Al-Sharaa Holds Call With Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin voiced Russian backing for Syrian territorial integrity and repeated Russia’s objections to the recent Israeli strikes; both leaders noted the importance of an August 9 memorandum of understanding on the future of Russia’s military bases at Khmeimim and Tartous (Reuters/Times of Israel).
Earlier this month, Syria announced that both bases would be converted into shared centers for military training and capacity development, with Damascus taking over their civilian facilities (Al Jazeera).
Syrian Democratic Forces Announce Dissolution
From the presidential palace in Damascus, Commander in Chief Mazloum Abdi announced that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had concluded its mission and disbanded, completing its merger into the Syrian army under the January integration agreement (France 24).
Abdi framed the SDF’s disbandment as a transition from conflict to reconstruction in Syria (NYT).
United States Rescinds Syria’s Terrorism Designation
The United States removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list, ending a designation in place since 1979 (Reuters).
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government had advocated for lifting the designation, the last major impediment to increased foreign investment in Syria (NYT).
The State Department also revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, and the Treasury Department removed HTS from its sanctions list (Department of State).
U.S.-Mediated Talks Between Israel and Syria Resume in Jordan
Syrian state media said the United States mediated talks between Israel and Syria to establish a deconfliction mechanism and prevent Syria from becoming an arena for Israel-Turkey rivalry after recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria (NYT).
Discussions had been suspended since the start of the Iran war, with Damascus cutting contact entirely after last week’s strike (Reuters).
Israeli Drone Strike Outside Damascus
An Israeli drone struck what the Syrian Foreign Ministry described as a civilian delivery truck on the road near Beit Jinn, wounding the driver; Israel’s military said it targeted a militant in the final stages of preparing an attack (Reuters).
U.S. Envoy Contradicts Israeli Claims Over Air Base Strike
In an interview, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack disputed Israel’s claim that the Israeli military had given the United States advance warning of its airstrike on a Syrian air base, suggesting the move was intended to “bait” Turkey ahead of Israeli elections (FT).
Israel Strikes Abu al-Duhur Air Base Near Turkish Border
Israel acknowledged it carried out airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria (AP/NPR).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted to block a Turkish military deployment to Syria, arguing that Damascus was close to breaching an informal Israel-Syria security understanding; Ankara and Damascus both denied the allegation (Reuters).
Netanyahu’s office reiterated that Israel “will not tolerate” a Turkish military presence in Syria that threatens Israeli security, saying Damascus had been warned repeatedly (Jerusalem Post).
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Turkish personnel had visited the base for training a few days prior to the strikes, but that no Turkish troops were stationed there (Axios).
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack called the strikes an “unnecessary escalation” and underscored the need for a deconfliction mechanism (Times of Israel).
Syrian Court Sentences Bashar al-Assad to Death
A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad in absentia for murder, torture, arbitrary arrest, and crimes against humanity committed before and during the country’s nearly fourteen-year civil war (Reuters).
Syrian and Iraqi Leaders Discuss Regional Security Concerns
Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iraq’s Kurdish regional president, Nechirvan Barzani, met to discuss cooperation and regional security as Iranian-backed Iraqi militias carried out multiple drone strikes on U.S. facilities across Iraq, including its Kurdish region (AP).
Israel Launches Military Incursion Into Syria During UN Secretary-General Visit
Israeli soldiers advanced toward villages in southwestern Syria, setting up a checkpoint at Al-Ardah while shelling was heard nearby, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported; meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Syria for the first time in seventeen years, condemning Israel’s recent violations (Al Jazeera).
Separately, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview that Syria is seeking to reach a security agreement with Israel, which could pave the way for comprehensive peace between the two countries (Reuters).
New Syrian Parliament Meets for First Time
Syria’s new parliament convened in Damascus for the first time in nineteen months after rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad, representing a milestone in the country’s political transition despite the legislature’s current limited powers (Reuters).
Foreign Minister Says Syria Open to Meeting Hezbollah
Syria’s foreign minister said that Damascus was open to meeting Hezbollah “if interests require it,” according to Lebanon’s state news agency; his comment came after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Syrian forces combat Hezbollah in Lebanon (Reuters)
Al-Sharaa Appoints Seventy Lawmakers to Parliament
Syrian authorities announced the names of seventy lawmakers appointed to a transitional parliament by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, paving the way for the body to convene for the first time, eight months after the process of forming it began (Reuters).
U.S. Strike Kills ISIS Leader
U.S. Central Command announced an airstrike in northwestern Syria that killed a senior ISIS leader last week, as part of “ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland” (CENTCOM)
Syria Holds Legislative Elections in Kurdish-Majority Northeast
Syria held parliamentary elections in the Kurdish-majority northeastern province of Hassakeh and the town of Kobani for the remaining eleven seats in Syria’s first parliament after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad; both areas were reintegrated under government control after fighting in January (AP).
EU Trade Ties With Syria
The European Union (EU) announced it is fully restoring an economic cooperation agreement with Syria that it began scaling back in 2011 due to human rights violations by the former Bashar al-Assad regime; the resumption of the deal reflects changing conditions in Syria after Assad’s fall and the EU’s goal of supporting Syria’s economic recovery, Brussels said (Council of the EU)
Alleged Syrian Militia Member Denies Crimes Against Humanity Charges
A Syrian man known as Rafik A. went on trial in The Hague, denying twenty-five charges including torture, rape, and sexual violence as crimes against humanity, allegedly committed while he led an interrogation unit for a pro-Assad militia in Syria from 2013 to 2014; the case is the first in the Netherlands to address atrocity crimes committed by pro-government forces in Syria, with a verdict expected June 9 and a potential life sentence if convicted (Reuters)
Zelenskyy in Syria
Ukraine and Syria agreed to cooperate on security and economic issues during Zelenskyy’s trip to Damascus (President of Ukraine)
Turkey’s foreign minister also attended a portion of the talks (Reuters)
It was Zelenskyy’s first visit to Syria since the two countries restored diplomatic ties; Syria’s former Assad regime was a close ally of Russia (Al Jazeera)
Al-Sharaa Says Syria Will Not Get Involved in Iran War
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that Syria would not get involved in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran unless Syria faces aggression and does not have any diplomatic solutions (Reuters)
Drones Strike Syrian Military Bases Near Iraqi Border
The Syrian army reported that drones targeted several bases near the Iraqi border; in a statement posted on Syrian state media, the army, which did not specify the origin of the drones, noted that most of the drones were successfully shot down (Reuters)
Separately, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a visit by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that the two countries will coordinate to speed the return of Syrian refugees living in Germany; both leaders said Syrians who wish to stay in Germany would be allowed to, but Merz said that 80 percent of Syrians in Germany are expected to repatriate in the next three years (DW)
Sectarian Attacks Erupt in Suqaylabiyah
An interpersonal dispute between two men escalated into sectarian attacks in the Christian town of Suqaylabiyah, Hama province, when scores of armed men from a neighboring Sunni community descended on motorcycles, damaging homes, shops, and vehicles throughout the night; there were no immediate reported casualties in the attacks (AP)
UN: July 2025 Violence Killed Over 1,700 Syrians
A UN investigation found that more than 1,700 people were killed and nearly 200,000 displaced during a week of violence in southern Syria in July 2025, with Syrian government forces, tribal fighters, and Druze armed groups potentially committing war crimes; the report said most of the 1,707 deaths in Sweida Governorate were Druze civilians, along with members of the Bedouin community and at least 225 government personnel (Reuters)
Syrians Protest Alcohol Restrictions in Damascus
Large crowds rallied to protest recent efforts by authorities to limit the sale and consumption of alcohol in Damascus; the demonstration, which reflected fears that the new government may threaten secular freedoms, was surrounded by heavily armed security forces and passed without any incident (AP)
Authorities slightly walked back the ban, saying that alcohol sales would be allowed in hotels and other designated sites (MEE)
Ukrainian, U.S. Negotiators Meet in Florida
Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators began the latest round of talks in Florida to move towards a settlement; the White House described the talks as productive, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that talks would continue on Sunday (Reuters)
Israel Strikes Syrian Military Sites
Israel struck Syrian government military infrastructure in southern Syria overnight in response to attacks against Druze civilians in Sweida, targeting command centers and weapons sites; Syria condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and warned Israel would bear responsibility for further escalation (Reuters)