As Western diplomats attempt to establish ties with rebels who have taken power in Syria, a religious minority is making its own diplomatic efforts to ensure security for its members while the country rebuilds. Druze, a representative of the group, recently went to Washington to meet with lawmakers, members of the Biden and Trump administrations … Read more
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe are heading to the Saudi capital for talks on Syria as world powers push for stability following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The talks on Sunday will take place in two sessions: the first will bring together Arab officials while the second will … Read more
Damascus, Syria – Syria’s new ruler and Lebanon’s prime minister pledged to build lasting ties on Saturday during the first visit to Damascus by a Lebanese head of government since the civil war began in 2011. Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s visit came after Islamist-led rebels took control of Damascus last month, ousting President Bashar al-Assad. … Read more
The Lebanese prime minister departed on Saturday for his first official visit to the Syrian capital Damascus to meet with the new government, after several Lebanese soldiers were injured in clashes along the countries’ shared border last week. Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the new Syrian government, on Saturday … Read more
Damascus, Syria – Intelligence officers from Syria’s new de facto government foiled a plan by the Islamic State group to bomb a Shiite shrine in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zainab, state media reported on Saturday. State news agency SANA cited an unnamed General Intelligence Service official as saying that members of the IS cell … Read more
I had not been to Syria for 14 years. After the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, I couldn’t wait to make the two-hour drive from Beirut to Damascus and witness the end of this 54-year dictatorship. When I arrived five days after their eviction, I saw the joy of thousands of Syrians celebrating independence in … Read more
Washington — The United States on Monday eased some sanctions on Syria’s transitional government to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country after Islamist rebels ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month. The US Treasury Department issued a general license lasting six months that authorizes certain transactions with the Syrian government, including certain energy sales … Read more
Syria’s new leader is set to meet the French and German foreign ministers in the capital Damascus on Friday, one of the highest-level Western diplomatic visits since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last month. Germany’s top diplomat Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Damascus on behalf of the EU for … Read more
Syrian security forces searched the city of Homs on Thursday for former soldiers and pro-Assad militants who have refused to hand over their weapons, state media said. SANA news agency quoted a military official as saying that rebels who ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad had set up centers in Homs to arm soldiers and militants … Read more
Washington — Syrians and legal experts are reacting to comments by Syria’s de facto leader that it could take four years for new elections to be held after the removal of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and three years to draft a new constitution. In an interview with Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as … Read more