Syria

Syria parliament votes to abolish Assad-era terrorism court, nullify rulings

Wednesday's vote came during the opening weeks of the first parliament formed since Assad was toppled in December 2024. The chamber convened for the first time in July.

|ByREUTERS
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends a meeting with his foreign minister and the leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), at the People's Palace in Damascus on August 25, 2026.
Moshe Edri, head of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, is seen speaking at the 70th annual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, on September 15, 2026.

Iran holds over nine tons of nuclear material outside of IAEA safeguard, atomic energy head says

The material includes 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, "equivalent to more than 10 nuclear devices," noted Israel Atomic Energy Commission Director-General Moshe Edri. 

|ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) amd Syrian President Ahmed Shara (L) attend the official opening ceremony of Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the theme of 'Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties' in Antalya, Turkey on April 17, 2026.

Syria is continuing to strengthen ties with Turkey, causing concern in Israel - analysis

Syria and Turkey have signed 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding, creating links between 22 Syrian ministries and agencies and their Turkish counterparts, SANA reported.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A.Y. was arrested by the Internal Security Forces of Syria following a video circulating where she "engages in witchcraft."

Syrian authorities arrest Aleppo woman for practicing 'witchcraft and sorcery' in video

The circulating footage showed a woman, allegedly A.Y., burning an unidentified object on a stone before a crowd gathered to question her about what she was doing.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

At least 14 killed in explosion at weapons depot in Syria's Idlib, state TV says

The Defense Ministry said the weapons and war remnants were being stored at the site before being transported elsewhere, and that some of its personnel were among those wounded.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026ByREUTERS
The aftermath of a deadly car bomb in Syria's Idlib Province, September 1, 2026.

Israel can protect Sweida’s Druze without supporting Syria’s separation - opinion

Stability in Sweida will not come from creating new borders, but from building a new relationship between Sweida and the Damascus government.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026ByGHASSAN IBRAHIM
A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025.

Microsoft Store returns to Syria as US restrictions on country ease

Syrians report renewed access to the Microsoft Store without a VPN, though availability remains inconsistent, and Microsoft has not commented on the change.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026ByRIZIK ALABI / THE MEDIA LINE
A view shows the Microsoft logo on the day of the Hannover Messe, one of the world's largest industrial trade fairs with this year's partner country being Canada, as both Canada and the European Union face new US tariffs, in Hanover, Germany, March 31, 2025.

Seven years after being displaced, Kurdish families return to Serekaniye - analysis

In 2019, the US briefly considered leaving Syria. It evacuated some posts in the area, not wanting to be in the middle of fighting. It took time for the area to stabilize.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Members of the all women Martyr Ayaz Çiya battalion staff checkpoints and stop vehicles in the Halko neighbourhood on February 8, 2026 in Qamishli, Syria.

Secular school in Damascus announces full gender segregation, backlash ensues

The esteemed Al-Hurriya Institute in Damascus received backlash from Syrians after the former secular school announced plans to segregate students based on gender.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Women prepare for Eid al-Adha prayers at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, May 27, 2026.

UN Syria commission warns Israeli military activity may amount to war crimes

The Israeli mission in Geneva accused the Commission of conducting an "Israel-bashing session" and said Israel had no territorial aspirations in Syria.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByREUTERS
IDF troops operate within Syria in early March.

Arab Gas Pipeline revival: Jordan approves strategic natural gas supply route to Lebanon via Syria

Under the new arrangement, Jordan will import liquefied natural gas and regasify it using existing infrastructure at the Aqaba Port, before transporting the product to Lebanon through Syria.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
A worker checks an oil pipeline at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq.

Russia ditches its Syrian bases - opinion

The Syrian foreign ministry announced that, after about 18 months of negotiations, Syria and Russia had concluded an MOU: Russian presence in Tartous and Hmeimim would be "reorganized."

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByNEVILLE TELLER
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) attend a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025.

Israel investigating how Syrian civilian reached area near IDF post in Golan undetected - report

In a separate incident overnight, IDF troops detained two Syrian civilians in the Mount Hermon sector who are suspected of involvement in attempted smuggling operations along the border.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026BySHIR PERETS
IDF soldiers but up a checkpoint on a road near the Syrian border, northern Golan Heights on October 7, 2023.

Syria still committed to diplomatic option with Israel, FM Shaibani tells Arab League - report

Shaibani made his comments during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the 166th ministerial session of the Arab League in Cairo, SANA reported.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByTZVI JASPER
Syria's interim foreign minister Asaad Shaibani attends a meeting of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers at the Arab League headquarters in central Cairo on September 7, 2026.