JUNE 1, 2023

1. France: Combating Impunity in Syria is a Priority, and the Return of Refugees is Impossible (Syria TV). France’s political coordinator to the United Nations, Isis Jarrod Darno, stressed that accountability and combating impunity in Syria is a “priority” for her country, stressing that a dignified, safe and voluntary return for Syrian refugees is “impossible” at present.
2. First Flight Between Damascus and Caracas in 12 Years (Enab Baladi). The Venezuelan plane belonging to Conviasa Airlines arrived at Damascus International Airport, coming from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, today, Wednesday, May 31, on a flight that is the first of its kind between the two countries in 12 years.
3. Russia Claims America is Preparing an Army in Syria with the Participation of ISIS (Syria TV). Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the United States of America of establishing an army in Syria that Includes elements of the “Islamic State” (ISIS) Organization.
4. After an Absence of 12 Years, Syria Appoints a Permanent Representative to the Arab League (Al Hadath). After an absence of more than a decade, Syria appointed a delegate to the Arab League and head of its diplomatic mission in Egypt. Ambassador Husam al-Din Ala was appointed permanent representative of Syria to the Arab League and director of the diplomatic mission in Cairo, according to Syrian media.
5. Germany Arrests Seven People on Charges of Financing ISIS in Syria (Enab Baladi). The German authorities arrested seven people suspected of being supporters of the “Islamic State” organization, and of being involved with an international financing network for the organization… In a statement issued on Wednesday, the German Public Prosecutor’s Office revealed that authorities carried out 19 raids simultaneously in several German cities, in addition to one property in the Netherlands, to arrest the suspects…Five of the defendants hold German citizenship, including one who has dual Moroccan nationality, a sixth has Kosovar nationality, and a seventh has Turkish nationality.

JUNE 2, 2023

1. Iran Plans to Attack US Forces in Syria (Enab Baladi). The Washington Post said Iran plans to escalate attacks against US forces in Syria and is working with Russia on a broader strategy to expel the Americans from the region.
2. A Former Israeli Official: Iran Has Achieved Less Than 10% of Qassem Soleimani’s Project in Syria (Syria TV). The former head of the Israeli military intelligence service “Aman,” Amos Yadlin, said that Iran had failed to achieve Qassem Soleimani’s project to reproduce the “Hezbollah 2” experience in southern Syria as a result of the repeated Israeli raids in Syria.
3. In Continuation of Normalization with Al-Assad… Al-Miqdad is on an Official Visit to Baghdad (Syria TV).  Syrian Foreign Minister Feisal Al-Miqdad is scheduled to meet during the visit with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, and Parliament Speaker Muhammad Al-Halbousi.
4. Russia Accuses America of Violating The “Non-confrontation” Protocols in Syria (Syria TV). The deputy head of the “Russian Center for Reconciliation” in Syria, Oleg Gorinov, said that the US Air Force pilots violated protocol, noting that they activate weapons systems when approaching Russian planes.

JUNE 3-5, 2023

1. New Syrian Civil Society Initiative to Launch This Week (Enab Baladi).  Representatives of 150 Syrian civil society organizations announced the launch of an initiative called “Civil” during the inaugural meeting at the Arab World Institute in Paris, France, on June 6…The “civil” initiative defines itself as “an entity independent of any political or foreign influence, aiming to protect the Syrian civil space and enhance its effectiveness in decision-making platforms,” and that it comes after two years of planning and the inclusion of more than 150 civil organizations extending within the regions of Syria and neighboring countries and the Diaspora.
2. Meeting in Geneva, the Syrian Negotiation Commission Stresses Implementation of Resolution 2254 (Syria TV). On Sunday, the Syrian Negotiation Commission issued a statement after the meeting of its components in Geneva for the first time in 3 years, in which it stressed the need to implement Resolution 2254 “fully and strictly.”
3. Autonomous Administration Accuses Assad Regime of Obstructing Evacuation of Syrians from Sudan (Syria Tv). On Friday, the Autonomous Administration in northeastern Syria accused the Syrian regime of imposing “impossible” conditions to obstruct the evacuation of Syrian refugees from Sudan.
4. Turkish Drone Kills a Leader of the SDF East of Aleppo (Zaman Al Wasl). A military commander working within the ranks of the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) was killed yesterday, Friday, after being targeted by a Turkish drone in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, northern Syria.

6-6-2023

1. UN official: Syria and Afghanistan are Dangerous, and Refugees Cannot be Forcibly Returned (Orient). After the controversy escalated between the European Union countries about migrants and refugees and the necessity of returning them to their countries for various reasons, a UN official concerned with human rights stated that the conditions in Syria and Afghanistan are dangerous and not ready for the return of refugees to them again. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Volker Türk, said Syria’s human rights situation is hazardous, and migrants cannot be forcibly sent to these two countries for various reasons.
2. Under the Pretext of a “Refugee Return” Conference, Russia is Strengthening its Influence in Syria (Orient). Russian delegations began to arrive at the airports of Damascus and Latakia, in the areas controlled by the Assad militia, to participate in an “international conference” for the return of Syrian refugees, in addition to strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields, according to Assad regime and Russian media outlets.
3. New American Outposts on Syrian Side of Border with Iraq (Syria TV). The US forces stationed in Iraq intend to build new outposts inside the Syrian territories adjacent to the border strip with Iraq. A leader in the “coordination framework” in Iraq, Jabbar Odeh, said on Sunday that American forces stationed at the Ain al-Assad base, west of Anbar, have been seeking for weeks to build three new outposts on the Iraqi border from the Syrian side, within areas close to the infiltration routes of terrorists.

JUNE 7, 2023

1. The founding Conference of the Syrian Civilian Platform… a Search for a Political Role (New Arab). Representatives of about 150 Syrian civil society organizations entered a hall inside the Arab World Institute in the French capital, Paris, on Tuesday to hold the founding conference of the “Civil” initiative after they held a closed meeting yesterday at the same institute.   

JUNE 8, 2023 

1. ISIS Attacks Increase Against the SDF in Northeastern Syria (Zaman Al Wasl). Members of the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) were killed and wounded on Tuesday as a result of attacks claimed by cells of the “Islamic State” organization in the countryside of Al-Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria.
2. Iranian Militias Kill five civilians East of Homs (Zaman Alwasl). 5 civilians working in the wheat harvest were killed on Tuesday as a result of an attack carried out by military groups affiliated with Iranian militias in the eastern countryside of Homs governorate, within the Syrian desert.
3. Greek Airline To Operate Direct Flights Between Damascus and Athens (Enab Baladi). The Director General of Civil Aviation of the Syrian regime, Bassem Mansour, announced the operation of direct flights between Damascus and the Greek capital, Athens. And according to what was reported by the official Syrian News Agency ( SANA ), yesterday, Sunday, June 6, the Damascus-Athens line will later connect with the German cities of Dusseldorf and the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The company operating the flights, according to Mansour, is the “Air Mediterranean” company, and according to Mansour, it is scheduled to operate one flight per week.

JUNE 9, 2023

1. Blinken Urges Coalition Partners to Repatriate Islamic State Fighters in Syria (Al Monitor). US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged countries to take responsibility for their citizens suspected of joining the Islamic State and whose detention in northern Syria risks creating a new generation of militants. 
2. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets Pedersen…And Syria’s Foreign Minister Heads to Saudi Arabia (New Arab). On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Syria, Geir Pedersen, and they discussed developments in the situation in Syria.
3. European Union Cancels Conference with Arab League Because of the Syrian Regime (New Arab). The German ambassador to Egypt, Frank Hartmann, announced the cancellation of a conference between the Arab League and the European Union scheduled for the 20th of June. Yesterday, Tuesday, the German ambassador announced the cancellation of the conference due to the participation of the Syrian regime’s foreign minister, Faisal Al-Miqdad, indicating that a meeting between the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the European Union’s foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, will suffice as an alternative to the conference. 
4. Lady of Hell, Asma al Assad Acquires New Projects that Include Shops in the Old City of Aleppo Despite US Sanctions (SHAM News). Media affiliated with the Assad regime revealed that the Syrian Trust for Development, run by the wife of the head of the regime, Asma al-Assad, signed agreements covering services with banks affiliated with the Assad regime to finance shopkeepers in Old Aleppo…under the pretext of financing commercial and professional projects within the markets in the Saif al-Dawla minaret in the old Aleppo.

JUNE 10-12, 2023

1. SDF to Begin Trials Against ISIS in Northern Syria (Al Arabiya). In response to the international community’s failure to meet its demands to return ISIS members to their countries of origin or to establish an international tribunal to hold them accountable, the Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria decided to start trying foreign extremists who have been in its prisons for years…According to information obtained by Al-Arabiya.net, the first trials will take place in the Syrian city of Kobani, known as “Ayn al-Arab”, located in the north of the country on the border with Turkey.
2. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Transports Military Equipment from Damascus Airport (Zaman Al Wasel). The “Iranian Revolutionary Guard” militia transported weapons, ammunition, and military equipment from Damascus International Airport toward the western countryside of  Damascus. A private source told the “Zaman Al-Wasl” website that the militia transported two medium-sized trucks loaded with heavy weapons, ammunition, and various military equipment to the “Al-Mana” mountain area near the city of “Al-Kiswah.”
3. Türkiye Announces Killing Of Four YPG Members North of Aleppo (Enab Baladi). The Turkish Ministry of Defense said that its forces managed to “neutralize” four members of the “Kurdistan Workers’ Party” (PKK) and the “People’s Protection Units” (PYD) in northern Syria…According to what was stated in a circular issued by the Ministry, the Turkish army managed to “neutralize” four members of the Kurdish parties classified on the “terror lists” after they “harassed” the area of Turkish operations that bears the name “Olive Branch” north of Aleppo…Turkey uses the term “neutralization,” which is about the arrest or killing of members of groups on its “terror lists.”
4. Manaf Tlass Proposes a Transitional Phase in Syria: Collecting Weapons, And a Political Solution (Enab Baladi). Dissident Brigadier General Manaf Tlass proposed a transitional phase in Syria that includes gathering weapons and maintaining civil peace to reach a political solution, pointing out that the “Military Council” project is part of the Syrian civil and democratic approach.
5. Deadly Clashes Between Military Police and Drug Dealers East of Aleppo (Zaman Al Wasel). Members of the “Military Police” of the “Syrian National Army” were killed and injured on Saturday/Sunday night as a result of violent clashes that erupted with drug smugglers and dealers in the “Euphrates Shield” area in the countryside of Aleppo Governorate, northern Syria.

JUNE 13, 2023

1. Canada and The Netherlands Ask International Court of Justice to Start Proceedings Against Syrian Regime for Violating Torture Convention (International Court of Justice). On 8 June 2023, Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands filed a joint application instituting proceedings against the Syrian Arab Republic before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, concerning alleged violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the “Convention against Torture”). 

JUNE 14, 2023

1. Israeli Strikes Target Military Site in Suburb Damascus (Syria TV). SANA said that Israel carried out attacks “from the direction of the occupied Golan, targeting some points southwest of Damascus, and the air defense media intercepted the missiles and shot down some of them,” noting that the attacks “resulted in the serious injury of a soldier and material losses.” Local sources stated that fires broke out in locations around the village of Al-Muqailabiyah in the city of Al-Kiswah in the western countryside of Damascus. In contrast, fire engines were seen heading to the place to put out the fire caused by the targeting without information on injuries.
2. 22 US Military Personnel Injured in Helicopter Crash in Northeastern Syria (Enab Baladi). The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that a military helicopter crashed in northeastern Syria, injuring 22 US soldiers with varying degrees of injury…on Tuesday, June 13 “Centcom” said in a statement that the wounded had varying injuries, as ten of them were transferred to “higher medical care facilities” outside the central command’s area of responsibility for the treatment.
3. Jordanian Army Says it Shot Down Drone-Carrying Drugs from Syria (New Arab). The Jordanian army said it had downed a drone carrying drugs from Syria into its northern frontier region, and it said Jordan would not allow the border area to become a front line in an Iran-linked drug war…The kingdom has blamed pro-Iranian militias, which it says are protected by units within the Syrian army, for smuggling drugs across its borders towards lucrative Gulf markets.
4. UN Will Reduce Food Aid to Syria by About Half Due to Lack of Funding (Al Sharq Al Awsat). The unprecedented funding crisis in Syria is forcing the World Food Program to reduce its “assistance to about 2.5 million people, out of about 5.5 million who depend on the assistance provided by the agency for their basic food needs,” the World Food Program said. Moreover, the statement continued: “After exhausting all options, in light of the minimal resources, the World Food Program decided to prioritize the 3 million Syrians who are unable to survive from one week to the next without food assistance, instead of continuing to assist the 5.5 million people who are running out of food aid.”
5. Russian Soldier Killed in Turkish Bombing in Northern Syria (Al Hadath). The bombing came after a day of violence between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces in northern Syria, which led to several Kurdish deaths. There was no comment from the Russian army, the Syrian government, or Turkish officials regarding the bombing. The Syrian Observatory reported the death of a Russian soldier and the wounding of four others as Turkish forces bombed the road linking the villages of Herbal and Maaratah Um Hosh in Aleppo governorate.

JUNE 15, 2023

1. Russia Seeks to Accelerate Normalization Between Türkiye and the Syrian Regime (New Arab). After efforts to hold the quadripartite meeting between the deputy foreign ministers of Turkiye, Russia, Iran, and the Syrian regime faltered, as a result of the conditions set by Damascus, sources from both sides spoke of progress in the ongoing consultations to hold this meeting, which is expected to be hosted by the Russian capital, Moscow…Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the Assad regime, quoted what it described as a Western diplomatic source, saying that consultations regarding the convening of the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Turkiye, Russia, Iran, and the Syrian regime are continuing, noting that there is a convergence on several points that have prevented the meeting from taking place so far.
2. Four SDF Members Killed by Turkish Drone Near Qamishli (Syria TV). An informed source told the Syria TV website, “A Turkish drone targeted with three Avanti missiles, a car carrying four SDF members and leaders near the village of Shorek, east of the city of Qamishli” on Wednesday…The source said there had been much secrecy about the victim’s identity. Still, there are inevitably essential leaders among them, and he explained that it is usual for any leader to be with a driver only. Still, eyewitnesses confirmed that four bodies were recovered from the targeted car.
3. Autonomous Administration Calls on Russia, the International Coalition, and Assad to Clarify Their Position Regarding Turkish Attacks (Ronahi TV). The Autonomous Administration called on Russia, the International Coalition, and the Damascus government to clarify its position regarding the Turkish escalation and aggression against the regions of northern and eastern Syria and to put pressure on the Turkish side to limit these attacks…Through a statement, the Autonomous Administration said that these attacks are a clear expression of the Turkish mood that yearns for destruction, aggression, and escalation towards the regions of northern and eastern Syria and an unbridled Turkish desire to continue the genocide and work to open several fronts, especially with Erdogan’s arrogance and the start of his new term after the elections.  

JUNE 16, 2023

1. At International Conference to Support Syrian Refugees, EU Reiterates It Will Not Normalize with Damascus (Al Jazeera). The European Union’s foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday that the Union would not have chosen the path of normalizing its relations with the Syrian regime as the Arab League did, stressing at an international conference in the Belgian capital Brussels to support the Syrian refugees that the international community cannot ignore the plight of these refugees…Borrell considered in his speech before the conference “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” that conditions do not allow for a change in the European Union’s policy towards Syria. He stressed that the Union “will not back down from supporting the Syrian people.”
2. EU “Brussels 7” Conference Pledges 10 Billion Euros To Help Syrians (Syria TV). The European Union, the United States of America, and international donors pledged 9.6 billion euros to the Syrian people and the countries hosting Syrian refugees after the seventh “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” conference in the Belgian capital, Brussels…The amount of 9.6 billion euros is distributed between grants and loans, as donor countries pledged to provide 5.6 billion euros in the form of grants, including 4.6 billion euros for the current year and one billion euros for the year 2024, according to the European Union and the final statement.
3. Assad Regime Intends to Apply to Join BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Syria TV). The Syrian regime intends to apply to join the “BRICS” group of countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to what the Syrian Minister of Finance, Kanaan Yaghi, told the Russian “Sputnik” agency on Thursday…Yaghi’s remarks came on the sidelines of his participation in the “Petersburg” Economic Forum in Russia…In an interview with Russia Today, Yaghi said that the economic relations between Syria and Russia are “good” and that the two countries are working to strengthen economic cooperation, referring to the signing of financial agreements with Russia and other countries on the forum’s sidelines.
4. Türkiye Arrests Most Prominent Jihadist Opposing Al-Julani (Al Nahar). On Tuesday, the Turkish authorities arrested the prominent Syrian jihadist, Abu al-Abed Ashdaa, after he entered Turkish territory on his way to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj. The sudden arrest came days after the Turkish authorities deported a Syrian businessman, Maher al-Daghim, for his involvement in financing terrorist organizations. This was preceded by the issuance of a Turkish decision to seize the funds of Omar Sheikh (Abu Ahmed Zakour), a leader in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
5. Strengthening the American Presence and Floating “Al-Assad”… Indications of the Consolidation of Fragmented Syria (Syria TV). The acceleration of normalization with the Syrian regime following the earthquake and the successive political developments reveals an international effort led by countries that have engaged in normalization and those that have not yet, aiming to consolidate the division of Syria by preserving the regime…Most study centers assess that the Syrian war has turned into a “frozen conflict,” the countries that intervened in the war are working to consolidate this situation while trying to bring about an inexpensive change that suits their strategic goals.
6. Hundreds of Syrian Migrants Missing After Sinking Of Boat in Greek Waters (Syria TV). The search operation during the night or early Thursday in the south of the Greek Peloponnese region failed to locate any bodies or survivors of the sinking of a boat carrying 600-700 people, including Syrians after at least 78 bodies were recovered yesterday…The authorities rescued 104 passengers yesterday, including Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis, Afghans, and Palestinians. Still, the authorities fear that hundreds of others may be trapped below deck, and if this is confirmed, it will make the tragedy one of the worst ever recorded in the central Mediterranean.
7. With Assad’s Announcement To Increase Wages, Did the Gulf States Intervene to Save the Regime? (Syria TV). The Syrian regime’s recent announcement of a significant increase in wages and salaries of public sector employees sparked speculation in the Syrian street about the influx of new funds into the regime’s treasury coming from one of the Gulf countries…Earlier this week, the head of the Syrian regime government, Hussein Arnous, revealed an expected increase in the salaries of employees in the public sector, coinciding with the spread of news of mass resignations of employees in the government sector, due to low wages and the shocking rise in prices and inflation, in parallel with the collapse of the value of the Syrian pound.

JUNE 17-19, 2023

1. UN General Assembly Will Vote on Establishing an Agency on Syrian Detainees (Jesr Press). The United Nations General Assembly intends to vote on a resolution calling for establishing an independent institution concerned with missing persons in Syria during June…According to Agence France Presse, Albania, Belgium, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, and North Macedonia circulated a draft resolution to establish an international body to help the families of the missing Syrians discover what happened to their relatives.
2. Failure and Final Cessation of Dialogue Between the Assad Regime and the PYD…What is the Reason? (Syria TV). Bas News website quoted a Syrian Kurdish source as saying, “The dialogues between the PYD and the Syrian regime, under the auspices of Russia, failed due to pressure and interventions from neighboring countries (Turkiye and Iran) and stopped permanently.”…The source added, “The Syrian regime – during the meetings that took place in the capital, Damascus – categorically refused to accept the proposals of the PYD delegation related to the legitimacy of (the Autonomous Administration, the SDF, and the Asayish forces), in any way.”

JUNE 20, 2023

1. Britain Sanctions Syrian Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff (Deutsche Welle). On Monday, the United Kingdom announced new sanctions against the Syrian Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces, as part of a new package targeting conflict-related sexual violence…The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the sanctions include freezing the assets of General Ali Mahmoud Abbas and General Abdel Karim Mahmoud Ibrahim and preventing them from traveling…The FCDO added that Abbas had “a role in leading the Syrian army and armed forces that have systematically used rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence against civilians.”

JUNE 21, 2023

1. Russian Planes Bomb Idlib While Astana Track Meeting Discusses the Situation in Syria (Al Jazeera). Sources in the Syrian opposition reported that Russian warplanes carried out air raids on several areas in Idlib, which resulted in the destruction of some buildings in agricultural areas, as a meeting of the Astana track began in Kazakhstan to discuss the situation in Syria…a family of 17 people was inside one of the targeted farms and survived the bombing. Meanwhile, the twentieth meeting of the Astana track on Syria began in the Kazakh capital, with the participation of representatives from Turkey, Russia and Iran, and two delegations from the Syrian regime and the opposition.
2. US Congress is Discussing a Draft Resolution to Establish an International Tribunal to Hold the Syrian Regime Accountable (Syria TV). On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives discussed a draft resolution calling for the establishment of a special international tribunal to try the Syrian regime for war crimes and crimes against humanity…The resolution aims to establish an international judicial mechanism specialized in Syria through the United Nations General Assembly to prevent Russia from using its Security Council veto in favor of the Syrian regime.
3. Few Sign of Progress at Turkey-Syria Normalization Talks in Astana (Al Monitor). The 20th round of the Astana peace talks kicked off in the Kazakh capital Astana today with normalization between Turkey and Syria high on the agenda…However, there were few signs of progress, as Ayman Sousan, Syria’s assistant foreign minister, repeated his president’s line that ties with Turkey could not be mended until Ankara fully withdraws its forces from large swathes of northeast Syria that amount to nine percent of the country’s total land mass…Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is feeling buoyed by his recent reintegration into the Arab League and is apparently in no mood for compromise, despite pressure from the Kremlin to shake hands with Ankara.

JUNE 22, 2023

1. Druze Protest Turns Violent as Thousands Clash with Israeli Police in the Golan Heights (Jerusalem Post). Violent clashes erupted in the Golan Heights as thousands of Druze Israelis protested against the construction of wind turbines in the area. The protesters clashed with the police, attempting to take over a police station and throwing Molotov cocktails and stones. Police officers responded by opening fire, injuring several protesters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to meet with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the Druze community leader, in an effort to calm the situation. The situation has raised concerns that the Druze uprising could escalate into an Intifada, according to a local council head.
2. Will the Arab Gulf States Finance Reconstruction Projects under Assad’s Authority? (Halab Today). Most Arab countries are continuing their normalization steps with the Assad regime, despite the objection of the West and a large segment of the international community, while the project led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE does not seem feasible until today to bring about any fundamental change in the Syrian file, with the continuation of the status quo.
3. Kazakhstan Announced Ending Talks between Russia, Iran and Turkiye in Astana (Al Arabiya). Diplomats from the three countries met in the Kazakh capital Astana for the 20th time this week to discuss the situation on the ground, a roadmap to rebuild Turkiye-Syria ties, Israeli attacks and a host of other issues. Kazakhstan has hosted such meetings since 2017, with varying results. One of the biggest moves announced in Astana was the partition of Syrian territories into de-escalation zones overseen by different countries.But on Wednesday, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kanat Tumysh unexpectedly called for the conclusion of trilateral talks, saying their goal had been achieved.

JUNE 23, 2023

1. Moscow: Washington is Strengthening its Military Presence in Syria (Al Hadath). The Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, revealed that his country has information that the United States is strengthening its military forces in Syria…He added that there is information that Washington is reinforcing its military battalion in northeastern Syria and al-Tanf, according to the Russian agency “Sputnik.” 
2. Iraqi Official Blames Assad Regime for Flooding Iraq with Captagon (Syria TV). On Wednesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior official hinted that the Syrian regime is responsible for manufacturing Captagon pills and turning Iraq into a country of transit and consumption.

JUNE 24-26, 2023

1. Russian Warplanes Kill 9 Civilians in Idlib (Syria TV). 9 civilians were killed, and more than 30 others were injured as a result of Russian warplanes targeting a vegetable market in the city of Jisr al-Shughur, west of Idlib. Syria TV correspondent reported that the Russian raids targeted a gathering point for trucks loaded with vegetables at ten o’clock this morning in the new al-Hal market in the city of Jisr al-Shughour. 
2. Syrian Alawite Dissident Claims the Russians Bombed Qardaha (Orient). After drones targeted the city of Qardaha, the Assad News Agency claimed that it came from the opposition areas in northern Latakia, but a Syrian dissident from the Alawite sect…Firas Saad said in a post on his Facebook page that he had obtained information…that those who bombed the outskirts of Qardaha were the Russians themselves, with the knowledge and cooperation of a side from the heart of the regime and in coordination with the Iranians….According to Saad, the source said this operation, like previous operations, occurred because the regime and its allies were sure of the possibility of an Alawite uprising against the regime.
3. Turkiye Sets 4 Conditions for Normalization with Assad, Including a New Constitution (Orient). Turkish media revealed some of what happened in the recent Astana meeting on Syria, in which Ankara stipulated several conditions for the Assad regime to normalize relations between the two countries, foremost among them making fundamental amendments to the constitution that would move the political process in the country. The conditions are: Carrying out a constitutional amendment; holding fair elections in the country that will result in a legitimate government; ensuring the safe return of refugees; and cooperating in combating SDF and PKK militia terrorism.

JUNE 27, 2023

1. After an Absence of 12 Years, Syria Appoints a New Ambassador to Egypt (Al Arabiya). Syria announced the appointment of Ambassador Hossam El-Din Ala as its ambassador to Egypt and delegated to the Arab League in Cairo…Ala presented his credentials as permanent representative of Syria to the League of Arab States to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the League’s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday, where he stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination between Syria and the League of Arab States in facing the challenges and threats facing the Arab countries and the region, noting that the return of Syria to Its seat in the Arab League will contribute to strengthening Arab cooperation.
2. Bashar Al Assad Meets the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister in Damascus (Syria TV ). On Monday, the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin in Damascus, a day after Russian airstrikes on Idlib governorate…The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian government said that Bashar al-Assad held political discussions with Vershinin on relations between the two countries and coordination between them, especially in light of recent developments, in addition to issues of combating terrorism and joint efforts in the file of the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
3. UK Says Assad Regime Uses Drugs As a Weapon to Achieve Political Gains (Syria TV). The British Foreign Office said on Monday that the Syrian regime is using drugs as a weapon to achieve political gains, pointing to the continuation of measures against the regime involved in the production and trade of Captagon in Syria…On the occasion of the International Day for Combating Drugs and Drug Trafficking, which falls on June 26, the United Kingdom affirmed its continuation of taking measures against the Syrian regime, which is involved in drug production and trafficking in Syria and the region…The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the Syrian regime used drug production and smuggling as a weapon to obtain political gains.

JUNE 28, 2023

1. Syrian Regime Bombs Daraa for First Time in Five Years (Enab Baladi). On June 27, the Syrian regime air force bombed areas in the western countryside of Daraa governorate with two air raids for the first time since the end of military operations in the area in 2018…Enab Baladi’s correspondent in the western countryside of Daraa reported that the shelling targeted two locations whose nature has not yet been known near the town of al-Yadoudeh, adjacent to the city of Daraa. A former leader of the opposition factions from Tafas…told Enab Baladi that battles took place in the area on Sunday morning between regime forces and the opposition group “Abu Tariq al-Subaihi.”
2. Autonomous Administration Calls for US to Establish No-Fly Zone in Northeastern Syria (Al Sharq Al Awsat). A delegation from the “Autonomous Administration of Northeast” parties in Syria discussed with the US special envoy to Syria, Nicholas Grainger, the recent Turkish escalation and the US administration’s policy in Syria…A prominent Kurdish official who participated in the meeting that was held last (Sunday) evening in the city of Hasakah revealed that Washington is working to ease the tension between Turkey and the Autonomous Administration, but it is unable to impose a no-fly zone in the Syrian sphere and will pressure Ankara, its NATO ally, to curb its attacks on the administration’s areas of influence in the northeast of the country.
3. Assad Tells UN the Return of Syrian Refugees Should Not Be “Politicized” (Al Ghad News). Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stressed the need not to politicize the issue of the return of Syrian refugees, during his meeting with Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, according to official Syrian media reports on Monday…[Assad] said the safe return of Syrian refugees is the supreme goal of the Syrian state, and that the issue is linked to providing for the reconstruction of damaged buildings in the villages and cities to which they will return.

JUNE 29, 2023

1. Russian Military Claims US-Led Coalition is Violating Airspace Agreement in Syria (Syria TV). Brigadier General Oleg Gorinov, deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, accused the US-led international coalition of violating the protocols to prevent collisions in the Syrian airspace…He added that the center recorded 10 cases of violations related to international coalition drone flights in one day, according to the Russia Today channel.
2. After News of Arrests in Wagner’s Ranks, Syrian Regime Denies Wagner’s Activity in Syria (Syria TV). The Syrian regime denied any current activity of the “Wagner” group in the country, following the rebellion of the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, against the Russian Ministry of Defense…Official sources told Russia Today channel, “Now in Syria there is an activity for companies of a purely economic nature, such as “Rosstroy Gas,” and Russian military units are taking Hmeimim base as their base and are continuing to perform their work, and there is no presence of elements or bodies affiliated with Wagner.
3. Jordan Shoots Down Another Drug Drone from Assad Regime Territory (Orient ). On the first day of Eid al-Adha, the Jordanian army announced the downing of a third drone this month, coming from Syrian territory, according to the official Petra news agency…the Border Guard forces, in coordination with the military security services and the Drug Enforcement Administration, detected an attempt by a drone to cross the border illegally from Syrian territory to Jordanian territory…The source indicated that the drone was shot down inside Jordanian territory, and the seized items were transferred to the competent authorities.
4. UN Says Recruitment of Child Soldiers in Syria is Increasing, Despite Decline in Fighting (Al Arabiya). Although fighting has ended in most parts of the country, a new United Nations report reveals that child recruitment in Syria is rising…The United Nations said in a statement released on Tuesday that the number of children recruited by armed groups in Syria had steadily increased over the past three years…It said it documented the recruitment of 813 children in 2020, which rose to 1,296 in 2021, but last year it recorded 1,696.

JUNE 30, 2023

1. UN General Assembly Expected to Vote on Authorizing Institution to Address Missing Detainees in Syria (Ronahi TV). The United Nations General Assembly will vote today…to establish an institution that is the first of its kind to work on revealing the fate of the missing or forcibly disappeared during the life of the crisis…This vote comes from intense pressure exerted by the families of the lost, along with groups and organizations, to open this file and reveal the fate of the lost and forcibly disappeared in Syria since 2011..
2. Russia Announces it Bombed Idlib–and Will Continue to Do So (Ronahi TV). On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it will continue airstrikes in Syria until the elimination of what it described as “militants.”…The Russian Reconciliation Center said that Russian warplanes carried out strikes on a facility in the Sharjah area of Idlib on June 27, which resulted in the destruction of the facility and a warehouse of weapons and ammunition and the killing of 18 personnel.
3. UN Security Council Holds Session on Political and Humanitarian Developments in Syria (Syria TV). On Thursday, the UN Security Council will hold a consultation session on the political and humanitarian developments in Syria, including two briefings by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, and the Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths…This meeting will be the last for the Security Council regarding Syria before the expiry of Resolution 2672 of last January 9, regarding the extension of the authorization for the entry of humanitarian aid into Syria across the borders until next July 10.
4. Sweden Pays Half a Million Euros to Contribute to Eliminating Assad’s Chemical Weapons (Orient). The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that Sweden had contributed about half a million euros to the trust fund for the organization’s Syrian missions and technical assistance to Ukraine on protection against chemical accidents…The organization stated in a statement that this contribution would be used to eliminate the chemical weapons program of the Assad regime, as well as to establish facts related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the Chemical Weapons Convention and relevant Security Council resolutions.