Syria Weekly: March 3-10, 2026

Kurds return to Afrin as SDF integration continues, prisoner issue next; Syria diplomacy ramps up amid regional conflict; SPC extraction of northeast oil begins; tender for new mobile provider; & 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

• Latakia

• Tartus

• Hama

• Homs

• Raqqa

• Hasakeh

• Deir ez Zour

• Rif Dimashq

• Daraa

• Suwayda

• Quneitra

SYRIA’S TRANSITION:

Transition Meetings:

March 3:

• President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a large meeting with civil society activists and media progressionals at the Presidential Palace on March 3 to discuss “the role of the media and community initiatives in enhancing public awareness and reinforcing national responsibility.”

  During the meeting, Sharaa repeatedly emphasized that Syria’s recovery was going to take a long time, whether regarding the economy, reconstruction, displacement, social peace, security or other issues. He also told participants that “being preoccupied with minor details at the expense of the larger goal leads to losing sight of the objective. Therefore, we must maintain focus on the higher goals, especially during times of crisis,” adding that people needed to focus on agreeing on strategic objectives rather than focusing on disagreements on small details. President Sharaa claimed that Syria now enjoyed greater levels of freedom of expression that many regional countries, but that a predisposition towards “chaos,” enmity, complaint and sectarianism made that freedom a challenge to Syria’s stability. He also said a new law to allow for political parties would be introduced following the opening of the parliament and that the reconstruction challenge required patience. For areas in which “destruction reached 90% of 100%,” the state lacked the capacity to meet reconstruction needs and in these cases, “an investment model” would be required.

  

• Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani hosted a meeting with a delegation from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry - led by Commissioners Monia Ammar and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin - on March 3 to discuss the commission’s work to date.

• A government delegation, led by Ahmed al-Hilali, Mustafa Abdi and Maher al-Shaar traveled to Hasakeh on March 3 to visit and inspect the Semalka crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan to prepare for its integration into the General Authority for Ports and Customs.

  

• Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdulsalam Haykal traveled to Barcelona, Spain on March 3 to participate in the Mobile World Congress 2026, during which he announced the official launch for applications among mobile communication providers to apply to replace MTN as one of Syria’s 2 providers. Applicants have until June 15 to apply for the 20yr license.

  

• Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa signed a strategic agreement with UNDP on March 3 to build the capacity of 775 Syrian media workers over a 4-month programming period.

  

• Governor of Deir ez Zour Ghassan al-Sayyed Ahmed hosted a meeting with a delegation from UNICEF on March 3 to discuss the latter’s plans for 2026-2031 to support humanitarian and development work in the governorate — including in sewage and water infrastructure, as well as agriculture, solar, and livelihood programming.

• Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani hosted a meeting with Cyprus’ Charge d’Affairs Michalis Hadjikyriacou on March 3 to discuss proposals to resume direct flights and cruise ships between Syria and Cyprus, and to re-establish cooperation in cultural and historical heritage tourism.

• Syria’s Ministry of Tourism participated in the ITB Berlin International Tourism and Travel Exhibition in Germany on March 3, alongside several other Syrian tourism, travel and aviation companies.