SITREP: 15-21 Feb 2025 | SALT Strategic Advisory

SYRIA SITREP: 2025-02-15 - 2025-02-21 (Published: 2025-02-22)

Executive Summary

This week in Syria (February 15-21, 2025), the interim government intensified its national outreach and diplomatic engagements. The Preparatory Committee convened numerous large-scale meetings with notables and civil society across Daraa, Suwayda, Hasakeh, Raqqa, Rif Dimashq, and Deir ez Zour, signaling efforts to broaden political participation. High-level international interactions included visits by the Cypriot Foreign Minister and the Chinese Ambassador to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and meetings with Turkish and EU officials. Economically, the Ministry of Economy was renamed to include foreign trade, and oil trade between SDF-held areas and Damascus was confirmed, alongside the inauguration of a new gas well in Homs. Security remained highly volatile, characterized by persistent Israeli military actions in southern Syria, including airstrikes and ground incursions. Inter-factional clashes, particularly between SDF and Turkish/SNA forces in Aleppo, continued. Civilian casualties from unexploded ordnance (UXO) were notably high across multiple governorates, and targeted assassinations and kidnappings persisted, especially in southern regions.

Key watchpoints for the coming period include the interim government's ability to translate these consultative meetings into tangible progress towards national reconciliation and stability. The ongoing threat posed by UXO and the continued pattern of assassinations underscore the significant challenges to civilian safety and internal security.

Detailed Analysis

1. Politics

International Affairs

On February 19, Syria’s interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir held a meeting with a delegation from the Syrian-French Council in Damascus.
On February 19, Syria’s interim Interior Minister Ali Keda held meetings with Turkey’s Deputy Interior Minister Mehmet Ersoy in Damascus.
On February 20, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a visit by Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos in Damascus.
On February 20, Interim Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra hosted a lengthy meeting with a senior delegation from UNDOF in Damascus, stressing the need for Israeli military forces to withdraw from newly occupied territories along the Golan and for the UN peacekeeping force to return to their duties.
On February 21, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted a visit by Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei at the Presidential Palace.
On February 21, Syria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani had received an invitation to visit Iraq and that a date for the visit would soon be determined.

Domestic Affairs

On February 19, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society in Daraa.
On February 19, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society in Suwayda. During the meeting, several participants argued that any president of Syria should have their term limited to 4-5 years, maximum.
On February 19, Brigadier General Jameel al-Saleh was promoted to run the Ministry of Defense’s newly established 74th Division.
On February 19, the interim Governor of Latakia, Mohammed Othman, announced that Abdulqader Faydou had been appointed Secretary General of Latakia Governorate, while Suzan Aliyou was named Director of Internal Control; Aws Maarouf as Director of Public and Legal Affairs; and Souha Said as Director of Administrative Development.
On February 19, the spokesman for the Preparatory Committee, Hassan al-Dugheim, clarified that the consultative conferences being convened across Syria were “not a platform for political bargaining” and that “military leaders or those pursuing separatist agendas will not be able to attend… no military group has been invited to the conference… and the Syrian Democratic Forces remain a military entity that is governing parts of Syria and operating outside the authority of the Damascus government.”
On February 20, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society from Hasakeh in the capital Damascus.
On February 20, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society from Raqqa in the capital Damascus.
On February 20, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society from Rif Dimashq in the Cultural Center in Kafr Souseh.
On February 21, the Preparatory Committee convened a large-scale meeting with notables and civil society in Deir ez Zour.

2. Business

Economic Policy and Infrastructure Development

On February 19, the Ministry of Economy officially changed its name to the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade.
On February 19, media reporting confirmed that authorities in the SDF-held northeast of Syria had begun trading oil with the interim government in Damascus. The reports were subsequently confirmed by Ministry of Oil spokesman Ahmed Sulayman.
On February 20, Interim Minister of Oil Ghiath Diab inaugurated the new Tiyas 5 gas well in the Homs desert, which reporting claimed has a production capacity of 130,000 cubic meters of gas per day.

3. Security

Regional Conflict and Inter-Factional Dynamics

On February 18, an SDF artillery rocket volley struck al-Khafsah in eastern Aleppo, striking a number of residential buildings and a mosque, but no casualties were confirmed.
On February 19, SDF forces launched several artillery rockets at a Turkish military post outside Jarablus, but no casualties were confirmed.
On February 19, Turkish drone strikes struck several SDF frontline positions near the Tishreen Dam, amid tit-for-tat artillery shelling between the SDF and SNA fighters nearby.
On February 19, the SDF shot down an SNA drone overflying the Tishreen Dam frontline.
On February 19, Turkish drone strikes also hit multiple SDF positions near the Qaraqozak Bridge and outside Sarin, while SNA artillery shelling hit at least nine different positions nearby.
On February 20, at least two SDF fighters were killed in a Turkish drone strike that targeted their post in rural eastern Aleppo along the Euphrates River.
On February 20, Turkish drone strikes hit several more SDF frontline positions outside Sarin and Kobani, but casualties were not confirmed.
On February 21, Turkish drone strikes targeted SDF positions at the Qaraqozak Bridge and outside Sarin and Kobani in eastern Aleppo.
On February 21, SDF forces also launched a small-scale cross-line incursion towards SNA frontline positions near the Tishreen Dam, triggering heavy clashes in which several combatants were killed and injured.
On February 18, one Kurdish civilian was injured during a brief clash with SNA fighters previously affiliated with Abu Amsha in the Zourafa area of Damascus city.
On February 21, one man was killed during an armed clash with rival gunmen in Latakia city.
On February 20, two men were injured in an armed clash with unidentified gunmen in the village of Abdin in the Yarmouk Basin, Daraa.
On February 20, one female civilian was killed in crossfire during an armed clash between rival clans in Deir ez Zour city’s al-Jawrah district.

Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement Operations

On February 18, two ISIS militants were killed during clashes that erupted after they attacked an SDF checkpoint in rural southern Hasakeh.
On February 20, three suspected ISIS operatives were detained by SDF forces during a raid in Raqqa.
On February 21, a former security official for Hurras al-Din, identified as Wassim Baraqdar, was killed in a U.S. drone strike that hit his vehicle in al-Dana, Idlib.
On February 18, GSS forces detained a former regime militia commander linked to Air Force Intelligence, identified as Saleh Sayeh, in a targeted raid in Deir ez Zour. Local reporting revealed evidence of Sayeh committing extrajudicial executions in Deir ez Zour dating back to 2017.
On February 18, GSS forces launched a large-scale search operation looking for regime loyalists thought to be hiding in al-Kharayta, Deir ez Zour.
On February 18, GSS forces launched a targeted raid on a kidnapping cell in Deir ez Zour, during which several gunmen were captured and one hostage was freed. The leader of the cell, Alaa Hassan al-Dahash, was identified.
On February 19, four men were detained by SDF forces during a targeted raid in al-Jarthi al-Sharqi in eastern Deir ez Zour. The men were accused of affiliation with Ibrahim al-Hifl’s anti-SDF ‘tribal army.’
On February 20, two men were detained by SDF forces during a targeted raid in al-Tayanah in eastern Deir ez Zour. The men were accused of affiliation with Ibrahim al-Hifl’s anti-SDF ‘tribal army.’
On February 21, Public Security forces in Deir ez Zour city detained two new recruits after an investigation revealed their previous role within the NDF.
On February 19, interim government forces captured regime loyalist Badr al-Din Pasha during an interception of his vehicle in Azaz, Aleppo.
On February 19, one GSS fighter was killed during a clash with a kidnapping cell in Aleppo city. Later that day, GSS forces launched a follow-up raid in Marea, during which they captured the kidnap ringleader and freed the hostage.
On February 20, local security forces intercepted and neutralized a car bomb in Azaz, Aleppo.
On February 19, Public Security forces captured a former prison guard at the infamous Palestine Branch “235”, Hassan Yassin al-Melhem, during a targeted raid in Latakia.
On February 21, DMO forces launched a large-scale search operation looking for regime loyalists thought to be hiding in the village of al-Sar outside Saqilbiyah, Hama.
On February 21, one former 25 Special Tasks Division soldier accused of complicity in barrel bomb use was captured by GSS forces in a targeted raid in Homs.
On February 19, Public Security forces captured several weapons smugglers allegedly linked to Hezbollah during a targeted raid in al-Qatifah, Rif Dimashq.
On February 19, Public Security forces captured two drugs smugglers in a targeted raid in Yabroud, Rif Dimashq, seizing a quantity of captagon and other materials.
On February 20, Public Security forces launched a large-scale search campaign for regime loyalists, as well as wanted drugs and weapons smugglers thought to be operating in the al-Hara and al-Nimr areas of northern Daraa. By the end of the day, several suspects had been captured, along with weapons and ammunition.
On February 19, GSS forces launched a targeted raid on a kidnapping cell and rescued a 15-year-old boy in Nawa, Daraa.
On February 21, local security forces launched a targeted raid in Izraa, Daraa, capturing the alleged perpetrator responsible for killing Hamza al-Qadri in the town the previous day.
On February 21, Rijal al-Karama militiamen launched a targeted raid and detained three men accused of conducting the attack in Suwayda (one of whom was a former NDF militiaman who had escaped from prison).
On February 19, the Ministry of Interior announced that all citizens who had previously been serving in the police but who had been fired by the regime, or forced out of their jobs by the regime, would now be eligible for reenlistment.
On February 20, the first batch of recruits to pass through the Police College for Damascus were graduated.

Israeli Military Activity

On February 19, an Iran-aligned “Syrian Islamic Resistance Front” cell launched a brief stand-off attack targeting Israel from the Ain Thakar area in western Daraa.
On February 19, Israeli shelling targeted the purported site of the attack.
On February 19, a suspected Israeli airstrike targeted a weapons depot in Sa’sa in the Golan region, southwest of Damascus.
On February 20, Israeli airstrikes struck several informal crossing points between Lebanon and Syria’s western Homs region. No casualties were confirmed, while the IDF claimed it acted in order to stop Hezbollah weapons smuggling.
On February 21, Israeli military forces launched an incursion and search operation in the village of Ofaniyah in northern Quneitra.

Civilian Casualties and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

On February 20, eight civilians – including two women and three children – were killed and one more child was injured when a collection of unexploded munitions detonated inside a building in a residential area of Nayrab in southeastern Idlib.
On February 21, one local DMO fighter, identified as Fahd al-Ghajr, was killed and another was injured while an unexploded landmine they were attempting to defuse detonated in the village of al-Fatirah in southern Idlib.
On February 18, one boy was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Qaratah in eastern Aleppo.
On February 19, one civilian was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in al-Atareb in western Aleppo.
On February 19, one man was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Haymar Jays in eastern Aleppo.
On February 20, two civilians were injured after triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Rasm al-Dawali outside Manbij, Aleppo.
On February 21, two SDF fighters were killed while an unexploded landmine they were attempting to defuse detonated outside the village of al-Jadah al-Gharbi near Kobani, Aleppo.
On February 20, one child was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of al-Mashtal, Hama.
On February 21, two civilians were injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of al-Hamamiyat in northern Hama.
On February 21, two civilians were killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the Mandan area in eastern rural Raqqa.
On February 18, one man was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in southern rural Deir ez Zour.
On February 19, one civilian was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Buqrus in eastern Deir ez Zour.
On February 20, a civilian vehicle triggered an unexploded landmine in the village of al-Masrab in southern Deir ez Zour, but no casualties were confirmed.
On February 20, one civilian was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in Deir ez Zour city.
On February 20, two men were killed and another was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the southern desert of Deir ez Zour.
On February 21, two civilians were killed and one other was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the Jabal al-Bishri area in the southwestern desert of Deir ez Zour.
On February 20, one civilian was injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in Dael, Daraa.
On February 21, one civilian was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of Janin, Daraa.

Assassinations and Kidnappings

On February 18, the mayor of Sheikh Saad in western Daraa – identified as Qassem al-Sharaa – was assassinated by unidentified gunmen.
On February 19, one man was shot and injured by an unidentified gunman in Dael, Daraa.
On February 20, one man, identified as Hamza al-Qadri, was shot dead by an unidentified assassin in Izraa, Daraa.
On February 19, one man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Salma area outside Latakia.
On February 19, one man was killed and another was injured in an ambush by unidentified gunmen who targeted their vehicle outside Baniyas, Tartus. Local reports claimed the killed man was a former regime militiaman.
On February 20, one man was shot dead by an unidentified gunman outside al-Sukhnah, Homs.
On February 20, one man was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the village of Um al-Amad, Homs. They took him away and executed him several hours later.
On February 20, one man was assassinated by an unidentified gunman in the town of al-Gharanij in eastern Deir ez Zour.
On February 20, one man was shot dead by two unidentified assassins in the town of al-Tayanah in eastern Deir ez Zour. Later that day, gunmen from the victim’s family opened fire on the family of the suspected perpetrators, but no casualties were confirmed.
On February 18, one man was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen who raided his commercial store in Jaramana, Rif Dimashq.
On February 20, two men – each from Aleppo and Hasakeh – were kidnapped and later executed by several gunmen in Suwayda.
On February 18, one 15-year-old boy was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Nawa, Daraa.

Humanitarian and Other Incidents

On February 19, a group of Syrian and Iraqi residents of al-Hol Camp escaped. Later that day, a group of third country nationals also attempted to escape al-Hol, but Asayish forces captured them.
On February 20, approximately 60 being held in Homs Central Prison were released after investigations into their records found them innocent of any regime crimes.
On February 18, unidentified gunmen opened fire randomly in Tafas, Daraa, throwing at least four grenades into the street. No casualties were caused.
On February 19, the interim government announced in Tartus governorate that all men who previously served in security or military roles under the previous regime had until the end of February 20 to settle their status or else face prosecution.
On February 21, unidentified gunmen raided an Alawite graveyard in the village of al-Naqib, Tartus, damaging a number of gravestones.
On February 21, local congregants at the al-Omari Mosque in Daraa mobilized en masse and forced prominent UAE-based Daraawi businessman Khaled Mahamid to flee, after he had arrived on his first visit since Assad’s fall on December 8, 2024. Gunfire was heard amid the commotion, but no casualties were caused.

Relevant Context

The extensive meetings held by the Preparatory Committee across various Syrian governorates this week are a critical component of the ongoing political transition following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. These consultations aim to build consensus and gather diverse perspectives from local communities and civil society, laying the groundwork for a future national conference and the establishment of a new, inclusive governance structure. The emphasis on issues like presidential term limits, as raised in Suwayda, reflects a widespread desire to move away from the authoritarian practices of the past and establish a more democratic framework for the country's leadership.

The high incidence of civilian casualties from unexploded ordnance (UXO) across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Raqqa, and Deir ez Zour this week highlights a persistent and deadly legacy of the prolonged conflict in Syria. Years of intense fighting have left vast areas contaminated with landmines, improvised explosive devices, and unexploded munitions, posing a constant threat to returning populations and those living in affected areas. These incidents underscore the urgent need for comprehensive demining and explosive ordnance disposal efforts to ensure the safety and facilitate the recovery of communities across the country.