Damascus

The Tourism Ministry says Syria received 3.52 million visitors in the first half of 2026, up 111% from the same period last year, however, most of these ‘visitors’ were Syrian expatriates.

Members of the Christian community have been arbitrarily detained, with their families extorted for payments in exchange for their release, the Christian Solidarity International report claimed.

The transition introduces a new Syrian pound, with two zeros removed from the old currency’s face value: 100 old pounds are exchanged for one new pound.

The UN Secretary-General addressed post-war reconstruction and territory disputes at his press conference during the first visit to Syria by a UN chief since the Assad regime.

A collision involving a civilian bus and a vehicle carrying Syrian security forces killed at least 35 people and injured 30 on the Deir al-Zor-to-Damascus road.

The ministry said specialized security units intercepted a suspicious vehicle near the Syrian-Iraqi border and discovered a cache of long-range missiles, guided anti-tank missiles, and drones. 

Syria’s minister of social affairs and labor, Hind Kabawat, led the delegation, as few Afghan women were represented in their fight for rights under Taliban rule.

The two countries have been undertaking a reset in ties since the end of nearly half a century of Assad family rule that saw Syrian troops stationed in Lebanon for almost 30 years.

Lawmakers sought to establish a legislature focused on oversight, representation, and institutional independence rather than displays of loyalty.

In 2025, Syria spent the year trying to unite the country and begin its complex process of appointing members of the new parliament.