This is Beirut - Damascus

Israeli Report: Damascus Does Not Rule Out Military Action Against Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 16/02 15:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel’s Kan News reported that the Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is not ruling out potential military action against Hezbollah, as tensions escalate between the two sides despite a relative improvement in official relations between Damascus and Beirut. The report cited a Syrian security source as saying that ...

Syria Expected to Form a New Government, Reports I24 News

This is Beirut, 16/02 11:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Donald Trump Turkey Washington

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected in the coming weeks to convene a workshop aimed at forming a new, inclusive government with expanded powers, a Syrian source close to the president told i24NEWS. The planned government is expected to include representatives from across Syrian society in an effort to address the concerns of minority ...

Rubio: U.S. Satisfied With Overall 'Trajectory' in Syria

This is Beirut, 16/02 11:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump US Secretary of State Damascus United States USA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Washington is pleased with the "trajectory" in Syria, which has launched talks with Kurdish minority groups, despite troubles. "There's been some days that have been very concerning, but we like the trajectory," Rubio said on a brief visit to Bratislava. "We have to keep it on that trajectory. ...

U.S. Military Says Struck More Than 30 IS Targets in Syria

This is Beirut, 14/02 16:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus United States USA Washington

The U.S. military said Saturday that its forces had struck more than 30 Islamic State group targets in Syria this month, maintaining pressure on the jihadists after a deadly attack on US troops last year. The strikes also came as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in recent weeks transferred thousands of IS detainees from Syria to Iraq, ...

Turkey Calls EU Statements on Syria 'Misguided'

This is Beirut, 14/02 10:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus European Union Turkey

Ankara on Friday accused the EU of adopting "misguided" resolutions condemning violence in Syria and Turkey and said the bloc was interfering in Turkish affairs. European Union lawmakers had on Thursday voted in favour of two resolutions, one condemning violence against civilians in northeastern Syria and calling on regional actors, particularly ...

U.S., Syrian Top Diplomats Meet at Munich Conference

This is Beirut, 14/02 10:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus United States US Secretary of State

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday and they discussed Damascus's recent agreement with the Kurds. A post by the Syrian foreign ministry included pictures showing that the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum ...

Iran-Lebanon Trade Surges as Hezbollah Adapts Smuggling Networks Under Pressure

This is Beirut, 13/02 19:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Damascus Israel Tehran

Despite mounting pressure on Hezbollah’s smuggling networks and Iran’s deepening financial crisis, trade flows between Tehran and Beirut surged in 2025, suggesting the two are adapting illicit channels to sustain Hezbollah’s parallel economy. Hezbollah's position has weakened since 2024 and Iran's financial crisis has ...

U.S. Completes Transfer of IS Detainees From Syria to Iraq: CENTCOM

This is Beirut, 13/02 15:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Europe United States USA Washington

The United States Central Command said on Friday it had completed the transfer of thousands of detained Islamic State group suspects held in Syria to Iraq. The detainees had been held in Syria for years in camps overseen by Kurdish-led forces, but the recapture of surrounding territory by Damascus prompted Washington to step in. CENTCOM said it ...

Most Families of Foreign Fighters Left IS-Linked Camp in Syria: Sources

This is Beirut, 12/02 14:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Most foreign families have left northeast Syria's Al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of Islamic State group fighters, since the departure of Kurdish forces who previously guarded it, humanitarian sources told AFP on Thursday. The defence ministry meanwhile announced that the army had taken control of the Al-Tanf base after the withdrawal ...

Syria Defense Ministry Says Army Has Taken Control of Al-Tanf Base After U.S. Pullout

This is Beirut, 12/02 14:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Syria's defence ministry said on Thursday that the army had taken control of the Al-Tanf base after the withdrawal of US forces deployed there as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group. "Through coordination between the Syrian and American sides," army units have taken control of the base "and have begun ...

U.S. Pulls Troops From Northeastern Syria Amid SDF-Damascus Integration

This is Beirut, 06/02 23:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The U.S. has begun its withdrawal of troops from the Shaddadi base in northeastern Syria this week as part of a broader drawdown of direct U.S. military presence in Syria. This event occurred amid the incorporation of civilian and security sector responsibilities to Damascus to replace the SDF and the U.S. as the primary force monitoring the ...

Lebanon and Syria Ink Deal on Prisoner Handover

This is Beirut, 06/02 15:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Damascus Hezbollah Lebanese Forces

Lebanon signed an agreement with Syria on Friday to hand around 300 convicts over to Damascus, a move seen as key to helping turn a new page in ties between the countries. Overcrowded Lebanese prisons host more than 2,200 Syrians held on various charges. Many of them are still awaiting trial, while hundreds accused of "terrorism" or ...

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