheduled to take place between 15 and 20 September, the head of the election organising body told state media on Sunday.\n\nMohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People\u2019s Assembly Elections, confirmed the dates to the state-run SANA news agency.\u00a0\n\nThe elections will be held under the authority of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who took power following a rapid rebel advance that ousted al-Assad in December.\n\nOne-third of the 210 seats in the new assembly will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa, while the remaining two-thirds will be filled through provincial-level elections.\n\nIn an interview with the Erem News website, committee member Hassan Al-Daghim said that electoral colleges would be established in each province to oversee the voting for the elected seats.\n\nA temporary constitution, signed by al-Sharaa in March, established a People\u2019s Committee to serve as a transitional parliament until a permanent constitution is enacted and full national elections are held, a process expected to take several years.\n\nThe announcement comes amid heightened political uncertainty and deepening divisions over Syria\u2019s new leadership, particularly after a wave of violence, between the Bedouin and Druze communities, erupted in Suwayda earlier this month.\u00a0\n\nClashes between the two groups spiralled into heavy fighting that left hundreds dead and threatened to destabilise the postwar transition.\n\nThough Syrian government troops intervened, their actions have been criticised. Some government forces allegedly sided with the Bedouins, reportedly carrying out executions against Druze civilians and looting homes in Druze areas.\n\nThe violence also drew in Israel, which launched airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions, including the Defence Ministry headquarters, citing the need to protect the Druze minority as justification for its intervention.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, with voting scheduled to take place between 15 and 20 September, the head of the election organising body told state media on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People\u2019s Assembly Elections, confirmed the dates to the state-run SANA news agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The elections will be held under the authority of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who took power following a rapid rebel advance that ousted al-Assad in December.<\/p>\n<p>One-third of the 210 seats in the new assembly will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa, while the remaining two-thirds will be filled through provincial-level elections.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with the Erem News website, committee member Hassan Al-Daghim said that electoral colleges would be established in each province to oversee the voting for the elected seats.<\/p>\n<p>A temporary constitution, signed by al-Sharaa in March, established a People\u2019s Committee to serve as a transitional parliament until a permanent constitution is enacted and full national elections are held, a process expected to take several years.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement comes amid heightened political uncertainty and deepening divisions over Syria\u2019s new leadership, particularly after a wave of violence, between the Bedouin and Druze communities, erupted in Suwayda earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Clashes between the two groups spiralled into heavy fighting that left hundreds dead and threatened to destabilise the postwar transition.<\/p>\n<p>Though Syrian government troops intervened, their actions have been criticised. Some government forces allegedly sided with the Bedouins, reportedly carrying out executions against Druze civilians and looting homes in Druze areas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9388532,9387985\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//07//25//french-court-to-decide-if-al-assad-can-be-stripped-of-immunity-and-tried-for-syrian-chemic/">France's highest court upholds some of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's legal protections<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//24//at-least-six-killed-and-dozens-injured-in-explosion-in-northern-syria-officials-say/">At least six killed and dozens injured in explosion in northern Syria, officials say<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The violence also drew in Israel, which launched airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions, including the Defence Ministry headquarters, citing the need to protect the Druze minority as justification for its intervention.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1753688026,"updatedAt":1753693412,"publishedAt":1753693384,"firstPublishedAt":1753693384,"lastPublishedAt":1753693384,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/39\/19\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6e6825fd-6559-5785-811d-ff09388776ae-9391948.jpg","altText":"A car drives by a destroyed statue following last week's sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suwayda, 25 July 2025, ","caption":"A car drives by a destroyed statue following last week's sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Suwayda, 25 July 2025, ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3252,"urlSafeValue":"al-yahyai","title":"Oman Al Yahyai","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":9287,"slug":"parliamentary-elections","urlSafeValue":"parliamentary-elections","title":"Parliamentary elections","titleRaw":"Parliamentary elections"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2827819}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/07\/28\/syria-to-hold-first-parliamentary-elections-since-the-fall-of-al-assad","lastModified":1753693384},{"id":2818557,"cid":9388532,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"FRENCH COURT ASSAD IMMUNITY","daletPyramidId":2231848,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"France's highest court upholds some of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's legal protections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"France\u2019s top court upholds some of Bashar al-Assad's legal protections","titleListing2":"French court to decide if al-Assad can be stripped of immunity and tried for Syrian chemical attacks","leadin":"The Cour de Cassation upheld Assad\u2019s head-of-state immunity, but added that since he is no longer in office, \u201cnew arrest warrants may have been or may be issued against him for acts that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.\u201d","summary":"The Cour de Cassation upheld Assad\u2019s head-of-state immunity, but added that since he is no longer in office, \u201cnew arrest warrants may have been or may be issued against him for acts that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.\u201d","keySentence":"","url":"french-court-to-decide-if-al-assad-can-be-stripped-of-immunity-and-tried-for-syrian-chemic","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/25\/french-court-to-decide-if-al-assad-can-be-stripped-of-immunity-and-tried-for-syrian-chemic","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"France's highest court upheld some of Syrian ex-leader Bashar al-Assad's personal immunity as a head of state on Friday while green-lighting possible future war crime warrants, drawing criticism from human rights lawyers and Syrian activists.\n\nThe Cour de Cassation upheld Assad's head-of-state immunity, but added that since he is no longer in office, \"new arrest warrants may have been or may be issued against him for acts that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.\"\n\nThe decision is a blow to activists who had hoped the court would set aside the immunity, a decision that could have had far-reaching consequences for other leaders accused of atrocities.\n\n\"From our side as a victim, this is a huge mistake. This will support another dictatorship to keep doing this kind of crime \u2014 they know they will enjoy immunity,\" said Mazen Darwish, president of the Syrian Centre for Media, which collected evidence of war crimes.\n\n\"It is a sad day for us,\" Darwish said.\n\n'Missed opportunity for justice'\n\nThe president of the Cour de Cassation, Christophe Soulard, said in the ruling that 19 judges had declined to lift Assad\u2019s immunity, which could have paved the way for his trial in absentia in France over the use of chemical weapons in\u00a0Gouta in 2013.\n\nHuman rights lawyers had sought to enable prosecution of leaders linked to atrocities while they are in power, not just when they leave.\n\nBut international law currently forbids it.\n\n\"Under current international law, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not exceptions to the principle of jurisdictional immunity for sitting foreign heads of state,\" Soulard said.\n\nAl-Assad, currently living in exile in Russia, retained no lawyers for these charges and has denied that he was behind the chemical attacks.\n\n\"The court's ruling is a missed opportunity for justice,\" said Mariana Pena, a lawyer with the Open Society Justice Initiative, which helped bring the case to the court.\n\nBut she said that the ruling \"leaves the door open to the prosecution of Assad.\"\n\nSilver lining for some\n\nThe court also ruled on a case against a former Syrian government finance minister in al-Assad\u2019s government, allowing that he could be prosecuted.\n\nAdib Mayaleh\u2019s lawyers have argued that he too had immunity under international law.\n\nThat is to some a silver lining in the court's ruling by establishing in France the right for courts to go after heads of state when they leave office and even current high-ranking officials.\n\n\"This is a huge step, but not an absolute victory in the fight against impunity,\" said lawyer Cl\u00e9mence Witt, who with Jeanne Sulzer brought the case against al-Assad to the court.\n\nShe said that the French courts can now for the first time issue warrants for high-ranking officials currently in power with adequate evidence.\n\n\"Every official \u2014 except head of state, head of government and head of foreign affairs \u2014 can be prosecuted in France if we have evidence of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity,\" Witt said.\n\nWar crimes accusations\n\nFor more than 50 years, Syria was ruled by Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar.\n\nDuring the Arab Spring, rebellion broke out against their tyrannical rule in 2011 across the country of 23 million people, igniting a brutal 13-year civil war that killed more than 500,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.\n\nMillions more fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Europe.\n\nThe al-Assad dynasty manipulated sectarian tensions to stay in power, a legacy driving\u00a0renewed violence against minority groups, despite promises that the country's new leaders will carve out\u00a0a political future for Syria\u00a0that includes and represents all of its communities.\n\nThe International Criminal Court isn't bound by head of state immunity and has issued arrests warrants for leaders accused of atrocities, like Russian President\u00a0Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte.\n\nThe\u00a0Syrian government\u00a0denied in 2013 that it was behind the Ghouta chemical attack, an accusation that the opposition rejected, because al-Assad's forces were the only side in the brutal civil war to possess sarin.\n\nAssad held onto power, aided militarily by Russia and Iranian-backed proxies, until late 2024, when a surprise assault by rebels swept into Aleppo and then Damascus, driving Assad to flee to safety to Russia in December.\n\nPossibility of warrants\n\nNew warrants after Friday's ruling in France could lay the groundwork for the former leader\u2019s trial in absentia or potential arrest, if he travels outside Russia.\n\nAny trial of al-Assad, whether in absentia or if he leaves Russia, would mean this evidence could then \"be brought to light,\" Pena said, including an enormous trove of classified and secret evidence amassed by the judges during their investigations.\n\nSyrians often took great personal risk to gather evidence of war crimes.\n\nDarwish said that in the aftermath of a chlorine gas attack in Douma, for example, teams collected witness testimonies, images of devastation and soil samples.\n\nOthers then tracked down and interviewed defectors to build a \u201cchain of command\u201d for the Syrian government's chemical weapons production and use.\n\n\"We link it directly to the president himself, Bashar al-Assad,\" he said.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>France's highest court upheld some of Syrian ex-leader Bashar al-Assad's personal immunity as a head of state on Friday while green-lighting possible future war crime warrants, drawing criticism from human rights lawyers and Syrian activists.<\/p>\n<p>The Cour de Cassation upheld Assad's head-of-state immunity, but added that since he is no longer in office, \"new arrest warrants may have been or may be issued against him for acts that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.\"<\/p>\n<p>The decision is a blow to activists who had hoped the court would set aside the immunity, a decision that could have had far-reaching consequences for other leaders accused of atrocities.<\/p>\n<p>\"From our side as a victim, this is a huge mistake. This will support another dictatorship to keep doing this kind of crime \u2014 they know they will enjoy immunity,\" said Mazen Darwish, president of the Syrian Centre for Media, which collected evidence of war crimes.<\/p>\n<p>\"It is a sad day for us,\" Darwish said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.657\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//85//32//808x532_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends the closing session of the Arab Summit in Doha, 30 March, 2009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/384x252_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/640x420_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/750x493_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/828x544_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1080x710_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1200x788_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1920x1261_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends the closing session of the Arab Summit in Doha, 30 March, 2009<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>'Missed opportunity for justice'<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The president of the Cour de Cassation, Christophe Soulard, said in the ruling that 19 judges had declined to lift Assad\u2019s immunity, which could have paved the way for his trial in absentia in France over the use of chemical weapons in\u00a0Gouta in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>Human rights lawyers had sought to enable prosecution of leaders linked to atrocities while they are in power, not just when they leave.<\/p>\n<p>But international law currently forbids it.<\/p>\n<p>\"Under current international law, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not exceptions to the principle of jurisdictional immunity for sitting foreign heads of state,\" Soulard said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//85//32//808x539_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg/" alt=\"A member of the security forces for the new interim Syrian government inspects a detention facility in Damascus, 14 December, 2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/384x256_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/640x427_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/750x500_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/828x552_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1080x720_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1200x800_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1920x1280_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A member of the security forces for the new interim Syrian government inspects a detention facility in Damascus, 14 December, 2024<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Al-Assad, currently living in exile in Russia, retained no lawyers for these charges and has denied that he was behind the chemical attacks.<\/p>\n<p>\"The court's ruling is a missed opportunity for justice,\" said Mariana Pena, a lawyer with the Open Society Justice Initiative, which helped bring the case to the court.<\/p>\n<p>But she said that the ruling \"leaves the door open to the prosecution of Assad.\"<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Silver lining for some<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The court also ruled on a case against a former Syrian government finance minister in al-Assad\u2019s government, allowing that he could be prosecuted.<\/p>\n<p>Adib Mayaleh\u2019s lawyers have argued that he too had immunity under international law.<\/p>\n<p>That is to some a silver lining in the court's ruling by establishing in France the right for courts to go after heads of state when they leave office and even current high-ranking officials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6185\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//85//32//808x499_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg/" alt=\"This image from video broadcast on Syrian State Television purports to show a chemical weapons expert taking samples at a chemical plant in Syria, 8 October, 2013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/384x238_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/640x396_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/750x464_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/828x512_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1080x668_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1200x742_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1920x1188_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">This image from video broadcast on Syrian State Television purports to show a chemical weapons expert taking samples at a chemical plant in Syria, 8 October, 2013<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Uncredited\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"This is a huge step, but not an absolute victory in the fight against impunity,\" said lawyer Cl\u00e9mence Witt, who with Jeanne Sulzer brought the case against al-Assad to the court.<\/p>\n<p>She said that the French courts can now for the first time issue warrants for high-ranking officials currently in power with adequate evidence.<\/p>\n<p>\"Every official \u2014 except head of state, head of government and head of foreign affairs \u2014 can be prosecuted in France if we have evidence of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity,\" Witt said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>War crimes accusations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For more than 50 years, Syria was ruled by Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar.<\/p>\n<p>During the Arab Spring, rebellion broke out against their tyrannical rule in 2011 across the country of 23 million people, igniting a brutal 13-year civil war that killed more than 500,000 people, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights.<\/p>\n<p>Millions more fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Europe.<\/p>\n<p>The al-Assad dynasty manipulated sectarian tensions to stay in power, a legacy driving\u00a0renewed violence against minority groups, despite promises that the country's new leaders will carve out\u00a0a political future for Syria\u00a0that includes and represents all of its communities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6755\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//85//32//808x546_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg/" alt=\"An aerial view of mass graves of those killed in a 2013 Sarin attack in Damascus, 25 December, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/384x259_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/640x432_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/750x507_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/828x559_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1080x730_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1200x811_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1920x1297_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">An aerial view of mass graves of those killed in a 2013 Sarin attack in Damascus, 25 December, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The International Criminal Court isn't bound by head of state immunity and has issued arrests warrants for leaders accused of atrocities, like Russian President\u00a0Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Syrian government\u00a0denied in 2013 that it was behind the Ghouta chemical attack, an accusation that the opposition rejected, because al-Assad's forces were the only side in the brutal civil war to possess sarin.<\/p>\n<p>Assad held onto power, aided militarily by Russia and Iranian-backed proxies, until late 2024, when a surprise assault by rebels swept into Aleppo and then Damascus, driving Assad to flee to safety to Russia in December.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Possibility of warrants<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>New warrants after Friday's ruling in France could lay the groundwork for the former leader\u2019s trial in absentia or potential arrest, if he travels outside Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Any trial of al-Assad, whether in absentia or if he leaves Russia, would mean this evidence could then \"be brought to light,\" Pena said, including an enormous trove of classified and secret evidence amassed by the judges during their investigations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//85//32//808x539_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg/" alt=\"Photos of people reported to be missing after being detained by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s army seen in Damascus, 22 December, 2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/384x256_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/640x427_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/750x500_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/828x552_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1080x720_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1200x800_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/1920x1280_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Photos of people reported to be missing after being detained by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s army seen in Damascus, 22 December, 2024<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Syrians often took great personal risk to gather evidence of war crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Darwish said that in the aftermath of a chlorine gas attack in Douma, for example, teams collected witness testimonies, images of devastation and soil samples.<\/p>\n<p>Others then tracked down and interviewed defectors to build a \u201cchain of command\u201d for the Syrian government's chemical weapons production and use.<\/p>\n<p>\"We link it directly to the president himself, Bashar al-Assad,\" he said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1753417932,"updatedAt":1753463000,"publishedAt":1753420634,"firstPublishedAt":1753420634,"lastPublishedAt":1753463000,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2b52cc01-3b7c-5deb-96e1-2292137174f1-9388532.jpg","altText":"A shoe hangs on a portrait of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, 23 December, 2024","caption":"A shoe hangs on a portrait of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, 23 December, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0e85aba0-daec-5710-9c24-47876e6ec1e0-9388532.jpg","altText":"Photos of people reported to be missing after being detained by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army seen in Damascus, 22 December, 2024","caption":"Photos of people reported to be missing after being detained by former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army seen in Damascus, 22 December, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bdae19fb-05ee-5fa0-8405-6389304dbb69-9388532.jpg","altText":"An aerial view of mass graves of those killed in a 2013 Sarin attack in Damascus, 25 December, 2025","caption":"An aerial view of mass graves of those killed in a 2013 Sarin attack in Damascus, 25 December, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1351},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_660d1e71-7c72-5167-9f2b-aff5c661013e-9388532.jpg","altText":"This image from video broadcast on Syrian State Television purports to show a chemical weapons expert taking samples at a chemical plant in Syria, 8 October, 2013","caption":"This image from video broadcast on Syrian State Television purports to show a chemical weapons expert taking samples at a chemical plant in Syria, 8 October, 2013","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Uncredited\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1237},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_832ddf21-82dd-5f56-bb48-2ea6d55244e1-9388532.jpg","altText":"A member of the security forces for the new interim Syrian government inspects a detention facility in Damascus, 14 December, 2024","caption":"A member of the security forces for the new interim Syrian government inspects a detention facility in Damascus, 14 December, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/85\/32\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e293fe39-af9d-5108-8129-5d096adb776b-9388532.jpg","altText":"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends the closing session of the Arab Summit in Doha, 30 March, 2009","caption":"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends the closing session of the Arab Summit in Doha, 30 March, 2009","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1314}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3467,"urlSafeValue":"gavin.blackburn@euronews.com","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":30248,"slug":"fall-of-assad","urlSafeValue":"fall-of-assad","title":"Fall of Assad","titleRaw":"Fall of Assad"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":21414,"slug":"human-rights-abuse","urlSafeValue":"human-rights-abuse","title":"human rights abuse","titleRaw":"human rights abuse"},{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":117,"slug":"france","urlSafeValue":"france","title":"France","titleRaw":"France"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":5}],"related":[{"id":2818135},{"id":2820505}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/25\/french-court-to-decide-if-al-assad-can-be-stripped-of-immunity-and-tried-for-syrian-chemic","lastModified":1753463000},{"id":2818448,"cid":9387985,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NORTHERN SYRIA EXPLOSION","daletPyramidId":2227449,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"At least six killed and dozens injured in explosion in northern Syria, officials say","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"At least six killed in explosion in northern Syria, officials say","titleListing2":"At least six people killed in explosion in northern Syria, local officials say","leadin":"The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, confirmed at least six deaths from the blast, which took place in the town of Maarat Misrin north of the city of Idlib.","summary":"The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, confirmed at least six deaths from the blast, which took place in the town of Maarat Misrin north of the city of Idlib.","keySentence":"","url":"at-least-six-killed-and-dozens-injured-in-explosion-in-northern-syria-officials-say","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/07\/24\/at-least-six-killed-and-dozens-injured-in-explosion-in-northern-syria-officials-say","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"At least six people were killed and dozens of others injured in an explosion in northern Syria\u2019s Idlib province, officials said on Thursday.\n\nThere has been no official statement on the cause of the blast.\n\nThe UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that the explosion took place in an ammunition depot.\n\nThe Syrian Civil Defence volunteer organisation, also known as the White Helmets, confirmed at least six deaths from the blast, which took place in the town of Maarat Misrin north of the city of Idlib.\n\n\"This is the death toll only of those recovered by Syrian Civil Defence teams, who continue to search for those trapped under the rubble,\" the White Helmets said in a statement.\n\nSyrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said in a post on the social media platform X that teams were transporting the wounded and dead despite \"continued recurring explosions in the area, which are hampering response efforts.\"\n\nThe state-run news agency, SANA, reported 140 injured, citing local health officials, but gave no further details.\n\nSyria is struggling to recover from a nearly 14-year civil war that ended with the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.\n\nDuring the war, which killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million, Idlib was an opposition-held enclave.\n\nThe country's current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa formerly led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an insurgent group based in Idlib that spearheaded the offensive that unseated al-Assad.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>At least six people were killed and dozens of others injured in an explosion in northern Syria\u2019s Idlib province, officials said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>There has been no official statement on the cause of the blast.<\/p>\n<p>The UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that the explosion took place in an ammunition depot.<\/p>\n<p>The Syrian Civil Defence volunteer organisation, also known as the White Helmets, confirmed at least six deaths from the blast, which took place in the town of Maarat Misrin north of the city of Idlib.<\/p>\n<p>\"This is the death toll only of those recovered by Syrian Civil Defence teams, who continue to search for those trapped under the rubble,\" the White Helmets said in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6705\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//79//85//808x542_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg/" alt=\"Syrian Civil Defence workers run at the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village in Idlib province, 24 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/384x257_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/640x429_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/750x503_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/828x555_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/1080x724_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/1200x805_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/1920x1287_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Syrian Civil Defence workers run at the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village in Idlib province, 24 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said in a post on the social media platform X that teams were transporting the wounded and dead despite \"continued recurring explosions in the area, which are hampering response efforts.\"<\/p>\n<p>The state-run news agency, SANA, reported 140 injured, citing local health officials, but gave no further details.<\/p>\n<p>Syria is struggling to recover from a nearly 14-year civil war that ended with the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.<\/p>\n<p>During the war, which killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million, Idlib was an opposition-held enclave.<\/p>\n<p>The country's current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa formerly led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an insurgent group based in Idlib that spearheaded the offensive that unseated al-Assad.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1753364020,"updatedAt":1753365969,"publishedAt":1753365927,"firstPublishedAt":1753365927,"lastPublishedAt":1753365927,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a140818b-f2b1-5030-a6d9-07e6cd055382-9387985.jpg","altText":"A Syrian Civil Defence worker checks the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village, 24 July, 2025","caption":"A Syrian Civil Defence worker checks the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village, 24 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1717,"height":965},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/79\/85\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0f5545cc-d0bc-5ed8-9e83-f3b842234d0e-9387985.jpg","altText":"Syrian Civil Defence workers run at the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village in Idlib province, 24 July, 2025","caption":"Syrian Civil Defence workers run at the explosion scene in Maarat Misrin village in Idlib province, 24 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1341}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3467,"urlSafeValue":"gavin.blackburn@euronews.com","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":15552,"slug":"idlib","urlSafeValue":"idlib","title":"Idlib","titleRaw":"Idlib"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"},{"id":5728,"slug":"bashar-al-assad","urlSafeValue":"bashar-al-assad","title":"Bashar al-Assad","titleRaw":"Bashar al-Assad"},{"id":28396,"slug":"war-in-syria","urlSafeValue":"war-in-syria","title":"war in Syria","titleRaw":"war in Syria"},{"id":10231,"slug":"explosion","urlSafeValue":"explosion","title":"Explosion","titleRaw":"Explosion"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2819913}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":5051,"urlSafeValue":"idlib","title":"Idlib"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/07\/24\/at-least-six-killed-and-dozens-injured-in-explosion-in-northern-syria-officials-say","lastModified":1753365927},{"id":2818180,"cid":9386128,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SYRIA TURKEY DEFENCE SUPPORT","daletPyramidId":2215851,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Syria asks Turkey for defence support after sectarian clashes, officials in Ankara say","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Syria asks Turkey for defence support after sectarian clashes","titleListing2":"Syria asks Turkey for defence support after sectarian clashes, Turkish officials say","leadin":"Turkey, which has long expressed readiness to assist Damascus, was working towards providing training and technical support to help strengthen Syria's defence capacity, the officials added.","summary":"Turkey, which has long expressed readiness to assist Damascus, was working towards providing training and technical support to help strengthen Syria's defence capacity, the officials added.","keySentence":"","url":"syria-asks-turkey-for-defence-support-after-sectarian-clashes-officials-in-ankara-say","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/07\/23\/syria-asks-turkey-for-defence-support-after-sectarian-clashes-officials-in-ankara-say","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Syria's interim government has requested Turkey\u2019s support to strengthen its defence capabilities, Turkish officials said on Wednesday, following\u00a0sectarian violence over the past two weeks that increased tensions in Syria and drew\u00a0an Israeli intervention.\n\nThe defence ministry officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity according to procedures, said that Syria has also sought assistance to combat \"terrorist organisations,\" including the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.\n\nTurkey, which has long expressed readiness to assist Syria, was working towards providing training, advisory services and technical support to help strengthen Syria's defence capacity, the officials added.\n\nSyrian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.\n\nTensions escalated\u00a0in southern Syria last week, with violent clashes erupting between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in Suwayda province.\n\nThe conflict triggered Israeli air strikes on convoys of government forces in Suwayda and on the Ministry of Defence headquarters in central Damascus, which Israel justified as efforts to protect Druze communities.\n\nThe US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria on 19 July, which allowed the Syrian government forces to go into Suwayda and break up the fighting between the Druze and Bedouins.\n\nAn earlier ceasefire between Druze factions and government forces broke down. After a second ceasefire, government forces withdrew from Suwayda, but fighting flared again between Druze and Bedouin groups.\n\nAnkara strongly supports Syria's interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa and has been seeking a defence agreement with Damascus that could reportedly include establishing Turkish military bases on Syrian territory.\n\nIn\u00a0an interview earlier this week with the AP news agency, Barrack said the US has \"no position\" on the prospect of a defence pact between Syria and Turkey.\n\n\"It's not in the US' business or interest to tell any of the surrounding nations with each other what to do,\" he said.\n\nAnkara also backs an agreement reached between the interim Syrian administration and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate into Syria\u2019s national army.\n\nImplementation of the deal has stalled, with a major sticking point being whether the SDF would remain as a cohesive unit in the new army or be dissolved completely.\n\nOn Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan\u00a0warned Kurdish and other groups in Syria against exploiting the tensions to pursue autonomy, stating that any attempt to divide Syria would be viewed as a direct threat to Turkey's national security and could prompt an intervention.\n\nTurkey considers the SDF a terrorist organisation because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.\n\nThe Turkish officials said Turkey expects the SDF to follow through on its commitments under the agreement, adding that Turkey would be \"following\" the situation.\n\nThe situation in Syria has increased tensions between Turkey and Israel.\n\nIn April, Israel struck five cities in Syria, including more than a dozen strikes near a strategic air base in the city of Hama, where Turkey reportedly has interests\u00a0in having a military presence.\n\nIsrael accused Turkey of trying to build a \"protectorate\" in Syria.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Syria's interim government has requested Turkey\u2019s support to strengthen its defence capabilities, Turkish officials said on Wednesday, following\u00a0sectarian violence over the past two weeks that increased tensions in Syria and drew\u00a0an Israeli intervention.<\/p>\n<p>The defence ministry officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity according to procedures, said that Syria has also sought assistance to combat \"terrorist organisations,\" including the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey, which has long expressed readiness to assist Syria, was working towards providing training, advisory services and technical support to help strengthen Syria's defence capacity, the officials added.<\/p>\n<p>Syrian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions escalated\u00a0in southern Syria last week, with violent clashes erupting between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in Suwayda province.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//61//28//808x539_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg/" alt=\"Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/384x256_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/640x427_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/750x500_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/828x552_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/1080x720_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/1200x800_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/1920x1280_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The conflict triggered Israeli air strikes on convoys of government forces in Suwayda and on the Ministry of Defence headquarters in central Damascus, which Israel justified as efforts to protect Druze communities.<\/p>\n<p>The US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria on 19 July, which allowed the Syrian government forces to go into Suwayda and break up the fighting between the Druze and Bedouins.<\/p>\n<p>An earlier ceasefire between Druze factions and government forces broke down. After a second ceasefire, government forces withdrew from Suwayda, but fighting flared again between Druze and Bedouin groups.<\/p>\n<p>Ankara strongly supports Syria's interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa and has been seeking a defence agreement with Damascus that could reportedly include establishing Turkish military bases on Syrian territory.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0an interview earlier this week with the AP news agency, Barrack said the US has \"no position\" on the prospect of a defence pact between Syria and Turkey.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//38//45//98//808x539_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg/" alt=\"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/384x256_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/640x427_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/750x500_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/828x552_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1080x720_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1200x800_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/1920x1280_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Michael Sohn<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"It's not in the US' business or interest to tell any of the surrounding nations with each other what to do,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ankara also backs an agreement reached between the interim Syrian administration and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate into Syria\u2019s national army.<\/p>\n<p>Implementation of the deal has stalled, with a major sticking point being whether the SDF would remain as a cohesive unit in the new army or be dissolved completely.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan\u00a0warned Kurdish and other groups in Syria against exploiting the tensions to pursue autonomy, stating that any attempt to divide Syria would be viewed as a direct threat to Turkey's national security and could prompt an intervention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9376935,9380029\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//17//syrian-forces-leave-sweida-after-ceasefire-with-druze-militias-goes-into-effect/">Syrian forces leave Sweida after ceasefire with Druze militias goes into effect<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//20//clashes-continue-in-sweida-as-ceasefire-struggles-to-hold/">Syria's armed Bedouins say they have withdrawn from Sweida after week of clashes<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Turkey considers the SDF a terrorist organisation because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey.<\/p>\n<p>The Turkish officials said Turkey expects the SDF to follow through on its commitments under the agreement, adding that Turkey would be \"following\" the situation.<\/p>\n<p>The situation in Syria has increased tensions between Turkey and Israel.<\/p>\n<p>In April, Israel struck five cities in Syria, including more than a dozen strikes near a strategic air base in the city of Hama, where Turkey reportedly has interests\u00a0in having a military presence.<\/p>\n<p>Israel accused Turkey of trying to build a \"protectorate\" in Syria.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1753279608,"updatedAt":1753287103,"publishedAt":1753287071,"firstPublishedAt":1753287071,"lastPublishedAt":1753287071,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a769abdd-fa1f-5ea8-be67-40cdad877869-9386128.jpg","altText":"Syrian government security forces block Bedouin fighters from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","caption":"Syrian government security forces block Bedouin fighters from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/61\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ee7e1997-ddec-5b5c-b509-be25b0099cf1-9386128.jpg","altText":"Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","caption":"Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suwayda province, 20 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/38\/45\/98\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2993cb22-c3ab-5423-97ab-ac65e0ff426d-9384598.jpg","altText":"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025","caption":"Bedouin fighters gather in front a burned shop at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Suwayda city, 18 July, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Michael Sohn","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3467,"urlSafeValue":"gavin.blackburn@euronews.com","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":8155,"slug":"syria","urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","titleRaw":"Syria"},{"id":27206,"slug":"druze","urlSafeValue":"druze","title":"Druze","titleRaw":"Druze"},{"id":18596,"slug":"bedouin","urlSafeValue":"bedouin","title":"Bedouin","titleRaw":"Bedouin"},{"id":284,"slug":"turkey","urlSafeValue":"turkey","title":"Turkiye (Turkey)","titleRaw":"Turkiye (Turkey)"},{"id":30258,"slug":"ahmed-al-sharaa","urlSafeValue":"ahmed-al-sharaa","title":"Ahmed al-Sharaa","titleRaw":"Ahmed al-Sharaa"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2817123},{"id":2820678}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":268,"urlSafeValue":"syria","title":"Syria","url":"\/news\/asia\/syria"},"town":{"id":1802,"urlSafeValue":"damascus","title":"Damascus"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/07\/23\/syria-asks-turkey-for-defence-support-after-sectarian-clashes-officials-in-ankara-say","lastModified":1753287071}]">

More about this topic

Syria

One year after ouster, al-Assad lives in supervised Moscow exile

Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad lives in Moscow under strict Russian supervision with banned public appearances, limited movements and no political activity since fleeing Damascus in December 2024.

08/12/2025

Syria

Activist urges Germany to retain Syria asylum amid persecution fears

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argues against granting asylum to Syrians after al-Assad's regime fell, but critics warn the country remains unsafe for minorities and women.

04/12/2025

Syria

EU updates asylum guidance for Syrians a year after al-Assad's fall

The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.

03/12/2025

Syria

Israel kill at least 13 people during a raid on a Syrian village

At least 13 people have been killed including women and children by Israeli forces during a raid on a southern Syrian village. One local man said 'When we tried to take injured people to the hospital, they struck the car carrying them'.

29/11/2025

ADVERTISEMENT

Syria

Syrians in Europe weigh up going home one year after al-Assad’s fall

Euronews spoke to Syrians about their experiences of going back to the country after years as refugees and the push-and-pull factors that made them go. Some were enthusiastic to stay, while others were wary of the country’s future.

28/11/2025

Syria

Syria opens first public trial over deadly clashes in coastal region

Half of the 14 defendants were loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, while the other half were members of the new government's security forces.

18/11/2025

Syria

Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda

Violent clashes erupted in Suwayda between the Druze National Guard and Syrian government forces, involving heavy weapons and drones, in the latest major escalation of fighting between the two sides.

14/11/2025

Syria

UN lifts sanctions against Syria's al-Sharaa before White House visit

The sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.

07/11/2025

Syria

World Bank estimates €185bn needed to rebuild Syria after civil war

Syria's civil war began in 2011 when mass protests against the government of then-President Bashar al-Assad were met with a brutal crackdown and spiralled into armed conflict.

21/10/2025

Syria

Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of al-Assad in first Moscow trip

The interim president of Syria arrived on an unprecedented visit to the Russian capital on Wednesday, where he is expected to demand that the Kremlin extradites toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad — who received asylum in Russia following his ouster — to face trial back in his country.

15/10/2025

Syria

Syria holds first parliamentary election since al-Assad's ousting

Syria held its first elections since the ousting of strongman President Bashar al-Assad in December in what the people hope will propel the country towards economic stability, prosperity and peace.

06/10/2025

Syria

25 bodies recovered from a mass grave near Damascus

Officials say the victims were killed by Assad's forces in an ambush while fleeing eastern Ghouta during the recent civil war.

20/09/2025

Green News

Syria’s fragile recovery at risk as worst drought in years unfolds

Experts say rainfall has been declining for decades in Syria, where a fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following 14 years of civil war.

05/09/2025

Syria

Alawites flee homes in Damascus suburb after threats from armed group

Residents in the al-Sumaria neighbourhood Euronews spoke to say the Syrian government has done little to protect them.

02/09/2025

Business

Syria resumes oil exports after 14 years, with 600,000 barrels a day

Before 2010, when the protests against Bashar al-Assad led to a civil war in the country, oil provided more than half of Syria's income.

02/09/2025

Syria

Israeli drone strikes kill six soldiers in Damascus, reports claim

Syrian state media and the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the latest drone strikes on Tuesday in the southern Damascus suburb of Kiswah killed six soldiers.

27/08/2025

Syria

US-led coalition in Syria captures senior IS group commander

The IS jihadist group broke away from al-Qaeda more than a decade ago and attracted supporters from around the world after it declared a so-called caliphate in 2014 in large parts of Syria and Iraq.

20/08/2025

Syria

Syria and Israel hold first direct talks in US-brokered meeting

In US-brokered talks, Syria and Israel discussed restoring a 1974 ceasefire to de-escalate tensions following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

20/08/2025

Syria

Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defence pact

Syria's interim government has faced mounting challenges in restoring order after nearly 14 years of civil war following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December.

14/08/2025

Syria

Turkey says Israel and Kurdish fighters shouldn't destabilise Syria

Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the interim government in Damascus has struggled to maintain stability and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war.

13/08/2025

Syria

Syrian groups demand pluralism safeguards after minorities clash

Syria's post-Assad transition has so far been marred by violence against minorities, raising fears about the future of the country.

08/08/2025

Syria

Turkish FM meets Syria's president in aftermath of Suwayda clashes

Last month, Syria requested Turkey’s support to strengthen its defence capabilities following violence that increased tensions in the country and drew an Israeli military intervention.

07/08/2025

Syria

Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since the fall of al-Assad

The announcement comes amid mounting unrest, particularly after deadly clashes erupted in Suwayda province between Bedouin and Druze fighters.

28/07/2025

Europe News

France’s top court upholds some of Bashar al-Assad's legal protections

The Cour de Cassation upheld Assad’s head-of-state immunity, but added that since he is no longer in office, “new arrest warrants may have been or may be issued against him for acts that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.”

25/07/2025

Syria

At least six killed in explosion in northern Syria, officials say

The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, confirmed at least six deaths from the blast, which took place in the town of Maarat Misrin north of the city of Idlib.

24/07/2025

Syria

Syria asks Turkey for defence support after sectarian clashes

Turkey, which has long expressed readiness to assist Damascus, was working towards providing training and technical support to help strengthen Syria's defence capacity, the officials added.

23/07/2025