Syrian army

Damascus declares curfew in Aleppo following clashes with SDF

Syria’s government declared Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh a closed military zone as fighting with SDF escalated, with civilian deaths reported and mass evacuations underway.

|ByJAMES GENN
A member of the security forces stands guard as residents flee Aleppo's Ashrafieh Kurdish neighbourhood on January 7, 2026. Civilians were fleeing Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo on January 7 after the Syrian army declared them "closed military zones", amid ongoing fighting with Kurdish-led forces.
Armored personnel carriers stand outside a compound of the Syrian army's new 80th Division in northwest Syria, June 3, 2025.

Syrian army starts training in Turkey, while Ankara gains influence over Damascus gov't - analysis

Forty-nine Syrians have begun training in Turkey, as part of a new program that will allow Syrian troops to use Turkish military barracks and academies.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Syrian army personnel gather as they head towards Latakia to join the fight against the fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, March 7, 2025.

US gives nod to Syria to bring foreign jihadist ex-rebels into army, including Uyghurs from China

Syrian officials said that under the plan, some 3,500 foreign fighters, mainly Uyghurs from China and neighboring countries, would join a newly formed unit.

|ByREUTERS
Syrian army personnel gather as they head towards Latakia to join the fight against the fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo, Syria, March 7, 2025.

Syria continues to build its new army as it looks to integrate various armed groups

The backbone of the army are the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham units that came out of Idlib and had fought Assad’s military for years, as well as units from southern Syria and units linked to Turkey.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Britain holds first high-level military talks with Syria since 2011

Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Marhaf Abu Qasra met with an official British delegation led by political advisor Charles Smith in Damascus.

MAY 18, 2025ByRIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
A meeting between British political advisor Charles Smith (L) and Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Marhaf Abu Qasra (R) in Damascus, May 15, 2025.

Integration, reconstruction: What are the priorities of Syria's new government? - analysis

Syria's transitional government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, held its first meeting on April 7, focusing on reconstruction and unity.

APRIL 9, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
President Ahmed al-Shara'a speaks during the formation of the new Syrian government. March 29, 2025.

In Syria’s Sednaya prison, waiting for loved ones: Many missing, many dead

Syrian detainees return home, but many remain missing or presumed dead amid grim discoveries in Sednaya Prison.

DECEMBER 18, 2024ByRIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE
PEOPLE CELEBRATE the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, in Sednaya, Syria, this week. The spectacular collapse of the Assad regime has introduced both uncertainty and opportunity, the writer notes.

IDF calls troops to Golan as rebels force Syrian army from border province

The IDF announced that following a situational assessment, the military would call up additional soldiers for defensive missions in the Golan Heights.

DECEMBER 7, 2024ByMAYA GUR ARIEH
Smoke billows in the distance as damaged cars are seen at the site of Syrian regime airstrikes targeting anti-regime fighters in Aleppo, in northern Syria on November 30, 2024.

Suspicious death of adviser to Syrian President Assad amid military reforms, economic crisis

Luna al-Shibl, Syrian President Assad's adviser, died after a suspected deliberate car accident in Damascus, amid political intrigues and military reforms in Syria.

JULY 7, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
SYRIA’S PRESIDENT Bashar Assad shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during the signing of a cooperation agreement in Damascus, last year. The ICC has never issued an arrest warrant against Ayatollah Khamenei or Assad, the writer points out.

Jordan downs drone from Syria in third incident this month

Jordan, which has intensified military drills along its border with Syria, announced 10 days ago it had foiled a large smuggling operation.

AUGUST 28, 2023ByREUTERS
A picture released by the Jordanian Armed Forces website shows what it said is a drone carrying crystal meth that was flying into Jordanian territory from neighbouring Syria that the Jordanian army downed on Jordan's side of the border, Jordan August 13, 2023

Tunnels used for missile production in Syria attacked in Monday airstrike

A recent intelligence report by ImageSat International (ISI) based on satellite images revealed details about an attack in Syria attributed to Israel in early March.

MARCH 23, 2023ByMAARIV ONLINE
Satellite documentation of the location of the attack

Arab states need new approach towards Syria, says Saudi foreign minister

Leaders in the Arab world have addressed a need to step up efforts to dealing with Syria.

FEBRUARY 19, 2023ByREUTERS
A US soldier oversees members of the Syrian Democratic Forces as they demolish a YPG fortification and raise a Tal Abyad Military Council flag over the outpost as part of the security mechanism zone agreement, in Syria September 21, 2019.

Syria opposition uneasy after Turkish, Syrian defense ministers' Moscow meeting

The way was paved last year through meetings between the security chiefs of the countries, whose rapprochement had seemed unthinkable.

JANUARY 4, 2023ByREUTERS
Demonstrators gather during a protest against Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's comments on reconciliation of the opposition with the Syrian government, in the rebel-held city of Azaz, Syria August 12, 2022.

Protesters storm governor's office in southern Syrian city, two killed in clashes

This is a rare occurence in Sweida province, which has mainly been spared from the violent unrests of the last decade in Syria.

DECEMBER 4, 2022ByREUTERS
Smoke rises near a building as people take part in a protest in Sweida, Syria, December 4, 2022, in this picture obtained by Reuters.

Israel allegedly targets Damascus airport once more in overnight strike

Israel reportedly carried out an airstrike on Damascus International airport and other positions south of Damascus, killing five Syrian soldiers.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022ByREUTERS
Ofek 1 images of Damascus International Airport