Armed Group Blocks University Students from Returning to Campus in Syria’s Suweida Province

Tensions flared in Syria’s southern Suweida province on Thursday after an armed group prevented a convoy of university students from traveling to Damascus to attend classes at Qalamoun University, citing concerns over their safety. The incident has …

Is Syria's new president a U.S. ally or enemy?

President Donald Trump met Wednesday with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharra, in an effort to forge a new relationship with the country, the first time a U.S. president has met with its leader in decades. But what kind of relationship the U.S. will have …

US announces lifting of Syria sanctions

Snap decision by Trump leaves Syrians celebrating and hawkish politicians reeling Become a MEED subscriber for unlimited access to: Exclusive news, comment and analysis on the MENA region An unrivalled 20-year old archive Exclusive announcements on project …

​New beginning: On Syria’s present and future

Until six months ago, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani was a specially designated global terrorist, with a $10 million bounty fixed on his head by the U.S. government. A native of Syria’s Golan Heights and a former member of al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the group’s most …

Syria's Prospects of Debt Restructuring Entangled in Geopolitical Calculations

From Cuba in 1898 to Iraq in 2003, many countries that have undergone a political transition have cancelled or restructured the debt owed by former authorities in power. In the past, Syria too wrote off part of its external debt. In the 2000s, the Syrian …

Israel rethinks Syria after Trump, al-Sharaa meet

2 View gallery Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Maj. Gen. Oded Basyuk (Photo: Avigail Uzi) The meeting included members of Israel’s National Security Council and was part of broader talks with Turkey regarding Syria. A prior meeting with Turkish officials …

US Treasury 'surprised, confused' by Trump's order to lift Syria sanctions

‘No longer a pariah’: How Syria will benefit from Trump’s decision to lift sanctions

As Donald Trump continues his West Asia visit, the country of Syria broke out in celebrations as the US president announced plans to lift crippling sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift by Washington after 14 years of civil war. The country has …

EU proposes further loosening of Syria sanctions

BRUSSELS: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed a further loosening of European sanctions on Syria to allow funding for Syrian ministries in areas including reconstruction and migration, according to a document seen by reporters. The move comes …

Syria and Turkey Seize 9 Million Captagon Pills in Joint Operation

Syrian and Turkish authorities announced Thursday the seizure of more than 9 million pills of captagon, a powerful illegal stimulant, in a joint narcotics operation that spanned one month. Syrian officials said the network was dismantled and arrests were …