Senior Syrian and Israeli officials met in Paris on Monday to restart negotiations aimed at reaching a new security agreement. According to Axios, citing an Israeli official and a knowledgeable source, the talks will last for two days.
Lebanese security forces have begun a large-scale operation to ensure that senior figures and officers of Syria’s former regime are not present on Lebanese soil, aiming to prevent the country from becoming a platform for threats against Syria’s security and stability. The case is being overseen directly by Tarek Mitri, Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for managing Lebanon–Syria relations. Mitri seeks to reassure Damascus of Beirut’s respect for its neighbor’s sovereignty and stability through security and political measures.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Sheikh Mohammad Ali Halhal, head of Syria’s Supreme Islamic Alawite Council in Tartus province, has been abducted by al‑Joulani’s forces.
Lebanon’s al‑Akhbar newspaper claims that Saudi Arabia and Qatar believe the UAE is backing separatist groups, including forces in Syria’s coastal region, Sweida province, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Continuing consultations between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Abu Muhammad al‑Joulani’s administration, a meeting will take place under direct U.S. supervision in Palmyra, Homs province.
At least 3 people were killed and 59 injured after al‑Joulani‑affiliated forces attacked Alawite demonstrators in Latakia on December 28, according to media reports.
Sheikh Ghazal Wahb Ghazal, head of Syria’s Supreme Islamic Alawite Council, issued a video statement following the recent terrorist bombing in Homs, calling for widespread and peaceful protests to denounce the current situation facing the Alawite community.
Talks between Israel and Syria over a security agreement have seen significant progress in recent weeks, with expectations that the deal may be signed soon. According to informed sources, the potential agreement could go beyond a purely security framework and include a diplomatic annex, expected to be signed during a high‑level meeting in a European country.
The city of Aleppo experienced relative calm on Monday night after several hours of intense clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forces aligned with the Damascus government. The fighting resulted in civilian casualties and injuries.
Early this morning, a U.S. Army transport plane landed at the Kharab al-Jir base, located on the outskirts of Rmeilan in northern Hasakah province. The aircraft carried air defense systems, heavy weaponry, and logistical equipment, as part of the ongoing effort to reinforce American military bases in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syria and Iraq have begun coordinating efforts to restart the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline, an old yet strategic project now placed on the agenda with U.S. backing to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation. The initiative could restore Syria’s role in regional energy dynamics and open a new route for Iraq’s oil exports to European markets.
A British combat drone and a U.S. spy plane were spotted on unusual flights over Syria, in another sign of the emerging partnership between the country’s Islamist-led Interim Government and the United States-led coalition.
