Hussain Abdul-Hussain, 26/08 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The world is celebrating the anticipated signing of a security agreement between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Israel, hailed as evidence of Sharaa’s moderation and a departure from his radical Islamist past. However, this narrative is misleading. Islamist doctrine permits, and even encourages, temporary truces—up to 10 years—with ...
This is Beirut, 25/08 21:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria Syrian Central Bank Currency
Syria's central bank governor, Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya, said Monday that his country would change its currency by removing two zeros and printing new banknotes to replace those issued under ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad. Since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to about 10,000-11,000 against the greenback, ...
This is Beirut, 25/08 19:55 - Reading : less than a minute
According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, security forces on Monday foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics from Lebanon into the Zabadani area, close to the Syrian-Lebanese border. The ministry said that the shipment was intercepted before reaching its destination but did not disclose details about the type or amount of drugs ...
This is Beirut, 25/08 18:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria Druze Hikmat al-Hijri Sweida
A prominent Druze leader in southern Syria demanded on Monday the creation of a separate region for his minority community, as he seeks to unite local armed factions following sectarian violence last month. The week of bloodshed in Sweida province began on July 13 with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin but rapidly escalated, ...
This is Beirut, 25/08 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, will speak at the United Nations General Assembly next month, a foreign ministry official told AFP on Monday, the first Syrian leader to do so in decades. Sharaa "will take part in the United Nations General Assembly in New York where he will deliver a speech", the official said, ...
This is Beirut, 23/08 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Syria Elections Raqqa Hasakah Sweida
The Supreme Committee for the People’s Assembly (Parliament) Elections in Syria announced on Saturday the postponement of parliamentary elections in the provinces of Sweida (south), Raqqa and Hasakah (northeast) due to “security challenges.” Nawar Najma, the spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, reported ...
This is Beirut, 22/08 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute
Joseph Aoun Lebanon Syria borders army
President Joseph Aoun affirmed on Friday that the Lebanese-Syrian borders are fully secured, stressing that the army “remains on high alert and carries out its duties with competence and diligence to ensure calm and security for citizens.” “The situation at the border is under control, and the current climate is encouraging with respect to ...
This is Beirut, 22/08 12:35 - Reading : less than a minute
Baalbeck Lebanese Army lebanon Syria
After a series of surveillance and security operations, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Army Intelligence carried out a raid on Thursday, August 21, 2025, in the Joroud Nahleh area of Baalbek. The operation targeted suspects involved in the kidnapping of a Syrian national identified as M.Y. Several suspects were arrested, and the kidnapped ...
Vanessa Kallas, 21/08 21:04 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Syria Lebanon Roumieh prison Islamists Syrian prisoners Security
In a secluded corner of Roumieh Central Prison lies the infamous Block B, better known as the “terrorism block.” It houses nearly 500 detainees, most of them radical Islamists facing terrorism-related charges. With the fall of the Assad regime, the issue of Syrian Islamist prisoners in Lebanon has resurfaced, as armed groups and tribal ...
This is Beirut, 21/08 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Israel United Nations Druze Syria Sweida
A panel of UN experts denounced Thursday what they described as an outbreak of massacres, sexual violence and kidnappings targeting the Druze minority in southern Syria in the past month. Fighting erupted in the Sweida region on July 13. Clashes between local Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin rapidly escalated, drawing in government forces and ...
Soumia Benmerzoug, 20/08 20:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Damascus Israel Washington Paris syria
Syria and Israel resumed direct dialogue on Tuesday in Paris. Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chaibani met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to explore ways to stabilize southern Syria, which has been rocked by violent clashes in recent weeks. This marks the second direct meeting between the two countries in less than a ...
This is Beirut, 19/08 21:55 - Reading : less than a minute
Syria Homs Rockets Ammunition Smuggling Lebanon
The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced Tuesday evening that “internal security forces seized in Homs Governorate a vehicle loaded with Grad rockets, in addition to various shells and ammunition, which had been hidden in eastern rural Homs and were prepared for smuggling toward the Lebanese border.” The Ministry explained via its Telegram ...