Damascus blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to troops stationed in southern Syria, calling it a breach of sovereignty after Israel expanded its positions there following Assad’s fall; Syrian officials said the move signaled Israel’s refusal to reverse recent territorial gains, as sources report that U.S.-mediated talks on a limited security arrangement have stalled (Reuters)
An Israeli news report had suggested that Jerusalem was conditioning a withdrawal of its troops in Syria on complete normalization of bilateral ties, which Damascus has rebuffed (Times of Israel)
In Raqqa, meanwhile, two Syrian army soldiers were killed in clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces, as talks to implement the March deal between the two sides continue to falter (Al Arabiya)
Syrian Trial Over March Coastal Killings
Syria opened its first court proceedings related to the March massacres of Alawite civilians, trying a dozen defendants from both government-affiliated forces and pro-Assad insurgents in a public session in Aleppo; officials framed the case as an effort to demonstrate accountability in the post-Assad era, though activists and Alawite groups questioned the judiciary’s independence (Reuters)
Meanwhile, senior Syrian and Russian defense officials conducted a joint visit to southern Syria following the arrival of a Russian delegation to the country; Damascus is seeking renewed Russian military support to deter expanding Israeli operations, despite continued Syrian aversion to Moscow for its support of the former Bashar al-Assad regime (The National)
Syria Detains Security Forces Over July Sweida Clashes
Damascus announced that an unspecified number of Syrian security forces and soldiers were arrested as part of the investigation into the clashes, which occurred between the Druze minority and Bedouin militias aided by government-affiliated forces (Jerusalem Post)
The situation in Sweida remains tense following an exchange of fire between Druze and Syrian government units late last week (AP)
EU-Syria Meeting in Damascus
Syrian civil society groups, transitional authorities, and European Union (EU) officials held their first joint discussions inside Syria since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, addressing communal strains and unresolved cases of missing individuals; EU officials said the event marked a step toward more inclusive political engagement (AP)
Fighting Resurfaces in Sweida
Druze armed groups and Syrian government units blamed each other for breaching a months-old ceasefire after renewed clashes around al-Majdal, which involved drone strikes and heavy weapons but caused no reported deaths; local officials warned the flare-up risks reigniting the large-scale violence that devastated Sweida earlier this year (AP)
In Damascus, unknown assailants fired rockets in the Mezzeh district, injuring a civilian; explosions in Damascus have been relatively rare since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime (Al Jazeera)
Syria Reopens London Embassy
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited the United Kingdom and formally reopened the embassy more than ten years after its closure; al-Shibani said his talks with UK officials were constructive (AP)
Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack said Damascus will support U.S. efforts to counter Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, following Syria’s entry into the coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State; along with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Barrack also also met Turkish and Syrian officials to discuss integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state (Times of Israel/AFP)
Counterterror Operations in Syria
The U.S. military announced that between October 1 and November 6, U.S. forces facilitated at least twenty-two operations targeting militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS); the operations killed at least five fighters and captured another nineteen (Reuters)
Syria formally joined the anti-IS coalition earlier this week, although a Syrian official suggested on Wednesday that Syrian participation is currently limited to political rather than military cooperation (AP)
Sharaa at the White House
Ahmed al-Sharaa became the first Syrian president to visit the White House since 1946, eleven months after his rebel alliance ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad (WaPo)
Sharaa has called for the suspension of remaining U.S. sanctions on Syria (Reuters)
Following the meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Sharaa and promised the United States would “do everything we can to make Syria successful,” while also minimizing the implications of Sharaa’s past ties to terror organizations (Al Jazeera)
Separately, Syrian officials said security forces thwarted two plots from the self-proclaimed group to assassinate al-Sharaa in recent months, underscoring its continued activity in the country (Reuters)
Syrian Counterterrorism Operations
The Syrian Interior Ministry announced that its forces executed sixty-one nationwide operations against militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State, arresting seventy-one fighters and seizing several weapons, as Syria prepares to join the U.S.-led coalition against the terror group (Reuters)
Britain Lifts Sanctions on Sharaa
The removal of sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa follows a UN Security Council decision to remove similar restrictions ahead of Sharaa’s planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump; the European Union confirmed it will also lift its measures, though other arms and security restrictions on Syria will remain (Reuters)
Meanwhile, the UN reported that nearly 100 individuals have been abducted in Syria since January 2025, causing worry of continued political violence even after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime last year (UN)
Separately, the Syrian Foreign Ministry denied a Reuters report that the United States was planning to establish a military presence in Damascus, while the Interior Ministry suggested Russia could play a role in developing the Syrian military and other security forces (New Arab)
UN Repeals Sanctions on Sharaa
Fourteen members backed a recently proposed U.S.-drafted resolution removing Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his interior minister from an international sanctions list, clearing asset freezes and an arms embargo as talks with U.S. President Donald Trump approach; China abstained from the vote (Al Arabiya)
Separately, Sipan Hamo, a senior commander in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said negotiations on integrating his group into state structures have stalled over disagreements on decentralization and the force’s status; he added the SDF is preparing for potential conflict even as it seeks to uphold a March agreement with Damascus (Al Arabiya)
Military Presence in Damascus
Sources told Reuters that Washington is planning to station personnel at a Damascus airbase to support an anticipated U.S.-brokered security deal between Syria and Israel, though Syrian officials publicly denied the report; the move would follow reconnaissance missions confirming the runway’s readiness as talks accelerate ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (Reuters)
U.S. Proposal to Lift UN Sanctions on Syria
A U.S.-drafted Security Council resolution would remove sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab as Washington pushes to ease measures in anticipation of an official Syrian visit to the United States; Sharaa is already receiving travel exemptions, allowing his planned visit even if the resolution stalls (Reuters)
U.S. officials are simultaneously pushing to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act, which has strained Syrian economic reconstruction, ahead of the trip (WSJ)
Lebanon-Syria Talks in Bahrain
Syria’s foreign ministry said it sought to improve both political and security ties; the countries have a history of strained relations, as Syria occupied Lebanon from 1976 to 2005 and Hezbollah fighters participated in Syria’s civil war (The National)
With relatively new governments in place in both countries, their leaders have pledged to improve bilateral relations (AP)
Separately, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Washington sometime around November 10, per a White House official, marking the first official visit from a Syrian president to Washington; U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack first announced the visit on November 1, with Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shibani confirming the visit the following day (Reuters)
Ahead of the visit, al-Shibani said negotiations to merge Kurdish institutions into the state remain stalled despite U.S. mediation, a stance that contrasts with Washington’s more positive assessments (Al Monitor)
Meanwhile, in Damascus, the Syrian Ministry of Interior said a months-long review of forty-two alleged kidnappings of Alawite women confirmed only one abduction, concluding that allegations of minority abuses from human rights groups were false; no independent investigations have corroborated the ministry’s claim (AP)
Syrian Corruption Crackdown
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has reportedly been warning loyalists against profiteering, ordering investigations into civil servants with luxury assets, and even shutting down a brother’s business office over concerns of influence-peddling, demonstrating an attempt to root out corruption under the new Syrian regime (Reuters)
Syrian Diplomatic Advances
A high-level Syrian delegation met with Lebanese security officials in Beirut, agreeing to boost bilateral cooperation on combating smuggling, crime, and terrorism, in the latest thaw in Lebanese-Syrian ties (New Arab)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Damascus to discuss a range of concerns affecting Syrian reconstruction efforts (Arab News)
Israel and Syria Nearing Security Deal
An Israeli official told media outlets that talks on joint security arrangements with Syria were advancing, with the possibility of a joint presence backed by U.S. forces at strategic points; several core issues remain unresolved, although the official reiterated that the agreement would resemble the UN-backed 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement (i24NEWS)
Sharaa in Saudi Arabia
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative and hold talks with senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, as Damascus seeks foreign capital to revive its economy (New Arab)
Meanwhile, Russia has resumed military flights between its air bases in Syria and Libya, following a five-month suspension; the resumption comes after a recent meeting between Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow (Libya Observer)
White House Presses Syria Sanctions Repeal
The Trump administration is urging lawmakers to repeal the Caesar Act to facilitate foreign investment, warning that executive waivers will not reassure companies; any potential repeal would likely be included in the annual defense bill, although senior Israeli officials are pushing to preserve the sanctions (Al-Monitor)
Syrian Military Officers in Turkey and Saudi Arabia
Syria’s defense minister said a group of army cadets has begun studying at military academies in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, calling the move part of efforts to modernize the Syrian army and expand defense cooperation with both countries (New Arab)
Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Hind Qabwat met with European Union officials to discuss Syria’s plans for its transitional phase and request support for reconstruction, as a UN official advocated for increased international aid at a Security Council session on Wednesday (UN; X)
Gunmen Kill Druze Syrians
Unidentified gunmen targeted a van in the Druze village of Kafr Maris in Idlib, killing three civilians in what local residents called a deliberate sectarian attack that heightened local tensions; officials said they are boosting security measures to address targeted violence (AP)
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Islamic State has been exploiting the security vacuum that has emerged following the fall of the Assad regime, carrying out 117 attacks in northeast Syria through August, up from seventy-three in all of 2024, as U.S. forces began withdrawing hundreds of troops and transferring several bases to the Syrian Democratic Forces (WSJ)
UK Delists Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
The removal of the terror designation aims to facilitate engagement with Syria’s new government, which is led by former Hayat Tahrir Al Sham chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, and to coordinate on dismantling Assad’s remaining chemical weapons program (UK Government). Syrian Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar reiterated his country’s desire for increased foreign recognition, including through a formal congressional repeal of U.S. sanctions (Reuters)
Turkey and Syria Cooperate Against Kurds
Ankara has agreed to send military vehicles, drones, and air defenses to the Syrian government in return for permission to expand military operations against Kurdish militias near the border; Turkish and Syrian officials are also discussing broader security coordination and limits on Kurdish control of oil fields (Jerusalem Post/Reuters)
Bus Explosion in Deir ez-Zor
An explosive device struck a Syrian Energy Ministry bus traveling between Deir ez-Zor and al-Mayadin, killing four security personnel and injuring nine others, according to state media, in an area that witnessed heavy clashes during the civil war; the slain personnel were guards at the Teim oilfield (Al Jazeera)
Sharaa in Moscow
Syria will honor past deals with Russia, Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told Russian President Vladimir Putin; Russia has sought to retain control of its military bases in Syria following the ouster of its ally, Bashar al-Assad (Reuters)
Sharaa’s visit was particularly sensitive given that Russia is harboring Assad; the two leaders also discussed potential energy and infrastructure projects (NYT)