Syria - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Palmyra

Syria

June 27, 2026

Damascus 10:59 am

32°C

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Supreme Court backs Trump move to end Syrians’ deportation protections

The decision affects some 6,100 Syrians who live in the United States.

Amjad Kurdo / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Syria’s energy push could soon get a major boost from Chevron: What to know

The country's leaders are seeking to translate a flurry of oil and gas agreements into concrete investments and rebuild an industry devastated by more than a decade of war, sanctions and isolation.

Defendant Wassim al-Assad appears before the Fourth Criminal Court during the opening session of his trial in Damascus on June 24, 2026.

Syria opens trial of Wassim al-Assad, cousin of ousted president: What we know

The trial follows another session in the case against Atef Najib, also a cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad, as Syrian authorities continue prosecuting figures linked to the former regime and its remnants.

Latest News

Syria announces direct flights to Amsterdam as Europe links expand

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Syria’s Sharaa says he had ‘multiple discussions’ with Trump on Lebanon, favors dialogue

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Oval Office, Washington, DC, Nov. 10, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Ali Hashem

In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict

Cagatay Cebe

In Istanbul, reporting on security and counterterrorism

Foreign Ministers’ quadripartite meeting.

First Turkey-Syria FM meeting in Russia agrees to work on refugees, terrorism

Ankara, for its part, stressed the need for cooperation on the return of Syrian refugees, the top Turkish diplomat said ahead of Turkey's crucial elections.

The dome of a mosque is seen amongst the rooftops of home and apartment blocks in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on June 26, 2013.

Islamic State claims Damascus car bomb as Assad invited to Saudi

The Syrian President's formal invite to the upcoming Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia marks a shift in Riyadh's relations with Damascus.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian shake hands during a joint news conference as part of their meeting in Moscow, on Aug. 31, 2022.

Iran FM in Russia to talk Syria-Turkey reconciliation while vowing to boost Assad's military

Prior to the Moscow meeting, Tehran pledged readiness to equip Syria with the latest Iran-made weaponry, the shipment of which has been eased by the 2020 expiry of a UN arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

People walk past election campaign billboards depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a candidate for the upcoming presidential vote, in the capital Damascus, on May 25, 2021.

After Arab League vote, US 'skeptical' Syria’s Assad will make concessions

The Syrian government has yet to grant any major concession in exchange for its regional reintegration.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu

Analysis

Turkey Elections: A Kilicdaroglu election win could overhaul Syria policy

The opposition leader is seen as someone who would have more clout at the negotiating table with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, especially on migration and security issues in northern Syria.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A picture taken during a tour origanized by the Jordanian army shows soldiers patrolling along the border with Syria to prevent trafficking, Feb. 17, 2022.

Suspected Jordanian airstrike kills Syrian drug trafficker on border

The airstrike coming one day after Syria’s re-admission to the Arab League reportedly killed Marai al-Ramthan, a notorious drug dealer.

Syria's empty seat is pictured during an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on May 7, 2023. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Arab League readmits Syria, paving the way for Assad to attend Saudi summit

With Syria's readmittance, Assad is now expected to attend the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19.

A woman sits outside a tent at a camp for those displaced by conflict in the countryside near Syria's northern city of Raqa on December 19, 2022. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Assad will demand high price for return of refugees

Arab League at risk of getting caught between US and Syria over sanctions policy.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Raisi syria

Iranian president’s visit to Syria sends message ahead of Arab League vote

While Raisi claims leadership for Iran in keeping Assad in power, his foreign minister’s book offers background and insights into Iran’s Syria policy.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) speaks with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Damascus on May 3, 2023. - Raisi congratulated al-Assad on May 3 for "achieving victory" in the country's 12-year-long civil war, in which Tehran has been a major ally. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Syria, Iran expand agreements, praise China after Assad-Raisi meeting

Syria and Iran signed a number of agreements during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s historic visit and Raisi invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to visit Iran.

A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone is on view during a presentation at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, Lithuania, on July 6, 2022.

Turkey’s drones are killing Kurdish children in northeast Syria

Turkey's drone campaign to undermine Kurdish rule in Syria continues unabated, with children paying a heavy price.

Arab League ambassadors gather for an emergency meeting in Cairo on April 5, 2023,

Arab League calls emergency meeting on crisis in Sudan, readmitting Syria

The Arab League will address Syria's readmittance to the alliance and the ongoing violence in Sudan.