Syria's Sharaa aims to restore US ties, no contacts yet with Trump

Sharaa, declared Syria’s interim head of state last week, also noted that US troops were in Syria without government approval, adding that any such presence should be agreed with the state. He described US sanctions still imposed on Syria as “the gravest risk” to the country. “I believe that President Trump seeks peace in the area, and it is a top priority to lift the sanctions. The United States of America does not have any interest in maintaining the suffering of the Syrian people,” Sharaa said (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

CENTCOM Forces Killed Senior Operative of an Al-Qaeda affiliated Group

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate (Read more at Centcom).

Decision on US troops in Syria pending amid talks with Turkey

Trump has conditioned the pullout on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan restoring ties with Israel. Turkey has long opposed the US military presence in Syria due to Washington’s support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The US has recently doubled its troop presence in Syria, increasing the numbers from 900 to around 2,000, following the December 8 ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Read more at Turkish Minute).

Trump considering US exit from Syria

the Trump administration floated a similar withdrawal plan in 2018-2019, though it did not fully materialize. Observers note that the security landscape in Syria has changed since that time, with regime change in Syria eliminating the Russian and Iranian presence. A US departure from eastern Syria could reshape alliances, affect Kurdish-held areas and open the door for possible moves by Turkish-backed forces (Read more at Turkish Minute).

Saudi Arabia in talks with Europe and US to lift Syrian sanctions

 Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday from Damascus that his country was engaged in an active dialogue with Europe and the U.S. to help lift economic sanctions imposed on Syria (Source: Yahoo News).

Syria’s de facto leader congratulates Trump

“We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region,” Ahmed Al-Sharaa said (Read more at Arabnews).

Austin Tice’s mother, in Damascus, hopes to find son

The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012, arrived in Damascus on Saturday to step up the search for her son and said she hopes she can take him home with her (Read more at Arabnews).

Head of hostage NGO believes US journalist Tice still in Syria

The head of an American organisation focused on hostage releases said on Monday he believes U.S. journalist Austin Tice was still being held in Syria by people loyal to toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in order to do an exchange or a deal (Read more at Reuters).

US and France could secure Syria's border to mitigate the conflict with Turkey

A senior Syrian Kurdish official indicated that talks are underway on the possibility of US and French troops securing a border area in northern Syria. Ankara has warned it will carry out a cross-border offensive in northeast Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia if the group does not comply with Turkish demands (Read more at Atalayar).

Trump's terror chief urges UK to bring its Islamic State members back from Syria

Sebastian Gorka, the president-elect's deputy assistant on national security, suggested the UK-US relationship had been weakened. It signals the incoming Trump administration aims to apply greater pressure on its allies. "Any nation which wishes to be seen as a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment," he said. Around 70 Britons are thought to be held by US-backed Kurdish-led forces in detention camps - including 20 women and up to 40 children (Read more at Middle East Eye).

After US Exemption, UN Says More Significant Syria Sanctions Work Needed

"I welcome the recent issuance of a new temporary General License by the United States government. But much more significant work in fully addressing sanctions and designations will inevitably be necessary," the U.N. special envoy on Syria, Geir Pedersen told the Security Council (Read more at USNews).

US allows transactions with governing institutions in Syria despite sanctions

it is issued for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule in an effort to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance. The exemption, known as a general license, also allows some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7. The action did not remove any sanctions (Read more at Reuters).

U.S. raises concerns about attacks on minorities with new Syrian government

Armed clashes between militants affiliated with the Assad regime and policemen affiliated with the new administration took place last week in the city of Tartus. Fourteen policemen and several militants were killed, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry (Read more at Axios).

US hopes Syria elections will come as soon as possible

Official tells The National Washington wants to see new Syria rebuilt 'in spirit' of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and Syria's elections “should be free and fair, and carried out in a transparent and inclusive manner”. The response comes after Mr Al Shara stoked concerns at the weekend when he told Al Arabiya that Syria would not hold elections for another four years, and that it may not ratify a constitution for three years (Read more at The National).

De facto Syrian leader anticipates Trump era with well-choreographed media appearances

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is using media appearances to spell out well-scripted scenarios ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Sharaa seemed to be speaking from professionally-prepared talking points as he relaxedly answered even tough questions trying to reassure his domestic and foreign audiences while at the same time making no secret of his intent to cement his hold on power for the time being (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US military convoy arrives in Syria from Iraq amid ongoing tensions

The US military convoy, including 50 trucks carrying armored vehicles, military equipment, and logistics, is on its way to one of the US military bases in the east and north of Syria through the Al-Waleed border crossing (Read more at News.AZ).

Russia says UK, US planning ‘terrorist attacks’ to remove its forces from Syria

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the United States and the United Kingdom of plotting 'terrorist attacks' on Russian bases in Syria to remove its forces from the country. In a statement released on Saturday, the intelligence agency accused the UK's MI6 and US CIA are directing commanders of the Islamic State to carry out the attacks using drones (Read more at New Arab).

US neutral on potential Turkey-Syria deal

The US called on all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean to avoid actions that could escalate tensions, emphasizing the need for regional resource development to foster collaboration, energy security, and economic stability (Read more at Ekathimerini).

Deciphering the web of US sanctions on Syria

the reality is that the sanctions on HTS are a drop in the bucket, compared to an overlapping sanctions regime on Syria that was five decades in the making, predating even the 2011 Arab Spring and Syrian civil war. American exports to Syria were all but prohibited, except for food and basic medicines. US sanctions on Syria ramped up massively after Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters and as the civil war raged. In 2020, a US company was awarded a sanctions waiver to develop oil fields in the region, but that project withered. (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US senators seek Turkey sanctions, citing military action in Syria

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham  introduced the "Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024" in the hope the sanctions threat would move the parties toward a ceasefire. But they said Washington should work with Turkey diplomatically to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone between Turkey and Syria (Read more at Reuters).

American Strike Killed Islamic State Group Leader in Syria

Washington has stepped up military action against the jihadist group since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month, hitting areas that were shielded by Syrian and Russian air defenses before a lightning offensive by rebels who now control the country. The strike took place Thursday in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria, killing IS leader “Abu Yusif” and another operative (Read more at Defense Post).

US has twice as many troops in Syria than previously declared

The Pentagon claimed it had over 2,000 military personnel in Syria to target Islamist rebels before the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Islamist groups, which seized swathes of territory there and in neighbouring Iraq before being defeated by local forces backed by a US-led air campaign (Read more at New Arab).

US drops $10m reward for arrest of Syria’s new leader after Damascus talks

The US, however, had designated HTS a “terrorist” organisation in 2018. Al-Sharaa — also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — is the group’s leader and was once aligned with al-Qaeda. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years” (Read more at Aljazeera).

U.S. diplomats meet Syrian opposition leader in Damascus

They met with the leader of the opposition group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Ahmad al-Sharaa. A U.S. official said the meeting with al-Sharaa was "good and productive." U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf said al-Sharaa committed to not allowing terror groups to operate in Syria and threaten the U.S. or neighboring countries. Leaf said that as a result, the U.S. made clear it won't pursue the $10 million "reward for justice" on al-Sharaa (Read more at Axios).

Assad's downfall is a big win for Trump, but if it could be fatal

When, in January, Donald Trump is sworn in for his second, and final, term as president of the United States, he will find the Middle East undergoing tectonic geopolitical shifts that his Israel-firsters and neocon supporters could not have imagined, even in their wildest dreams. Trump must seize this opportunity and accept that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach that leaves nobody behind (Read more at Middle East Eye). 

US warns of imminent Turkish offensive in Syria

Unnamed US officials have warned that Washington is increasingly concerned that Turkiye and its allied militias in northern Syria – predominantly under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA) – are preparing for a large-scale military incursion into Syrian territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Citing a reported significant Turkish military build-up and presence – including the deployment of uniformed Turkish commandos, artillery units and allied militias to strategic positions along the border – near the town of Kobani, or Ayn Al-Arab, the officials told the paper that the movements resembled those seen ahead of Turkiye’s 2019 incursion into northern Syria, with one warning that “a cross-border operation could be imminent” yet again (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US engaging with UN to ensure Syrians get answers for mass graves

An international war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday that evidence emerging from mass grave sites in Syria has exposed a state-run "machinery of death" under toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in which he estimated more than 100,000 people were tortured and murdered since 2013 (Read more at Reuters).

Ceasefire between Turkey and US-backed rebels extended

The ceasefire around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week. Washington brokered an initial ceasefire last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month.  State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to engage with the SDF, with Turkey about a path forward." (read more at Reuters) 

Trump says Turkey is behind collapse of Assad

He added Turkey wanted control of Syria 'for thousands of years' and now they have it. "He's a very smart guy and he's very tough. But Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. I can say Assad was a butcher, what he did to children," Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, adding that he didn't know what the outcome of Assad's collapse would be (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Unchanged policy as US Senators remain unwilling to lift Syria sanctions

“The problem is, what comes next?”, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Republican and Democratic US senators say it is too soon to consider lifting sanctions on Syria (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US citizen imprisoned in Syria has been released and flown to Jordan

Travis Timmerman, 29, was imprisoned in Syria after crossing into the country on a Christian pilgrimage in June. United States officials have revealed that Travis Timmerman who disappeared into the Syrian prison system seven months ago, has been released and taken out of the country (Read more at Aljazeera).

Blinken visits Iraq to discuss Syria’s post-Assad transition

Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran’s influence in the region. Blinken visited the US embassy in Baghdad and said he spoke to Sudani about the situation in Syria. Blinken and Sudani discussed “the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that, as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria that produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government,” Blinken said, adding that Syria should not become a “platform for terrorism” (Read more at Arab Weekly).

Blinken meets Jordan's king in Syria diplomacy push

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Red Sea town of Aqaba on Thursday as he arrived in the region for talks on Syria following the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad, Reuters has reported. He will also meet Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi today before heading for Turkiye (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US urges Syrian rebels to form ‘inclusive’ government

The US is mounting a fresh diplomatic effort in the Middle East, hoping to end the war in Gaza and push rebels who have taken power in Syria to form a “credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance” (Read more at Guardian).

Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Syria’s Manbij

The clashes in Manbij, an Arab-majority city, have killed 218 combatants since Turkish-backed groups launched offensives in the north following the ouster of Assad on Sunday. Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi said, “Our goal is to reach a ceasefire across Syria and start a political process for the future of the country” (Read more at Defense Post).

Biden aides in Middle East in diplomatic push for Syria, Gaza

Two-pronged diplomatic push sees Blinken covering Jordan, Turkiye, while Sullivan holds talks in Israel, Qatar and Egypt. Washington has acknowledged Ankara’s right to defend itself from what it perceives as a security threat, but has also said it will continue working with the SDF (Read more at Aljazeera).

US troops to remain in Syria, White House says

U.S. troops will be staying in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad as part of a counter-terrorism mission focused on destroying Islamic State militants, a top White House official said on Tuesday (Read more at USNews).

US rushes to contain Turkey-backed offensive against SDF in Syria

Washington was caught off guard by the rapid overthrow of Assad by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-aligned forces, which occurred in just 11 days. Reports suggest that US officials had been attempting to negotiate a deal with Assad that would have normalised his position in exchange for severing ties with Hezbollah and Iran. The US has expressed concern over Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) operations targeting the SDF, a US partner force (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Two U.S. lawmakers push for some Syria sanctions relief after Assad's fall

The lawmakers wrote that while keeping sanctions on former government officials was important, they believed "that other parts of the legislation - such as sectoral sanctions and sanctions related to reconstruction - should be suspended". The letter said the U.S. must issue waivers and general licenses to encourage economic development and foreign investment and "build good will" without impacting sanctions on designated terrorist groups (Read more at New Arab).

Blinken lays out US hopes for Syria's political transition

He said, the US would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body. It is the clearest definition outlined by Washington since Syria's opposition militias overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Blinken's statement did not mention HTS (Read more at Reuters).

US accuses 2 former Syrian intelligence officers with war crimes

The US Justice Department announced charges against two former Syrian intelligence officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, for war crimes related to their roles in the torture of detainees during the Syrian civil war. The charges stem from their actions at Mezzeh Military Airport, near Damascus, where they oversaw brutal treatment of prisoners, including US citizens (Read more at Anadolu Agency).

US officials discussed merits of removing $10m bounty on HTS leader

Meanwhile, Jordan's King emphasised importance of covert US support for the Syrian Free Army during his Washington DC visit. Ahmed al-Sharaa, commonly known as Jolani, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States since 2013, whilst his organisation, HTS, was proscribed by the Trump administration in 2018 when a $10m bounty was placed on his head (Read more at Business Standard). 

US Seeking Ways to Engage With Syrian Rebel Groups After Assad Ouster

The Biden administration is reaching out to partners in the region such as Turkey to help kick start informal diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working the phones and speaking with regional leaders and has twice over the past four days spoken with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said  (Read more at USNews).

Blinken Warns Islamic State Will Try to Re-Establish Capabilities in Syria

But he said the United States is determined not to let that happen. Mr Blinken said Syrians have to choose their future, adding that statements by rebel leaders towards building inclusive governance are welcome but that the real measure will be in the action they take, not just what they say (Read more at Strait Times).

US renews push to find Captive Journalist after al-Assad toppled

Just a day after opposition fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group took control of Damascus, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that finding missing journalist Austin Tice is a “top priority”, while State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that an envoy had been sent to Beirut as part of “intensive efforts” to find Tice. Austin Tice has been missing since 2012 when he was abducted in Damascus while reporting on the popular uprising against al-Assad (Read more at Aljazeera).

Rebels take Syrian city from U.S.-backed group after U.S.-Turkey deal

The United States and Turkey reached an agreement to ensure the safe withdrawal of U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) from the northern city of Manbij after an advance by Turkey-backed rebels. The Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups had earlier taken control of Manbij from the SDF, a Turkish security source said, a day after rebels in the southern capital of Damascus declared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster (Read more at Reuters).

US Will Remain in Eastern Syria and Seek to Prevent IS Resurgence

"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said (Read more at USNews)

Trump says Russia abandoned Syria's Assad, never should have been involved

"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump wrote. "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine ... a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." (Read more at Daily Star)

Biden: U.S. will support Syria and its neighbors after Assad dynasty collapses

President Joe Biden called the toppling of Syria's dictatorship a "historic opportunity" for Syrian people. He also warned about some risks posed by the uncertainty, such as a resurgence of ISIS. The U.S. will support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, during the transition period and send senior officials to the region, Biden said (Read more at CNBS).

Trump says US shouldn’t intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground

He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power (Read more at AP).

Syria war to have ‘massive’ effect on Lebanon: US envoy Hochstein

The top Biden diplomat said a weakened Syrian government will make it difficult for Iran to transfer weapons to Hezbollah (Read more at Aljazeera).

Syrian rebel advance poses risks for U.S. and others

Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to the Coalition to Defeat Islamic State under the previous Trump Administration, said President-elect Donald Trump was likely to ramp up pressure on Syria's ally Iran both there and across the region. "Such a dramatic change in the balance of power in Syria makes everybody nervous because everybody has a chunk of Syria," (Read more at AOL).

US-Backed Syrian Kurds Seize Eastern City of Deir El-Zor

It is the main border crossing with Iraq on Friday, taking effective control of Syria's vast eastern desert in two rapid moves. SDF head Mazlum Abdi told reporters earlier on Friday at a press conference in Hasakeh city that his forces had "channels of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)," particularly in order to protect Kurds living in Aleppo city (Read more at USNews).

Family of journalist missing in Syria since 2012 meets top US official

The mother of Austin Tice, a US journalist captured over 12 years ago in Syria, said on Friday that her family had information that he is still alive. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Tice's family in the afternoon (Read more at NewArab)

Russia, US clash at UN over escalation in Syria fighting

They accused each other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened over a sudden escalation of fighting in Syria. In remarks directed at Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "You were unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities." "There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you." (Read more at Reuters)

Top Turkish and American Diplomats Share Call Amid Major Escalation in Syria

A Turkish foreign ministry source with knowledge of the call stated that Fidan assured Blinken of Ankara’s opposition to developments that could destabilize the region. He expressed support for a “finalized” political solution to formally end hostilities between the different rebel factions and Assad’s government while also reiterating Turkey’s stance on concerns surrounding Kurdish terrorist threats (Read more at Media Line).

US, France, Germany, UK Urge 'De-escalation' In Syria: Joint Statement

"The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, in line with UNSCR 2254," read a statement issued by the US State Department, referencing the 2015 UN resolution that endorsed a peace process in Syria (Read more at Barron's).

Kurdish forces eye Trump’s return with caution

Various commentators suggest that Donald Trump will withdraw US forces from northeastern Syria. On 8 November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr told political commentator Tucker Carlson that Trump intends to pull American troops from the region to prevent them from becoming “cannon fodder”. Four days later, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler stated in an interview, “Trump gave instructions to withdraw troops from Syria three times during his presidency.” He expressed confidence that Trump would prioritise this issue and remove US forces from Syria and the broader region (Read more at medyanews).

US military says strikes in Syria targeted ‘Iranian backed groups’

US Central Command said nine targets were hit at two locations in Syria in response to an attack on US forces over the previous 24 hours. “These strikes will degrade the Iranian-backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks,” CENTCOM said (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump’s return signals US exit from northeast Syria

Donald Trump intends to withdraw US troops from northern Syria to prevent them becoming “cannon fodder” in potential Turkish-Kurdish conflicts, according to revelations by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Tucker Carlson interview. Kennedy, expected to play a key role in Trump’s administration, said that during a recent flight, Trump had sketched a map of the Middle East, highlighting 500 US troops positioned along the Syria-Turkey border at a vulnerable outpost that had recently faced attacks. He quoted Trump’s direct command: “Get them out!” (Read more at Medyanews)

US military strikes 'multiple' Islamic State group camps in Syria

The US Central Command on Saturday said its forces had conducted air strikes against "multiple known ISIS camps in Syria", adding that the strikes were aimed at disrupting the ability of the group to conduct attacks against the United States and its allies (Read more at France 24).

U.S. airstrikes on Syria kill 37 militants affiliated with extremist groups

U.S. Central Command said it struck northwestern Syria on Tuesday (September 24, 2024), targeting a senior militant from the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen group and eight others. They say he was responsible for overseeing military operations (Read more at Hindu).

US-backed SDF transfer ISIS members from Raqqa to al-Hasakah

The transfer was conducted under US supervision with strict security measures in place to prevent any security breaches, following the escape of five foreign prisoners last week, of whom the SDF managed to recapture only two (Read more at Almayadeen).

U.S. captures ISIS leader in Syria who helped fighters escape

U.S. troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led coalition, captured ISIS facilitator Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal days after "five ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighter detainees (Two Russians, two Afghans, and one Libyan) escaped from the Raqqah Detention Facility," per a CENTCOM statement. The SDF recaptured two of the escapees, but CENTCOM said three remained at large (Read more at Axios).

U.S. military says drone strike killed leader of Al Qaeda-aligned group in Syria

A drone strike in northwestern Syria killed a Saudi militant from an al-Qaeda-linked group as he was riding on a motorcycle. The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that its forces had killed Abu Abdul Rahman Makki, a senior leader in the group Horas al-Din, or “Guardians of Religion." (Read more at The Hindu).

Several US, Coalition Personnel Suffer Minor Injuries in Syria Attack

They were wounded in a drone attack in Syria, in the second major attack in recent days against U.S. forces amid soaring tensions in the Middle East. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the United States would not tolerate attacks on U.S. personnel but Washington was also trying to de-escalate tensions in the region (Read more at USNews).

US Charges Former Syria Prison Chief With Immigration Fraud

The US accused Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of lying about his past in an attempt to secure U.S. citizenship. He oversaw severe physical abuse of inmates while head of the Adra prison, located in a Damascus suburb, from 2005 until 2010. Alsheikh was later appointed by Assad as governor of the Deir Ez-Zor province in eastern Syria. He had been living in South Carolina when he was arrested last month after purchasing a one-way ticket on a flight to Beirut (Read more at USNews). 

US Troops Attacked in Syria

U.S. troops in northeastern Syria at Rumalyn Landing Zone were attacked by a drone. Initial reports do not indicate any injuries. This is the second attack in recent days against U.S. forces in the Middle East (Read more at USNews).

Strategic setbacks for US, Israel as the Resistance Axis gains ground in Syria

Recent resistance operations in eastern Syria have established new rules of engagement that constrain both Washington and Tel Aviv’s once-untethered freedom to operate in this strategic theater. The re-establishment of the Tehran–Beirut road, was perceived by the US and Israelis as a strategic geopolitical setback to their goal of severing relations and routes between Iran and the Mediterranean (Read more at TheCradle).

US repatriates 11 citizens from camp for relatives of ISIS in Syria

The repatriation was the largest Washington has carried out from the camps to date. Five of the 11 citizens brought back were children, and one non-U.S. citizen child. The camps are run by local authorities affiliated with the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (Read more at Stripes).

US Says Civilian Killed in Syria Strike Last Year

A US strike in Syria last year killed a civilian who was misidentified as an Al-Qaeda leader, the military command responsible for the region said (Read more at Defense Post).

U.S. base in Syria targeted with drone, rocket attacks

The base at the Kharab al-Jir airport in the town of Al Ya'rubiyah in Al-Hasakah province in northeastern was targeted with unidentified kamikaze drones and rockets (Read more at Anadolu Agency). 

US proxies fear 'Afghanistan-style' withdrawal from Syria

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fear their US patrons will abandon them in favor of closer relations with Turkiye. Turkiye has escalated its airstrikes on areas in northeast Syria occupied by the SDF in recent months. SDF would simply have to cut a deal with Damascus if the US pulls out, returning northeast Syria and its oil and wheat resources to Syrian government control (Read more at The Cradle).

Here’s what uncoordinated US withdrawal from Syria means for Trukey

It’s bad for many partners, but especially Turkey. While Ankara may favor a future US withdrawal from Syria, it desires US coordination. An uncoordinated withdrawal leaves the country alone against Tehran, Moscow, Damascus, and the YPG. They would probably aim to expel Turkey from Syria (Read more at Atlantic Council).