France has called on Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity following an Israeli airstrike in Damascus that killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children. The French chargé d’affaires in Syria, Jean-Baptiste Favre, expressed concern over civilian casualties and reaffirmed France’s commitment to international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two countries. He urged Middle Eastern nations to engage in efforts to make Syria a center of peace, security, and stability for the region. Reports indicate that since December 2024, Israel has conducted over a thousand airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border operations in southern Syria. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government late last year, Israel reportedly took control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, violating the previous agreement with Syria. France’s statement reflects growing international concern over escalating violence and regional instability.

The United States and Syrian joint forces have destroyed 15 Islamic State (IS) weapons depots in southern Syria, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released on Friday, November 28. The operations, conducted between November 24 and 27, targeted IS stockpiles containing over 130 mortars and rockets, as well as numerous assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and bomb-making materials. The campaign is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate IS remnants that once controlled vast territories across Syria and Iraq following its rise in 2013. Although the group has lost most of its territory, it continues to maintain limited presence in remote areas. The latest operation comes amid political changes in Syria, where interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently met US President Donald Trump, who pledged full American support to the new transitional government following the December 2024 coup that ousted Bashar al-Assad.

At least 12 people, including women and children, were killed and 18 others injured, among them six Israeli soldiers, during intense clashes following Israeli airstrikes in Syria’s Beit Jinn and Mazraat Beit Jinn areas near Damascus. According to Syrian state media, the attacks occurred early Friday, leaving several people trapped under rubble as rescue operations continued. Israeli forces claimed the operation targeted members of Al-Jamaa Islamiyah allegedly plotting attacks on Israeli civilians. Syrian authorities have not commented on the incident. The Israeli military confirmed six of its soldiers were wounded, three critically. Reports indicate that Israel has conducted 47 operations in southern Syria this November alone, and over 1,000 airstrikes since late 2024, expanding its control over the Golan Heights and violating the 1974 disengagement agreement. The renewed violence follows similar Israeli attacks in Lebanon, raising regional tensions.

US special envoy Tom Barrack announced that Syria will actively assist the United States in combating ISIS, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The statement followed Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s historic visit to the White House—the first by a Syrian leader since 1946. Syria has now joined the US-led coalition against ISIS as its 90th member. Barrack also met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, and Syria’s Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s new defense and civic structures. The talks also addressed regional realignments involving Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon. Barrack urged the US Congress to lift sanctions on Syria, emphasizing regional self-driven diplomacy. Despite cooperation with Washington, Sharaa ruled out normalizing ties with Israel, citing US support for a full Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory.

The United Nations Security Council has officially lifted sanctions against Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara, paving the way for his scheduled visit to the White House next week. The decision, supported by the United States and backed by a council vote, marks a significant diplomatic shift in the international community’s stance toward Syria. Shara assumed office as interim president in December 2024 after rebel forces ousted Bashar al-Assad, effectively ending the country’s 13-year civil war.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz described the vote as a “powerful political message” affirming that Syria has entered a new era beyond Assad’s regime. Shara had previously been under UN sanctions for his leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once affiliated with al-Qaeda, but the U.S. removed HTS from its terrorist list last July. The Security Council also lifted sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab.
According to the BBC, President Shara will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. Their previous meeting took place in Riyadh in May, where Trump praised Shara as a strong and determined leader. This upcoming visit will be Shara’s second trip to the United States this year.

Syria has officially released the results of its first parliamentary election since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The election commission announced on Monday that the outcomes for two-thirds of parliamentary seats are final and not subject to appeal. President Ahmad al-Shara will appoint members for the remaining one-third of seats, a process separate from the electoral body. On Sunday, Syrian voters cast ballots to elect representatives for 210 parliamentary seats, with 1,578 candidates competing, including 14 percent women. Authorities described the election as a key step in Syria’s political transition, marking the country’s first post-Assad electoral process. Officials emphasized the transparency and finality of the results, while noting that the appointment of remaining members by the president ensures a complete parliamentary body.

Syria recently announced the dismantling of a cell linked to Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, seizing rockets, missiles, and arresting five suspects. Hezbollah denied any presence in Syria, but analysts note Iran continues to use the group as part of its regional strategy. Recent Israeli strikes and internal pressures in Lebanon have weakened Hezbollah’s military capabilities, limiting its influence in Syria. While still part of Iran’s plans, the group struggles to project the same strength, signaling a new reality for regional dynamics.

Syria’s interim government has set October 5 for the People’s Assembly election, the first since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster last year. Of 210 seats, one-third will be appointed by President Ahmed al-Shara, while the rest will be elected under the electoral commission. The vote aims to rebuild state institutions and gain legitimacy, though critics warn of limited representation. Security concerns persist in Suwayda, Hasakah, and Raqqa, while al-Shara pushes regional diplomacy, including potential security talks with Israel.

For the first time since 1967, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara has arrived in Washington to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Syrian state TV confirmed he is accompanied by four ministers, with expectations that the visit could open dialogue on restoring diplomatic ties with the United States, including reopening Syria’s embassy in Washington.

Al-Shara is scheduled to address the Assembly on September 24. A meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is also being planned on the sidelines.

Reuters noted that the U.S. once placed a $10 million bounty on al-Shara’s head due to his alleged links with al-Qaeda. However, his meeting with Trump in Riyadh earlier this year was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough, leading Washington to lift most sanctions on Syria and pledge support for a “unified and stable” Damascus.

As Syria tries to return to normalcy after 14 years of civil war, the country is facing the worst drought in decades, severely affecting its agricultural sector and threatening food security. Rivers and lakes have dried up, crops have failed, and water supply is disrupted in major cities. Wheat production this season is less than half of the usual yield. Farmers, already economically weakened by the war, are struggling to survive. The government may need to import more wheat to feed 23 million people.

Israeli drone strikes on Syrian military positions near Damascus killed six soldiers early Wednesday, according to Syria’s state media. The attack targeted the Al-Kiswah area, continuing a series of Israeli operations since Bashar al-Assad’s fall last December. Syria accused Israel of occupying parts of the Golan Heights buffer zone, building military bases, and deploying troops near Mount Hermon. The strikes follow recent deadly sectarian clashes in Suwayda, with Israel citing protection of Druze communities while intensifying pressure on Damascus.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has ruled out any plans to normalize relations with Israel, citing the ongoing occupation of the Golan Heights.

“Our conflict with Israel is fundamentally different from that of other Arab states. The Abraham Accords were signed with countries that had neither occupied land nor direct confrontation with Israel. Syria’s situation is different—our Golan Heights remain under occupation. At this moment, normalization is not on the table,” al-Sharaa said.

He emphasized that Damascus’s priority is stabilizing southern Syria under the 1974 UN-mediated disengagement agreement or international supervision.

Al-Sharaa is scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly in September, making him the first Syrian president to do so since 1967. “This participation itself sends a message—Syria is no longer isolated and is returning to the arena of international diplomacy,” he noted.

Relations between Syria and the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and European nations have reportedly improved significantly in recent months.

Syria is set to hold its first parliamentary elections under the new transitional government between September 15 and 20. According to Mohammad Taha Al-Ahmad, Chair of the country’s High Election Commission, one-third of the 210 parliamentary seats will be appointed directly by interim President Ahmed Al-Shara, with the remainder filled through direct elections. This comes amid continued unrest and instability across the war-torn nation, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Violence in Syria’s southern city of Sweida has left nearly 1,000 dead amid ongoing sectarian clashes between the Druze community and Bedouin fighters. Despite a declared ceasefire, heavy gunfire and mortar shelling continued. The interim government, led by President Ahmed al-Shara, has struggled to regain control. Israeli airstrikes in southern Syria and Damascus further escalated tensions, while the U.S. backed the current Syrian administration. Humanitarian conditions have worsened, with hospitals overwhelmed and minorities fearing for their safety under al-Shara’s rule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call to discuss the worsening situation in Syria. Erdoğan warned against Israeli violations of Syria’s sovereignty and stressed that renewed conflict could endanger regional stability. The Kremlin stated both leaders emphasized dialogue and national unity to stabilize Syria. They also discussed the Ukraine war and possible peace talks in Istanbul. Meanwhile, the U.S. envoy to Turkey confirmed a ceasefire between Israel and Syria, welcomed by Turkey, Jordan, and other regional neighbors.