Turkish Ministry of Trade, after the 1st meeting of the SYR-TR Joint Economic and Trade Committee: "In 2025, our foreign trade volume with Syria reached $3.7 billion, while recording $1 billion in Q1 of 2026. To date, Turkish contracting firms have undertaken 26 projects in Syria worth $794 million"

Turkish MoI visited Gürbulak crossing at the Turkish-Iranian border and stated that “all plans and measures are ready regarding the possible consequences of the war.” He then spoke over the phone with the EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner. www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/ic...

Unlike many Syrians who viewed HTS’s arrival to power through “Umayyadist” nostalgia, Syrian uluma (Sunni religious scholars) historically idealized the parliamentary period (1932–1963) as an era of revival, coexistence, and unusual scholarly autonomy. www.focaalblog.com/2026/03/24/t...

The relevant authorities in Damascus cited "complaints and requests of the local community" as the basis for their decision to ban or restrict alcohol sales. In contrast, the local community's complaints about high living costs and rising prices were brushed aside.

Syria remains in a highly fragile post-conflict transitional phase, says the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, and the rare opportunity to build a rights-respecting political system could be lost if impunity, exclusion, and coercive practices persist. www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

It has been over a year since the fall of the Syrian regime, and at last the transitional government appointed Khaled Hindawi as the Consul General in Istanbul - the city with highest number of Syrians in Turkey. Damascus has yet to appoint its ambassador to Ankara, mind you.

Former Qatari PM statement is like realizing Erbakan’s dream: “In addition to forming military and security alliances with Turkey and Pakistan, the GCC members must create an effective military security alliance akin to NATO, in which Saudi Arabia plays the most important role as the largest state.”

The era of the axis of resistance is coming to an end. Syrian President: "We stand alongside the Lebanese President in disarming Hezbollah."

Most of us interested in/working on #Turkey follow the country's #gündem to stay up to date. Now you can wear it using Gundem's collection: "a clothing brand for the cynical and world-weary who don't take themselves too seriously." The blog is as interesting as the products themselves!

The longer the war on Iran lasts, the option of establishing a buffer zone on Iranian soil to keep displaced Iranians from reaching Turkey, as Turkish MFA officials briefed the parliament in Jan 2026, will move closer to active planning than contingency. www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...

Washington Post sure made a good call firing all of its Middle East reporters, nothing important happening over there

China would want many things from Damascus in return of abstaining from voting on UNSC resolution to lift sanctions on the Syrian president and the MoI, chief among them is keeping tabs on TIP - now with its own division and a brigadier general in the new Syrian army. www.reuters.com/world/china/...

A quick thought. Syria's People's Assembly remains closed pending two things. The president still has to appoint one-third of its members, which I think should happen after holding elections in Raqqa and Hasakeh, and the elections should occur after deprived Kurds receive Syrian citizenship.

Nathan Brown to the Syrians: "You will pay a price in the long run if you view the constitution as a place to enshrine your dominance, rather than as an arena for a deeply divided and wounded society to find ways to rebuild its political system." www.noonpost.com/357020/

Government restructuring seems highly likely in Syria, mainly to reintroduce the PM position, enhance governance inclusivity, and increase accountability. thawra.sy/opinion/%D8%...

In his first statement as the new MoI, Musftafa Çiftçi announced his priorities in the field of migration: "Our fight against irregular migration will continue while respecting human dignity and [without compromising] our religious values ​​and cultural codes." www.goc.gov.tr/icisleri-bak...

The one Syrian official who is carving a place in the hearts of Syrians through his public appearances and follow-up with health institutions, and thus building credit for his political career, is the Minister of Health.

The Syrian delegation, including key SDF officials, in a meeting with a number of US congressmen on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The feeling is mutual, by the way. Syrians also won't easily forgive governments in Baghdad that allowed Iran to use Iraqi Shia jihadists as proxies to kill Syrians! www.economist.com/middle-east-...

Syrian MoD: "Through coordination between the Syrian and American sides, units of the Syrian Arab Army took control of the al-Tanf base and secured its perimeter, and began deploying along the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border. Border guard forces will begin deploying in the area in the coming days."

A highly recommended snappy piece by @nicholasdanfort.bsky.social: Who Killed the Liberal International Order foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/09/l...

While Ankara awaits concrete implementation results from the agreement between Damascus and SDF, which Ankara connects to the "Turkey without Terror" process, the Turkish MoD stated that "time has not yet come to withdraw Turkish troops from Syria." yetkinreport.com/2026/02/09/s...

Saudi Arabia announced a new investment package with Syria worth $5.3 billion, bringing total Saudi investment since the fall of the regime to $16 billion. The new investments cover aviation, communications, infrastructure, and real estate development sectors. asharq.com/politics/171...

A thorough article on the complex context of electricity in Syria, and how it is "turning from a public service into a commodity." aljumhuriya.net/ar/2026/02/0...

Informed American sources to Al-Thawra: "The US military will completely withdraw by mid-2026 from all bases established in Syria since 2014 as part of the international coalition to combat ISIS, as the US views Damascus as the primary partner in fighting ISIS." thawra.sy/local/%d8%a7...

Finally! Syrian MoI issues a decision stipulating the immediate implementation of Decree 13, granting citizenship to Syrian Kurds unjustly affected by the 1962 census, and effectively abolishing all census-related measures.

Qatar announces the launch of a project to support the voluntary return of 100,000 Syrians from Lebanon in cooperation with IOM. The 1st phase costs $20 million, including securing housing before return, and providing food and medicine for 3 months afterward. aawsat.com/%D8%A7%D9%84...

The Syrian Ministery of Education will develop Kurdish-language material for all educational levels within 6 months, and the material will be taught in schools during the 2026-2027 academic year. The materials will be for use in Kurdish-majority areas. sana.sy/education/23...

Syrian MoD: "We announce the extension of the ceasefire in all sectors of the Syrian Arab Army's operations for 15 days, effective from 11:00 PM on January 24, 2026. The extension of the ceasefire comes in support of the American operation to transfer ISIS prisoners from SDF prisons to Iraq."

The Turkish-made ASELSAN air traffic control radar system, HTRS 100, is up and running at Damascus International Airport. Radar's range is 185 kilometers, and "its biggest feature is its ability to operate even if any of its components fail." www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-s...

He won't be mourned or missed! www.newarab.com/news/syrias-...

While tension in northeast Syria is brewing, the Syrian president issues a decree guaranteeing Kurdish rights.

Syria signed a $190 million (30-year BOT) investment agreement with the Turkish company Kuzey Star to establish and operate an integrated shipyard at the port of Tartus, which is operated by the UAE's DP World. The investment guarantees 1,700 direct job opportunities. alikhbariah.com/%D8%A7%D9%84...

Ankara demonstrated a cautious stance about the situation in Iran for many reasons, including the possibility of Iranians arriving in large numbers, as they could enter without a visa and stay for 90 days in Turkey.

The result of our collaboration with IstanPol is out now. The research aims to examine Turkish public perceptions of developments in the Middle East and Turkey's foreign policy toward the region.

In light of the ongoing fighting in Aleppo, the Turkish MoD spokesperson said, "Turkey is closely following developments in Syria...if Syria requests assistance, Turkey will provide the necessary support." www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/ms...

A new chapter in the Syria-Israel relations: “Both Sides have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism—a dedicated communication cell—to address any disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings.” www.state.gov/releases/off...

Syria & Egypt signed 2 MoUs for cooperation in the fields of gas and petroleum products. The first MoU concerns supplying Syria with Egyptian natural gas for electricity generation, and the second MoU relates to covering Syria’s petroleum product needs. sana.sy/economy/2367...

A meeting between Damascus and the SDF about military integration ended without tangible results. The SDF press spokesperson said results will be announced once [internal] consultations conclude, whereas source close the Syrian government said meetings will continue. www.birgun.net/haber/sdg-sa...

Given the few hours left before the 10th of March agreement between Damascus and the SDF expires at midnight tonight, the Turkish MoD spokesperson said, "If the Syrian government decides to take an initiative for its unity and integrity, Türkiye will support it." www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem...

1.28 million Syrians have returned from neighboring countries since 8 Dec 2024, and the map shows the intended return locations by governorate. Countries of departure: Turkey 42% Lebanon 35% Jordan 18% reliefweb.int/report/syria...

Drawing on the 24 November panel in Istanbul, "Women's Voices from Syria: Feminist Strategies for Rights," the web dossier is now out, featuring four articles that bring together sharp, field-based perspectives on what is at stake.

The Economist names Syria the country of the year for 2025! www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Regarding the voluntary return of Syrians, the Turkish MoI said 590.000 Syrians have returned voluntarily since 8 December 2024, bringing the total to 1.330.000 since 2016. The total number of Syrians in Turkey as of 11 December 2025 stands at 2.362.466. www.tbmm.gov.tr/Haber/Detay?...

Returning to Syria is more of an older generation's project than a younger one. The older generation is nostalgic and wants to return despite the risks. The younger generation has roots in Turkey and applies a cost–benefit analysis to delay/reject return. www.turkeyrecap.com/p/little-ale...

Erdoğan, praising Syrians who were born and raised in TR, speak Turkish and are now in SYR, celebrating the 8th of Dec: "Right next door to us, just like Azerbaijan, just like the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a brother nation that speaks our same language is rising anew from the ashes."

The high approval ratings of the U.S. and the EU among Syrians are transactional and not value-driven; Syrians will approve of them as long as the U.S. and the EU keep sanctions off, help stabilize the economy, and support reconstruction. www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/what-s...

"Syria remains a potential problem, but with American, Arab, Israeli, and Turkish support may stabilize and reassume its rightful place as an integral, positive player in the region." www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...

Gaziantep's head of textile chamber: "Syrians filled labor shortages, but over 50% of textile shops in Gaziantep had to shutdown as a result of their repatriation...Hopefully, trade with Syria will revitalize business and compensate losses." gaziantepilkhaber.com/suriyeliler-...

Lovely news from new Syria. The transitional government leans toward free market economy, but taxi drivers in Damascus are protesting private cars using ride-share apps, arguing that cabbies go through different process (separate driving license and different insurance fee) to operate.