Caught between Damascus and Qandil, SDF integration hangs in the balance ✍️ @walid-alnofal.bsky.social

Israel’s chemical spraying of farmland in Lebanon and Syria amounts to war crime: @euromedhr.bsky.social Deliberate targeting of civilian farmland violates IHL, particularly the prohibition on attacking or destroying objects indispensable to civilian survival. euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6...

Aleppo street vendors—a game of cat and mouse for livelihoods Street vendors in downtown Aleppo protest municipal campaigns to remove stalls—the main income for them and their families. But some residents of Jamilia neigbourhood tell Enab Baladi the stalls block streets. www.enabbaladi.net/794815/

The Latakia makeup ban is a bad omen for Syria en.majalla.com/node/329551/... The backlash against the makeup ban is not about cosmetics—it’s about how far the state can go in regulating everyday life, argues @haidhaid22.bsky.social.

Recent Saudi investment package in Syria concentrates on strategic goals of regional connectivity, but neglects more immediate, less profitable needs of population. Post-conflict improvement in daily lives of Syrians remains the challenge. — Molham Jazmati for Enab Baladi www.enabbaladi.net/794968/

Before the war, Syria produced about 9.5 gigawatts of electricity. Output fell to about 1.5 to 1.6 gw in the last years of Assad, well below demand, estimated at 6.5 gw or more. Output recently rose to 3 gw, but higher tariffs led to protests. — Enab Baladi english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

Feasibility, costs, and implications of reviving the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline Historically, Syria was a transit corridor for Saudi and Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean, but now both the Tapline and the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline are out of use. — Syria in Figures karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

Mapping nighttime light provides insight into Syria’s recovery. Government-controlled cities are experiencing a surge, but As-Suwayda stands as a glaring outlier. — Alameen Najjar for Syria in Figures karamshaar.com/syria-in-fig...

New doubts over braid video Tall Abyad residents tell Der Spiegel a braid, likely fake, was found on a street near town, and brought to the restaurant where the video was made. Misogynistic remarks by Rami al-Dahesh in the video were intially taken as a confession. www.newarab.com/news/new-dou...

In coming weeks, Syrian govt will have to navigate complex process to structurally and ideologically dismantle and reconstitute SDF into interim state structures Statements from both govt and SDF representatives indicate potential to disagree on details — ETANA Syria etanasyria.org/brief-sdf-ha...

Detailed account of how negotiations unfolded between the SDF, the Syrian govt, and the US, including the draft integration framework and proposed constitutional amendments. — Ibrahim Hamidi for Al Majalla en.majalla.com/node/329476/...

After the SDF: How can Raqqa mend its social fabric? ✍️ @natachadanon.bsky.social and Hasan al-Kassab

Syrian Defence Ministry delegation met SDF leaders in al-Hasakah on Friday, as talks continue on integrating SDF forces into three brigades under Damascus. Discussions covered deployments, opening roads, and removing earth berms. — Enab Baladi english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

Syria and Lebanon signed an agreement on Friday to transfer convicted Syrian inmates from Lebanese prisons back to their country. Lebanon’s govt intends to hand over more than 300 Syrian prisoners under the agreement. — Enab Baladi english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

More spraying of likely glyphosate, a herbicide, by #Israel now also taking place over agricultural areas in border areas with #Lebanon, affecting livelihoods of farmers and posing additional health risk to civilians. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Home Secretary confirms that the UK government did not formally trigger the break clause in the asylum seeker relocation treaty with Rwanda until Dec 2025. (Rwanda says that delay means the UK owes £100m in payments due under the treaty).

More than 30 people trying to reach Britain in a small boat were left to drown over several harrowing hours because of failures by rescue authorities, an inquiry has found The incident in November 2021 is the deadliest known small boat disaster in the English Channel www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/w...

A network of interconnected channels fuels the conflict in as-Suwayda Report on competing disinformation campaigns by the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. scm.bz/en/a-network...

US forces reportedly pulling out of Al-Shaddadi base in northeastern Syria Sources tell Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that US-led Coalition against ISIS has begun withdrawal of troops and military equipment from the base in southern Hasakeh province. @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/news/us-forc...

Anti-corruption efforts in Syria: Security sector reform and economic governance Structural weaknesses limit the state’s capacity to implement reforms, while political incentives shape the scope and pace of the measures pursued. — Abdullah al-Jabassini and Joseph Daher www.u4.no/publications...

Hearing that the entire Washington Post team covering the Middle East has been let go. This is devastating news. They were doing vital coverage here, & providing a necessary bridge between this region & the US. It's very obvious why that is needed.

Deaths of at least 30 people who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel in 2021 could have been avoided, UK inquiry finds. Inquiry chair Sir Ross Cranston points to a “significant, systemic failure on the part of government.” — BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For years, the Syrian Jazeera region has witnessed a decline in basic services: electricity, water, and communications. With the withdrawal of the SDF, responsibility for restoring these services now falls directly on state institutions. — Enab Baladi www.enabbaladi.net/794607/

Israeli sources to i24News: The IDF has been using civilian planes spraying herbicides on farmlands in occupied Qunetira, to destroy any covering that could theoretically be used by militants to launch attacks at Israeli targets. — via Elizabeth Tsurkov x.com/i/status/201...

In the UK, the Home Office issued letters to Syrians demanding fresh proof that return would place them at risk, with just 21 days to respond. Omar, a refugee working as an advocate for asylum seekers, said the shift was abrupt and punitive. @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/features/syr...

Survivor’s testimony documents events of January’s Kobani/Ain al-Arab massacre and identifies some of the victims. He estimates the total number of victims at between 40 to 45 people killed, many more than in video recordings which showed 21 bodies. — Verify Syria www.verify-sy.com/ar/report/ko...

Syrian government security forces in Hasakah city, with Col. Marwan al-Ali in charge of provincial security. Pictured on the steps of the traffic centre. Via @simnasr.bsky.social x.com/i/status/201... And @qalaatalmudiq.bsky.social x.com/i/status/201...

Residents of Al-Hasakah welcomed internal security forces as they entered the city. Security commanders issued instructions, ordering forces to adhere to formal directives and maintain professional conduct throughout the deployment. — Levant24 x.com/i/status/201...

Internal security forces have entered the Shuyukh area south of Kobane in the eastern Aleppo countryside. The deployment was carried out in implementation of the agreement concluded with the SDF. — Levant24 x.com/i/status/201...

Gaza and the Conduct of Urban War: Civilian Harm, Risk, and Responsibility Outcome was not unavoidable result of urban fighting, but a product of institutional choices Scale of harm not only a humanitarian or legal concern, but a strategic liability — Andy Milburn warontherocks.com/2026/01/gaza...

Syrian Network for Human Rights marks 44th anniversary of Hama massacre The February 1982 month-long attack on Hama city by Hafez al-Assad’s forces saw shelling, executions, mass arrests, torture, killing 30,000 to 40,000 civilians. SNHR report calls for truth and justice. snhr.org/blog/2026/02...

A delegation of Syria’s General Security from Aleppo visited Kobani/Ayn al-Arab today. (Kobani is part of the Aleppo governorate.) Early tomorrow morning, 24 vehicles will enter Hasaka and Qamishli.

Abdallah Kado of Debersiya, from Yekiti - the second party in the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) - says he is confident that the General Security forces entering Hasaka and Qamishli early tomorrow morning will not face any problems.

Brk: Damascus source close to the govt tells me General Security is preparing lists of names. “We don’t want clashes between extremist elements and SDF elements. We’re selecting people carefully.”

Policy paper: Syrian women charting the path of trust and justice towards civil peace in Syria Consultation and analysis of Syrian women’s visions for building genuine, sustainable civil peace. Syrian Women’s Political Movement, with support by @wilpf.bsky.social. syrianwomenpm.org/releases/pol...

Syrian govt security forces in Raqqa arrested Rami Al-Dahsh following the circulation of a video showing him with a hair braid allegedly taken from a deceased Kurdish fighter. Following public outcry, a second video from Al-Dahsh had claimed the item was synthetic. — Levant24 x.com/i/status/201...

The agreement to end the conflict between the Syrian govt and SDF coincided with attention being directed towards the continued recruitment of minors by the SDF’s “Jowan Shorshkar” (Revolutionary Youth) movement to supply them with human power. — Verify Syria www.verify-sy.com/ar/report/ch...

“… we discovered a huge tunnel running under my home… walls started cracking…” The Syrian government’s recent capture of parts of southern al-Hasakah countryside reveals vast reinforced-concrete tunnel network built by SDF over several years. — Enab Baladi english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi outlines a ceasefire and phased integration deal with Damascus, says US and France attended talks, and calls it the best way to stop attacks and preserve gains. He also says he will not take any government post. — Enab Baladi english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

Allies in Exile by Hasan Kattan is one of a series of new shorts backed by the Displacement Film Fund. In it, the director and his best friend Fadi Al Halabi experience the UK asylum system, the waiting, the bureaucracy, and rising anti-refugee hostility. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

An Israeli military force of five armored vehicles entered the Siriyat Jumla area in western Daraa province, Syria, and set up a temporary checkpoint on the Wadi Jumla road, before withdrawing without any arrests. — Daraa24 x.com/i/status/201...

Home Office to deport asylum seekers to Syria despite safety fears @scotnational.bsky.social www.thenational.scot/news/2581014...

Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says the issue of prosecuting Bashar al-Assad has not been raised for some time, stopping short of confirming reports that Syria’s new authorities have abandoned efforts to put him on trial. @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/news/russia-...

Israeli plane filmed spraying over farmland in Quneitra province, Syria. Third such spraying in less than a week. @qalaatalmudiq.bsky.social x.com/i/status/201... @wammezz.bsky.social points out Israel has history of spraying herbicides in Gaza, destroying crops. www.btselem.org/video/201701... .

“When Sara talks with neighbors, she avoids mentioning Israel by name. She is cautious even when writing messages on WhatsApp, aware that their phones are being monitored by Israel.” ✍️Katrine Dige Houmøller aljumhuriya.net?p=62088 #Quneitra #Syria #Israel

SDF reach a comprehensive agreement with the Syrian govt to integrate into the Syrian army, following weeks of clashes and a recently declared ceasefire. Agreement includes formation of new military units incorporating SDF fighters. @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/news/kurdish...

US Amb. Tom Barrack: Both sides have taken courageous steps: the Syrian govt in extending meaningful inclusion and rights, and the Kurdish communities in embracing a unified framework that honors their contributions while advancing the common good. x.com/i/status/201... . bsky.app/profile/syri...

Syrian Minister of Information: A ceasefire agreement has been reached between the Syrian government and the SDF under a comprehensive agreement, with an understanding on a phased integration process for the military and administrative forces of both sides. x.com/i/status/201...

Enab Baladi launches Enab Baladi Daraya: a local news site for Daraya and a printed paper, plus a complaints monitor, city memory, and a Daraya service guide. english.enabbaladi.net/archives/202...

Yarmouk endured devastating siege and bombardment during the Bashar al-Assad regime, destroying 72% of buildings, and forcing residents to flee. More than 15,300 people call it home today, even though winter has become a battle of survival. @thenewarab.bsky.social www.newarab.com/features/yar...