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

Palmyra

Syria

August 27, 2026

Damascus 10:22 pm

31°C

cards

Sharaa taps Visa as Syria reconnects to global finance: What to know

Visa and Mastercard announced Wednesday that their networks can now be used to make international card payments in Syria.

Mazloum Kobane, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), speaks during a televised speech at the People's Palace in Damascus on Aug. 25, 2026.

Analysis

Capitulation or compromise? What SDF's dissolution means for Sharaa, Turkey and Syria's Kurds

The Syrian Democratic Forces' dissolution ends an era of Kurdish self-rule while opening a new political chapter in Damascus.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Syrian Airlines expands Europe comeback with Vienna, Copenhagen flights

A Syrian Air passenger jet lands at Aleppo airport on March 18, 2025, the first aircraft to land after it was shut during the offensive that toppled former President Bashar al-Assad.

Exclusive

Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C) watches as US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack prepares to sign an agreement in Damascus on September 16, 2025. Shaibani announced on September 16 a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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

A composite image of Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (R).

Macron invites Syria’s Sharaa to France for first EU visit: What to know

France, like other EU countries, has expressed a desire to engage with Syria’s new administration and lift sanctions on the country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on February 4, 2025.

Pomp over substance marks Sharaa's first trip to Turkey as Syria's president

While the Turkish president lauded the visit as "historic," little of substance was announced and neither leader made any mention of an alleged defense pact reported Tuesday by Reuters.

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa (front L) accompanied by his wife Latifa al-Droubi (front C), and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani perform the Umrah, or the minor pilgrimage, alongside their wives respectively and in Islam's holiest city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2025.

Sharaa's wife, Latifa Droubi, makes first appearance outside Syria: What we know

Pictures and videos on social media of Latifa al-Droubi, the wife of Syria's newly appointed interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, have sparked wide interest in Syria's new first lady.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) speaks at a press conference outside of USAID headquarters on Feb. 03, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Democrats warn Trump’s USAID freeze may fuel Middle East instability

Lawmakers vowed to challenge the takeover of the agency, with or without the support of Republicans members of Congress.

Residents are slowly returning to Daraya, the Damascus suburb that was reduced to rubble by the Assad regime. Here a child is seen riding his bike in Daraya on Jan. 26, 2025. (Amberin Zaman/Al-Monitor)

Feature

Can Syria’s new Islamist rulers win their broken nation’s trust?

While Syrians widely celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorial regime, many reserve judgement on their new Islamist leaders.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

TOPSHOT - Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa performs the Umrah, or the minor pilgrimage, in Islam's holiest city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia on February 3, 2025. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan to host Syria’s Sharaa on first Turkey visit, discuss security ties

The meeting between the Turkish president and Syria's new leader will focus on Syria's post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery and security issues.

A handout showing Ahmed al-Sharaa while meeting with a UK delegation in Damascus, Dec. 17, 2024.

UAE, Saudi Arabia congratulate Sharaa as Jordan resumes Syria flights

Arab leaders have warmly welcomed Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria's interim president, with close allies of his deposed predecessor remaining noncommittal.

The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa waits to greet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not in picture) ahead of a meeting between the Syrian leadership and a Ukrainian delegation to help strengthen ties between the two countries on December 30, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Syria is transitioning after the fall of the Baath regime and the Assad family's rule, with a temporary administration now in place in Damascus and Aleppo. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)

Syria suspends constitution, declares Ahmed al-Sharaa transitional president

Syria's de facto leadership previously said that new elections could take up to four years and that it could also take several years to draft a new constitution.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS offshoot Hurras al-Din dissolves: What we know

Hurras al-Din, which split from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after the latter distanced itself from al-Qaeda, had led attacks against Syrian government forces and Russian interests in Syria.

An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Hermon ski resort, bordering Syria and Lebanon, during a media tour organized by the spokesman of the Israeli army, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Jan. 8, 2025.

Israeli defense minister: Troops could stay in Syria buffer zone 'indefinitely'

The Israeli military is gearing up to stay on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone on the Israel-Syria border at least throughout the winter.

A Russian ship is pictured in front of fleet replenishment oiler Ivan Bubnov (L) at the Russian naval base in the port of Tartus, Syria, Sept. 26, 2019.

Russian delegation in Syria as Moscow scrambles to secure military presence

The visit marks the first since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who had been Moscow's key ally in Syria.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Al-Monitor Doha: Syrian Symphony arrives

Syrian voices bring Doha to life this week with pianist and composer Malek Jandali's Syrian Symphony and singer Assala Nasri’s soulful tunes.