The Home that Was Our Country is a deeply insightful and engaging memoir that interweaves the textures of Syrian history, during the time of the author’s great-grandfather, with her personal experience of Syria in the years following the Arab Spring. Born in the US, she decided to move to Damascus in 2011 when hopes of freedom filled the air, to reclaim the apartment of her grandmother that was lost to the family during the first Assad regime.
21 August 2025. Syria’s Ministry of Culture and the Islamic World Culture Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are preparing to launch Damascus as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2027. The collaboration stresses the importance of safeguarding Syria’s cultural heritage as part of global human history. Plans focus on restoring archaeological sites, training experts, and boosting global cooperation.Read more at: SANA
21 August 2025. In a video interview, Barbara Leaf, a high-level US diplomat who met with Ahmad al-Sharaa following the fall of Assad, reflects on the historic Syrian transition, calling it a “once in a generation” opportunity for change. Acknowledging the challenges of reconstruction and reconciliation, given the distrust and sectarian conflict fuelled by the Assad regime, she praises the new government’s avoidance of widespread violence.Read more at: ALARABIYA
20 August 2025. The “Gate of the Sun,” a two-day cultural festival in Damascus held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, spotlighted art, poetry, and storytelling from Idlib during revolution. It featured 70 paintings by 18 artists created under siege and bombardment, presenting a visual record of the struggle for freedom and honoring martyrs and voices of resistance. Award-winning literature emphasized the power of the pen.Read more at: LEVANT24
28 July 2025. The Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum held in Damascus, under President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s patronage, is expected to have transformative impacts on Syria’s economy and society. The forum saw the signing of 47 agreements worth over $6 billion, spanning sectors ranging from energy, tourism, and infrastructure to agriculture, administration, and upgrading airports. The Saudi Minister of Investment, declared, “We are not building new bridges, we are reinforcing ancient ties.”Read More at: SANA
20 May 2025. Living in ruins, cautiously rebuilding their lives, people celebrate the end of US sanctions in May. Most shocking to the writer was the fact that people can now speak openly at public gatherings, voicing political opinions without fear. Read more at: Washington Post Subscription needed to read whole article.
In less than six months, a nation that was on the brink of failure has been revived and is undergoing a transformation, an unfathomable occurrence in the normal course of events. Signs point to the presence of a new generation of leaders, whose sole motive is to serve their people and bring peace to a region embroiled in conflict over centuries.
