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.

Israel is suspected of launching attacks in Syria, including near Damascus, under the pretense of protecting the Druze minority in Suwayda. Syrian politician Tarek Ahmed claims it was a strategic move to destabilize and remove interim President Ahmed Shara. He suggests Shara was misled by promises of peace. With increasing regional tensions, Ahmed warns of serious security risks and long-term consequences, saying Israel’s actions could reshape Syria’s power dynamics and possibly plunge the region into deeper chaos.

Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire following intense airstrikes and ethnic violence in Suwayda province, with the U.S. acting as mediator. The ceasefire was welcomed by Turkey, Jordan, and regional neighbors. Israel claimed its strikes aimed to protect the Druze community, amid deadly clashes involving Druze, Bedouins, and Syrian forces. Syria’s interim president warned against Israeli interference but said Syria seeks peace. Special forces have been deployed to Suwayda to restore order after over 100 deaths in recent violence.

U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, which has been welcomed as a major diplomatic achievement by countries including Turkey and Jordan. Calls have been made for peace among the Druze, Bedouin, and Sunni communities in Syria. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike in Damascus killed three people. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that troops have begun withdrawing from Sweida and confirmed a separate ceasefire deal with the Druze. He accused Israel of deliberately fostering division within Syria.

At least 594 people have been killed in recent ethnic clashes in Syria’s southern Sweida province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The dead include over 300 members of the Druze minority, 257 government officials, and 21 Bedouins. The conflict reportedly stems from long-standing tensions between Druze and Bedouin communities. Israeli airstrikes in the region also killed 15 government troops, with Israel claiming the attacks were intended to protect the Druze.

The situation remains volatile, with bodies on the streets and widespread looting reported after the withdrawal of Syrian government forces.