Syria's new political landscape - UPDATES

[Anthea]

Syrian FM Says No Tangible
Progress in Talks with Kurds

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on Sunday that negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish officials have yet to yield substantive results, despite ongoing discussions aimed at reintegrating the Kurdish-led administration and its military forces into the Syrian state

Speaking to Al-Monitor on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, Shibani said, “The discussions with the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] are continuing. There are no positive or practical steps [taken so far]. In general, the trajectory is positive.”

His comments contrasted sharply with those of US Syria Envoy Tom Barrack, who said a day earlier that the talks were going “amazingly well” during his speech at the same conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

A potential deal between the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government is viewed as essential to stabilizing the country and reviving its war-torn economy.

The Kurdish administration currently controls about one-third of Syria, including most of its oil and water resources.

The ongoing talks follow the March 10, 2025, agreement reached between the new Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which laid the groundwork for integrating SDF units into a restructured national army under a unified defense framework.

The agreement also included provisions for recognizing local governance institutions in Kurdish-held regions and ensuring a fair share of national revenues for reconstruction and public services.

However, the implementation of the March deal has stalled due to disagreements over command structures, administrative autonomy, and the future of US forces stationed in northeastern Syria.

While Damascus insists on full central control, Kurdish leaders have continued to push for constitutional guarantees that preserve regional self-administration.

Analysts say the outcome of the current negotiations could shape Syria’s post-war political landscape and influence broader regional dynamics, particularly as Washington and regional powers push for a sustainable political settlement to end more than a decade of conflict.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898222

Part of the problem is that the SDF are bullies and have always sought to take control ignoring all other Kurdish groups within the area and removing the MUCH LOVED name of WESTERN KURDISTAN they have also denied Kurds the right to aim for an independent Western Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Syria raises electricity tariffs by 60%

The Syrian government has raised electricity rates by 60 percent, a Damascus official confirmed to Rudaw, citing the need to cover rising electricity production and network maintenance costs. The official also reaffirmed ongoing cooperation with the Kurdish-led administration in Western Kurdistan in the power dossier

Khaled Abu Di, Director-General of Syria’s Public Establishment for Electricity Transmission and Distribution, stated Sunday that his country currently provides electricity for only seven to eight hours per day due to fuel shortages.

“Our generating capacity is around 3,500 to 5,000 megawatts [MW], but currently we cannot produce more than 2,200 MW because of limited fuel,” Abu Di explained. He linked the fuel shortage directly to the recent tariff adjustments, emphasizing the need for revenue to fund imported gas and fuel oil.

He further elaborated that “previously, electricity cost 10 Syrian Pounds [around $0.0009] per kWh. Today, the tariff starts at 600 Syrian Pounds [about $0.05] per kWh. This is a very large increase, but cannot frame it as a simple percentage rise. We can say that the electricity tariff was subsidized by 60 percent.”

Consumption beyond this threshold is billed at 1,400 Syrian Pounds [approximately $0.12] per kWh, which Abu Di noted remains below the actual production cost.

The Syrian official also explained that the primary purpose of the tariff adjustment is to enable longer electricity supply hours. “Increasing supply hours requires increasing generation, which in turn requires more gas and fuel. These fuels are imported, not locally produced, so revenue is needed to cover production costs,” he said.

The new electricity tariff hike has sparked widespread discontent among Syrians, particularly those with limited incomes.

Ahmed Alish, a resident of Damascus, told Rudaw, “People are barely making ends meet. My retirement salary is 300,000 Syrian pounds [around $27], and if it weren’t for my son’s support, I would be living in misery.” He urged the Damascus government to take into account the struggles of ordinary Syrians, saying the concern should extend beyond electricity tariffs to all aspects of daily life.

Ties with Western Kurdistan

On electricity coordination with the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria governing Western Kurdistan, Abu Di told Rudaw, “We have very good communication. We also have an exchange of electricity between the areas of north and east Syria and the government-controlled areas.”

The Syrian official explained that the primary goal of this cooperation “is to secure electric power for essential services, whether to cover water needs, electricity, or humanitarian services such as hospitals and bakeries.”

Abu Di noted that the exchange takes place at the al-Thawra Dam - also known as the Tabqa Dam - located in the north-central Raqqa province, largely under Kurdish administration

Critical for managing water resources, the arrangement is designed “to reduce reliance on the Tabqa Dam for electricity generation, preserving the water level to prevent it from reaching dangerous levels or negatively affecting the dam’s structure,” he said.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/03112025

[Anthea]

US Removes Syrian President
From Terror List

The United States has formally removed Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara from its terrorism blacklist, days before his scheduled visit to the White House for talks with President Donald Trump, the State Department announced on Friday

The decision came shortly after Washington led a successful UN Security Council vote to lift sanctions on Al Shara, signaling a major diplomatic shift following the fall of former Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad.

“These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar Al Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

He added that Al Shara’s transitional government has met several US conditions, including cooperation on locating missing American citizens and dismantling any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles.

The US also lifted its terrorist designation of Defence Minister Anas Khattab, Pigott confirmed.

Al Shara, who once led the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) rebel group—formed from a faction that broke away from Al Qaeda—had been listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, with the US previously offering a bounty for his capture

HTS spearheaded a rapid military campaign that overran Damascus on December 8 last year, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. Shortly after taking control, Al Shara announced the dissolution of HTS and the formation of a transitional government, pledging national reconciliation and cooperation with international partners.

In June, President Trump revoked most US sanctions on Syria following his meeting with Al Shara in Saudi Arabia during a Gulf tour the previous month. Since then, Al Shara has undertaken several high-profile foreign visits aimed at restoring Syria’s diplomatic and economic relations with Western and regional powers after more than a decade of international isolation.

Ahmad Al Shara, a former opposition commander and once Assad’s vice foreign minister before defecting in 2012, rose to prominence as a key leader of Syria’s armed rebellion.

His ascent to the presidency followed a rapid collapse of Assad’s forces in late 2024 amid widespread defections and mounting international pressure.

The United States had long designated HTS and its affiliates as terrorist organizations due to their ties to Al Qaeda. However, since taking power, Al Shara has sought to distance his government from extremist elements and to establish a secular, coalition-based administration in Damascus.

Analysts view Washington’s delisting of Al Shara as a strategic realignment in the Middle East, potentially paving the way for the normalization of relations between Syria and Western nations after years of war and sanctions.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898669

[Anthea]

Two Assassination Attempts
on President Al-Sharaa

Syrian authorities confirmed that they have thwarted two separate assassination attempts by the terrorist group Daesh targeting President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, according to a Reuters report, underscoring persistent security challenges as the country rebuilds after 14 years of civil war

A senior Syrian security official and a Middle East expert told Reuters that one of the plots aimed at a publicly scheduled presidential appearance.

Details withheld due to the sensitivity of the investigation

The revelations come as President Al-Sharaa is preparing for a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where the two leaders are expected to discuss Syria’s formal entry into the US-led coalition against Daesh.

Since assuming office in December following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad by opposition forces, Al-Sharaa has positioned himself as a moderate reformist seeking to unify Syria’s divided society and attract international backing for reconstruction efforts.

In recent days, the Syrian government has launched an extensive security campaign against ISIS cells across the country, detaining more than 70 suspects.

Officials said the operation was based on intelligence indicating imminent attacks targeting both government and civilian sites.

The crackdown, they added, demonstrates Damascus’s growing intelligence capability to infiltrate the group’s networks.

Before becoming president, Al-Sharaa was the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that formally cut ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016.

He has spent years combating Daesh militants through security operations and counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the Idlib region.

Analysts say the decision to join the US-led coalition marks a major shift in Syria’s foreign policy, signaling Al-Sharaa’s intent to normalize ties with Washington and its allies.

Enhanced military coordination with US forces could also pave the way for easing remaining Western sanctions and rebuilding Syria’s war-torn economy.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/898840

Ahmed Al-Sharaa is not my favorite person and I remember who he was and exactly what he did, but at this moment in time he is the best person to revive Syria, in fact he is the ONLY person capable of uniting the country

[Anthea]

Syria Reopens Embassy in London

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Thursday reopened the Syrian Embassy in London, raising the national flag above the building in a ceremony attended by members of the Syrian community

The move marks a major step in Damascus’s gradual diplomatic reintegration after more than a decade of isolation.

Al-Shaibani posted a photo on X showing himself hoisting the flag, writing: “After years of isolation imposed by Assad’s chemical regime, today we reopen the Syrian Embassy in London. Syria returns to the world under its free identity.”

The reopening comes during al-Shaibani’s official visit to Britain — the first of its kind since the formation of the new Syrian administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“We carry the hopes and aspirations of Syrians to build a homeland that protects the future of our children and future generations,” al-Shaibani said earlier, noting that the visit was made “under the guidance” of President al-Sharaa.

During his trip, al-Shaibani also met with members of the Syrian community in Britain and is expected to hold talks with several senior British officials aimed at reestablishing diplomatic and consular cooperation between the two nations.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the visit as part of a broader strategy to “build balanced relations with Western countries” following recent diplomatic successes in restoring ties with regional powers. The new administration has actively sought to rebuild foreign relations and dismantle the international isolation imposed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who lost power earlier this year.

Britain lifted sanctions on President al-Sharaa last week, a move that followed the United Nations Security Council’s decision to ease remaining restrictions on Damascus. Analysts say these developments reflect a growing recognition among Western governments of Syria’s changing political landscape and the new leadership’s efforts to reengage with the international community.

The embassy’s reopening follows a series of symbolic milestones, including President al-Sharaa’s landmark visit to Washington last month, where he met with US President Donald Trump — the first meeting between Syrian and American leaders since Syria’s independence in 1946. The visit underscored a mutual interest in exploring avenues for regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/899075

[Anthea]

Syrian security forces crack
down on protests

Several protesters were wounded on Tuesday as Syrian security forces cracked down on demonstrations in Homs, Hama, and multiple coastal areas calling for decentralization and the release of detainees, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

The Observatory reported that peaceful demonstrations were met with gunfire in Homs, Jableh, Latakia, and rural Hama, alongside severe repression that raised fears of broader unrest.

Witnesses accused security personnel of running over demonstrators with government vehicles and firing live bullets indiscriminately.

In Jableh, confrontations erupted after individuals loyal to the transitional authorities stormed a protest led by members of the Alawite community who were calling for political decentralization and the release of prisoners. The clashes included the use of live ammunition and chants that heightened tensions among local residents.

Security forces closed the entrance to al-Amara Street in Jableh in an attempt to disperse the crowds, prompting protesters to regroup near the city bridge. Authorities also blocked demonstrators from rural Jableh who attempted to reach the city, amid rising tensions across the coastal region.

A separate rally was held in Tartous demanding an end to abuses and arbitrary detention practices by the transitional authority.

Arrests, injuries reported in Homs

In Homs, gunmen opened fire on demonstrators in the al-Zahraa neighborhood and assaulted them physically, resulting in several injuries. The violence forced protesters to withdraw from the area as the attackers chanted sectarian slogans targeting members of the Alawite community.

Local sources confirmed that a number of demonstrators were arrested by security forces, with heavy gunfire reported near residential homes.

The protests came in response to a call issued by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Higher Islamic Alawite Council in Syria and the diaspora, urging Syrians to demonstrate peacefully and reject violations attributed to the transitional authority. He urged citizens to avoid sectarian rhetoric and attempts to sow division.

Ministry cautions against external incitement

Tensions have escalated in neighborhoods with significant Alawite populations across Syria, including the coast, Homs, and parts of Damascus, with warnings that these developments could push the country toward deeper fragmentation.

In a statement, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba warned against responding to what he described as foreign calls aimed at fueling discord and threatening social cohesion.

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the right to protest and ensuring equal treatment for all components of Syrian society.

39 civilians killed in one week

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented the killing of 39 civilians in just one week, attributing the deaths to incidents of violence and security chaos across various regions of Syria.

The Observatory stated that this death toll underscores, once again, the rapid collapse of public security and the failure of the various competent bodies to fulfill their duty to protect civilians and safeguard their right to life.

In an earlier report, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that at least 11,226 people have been killed in the eleven months since the fall of the previous Syrian regime. The monitor noted that the country is experiencing a wave of widespread chaos and violations against civilians.

On November 16, a shooting at a cafe in the village of Umm Hartein in the western Homs countryside left four Syrian civilians dead and one wounded. The attack, carried out by unidentified gunmen, claimed the life of a local man identified as Mukhtar Wadi al-Mawla, also known as "Abu Ghazal".

Repeated massacres and killings threaten safety

Between 6 and 9 March 2025, Latakia and Tartous governorates witnessed deadly attacks focused targeting Alawite communities in Syria's coastal region. SOHR documented over 1,400 deaths following insurgent attacks, with evidence of looting, arson, and sectarian violence. These events highlight the continued targeting of specific communities along sectarian lines.

On June 22, 2025, a suicide bombing and shooting attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more during a religious service. This incident underscored the vulnerability of minority groups, with civilians again bearing the brunt of violence amid ongoing armed conflict.

Southern Syria also experienced deadly clashes, particularly in Sweida. From July 13-15, 2025, government forces and allied fighters engaged in operations against Druze communities, resulting in at least 1,311 deaths, including many civilians.

Earlier, between April 29 and May 1, 2025, ambushes and field executions in the same region killed dozens of Druze civilians and combatants; some victims were subjected to summary executions.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... l-protests

[Anthea]

Over 500k Syrians left Turkey since Assad fall

Turkish interior minister announced on Saturday that over 500,000 Syrians have left Turkey to return home since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December

"From December 8, 2024, to today, 550,000 of our Syrian brothers and sisters have made voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly returns to their country,” Ali Yerlikaya said on X.

A coalition of rebel factions led by the Syrian Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, ousted Assad in an operation that concluded on December 8.

Ankara is a staunch supporter of the new authorities in Damascus, led by the former jihadist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Turkey has hosted the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, sheltering several million Syrians for years. Most fled the civil war that erupted in 2011, a conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

Ankara has been accused of resettling Syrian Arab families in northern Syria where its repeated military offensives have forced thousands of Kurdish families from their homes since 2016.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/02112025

The Arab Belt put on Kurdish land to separate Kurds of Western Kurdistan from Kurds of Northern Kurdistan

[Anthea]

Trump say has confidence in Syria’s Sharaa

President Donald Trump told Rudaw on Tuesday that he is confident that Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa can do a “good job” for the war-torn country

“I think Syria has come a long way. The new leader of Syria was here, as you know, three weeks ago… Not an easy job. It is centuries of problems. But I think he's going to do a good job. I have a lot of confidence in him,” he said when Rudaw asked him about the growing demands of Syria’s minority groups for autonomy and greater rights.

Sharaa on Monday received Trump’s Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Damascus to discuss “the latest developments in the region and issues of common interest.” The meeting coincided with comments from Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social platform that Washington is “very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the country of Syria.”

“We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended… to build a true and prosperous country,” Trump said, adding that his rollback of “very strong and biting sanctions” had “helped them greatly.”

Syria officially joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in November, following a landmark meeting between Trump and Sharaa at the White House - the first such encounter for a Syrian president in more than eight decades.

Sharaa’s now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) with the help of other rebel groups toppled Syria’s long-time dictator Bashar al-Assar a year ago. He was later declared the interim president of the country and promised greater rights to Syrians. However, massacres against minority groups like the Druze and Alawites have sent alarms across the country, with Kurds fearing that they could be next.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/021220252