SITREP: 12-18 Apr 2025 | SALT Strategic Advisory

SYRIA SITREP: 2025-04-12 - 2025-04-18 (Published: 2025-04-19)

Executive Summary

This week, Syria's transitional government significantly advanced its diplomatic engagement and internal reforms amidst ongoing security challenges. President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani held key meetings with Jordanian and Palestinian counterparts, as well as representatives from the World Economic Forum, signaling Damascus's growing international reintegration. A notable development was the visit of U.S. Republican Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman to Damascus on April 18, marking a potential shift in U.S. engagement, which coincided with the U.S. Department of Defense's confirmation of a conditions-based consolidation of forces in Syria. Economically, the UNDP announced a $2.9 million agreement for microfinance, and the Syrian Forum launched an initiative to attract investment despite foreign sanctions. Security operations focused on dismantling criminal networks and former regime elements, including the detention of a former Assad regime Air Force Intelligence official. However, the country continued to face a persistent threat from unexploded ordnance, causing civilian casualties, and ongoing ISIS activity in eastern regions.

Key watchpoints for the coming period include the trajectory of U.S.-Syria relations and potential sanctions relief, as well as the government's continued efforts to consolidate internal security and address the widespread threat of unexploded munitions.

Detailed Analysis

1. Politics

International Diplomatic Engagements

On April 15, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Qatar, paving the way for Sharaa’s invitation to Iraq in May.
On April 15, Lebanese Army Liaison Officer Brigadier General Michel Boutros traveled to Damascus and held a technical meeting with Syrian Army Chief of Staff Major General Ali al-Naasan regarding bilateral coordination and border security.
On April 15, Sweden’s Charge d’Affairs Jessica Svardstrom met with Syria’s Health Minister Musab al-Ali in Damascus to discuss potential Swedish support for the health sector.
On April 16, the Head of the EU Delegation to Syria Michael Ohnmacht met with Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab to discuss security dynamics and future priorities.
On April 16, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani met with the Assistant Secretary General of the UN’s IIIM in Damascus to discuss cooperation for accountability and transitional justice.
On April 16, the Head of the EU Delegation to Syria Michael Ohnmacht met with Syria’s Central Bank Governor Abdulqader Hasriya to discuss cooperation avenues.
On April 16, Syrian Health Minister Musab al-Ali spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Kemal Memisoglu to discuss increasing cooperation in the health sector.
On April 16, Turkey’s Minister of Economy arrived in Damascus and met with Syrian counterpart Nidal al-Shaar, stating Turkey would “contribute to building a new Syria” by developing trade, establishing free zones, and developing transport and industrial cities.
On April 16, a delegation from the UAE’s Civil Aviation Authority arrived into Damascus International Airport to finalize plans for launching flights between the UAE and Syria.
On April 17, President al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Shaybani held meetings with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi in Damascus, agreeing to establish a “higher coordination council” for bilateral cooperation and discussing countering drug smuggling, terrorism, and Israeli attacks.
On April 17, President al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Shaybani hosted a meeting with the Executive Director of the World Economic Forum Maroun Kerouz.
On April 17, the Governor of Damascus hosted a meeting with Abdullah al-Dardari, the UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States, to discuss cooperation on improving local services and economy.
On April 17, the Governor of Daraa Anwar al-Zoubi hosted a visit by Turkish Ambassador to Syria Burhan Koroglu in Daraa city.
On April 18, Sweden’s Charge d’Affairs Jessica Svardstrom met with Syrian Minister for Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh in Damascus to discuss potential Swedish support.
On April 18, President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Damascus, holding meetings with him and his team. Abbas traveled by car due to Israel refusing helicopter air access.
On April 18, U.S. Republican Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman visited Damascus, holding private meetings with President al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Shaybani, and other figures, including Ignatius Aphrem ll, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The visit was coordinated with the U.S.-based American Alliance for Peace and Development (SAAPP).
On April 15, news emerged that the U.S. military plans to imminently begin drawing down its deployment in Syria from 2,000 to approximately 1,000, consolidating its presence around a smaller number of bases in northeast Syria.
On April 15, Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani was quoted as confirming that Yemen was preparing to reopen its embassy in Damascus.
On April 16, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani confirmed that a formal invitation had been extended to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Baghdad on May 17 and attend the Arab League summit.
On April 17, Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri stated that Syria was now more willing to cooperate with the return of refugees, with a plan being developed for a “gradual return.”
On April 18, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed “a deliberate and conditions-based… consolidation of forces in Syria” which would reduce the U.S. military deployment to “less than a thousand” soldiers “in the coming months.”
On April 18, the Turkish Ministry of Defense issued a statement declaring that any discussion of a potential deconfliction mechanism with Israel “does not constitute any normalization of relations” with Israel.
On April 18, the U.S. State Department issued a public warning about “credible information related to potential imminent attacks, including locations frequented by tourists.”
On April 18, the U.S. State Department issued a statement publicly declaring that it “appreciated the efforts of Syrian parties to calm the situation in Syria and to stop hostilities” and “called on the parties to exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation and build a unified and stable Syria.”
On April 18, a spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah declared that any invitation by Iraq to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Baghdad was “rejected.”

Domestic Governance and Reforms

On April 15, the Ministry of Defense appointed Abdul Basit al-Jamal (Abu Sulayman al-Hamawi) as the commander of the 98th Armored Division.
On April 16, the first meeting between the government’s Aleppo provincial leadership with the local district councils of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh occurred to determine integration.
On April 16, the government’s committee tasked with overseeing negotiations and implementation of agreements with the SDF visited for the first time the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh districts of Aleppo city.
On April 15, the Ministry of Administrative Development announced that 14,646 teachers who had been dismissed by Assad’s regime were being reinstated.
On April 16, Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced he would soon begin appointing individual figures to represent the ministry in each of Syria’s 14 governorates.
On April 16, Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced that a “coup plot by officers from the former regime” had been foiled recently.
On April 16, Syrian lawyer Bassel Maneh filed a lawsuit against Mother Agnes Mariam, leading to the Justice Ministry issuing an arrest warrant.
On April 17, Justice Minister Mazhar al-Ways announced the establishment of a “specialized judicial committee” to investigate the workings and rulings of the Assad regime’s Anti-Terrorism Court and other “exceptional courts.”

2. Business

Economic Development Initiatives

On April 15, Minister of Energy Mohammed al-Bashir held a meeting with a delegation from the Qatar-headquartered Islamic Development Bank in Damascus to discuss potential investments in Syria’s oil and electricity sectors.
On April 16, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani, Minister of Finance Mohammed Barniyeh, Minister of Economy Nidal al-Shaar, and Minister of Energy Mohammed al-Bashir hosted a working lunch with a visiting World Bank delegation in Damascus, discussing “the next phase of technical and economic cooperation.”
On April 17, Minister of Energy hosted a delegation of Kuwaiti businessmen and investors to discuss potential opportunities for investment in Syria’s oil, gas, and electricity sectors.
On April 18, the UNDP announced a $2.9 million agreement with four microfinance banks in Syria to launch financing for 1,600 small and local businesses.
On April 16, the Syrian Forum announced the establishment of the “Invest in Syria” initiative, designed to provide legal and logistical advice to investors amidst foreign sanctions.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

On April 17, the Director of Syrian Airlines Sami Arabi announced that the first flight from Syria to the UAE would occur on Sunday, April 20, with five flights to Dubai and two to Abu Dhabi each week thereafter.
On April 18, the Jordanian government confirmed that inspections and assessments of the Hijaz railway line had been largely completed as part of a plan to resume tourist trips linking Jordan with Syria’s southern city of Daraa.

3. Security

Counter-Terrorism and Internal Security Operations

On April 16, Public Security forces detained Major General Salem Nour al-Din Daghestani in a targeted raid in Latakia. He was previously the Deputy Director of the Assad regime’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate.
On April 18, Public Security forces launched a large-scale search operation targeting wanted pro-Assad gunmen and organized criminals in several districts of Latakia city, detaining an unspecified number of suspects.
On April 18, a cache of weapons was discovered and seized by Public Security forces during a search operation in the Ayn al-Arous area outside Qardaha.
On April 16, suspected pro-Assad gunmen launched an attack on the local Public Security HQ in Salamiya, triggering clashes in which one gunman was killed and another captured.
On April 16, one drug smuggler was killed by GSS forces during a targeted raid in Hama city.
On April 18, local notables in the village of al-Zamiliyah led the collective surrender of the village’s weaponry to government forces in Masyaf.
On April 18, local notables in the village of Ghor al-Assi led the collective surrender of the village’s weaponry to government forces.
On April 15, one man – Michel Habib Madri – was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on the main road to Damascus International Airport. He was rescued and freed by Public Security forces in a targeted raid on April 17.
On April 16, a former Assad regime NDF militiaman and pro-regime correspondent was detained by GSS forces in a targeted raid in the al-Tadamon district of Damascus.
On April 18, one government soldier was detained by Public Security forces in a targeted raid on his home in the al-Bayadar district of Damascus, during which a brief armed clash broke out.
On April 18, several Public Security force personnel were injured during an ambush of gunmen in the al-Qadam district of Damascus; all gunmen were eventually captured.
On April 18, several suspected pro-Assad gunmen were captured in a targeted raid by Public Security forces in the al-Dahadel area outside Damascus.
On April 15, three local gunmen were detained by Public Security forces during a search operation in the village of Buraq in the Lajat district of Daraa, accused of criminality.
On April 16, several men were detained during a targeted raid by GSS forces in the village of Khabab in northern Daraa, accused of organized crime and electricity infrastructure sabotage.
On April 16, a group of suspected pro-Assad gunmen launched an attack on a Public Security patrol in Sheikh Miskeen, triggering an armed clash that left one gunman dead.
On April 17, Public Security forces launched a series of large-scale search operations in rural Daraa, seizing large quantities of weapons and detaining a number of former regime operatives and criminals in the villages of al-Dali, al-Faqeh, and Maaraba.
On April 16, GSS forces launched a large-scale search and inspection operation in the village of Baraq on the Damascus-Suwayda highway, detaining three men accused of involvement in drug smuggling and organized criminal activities.
On April 15, Public Security forces captured a kidnapping cell operating in the village of Karsanah near Kassab in a targeted raid, during which one hostage was released.
On April 16, one former Assad regime NDF militiaman was detained by Public Security forces in a raid in Deir ez Zour.
On April 18, Public Security forces seized a weapons shipment in al-Bab that was reportedly about to be smuggled out of Syria.

Explosive Hazards and Civilian Casualties

On April 15, one girl was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded cluster munition in the village of Dabashiya in eastern Idlib.
On April 17, two men were injured when their vehicle accidentally triggered an unexploded landmine in the Kabina area of northeastern Latakia.
On April 18, two civilians were killed and another was injured after they accidentally triggered an unexploded landmine near the Bradoun Dam in rural Latakia.
On April 17, two girls were killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the desert outside Palmyra, Homs.
On April 15, one man was killed and another injured after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the village of al-Shula in southern Deir ez Zour.
On April 18, one civilian was killed after accidentally triggering an unexploded landmine in the al-Zahra district of Deir ez Zour.
On April 17, one man was killed and another was injured when they accidentally triggered an unexploded landmine in Douma, Damascus.

Regional Security Dynamics

On April 15, local media in Daraa claimed that a teenage boy had attempted to throw several grenades at Israeli military forces along the disputed line of control near Ibtaa, but Israeli troops managed to deter the attack.
On April 15, local media reported that Israeli military forces had blocked an UNDOF peacekeeping convoy from visiting the IDF’s “al-Jazeera barracks” on the outer periphery of Daraa’s Yarmouk Basin.
On April 16, Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the village of Batranjah in rural Quneitra, establishing pop-up checkpoints and inspecting civilian homes.
On April 17, Israeli military forces launched a ground incursion into the village of al-Hamidiyah in southern Quneitra.
On April 17, Israeli military forces also launched incursions into the villages of Kurdna in southern Quneitra, into the village of Brayga nearby, and onto the main road linking Hader and Sahita.
On April 15, two government soldiers were shot dead by suspected ISIS militants in a targeted attack in the village of al-Huwayj.
On April 17, ISIS militants attacked an SDF post with RPGs and machine gun fire in the village of al-Tayyana east of Deir ez Zour city, triggering heavy clashes.
From April 18-19, sixteen alleged ISIS operatives were detained when SDF forces launched a two-day large-scale security and search operation in the al-Hol Camp, seizing weapons.
On April 18, for the first time, a joint patrol involving U.S. military forces, the SDF, and the Syrian government toured together through the Ain Issa area, as part of a confidence-building process aimed at re-opening free access to the M4 Highway.
On April 18, four men were detained by SDF-linked Asayish forces in a targeted raid in the village of al-Judaydah east of Raqqa, accused of stealing weapons and launching unspecified attacks.
On April 15, SDF forces launched a series of raids in the village of al-Sabihiyah near Rumaylan in search of local men who had confronted senior YPG commander Haval Sido.
On April 15, one local SDF militiaman was detained by SDF forces in a raid in the village of al-Hol south of Hasakeh city, accused of planning to defect to central government forces.
On April 16, a girl, identified locally as Rujin Ahmed, was abducted by SDF-linked fighters in Hasakeh, with her family claiming it was for military training.
On April 15, five men were detained by SDF forces in a targeted raid in the village of Hatlah north of Deir ez Zour city.
On April 18, one man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside the village of Hardoub in eastern Deir ez Zour.
On April 15, a large U.S. military convoy of at least 70 heavy trucks withdrew equipment from the Conoco base in Deir ez Zour, part of a sizeable U.S. military drawdown.
On April 17, a large U.S. military convoy of at least 50 heavy trucks withdrew equipment from the Green Village and al-Omar U.S. military bases in Deir ez Zour, moving resources to northeast Syria and/or northern Iraq.

Humanitarian Conditions

On April 16, Japan announced a donation of EUR 3 million to the Syria Recovery Trust Fund.
On April 16, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent delivered a humanitarian convoy to the village of Koya in Daraa’s Yarmouk Valley.
On April 16, Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that at least 175,000 Syrian refugees had returned to Syria since Assad’s fall on December 8, 2024.
On April 17, the AANES formally handed over custody of one British woman and her three children to UK authorities during a meeting in Hasakeh.

Relevant Context

The visit of U.S. Republican Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman to Damascus on April 18, 2025, represents a notable development in U.S.-Syria relations following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. While the Trump administration has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance compared to other international actors, the U.S. military and intelligence community have reportedly deepened cooperation with Syria's transitional government, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts. This unofficial congressional visit, coordinated with the American Alliance for Peace and Development (SAAPP), signals potential avenues for future U.S. engagement and discussions on sanctions relief, which remains a critical factor for Syria's economic recovery. The U.S. Department of Defense's confirmation of a conditions-based consolidation of forces in Syria further underscores a strategic recalibration of U.S. presence in the region.

The reported detention of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders, which emerged late in the week, aligns with a stated U.S. condition for engagement and sanctions easing, which requires Syria to take action against Palestinian "militias" on its soil. This highlights the complex interplay between Syria's internal security actions and its broader international diplomatic objectives, particularly with the United States and Israel. The ongoing U.S. military drawdown from Deir ez Zour and parts of Raqqa is intended to facilitate the eventual transfer of Sunni Arab majority areas to Syrian government control, reflecting a broader shift in U.S. strategic priorities in the region.

Appendix (Optional)

The following content from 0418 special trump admin.md provides additional context on Trump Administration policy on Syria as of April 18, 2025:

International Engagement with Transitional Government: Since Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December 2024, at least 62 governments and major international bodies (UN, EU, GCC, Arab League, ICC, OPCW, World Bank, IMF, WEF, WFP, etc.) have engaged with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and/or Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani.
U.S. Stance: The Trump administration has been more cautious than the outgoing Biden administration (which dispatched a delegation in December 2024). The April 18 unofficial visit by Republican Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman is seen as potentially turning the tide. An upcoming visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani, Finance Minister Mohammed Barniyeh, and Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Hasriya to Washington DC and New York (April 22-28) is also noted, with Shaybani's visa issued after the congressmen's successful visit.
U.S. Military and Intelligence Relationship: Despite diplomatic caution, the U.S. military and intelligence community have built a substantive relationship with the new Syrian government. The U.S. military's priority shifted to stabilizing the transition and ensuring the new government's monopoly on force.
SDF Negotiations: The U.S. military has been instrumental in bringing the SDF to the negotiating table with Damascus, facilitating the March 10 framework agreement between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi. This led to SDF withdrawal from Aleppo city and the strategically sensitive front line at the Tishreen Dam, with further disengagements planned for areas like Deir Hafer, Markadeh, and the Qara Qozak Bridge. SDF has also resumed oil transfer to Damascus, and talks are underway for the Syrian transitional government to assume control of the network of oil fields located throughout SDF territory.
U.S. Military Drawdown: Ongoing withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Deir ez Zour and parts of Raqqa is to facilitate the eventual turning over of Sunni Arab majority areas to Syrian government control.
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: The US-led coalition is in near-daily communication with Syria’s Ministry of Defense for deconfliction and coordination of patrols, aircraft sorties, and counter-ISIS operations. An intelligence-sharing relationship has resulted in the foiling of nine ISIS urban terrorism plots in Damascus and U.S. drone strikes targeting al-Qaeda operatives in Idlib. Intelligence from a captured ISIS commander led directly to the joint U.S.-Iraqi killing of ISIS’s number two.
Sanctions Relief Conditions: Syria’s economic recovery hinges on U.S. sanctions easing. The Trump administration conveyed a set of conditions for sanctions relief, including:
- Commitment to combating all forms of terrorism in Syria: The new Syrian government has a consistent track record of combating ISIS and al-Qaeda and has established an effective military and intelligence relationship with the U.S.
- Public declaration of support for the counter-ISIS coalition and long-term U.S. access: The Syrian government committed to jointly coordinating in countering terrorism through a regional security alliance and joint operations center in full coordination with Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and the U.S., and is willing to consider a long-term U.S. military presence.
- Ensuring Iran and its proxies are not permitted to re-enter Syria: This is considered a "no-brainer" for Damascus, which has no love lost for Iran, Hezbollah, and associated militant groups.
- Public declaration banning “Palestinian militias” from Syrian territory and deporting their members: This is a complex issue, but the April 18 visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Damascus is viewed within the lens of this U.S. condition.
- Ensuring the destruction of any remaining chemical weapons: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani publicly declared his government’s commitment to cooperating with the OPCW, and Syria’s government has provided “unfettered access” during a 10-day visit in mid-March.
- Removing foreign fighters from positions of command within the Ministry of Defense: Seven foreign fighters remain in command positions, a complex issue for President Ahmed al-Sharaa due to balancing acts and pushback from Western and regional governments.
- Appointing a liaison officer to assist U.S. efforts to locate missing American citizens, including Austin Tice: The Syrian government has already engaged with the U.S. government on this matter, and President al-Sharaa met with Tice’s mother in Damascus on January 19, 2025.
Sanctions Impact: Merely extending General License 24 would do little to change Syria’s dire economic situation, running contrary to requests and hopes from most U.S. allies and partners.
Israel Normalization: Some within the Trump administration hope Syria will consider normalizing ties with Israel and eventually joining the Abraham Accords, but this is seen as unlikely given Israel's continued military incursions and occupation of Syrian territory.