Syria Weekly: March 10-17, 2026

MOD names Assistant Ministers; 1st Gov't-SDF prisoner exchange, 2nd planned for Eid; US leaves Kharab al-Jir airbase; Investment Authority establishes arbitration committee; & a lot more.

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

• Transition Meetings

• Appointments

• Political Developments

• Economic Developments

• Infrastructure Developments

• Education Developments

• Health Developments

• Security Developments

• Humanitarian Developments

• Justice Developments

• International Developments

CONFLICT & SECURITY:

• Israel

• ISIS

• Idlib

• Aleppo

• Latakia

• Tartus

• Hama

• Homs

• Raqqa

• Hasakeh

• Deir ez Zour

• Rif Dimashq

• Damascus

• Daraa

• Suwayda

• Quneitra

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

Transition Meetings:

March 10:

• President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke by phone separately with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliiyev and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on March 10 — both to discuss the ongoing conflict across the Middle East, issues of border security, and opportunities to enhance bilateral relations.

  

• Deputy Interior Minister Abdulqader Tahhan hosted a multilateral meeting entitled “The Syrian Arab Republic’s Efforts in Combating Drugs After Liberation” on the sidelines of the UNODC’s 69th Session in Vienna, Austria on March 10.

  

• The director of Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs, Qutaiba Badawi, hosted a meeting with Lebanon’s Ambassador to Syria Henri Qastoun on March 10, to discuss border security, conditions at border crossings, and steps to further facilitate the return of Syrians.

  

• Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa hosted a meeting with China’s Ambassador Shi Hongwei on March 10 to discuss potential media partnerships, reciprocal visits, joint workshops, and the exchange of expertise.

• Syria’s Charge d’Affairs to Lebanon, Iyad al-Hazzah, hosted a meeting in Beirut with French Charge d’Affairs to Syria Jean-Francois Faivre on March 10, during which they discussed ongoing regional conflict as well as Syria’s ongoing transition.

• Governor to Suwayda Mustafa Bakkour hosted a meeting with a delegation from the WFP on March 10 to discuss ways to further improve coordination and to establish a new production line in the automated bakery in al-Qasr.

• The Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry for Internal Trade Affairs, Maher Khalil, participated in a virtual call with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on March 10 to discuss plans to establish a national food safety authority.