10 February 2026. After rejoining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS last year, Syria is now taking a leadership role. Minister al-Sheibani affirmed the widespread view that Syria’s stability is vital to the entire Middle East, and thanked coalition members for helping eradicate ISIS from Syrian territory.Read more at: SYRIAN OBSERVER
10 February 2026. After living in exile for a decade, Alhakam Shaar returned briefly to Aleppo filled with joy, working in sub-zero temperatures to restore his family’s home. Thousands returning to rebuild homes and businesses face severe infrastructure damages, which the government has begun to repair.Read more at: AL JAZEERA
9 February 2026. Syria signed an agreement with a consortium of Saudi companies to desalinate seawater and transport it to southern regions hit by severe drought, guaranteeing a steady water supply for drinking and agriculture. Energy Minister Muhammad al-Bashir called it “the largest water agreement in the world.”Read more at: LEVANT24
9 February 2026. The “Ishraqat” (Radiance) Festival brings together artists and audiences in a program of art exhibitions, performances, and seminars, supporting the recovery of Syria’s richly diverse heritage and fostering shared national identity. The program was sponsored by government ministries in coordination with UNDP and with funding from Japan. Read more at: SANA
9 February 2026. During a visit to camps in western Idleb, where displaced families living in tents were forced by severe floods to evacuate, the Social Affairs minister met with humanitarian aid partners to assess the flood damage and request stronger coordination to ensure faster, more effective support. Read more at: SANA
8 February 2026. Bana Omar Abdullah authored a heartfelt tribute to Syria’s heritage, combining photographs and text. “My book is a tourism guide and a message of love for Syria,” she said. “I wanted to show its landmarks and tell its story through images that speak to the heart.”Read more at: SANA
7 February 2026. The Social Affairs and Labor Ministry and the Saïd Foundation for Development have launched a training program aimed at improving the capacity of public and private institutions to serve people with disabilities. Fifty percent of the trainees will be disabled people.Read more at: SANA
7 February 2026. Syria and Saudi Arabia signed major joint economic agreements in air transport, water desalination, and telecommunications, in addition to 45 other development projects. The agreements aim to rebuild Syria’s infrastructure, expand air travel, and strengthen regional cooperation.Read more at: LEVANT24
5 February 2026. Damascus Radio, marginalized under the old regime, has been revitalized with technical capacities that combine conventional broadcasting with online streaming, mobile applications and podcasts. It will enable interactive programming and allow Syrians worldwide to connect in real time.Read more at: SANA
5 February 2026. The state-owned Syrian Petroleum Company signed a landmark agreement with US and Qatari companies to begin oil and gas explorations aimed at boosting energy investment, supporting development, and expanding partnerships. US envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the agreement “a transformative step that draws a new picture for Syria after years of suffering.”Read more at: SYRIAN OBSERVER
5 February 2026. In his opening address to government ministers, prominent Syrian writers and intellectuals, and Arab political and intellectual figures, President al-Sharaa observed that humanity has long strived for truth, knowledge and the secrets of the world. The international cultural event offered knowledge on innumerable topics, including once-secret knowledge about Syria.Read more at: SANA
3 February 2026. The Syrian government transferred control of religious sites in Aleppo, once a thriving center of Jewish life, to the Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation. The group is “committed to helping build a pluralistic, prosperous and democratic Syria.” Henry Hamra, one of the founders, observed: “Syrian people are very loving people and they’re very welcoming.”Read more at: NPR.ORG
3 February 2026. President al-Sharaa met with KNC leaders on implementing recent agreements to integrate Kurdish people into the state. He affirmed that constitutional guarantees are in place to protect Kurdish rights and reinforce equal citizenship, while preserving cultural and social traditions.Read more at: LEVANT24
3 February 2026. In 1982, the Hafez al-Assad regime killed an estimated 40,000 Hama civilians, forced the disappearance of 17,000 others and decimated entire neighbourhoods, for opposing the regime’s oppression. While documents were secretly compiled through the years, this first public ceremony restores dignity to the victims and opens a pathway toward justice for survivors.Read more at: LEVANT24See also: “Never Forgotten: Assad Dynasty’s Failure to Exterminate and Erase Hama”
3 February 2026. People gathered in the town square to cheer the arrival of state forces, expressing a mixture of joy at the liberation of their town, anger at SDF’s imprisonment of their relatives, and hope that the government continues its push to free areas from SDF control.Watch video at: ALJAZEERA
3 February 2026. A €35 million German funded agreement between Syria’s Health Ministry and UNDP will restore and equip five major hospitals in areas recovering from conflict, part of the government’s efforts to rehabilitate healthcare. A portion of the funds will revitalize 25 medical centres across Syria.Read more at: SANA
2 February 2026. A Suwayda delegation met with US officials to present the governorate’s political and security realities directly, free of “misleading narratives.” Part of an outreach effort to find political solutions to the ongoing crisis, the message emphasized unity and rejected separatism.Read more at: LEVANT24
1 February 2026. “Syrian children have waited too long for stability, safety and opportunities to learn,” said UNICEF’s representative in Syria, as the UN agency and Finland announced €2.7 million to expand inclusive education and child and social protection, prioritizing children with disabilities and those affected by conflict and displacement.Read more at: SANA
31 January 2026. Syria and the SDF agreed to a nationwide ceasefire and a phased integration of SDF forces and institutions into the Syrian state, restoring central authority over governance and administration.Read more at: LEVANT24
30 January 2026. Syria was elected by acclimation as Vice Chair of the UN Preparatory Committee on the Convention on Crimes Against Humanity. Ambassador Olabi noted the significance of the shift from involvement in issues internal to Syria to a role in global issues.Read more at: ENABBALADI
30 January 2026. Syria’s government launched a comprehensive program to strengthen food security, with bakery and grain establishments cooperating to improve efficiency, modernize production, improve bread quality, and ensure daily supplies.Read more at: LEVANT24
30 January 2026. On the anniversary of the Conference of the Syrian Revolution’s Victory, when Ahmad al-Sharaa shifted roles from military commander to president of the republic, he evoked the sacrifices of Syrians in every sphere and prayed to be worthy of their trust.Read more at: SANA
30 January 2026. Syrian President al-Sharaa and Vladimir Putin affirmed expanding Russian–Syrian cooperation, emphasizing reconstruction, economic progress, and efforts to restore Syria’s territorial unity and foster Middle East stability.Read more at: ENABBALADI
29 January 2026. An upsurge in foreign tourists and expatriates visiting their homeland occurred between the December 2024 victory and December 2025. Officials cited improved security, revived cultural events, and growing regional and international interest in Syria.Read more at: LEVANT24
Largely unnoticed in the West until recently, Syria played an important role in shaping European architecture through a remarkable 12thcentury cultural exchange between Islamic builders and Knights Templar. The Islamic impulse contributed significantly to the Gothic architecture of Western Europe, starting in the 12th century. It later made its influence felt in India through the distinctive Mughal style of architecture displayed in the Taj Mahal (1648) and also influenced figures like Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
