Syria Weekly: February 17-24, 2026

SDF integration continues; gov't assumes control of Qamishli Airport & closes al-Hol; Suwayda internal tensions intensify; 4 LPG tankers fill gas shortage; ISIS launches campaign on gov't; & 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

• Daraa

• Suwayda

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

Transition Meetings:

February 17:

• Minister of Education Mohammed Turko traveled to Rabat, Morocco on February 17 and signed a tripartite strategic agreement with Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) — a $30 million deal that will see the rehabilitation of 100 schools and the construction of 10 new schools across Syria. Azerbaijan will provide the funding, while ICESCO will oversee the project’s implementation.

  

• The head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Omar al-Hosari, hosted a meeting with a delegation from Airbus - led by Vice President of Sales for Africa and the Middle East, Hadi Akum - in Damascus on February 17 to discuss enhancing cooperation.

  

• Minister of Health Musab al-Ali traveled to Ankara, Turkey on February 17 and met with his Turkish counterpart Kemal Memişoğlu to discuss enhancing joint cooperation, including in the supply of medical equipment and medicine, as well as the training of medical personnel.

  

• Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Affairs, Ghiath Diab, hosted a meeting with a delegation from Shell in Damascus on February 17 to discuss the company’s decision to withdraw from its previous Assad-era contracts and the need for “financial settlements.” According to a government readout from the meeting, the Shell delegation expressed an interest in “new business opportunities” in Syria.

  

• The head of the Syrian Investment Authority, Talal al-Hilali, hosted a meeting with a delegation from the IMF on February 17 to discuss enhancing cooperation.

  

• President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Omar al-Hosari, hosted a meeting with a delegation from Saudi Ground Services (SGS), led by its CEO Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Mazzi, in Damascus on February 17 to discuss potential cooperation in developing ground handling services at Syria’s airports.

  

• Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Affairs, Ghiath Diab, convened a virtual call with counterparts in Lebanon and Jordan on February 17 to discuss the contractual frameworks, legal and regulatory issues, and reciprocal obligations of each state to guide the reactivation of the Arab Gas Pipeline.

• Director General of the General Authority for Water Resources, Ahmed al-Kiwan, hosted a meeting with a delegation from German development agency GIZ on February 17 to discuss cooperation in new water basin studies and other mechanisms to increase the efficiency of water resource management and monitoring tools.

• Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Resources, Osama Abuzeid, hosted a meeting with the Damascus Water and Rural Water Supply Company to discuss technical studies prepared by the company on planned coastal water pumping and seawater desalination project.

• Governor of Rif Dimashq Amer al-Sheikh hosted a meeting with the Presidential Advisor on Tribal Affairs, Jihad Issa al-Sheikh, and the President of Syria’s Council of Arab Tribes and Clans, Sheikh Abdulmoneim Nassif, to discuss cooperation.

• Latakia’s Directorate of Trade and Consumer Protection hosted a meeting with local business leaders on February 17 to discuss the impact of Syria’s new currency on trade and economic activities.

• Governor of Raqqa Abdulrahman Salamah convened a meeting with prominent women from the governorate to discuss ways to empower women’s participation in society and provincial affairs.