Syria Weekly: June 9-16, 2026

Transitional justice violence; Energy Minister DC visit; Sharaa refutes Lebanon intervention reports; major construction projects launched; Jordan FM visit; Saudi smart water meter deal; & more

Dear subscribers — I’m going to be on the road for the next couple weeks. I’ll share a regular data update on Wednesday June 17 and after that, all products will resume as normal on Tuesday June 30. The newsletter on Tuesday June 30 will focus primarily on conflict & security, in order to ensure all datasets are maintained and fully up-to-date.

Keep in touch!

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

• Transition Meetings

• Appointments

• Political Developments

• Economic Developments

• Infrastructure Developments

• Education Developments

• Security Developments

• Humanitarian Developments

• Health 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

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

Transition Meetings:

June 9:

• Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani spoke by phone with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on June 9, amid ongoing regional hostilities.

  

• Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir and Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) CEO Yousef Qablawi participated in the Global Energy Forum in Washington DC on June 9, with the former providing a keynote speech and the latter participating in a panel discussion.

  In his remarks, Minister Bashir said:

“Our participation comes at a new stage in Syria’s history, as it moves towards reconstruction, economic openness, and strengthening international partnerships… This stage represents an opportunity to redefine Syria’s position as an active partner and a vital regional hub that contributes to regional and international energy security… Syria views the United States as an important partner in the fields of energy, technology, investment, and innovation. We believe that economic cooperation and building partnerships represent the best way to enhance stability and achieve common interests… Syria has chosen to make the energy sector a major gateway to its opening to the world.

We are witnessing the return of a number of major global energy companies to the Syrian market… We have launched paths of cooperation and strategic partnerships with major American and global companies, as well as advanced discussions with a number of European companies wishing to contribute to Syrian energy projects… Our vision is not limited to rehabilitating the national infrastructure, but also extends to strengthening regional energy interconnectivity… Syria’s location places it at an important junction between the main production regions in the Gulf, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean, and between regional and international markets… Cooperation with our brotherly Republic of Iraq, including efforts to develop oil transport mechanisms and discussions on the rehabilitation and operation of the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, constitutes part of a broader vision to strengthen regional interconnectivity… These partnerships do not merely represent economic investments but reflect a real transformation in Syria’s position on the regional and international energy map.”

• On the sidelines of the Global Energy Forum, SPC CEO Qablawi also held working meetings with senior officials from U.S. companies Chevron, Hunt Oil and Baker Hughes.

  

• Later that day, Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir, SPC CEO Yousef Qablawi and Syria’s Charge d’Affairs to the U.S., Mohammed Qanatri, met with Jarrod Agen, the executive director of the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council in Washington DC on June 9.

• Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar met bilaterally with his Turkish counterpart, Omer Bulat, on the sidelines of the Anatolia Summit on June 9.

• Assistant Minister of Energy for Water and Electricity Affairs, Osama Abu Zeid, engaged in a working virtual call with the World Bank on June 9 to discuss future plans for developing technical, administrative, and financial infrastructure and enhancing the efficiency of Syria’s electricity grid.

• Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Kabawat, participated in the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York on June 9, alongside Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi.

• The Director of the al-Tanf crossing, Ahmed Bakkar, traveled to the al-Walid crossing on the Iraqi side of the border to meet with its Director, Brigadier Mahib Al-Kaoud and discuss coordinating transport and trade, enhancing infrastructure, and increasing the capacity for truck crossings, transit traffic and oil transportation.

• Minister of Information Khaled Zaarour traveled to Hama on June 11 to meet with the Governor and with media professionals from across the governorate.

  

• Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) staff convened a working meeting in Rmeylan, Hasakeh on June 9 with a delegation from U.S. company HKN Energy in order to undertake a technical discussion on receiving oil field control, commencing operations, and coordinating with the SPC.