Notes on Syria’s New Currency
THE SYRIAN OBSERVER
January 5, 2026
The currency change has come without the level of national consultation that a decision of this magnitude requires, Wael Sawah argues.
The currency change has come without the level of national consultation that a decision of this magnitude requires, Wael Sawah argues.
Public Prosecution Demands Eight-Year Sentence for Syrian Businessman Firas Tlass
Both the capital and the SDF face mounting pressure from their respective patrons to reach political settlements that would finally close the eastern file and open the region to the international investment.
The delegation’s primary aim is to address longstanding bilateral issues and establish practical frameworks of cooperation, Syria TV writes.
The departure of Christians cannot be viewed as an internal matter alone. It signals the erosion of centuries-old cultural bridges between East and West, and the loss of a vital interlocutor in Syria’s intellectual, economic and diplomatic engagement with the wider world, Mohammed Berro writes.
Since 2020, French judicial authorities have persistently investigated the activities of this organisation
France’s caution in Syria should not be mistaken for a reversal of policy, but rather as a by-product of declining relevance in open arenas of competition, Syria TV writes.
Now owned by the Swiss multinational Holcim, Lafarge is charged with “financing terrorism” and “violating international sanctions.”
During his visit to Riyadh, Sharaa reportedly met with executives from Hilton, Accor, and Bombardier to explore opportunities in tourism and infrastructure.
Over the past ten months, since this new phase of governance began, the state’s approach to the foreign fighter dossier has become increasingly visible—marked by several key patterns:
French courts have issued a new international arrest warrant for the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in connection with chemical attacks carried out in 2013, Ultra Syria writes.
Whether the Harem operation succeeds or spirals into wider conflict will be a crucial test for Sharaa’s leadership, Daraj argues.
A confidential source from the General Security Directorate told Ultra Syria that reconnaissance drones known as “Shaheen” were used overnight to track the leader of an armed group.
Tom Barrack announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, framing it not as an act of charity but a strategic decision to catalyse the most significant reconstruction initiative since the Second World War, Syria TV writes.
Earlier on Tuesday, Syrian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Murhaf Abu Qasra also met Mazloum Abdi in Damascus, where the two agreed on a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts.
An investigation by Mediapart revealed that SOS Chrétiens d’Orient had “dangerous ties” with pro-Assad militias.
The fall of Iraq’s Ba’athist regime in 2003, following the US-led invasion, foreshadowed the eventual collapse of Syria’s, Marwan Qabalan argues in al-Araby al-Jadeed.
This is the third arrest warrant France has issued against Bashar al-Assad, +963 writes.
The formation of the PCCWS is emblematic of a growing trend towards regional autonomy or federalism in Syria, Ultra Syria writes.
Unlike bullets or bombs, the Assad regime opted for sarin nerve gas—a silent, insidious weapon that suffocates without sound.
