Everything Sawti has published in connection with this country.
Forty-five motorcyclists arrived in Damascus as part of the 2026 Saudi-Syrian Motorcycle Rally, after travelling 1,700 kilometres over three days from Jeddah via Saudi cities and Jordan. The rally, which continues until 12 October, includes tours introducing participants to Syria’s natural, cultural and historical sites.
Syrian presidential media adviser Ahmed Muwaffaq Zaidan denied reports of direct contacts and talks between the Syrian government and Hezbollah in Türkiye, stressing that Damascus supports the Lebanese state and negotiates only with it. The denial followed a Syrian announcement that a cell allegedly affiliated with the group had been detained; Hezbollah in turn denied any activity inside Syria.
Three power stations in Syria were taken offline after gas supplies were halted following an explosion and fire on a pipeline running between the al-Shoula area and Deir ez-Zor. Firefighters announced that the blaze had been extinguished, while technical teams prepared to secure the site and begin maintenance and repairs to the damaged line.
Israeli forces entered two villages in the Yarmouk Basin in the western Daraa countryside on Tuesday, while another patrol moved near Khan Arnabeh in the Quneitra countryside, stopping and searching a number of passers-by. The movements followed further incursions into Saida al-Hanout, Wadi al-Raqad and Kodana in recent days.
Gas flow from the al-Jbessa plant to power-generation stations was halted after a fire broke out on a pipeline between al-Shoula and Deir ez-Zor, following the explosion of a sectional valve in an incident attributed to sabotage. Fire crews began isolating the area and working to extinguish the flames as gas pressure fell.
Syria's Energy Ministry urged residents of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to stay away from the Euphrates riverbed after water releases were raised to 1,200 cubic metres per second, amid increased inflows from Türkiye. The dam administration is working to create additional storage capacity ahead of rainfall and snowmelt.
Syria manager José Lana has called up striker Omar Al Somah to a 23-man squad for friendly matches against Jordan and Uzbekistan, marking his international return after an absence of about two years. The squad includes 17 overseas-based players and six domestic players, while Omar Khribin is absent after citing personal reasons.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in New York that Damascus remains committed to ending the presence of foreign military bases and is continuing diplomatic efforts with Israel towards a security agreement that would return it to the 1974 borders. He also disclosed understandings with Russia, legal discussions over the Turkish presence and a project to transport Iraqi oil through Syrian ports.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said direct talks with Israel began about a year ago and that Tel Aviv backtracks whenever the two sides approach an agreement. He linked any lasting peace to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories they seized after the fall of the former regime, and discussed the foreign military presence, the transitional process and Damascus's regional relations.
Syria’s Ministry of Health has issued the first epidemiological bulletin covering the country’s entire territory after a pause of about 15 years. The bulletin brings together data on early warning, vaccine-preventable diseases, water- and food-borne diseases, and acute respiratory illnesses, with the aim of improving outbreak monitoring, directing resources and supporting health decisions.
Four people were injured and nearby homes began to be evacuated after a powerful explosion was followed by successive blasts at an army site in al-Eis, southern Aleppo, in the fifth ammunition-related incident in Syria during September. The closely spaced incidents have revived speculation about sabotage and technical failures caused by ageing ammunition and poor storage.
A powerful explosion occurred at a Syrian army site near the town of al-Eis, south of Aleppo, followed by successive blasts that hindered the arrival of ambulance and rescue teams. Aleppo Civil Defence operations commander Faisal Mohammed Ali urged civilians to stay away from the site as response efforts continued.
Israeli forces shelled areas in the Quneitra and Damascus countryside with artillery and made an incursion into western Daraa countryside, where they arrested a young man who worked herding cattle. The developments coincided with explosions in Deir ez-Zor and Darayya, and a security announcement about pursuing a cell accused of killing 3 personnel in al-Sanamayn.
Syrian singer Asala Nasri performed at the Fayhaa Sports Hall in Damascus, marking her first appearance on a Syrian stage since 2010. The evening, titled ‘Asala’s Return’, included a tribute to her by Culture Minister Mohammed Yassin Saleh and performances from her new Syrian album alongside well-known works.
Three members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces were killed and others injured on Thursday during a mission to arrest a wanted person in Al-Sanamayn, in the Daraa countryside. The security forces said an armed group led by the wanted person attacked the patrol, while a temporary curfew was imposed and efforts to apprehend those involved continued.
Palmyra has seen a gradual return of local and foreign visitors since December 2024, but tourism remains limited compared with pre-2011 levels. Workers and experts attribute this to damaged infrastructure, a shortage of hotels and services, and weak flows of European tourists, calling for rehabilitation plans and overseas promotion.
Damascus is preparing to convert Al-Mezzeh military airport into a private aviation hub, while the Syrian Center for Justice and Accountability warned that development work could damage remains and evidence at two sites suspected of containing the graves of detainees. Leaked documents show the airport has been used since 2012 to carry out secret executions.
Israeli forces entered agricultural land belonging to the town of Beit Jann in the western Damascus countryside with more than 10 military vehicles and two tanks, while artillery shelling hit the area on Saturday morning. A shell fell near Ain al-Shaara without causing injuries, amid other movements that included searches of homes in the Quneitra countryside.
The 27th Hama Spring Festival is continuing around the historic citadel, with hundreds of commercial, economic, educational, cultural and health-related participants covering more than 25,000 square metres. The programme runs for 15 days, with organisers expecting to attract large numbers of visitors and support tourism and economic activity in the governorate.
Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh announced a plan to resolve the camp issue by September 2027, while around 141,000 families still live in them. He said voluntary return convoys continue daily and that more than 200 camps have closed since a ministerial committee was formed to implement the plan.
Deaths and deteriorating health attributed to medical errors or negligence in Syria have revived debate over protecting patients and holding those responsible to account. The Damascus Medical Association recorded 182 complaints in 2025 and 53 complaints in the first months of 2026, while medical liability is currently governed by general rules and criminal, civil and professional proceedings.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s entry into the Syrian side of Mount Hermon to inspect Israeli forces. Damascus described the visit as a provocative step and a violation of international law, while Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that the Israeli military presence in the area would continue.
Israeli forces targeted the northern outskirts of Taranja village in the Quneitra countryside on Wednesday evening, with no immediate information on casualties or damage. The shelling followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inspection of his forces on Mount Hermon, a visit Damascus condemned as a violation of its sovereignty.
The Idlib Health Directorate announced that at least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured on Wednesday after an explosion at a temporary depot for collecting weapons and war remnants near the city of Sarmada in the northern Idlib countryside. The Defense Ministry said its units were coordinating with the relevant authorities to secure the site.
