Damascus

Syria bets on tourism revival, but visitor surge faces test of security, services

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.

Visitors and local residents gather outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of Syria’s most prominent religious, historic, and tourist landmarks.
Clergymen lead Christmas celebrations at the St. George's Syriac Orthodox Church in the old city of Damascus.

Christians arbitrarily detained in Syria denied Bible access, forced to observe Ramadan, CSI report

The Central Bank of Syria headquarters in central Damascus on July 28, where the exchange and withdrawal of old banknotes are being administered.

As Syria discontinues the 'Assad Pound,' can new currency regain Syrians' trust? - analysis

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the People's Palace in Damascus, July 25, 2026

Golan Heights 'are Syrian territory,' UN chief Guterres stresses during Damascus visit


Macron says France ready to help rebuild Syria following bombs, explosions near his hotel

"We want to continue working on the restructuring of the banking sector," Macron said at a news conference alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

France's President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa at the People's Palace in Damascus, Syria, July 7, 2026.

Damascus explosion injures 18, incl. four police officers amid Macron-Sharaa meeting

The explosions are believed to have been caused by an explosive device planted on a vehicle near the French president's hotel, while Macron confirmed in a statement that his visit will continue.

Smoke and fire rise at the site where explosive devices blew up near a hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was meant to be staying, in Damascus, Syria, in this screengrab obtained from a video, July 7, 2026.

Macron’s visit to Syria showcases Damascus's rising regional status - analysis

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa is also expected to travel to Turkey to hold meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the following days.

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) is welcomed by Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (R) as he arrives for a state visit at the Damascus International Airport in Damascus on July 6, 2026.

French President Emmanuel Macron lands in Syria in first visit to post-Assad Damascus by EU head

The visit underlines Syria's geopolitical transformation under Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that shunned Assad.

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after a joint press conference after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025.

Syrian women push for real political power: 'Representation is not just numbers'

As Syria’s first post-Assad parliament takes shape, activists say a rise in female lawmakers will matter only if women can shape legislation and oversight.

Women activists protest in Aleppo against what they say is inadequate female representation in Syria's newly formed People's Assembly, July 2.

Damascus begins public trials for individuals involved in Sweida sectarian violence

The attacks in July, 2025, were among the worst outbreaks of sectarian violence since Ahmed al-Sharaa seized power following the fall of the Assad regime in 2024.

A Syrian Druze fighter kneels in the entrance of a building in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria on July 20, 2025.

Explosion in crowded Damascus cafe leaves ten people dead, 21 injured

"The Syrian Arab Republic condemns in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist bombing that targeted a café in the capital, Damascus," said the Syrian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Members of the media and other people gather near the site of what Syrian state media reported was a blast at a cafe in central Damascus, Syria, July 2, 2026

Syrian FM visits Beirut after Trump suggests Damascus should fight Hezbollah

The Syrian minister, Asaad al-Shibani, met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on his first stop, and then headed for a meeting with the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in Beirut, Lebanon, July 2, 2026.

Syria’s missing women: What really happened to Batoul Alloush? - exclusive

Syrian authorities have maintained that the woman voluntarily left her family home and converted of her own free will. Her family, however, contends that she was abducted and is being held by force.

BATOUL SULEIMAN Alloush.

Damascus using Assad-era laws to detain activist Hassan Akkad, expert tells ‘Post’

Hassan Akkad was arrested and remains in detention for a series of social media posts calling out wealthy businessmen for allegedly failing to follow through on pledges to help rebuild Syria.

Hassan Akkad attends a private London Screening of 'Refuge' - A multimedia chronicle of human stories from the European Refugee Crisis, focused on humanity and hope BAFTA on June 8, 2016 in London, England.