Syria arrivals surge 111% as government bets on tourism revival The country welcomed 3.52 million visitors during the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier, as the government pushes to reconnect to the world and promote tourism as a pillar of economic recovery. Syria
Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran declares 'existential war' as US strikes reach near Tehran By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria, US hold first business forum since sanctions relief: What to know The one-day forum in Damascus was organized by Syria’s Ministry of Economy and Industry and the US-Syria Business Council, which was established in Washington last June to advance trade and investment between the two nations. Syria
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran hits Gulf, warns Hormuz will reopen on its terms By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Intel: Pentagon chief briefed on 2019 Syria airstrike US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the briefing after reading an investigation into the strike by The New York Times. Syria
Attack on Syrian prison holding Iraqi Islamic State captives raises concerns Local forces backed by coalition air support reportedly prevented an attack on a prison housing thousands of Islamic State operatives in northeastern Syria under Kurdish-led administration. Iraq
IRGC Syria commander removed 'upon request from Assad' The future of Iran’s presence in Syria seems to be dividing the Syrian leadership. Syria
Expensive private schools become many Syrian students' only option As public schools struggle to accommodate an increasing number of students, thousands of students in the Aleppo area are being pushed into private schools. Syria
Russia begins restoration of Arc of Triumph in Syria's Palmyra Russia has begun the restoration of the Arch of Triumph, one of the historical landmarks in Palmyra, in cooperation with UNESCO. Syria
Mansour Abbas’s star turn rattles Israeli politics Also: Syrian Kurdish leader not worried — yet — about Turkish invasion (exclusive). Israel
Camels weep as their young perish in Syria’s killer drought Camels are a miserable canary in the coal mine of Syria, which is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years. Syria
Syrian jihadist group mandates apologies, or imprisonment, for criticism Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which controls most of Idlib, enforces zero tolerance for critics. Syria
Backlash after Islamist group in Idlib taxes olive crops The HTS-affiliated Salvation Government imposed Islamic taxes on olive crops, thus worsening farmers’ plight amid the water scarcity and drought. Syria
Report documents Syrian regime detaining, killing health workers A new report from Physicians for Human Rights found that health care workers who provided care to injured protesters in the early days of the Syrian civil war were at increased risk of abuse by the government. Syria
Syrian Kurdish commander says Russia opposes further Turkish land grabs Mazlum Kobane, commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, also says Damascus is not yet ready for negotiations. Syria
Why are Turkish-allied formations collapsing in Syria? Factions pulling out of the recently formed Syrian Liberation Front raise questions about the future of Turkish-backed rebel groups. Syria
