Syria’s Drug Trade After Assad: From Qalamoun to Suweida
Alpheratzmag
May 11, 2025
A 2024 World Bank report estimated Syria’s Captagon economy at up to $5.6 billion annually
A 2024 World Bank report estimated Syria’s Captagon economy at up to $5.6 billion annually
Founded in Moscow, the party reportedly aims to pave the way for the creation of an autonomous coastal region under the nominal authority of Damascus.
France has actively mediated between the SDF and the KNC to bridge longstanding divisions and promote a unified Kurdish stance in Syria.
In an interview with The New York Times, Sharaa made a direct appeal to the international community for financial aid, military support, and the lifting of sanctions, describing Syria’s stability as a global concern.
The visit comes amid reports, including from Politico, that the U.S. State Department and Treasury are considering easing long-standing sanctions on Syria
A senior U.S. official familiar with the matter told The Hill that there had been “significant internal debate within the administration” over whether to demand the closure of Russia’s military base in Syria
The decision comes after the killing of a pro-government commander and mounting tensions in southern Syria
Maher al-Sharaa is married to Tatiana Zakirova, a Russian national who also holds Syrian citizenship
Hassoun, a known loyalist of former president Bashar al-Assad, has been a controversial figure for years.
Faced with chronic fuel shortages and an international reluctance to sell oil to Syria, the Damascus administration appears to have turned to Moscow as a substitute for Iranian oil, al-Modon writes.
Putin’s message may serve to distance Moscow from accusations of supporting attempts by regime loyalists to reclaim power.
While recent reports claimed that Syria had signed a deal with Russia to import oil, a Syrian official denied any official agreement, clarifying that all imports are managed through open tenders, accessible to any eligible party.
Putin’s message to President Sharaa underscores Russia’s intent to remain a central actor in Syria’s evolving political landscape, Syria TV writes.
As geopolitical transformations continue to reshape the world order, Turkey emerges as a power adept at capitalizing on shifting realities, Samir al-Taqi writes in Naharnet.
Syria’s new leadership, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is demonstrating a pragmatic approach to international relations
Israel’s more overt intervention in Syria coincided with the deeply flawed National Dialogue Conference, Iyad al-Jaafari argues in al-Modon.
The return of refugees and transitional justice remain unresolved issues that prevent the lifting of sanctions, Matt Zweig, one of the lawmakers behind the Caesar act, told Al-Majalla.
Syria TV has learned from Iraqi political sources that Baghdad is preparing to receive Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in the coming period, signaling a shift in relations from intelligence-level coordination to full political engagement.
Rami al-Shaer asserted to North Press that Moscow never intended to establish permanent military bases abroad and that the future of Russian forces in Syria is ultimately a decision for the Syrian leadership.
The notion of reconciliation with the financial figures of the Assad era has sparked widespread concerns, Iyad al-Jaafari writes in Al-Modon.
