Syria Weekly: September 23-29, 2025

Syria at the heart of UNGA in New York -- 36 diplomatic engagements & an UNGA address; Idlib raises $208 million; parliamentary elections move forward; ISIS escalates attacks in SDF areas; & more.

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

• Transition Meetings

• Appointments

• Political Developments

• Economic Developments

• Infrastructure Developments

• Education Developments

• Health Developments

• Security Developments

• Humanitarian Developments

• Justice Developments

• International Statements & Developments

CONFLICT & SECURITY:

• Israel

• ISIS

• Idlib

• Aleppo

• Latakia

• Tartus

• Hama

• Homs

• Raqqa

• Hasakeh

• Deir ez Zour

• Rif Dimashq

• Damascus

• Daraa

• Suwayda

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

Transition Meetings:

September 23:

• On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 23, President Ahmed al-Sharaa held bilateral meetings with:

  - Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen

  - King Abdullah of Jordan

  - Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

  - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

  - President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb

  - European Council President António Costa

  - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

• Later that evening, President al-Sharaa participated in a fireside conversation with Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute, in an event attended by more than 250 senior diplomats, business leaders, and journalists. During the discussion, President al-Sharaa made a number of key points, including:

  - “Syria cannot import ready-made systems or copy others from history, we must build our own strategic plans and model.”

  - “We will stand alongside everyone, not align with one camp against another. Syria is a key country, able to engage all sides and play a pivotal regional role.”

  - “The security of neighboring states depends on Syria’s stability… Israel will not achieve peace through force alone… and any division of Syria would destabilize the region and harm its neighbors.”

  - “Transitional justice is underway and remnants of the former regime are being prosecuted.”

  - “Mistakes in Suwayda came from all sides, and reconciliation is our only viable path forward.”

  - “Washington can help integrate the [SDF] into Syria’s armed forces.”

  - “The success of any agreement with Israel paves the way for other agreements that promote peace in the region… but Israel must return to its position as of December 8, 2024. As we said before we pose no threat to anyone.”

  - “Since Damascus was liberated, one million people have returned to Syria, and Captagon exports have dropped by 90%.”