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7-13 Jun 2025

Published: June 14, 2025

SYRIA SITREP: 2025-06-07 - 2025-06-13 (Published: 2025-06-14)

Executive Summary

The reporting period was dominated by the regional escalation between Israel and Iran, which directly impacted Syrian airspace and security. Multiple airlines suspended flights to Damascus, and US troops at the al-Tanf garrison were ordered into bunkers. Israeli military operations within Syria intensified, featuring a ground raid in Beit Jinn to arrest alleged Hamas operatives—a claim Damascus disputes—and multiple drone strikes. Syria condemned the raid as a violation of international law.

Internally, Syria is advancing its economic re-engagement. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded its first visit since 2009, highlighting the need for "substantial international" support, while the central bank anticipates reconnection to SWIFT within weeks. Binance opened cryptocurrency trading to Syrians, and Syrian Airlines resumed flights to Istanbul. Diplomatic overtures continued, with Israel reportedly expressing interest in US-mediated talks and a high-profile visit by a Trump-linked pastor and a pro-Israel rabbi to Damascus.

The domestic security situation remains volatile. ISIS continues to be a primary threat, reportedly shifting tactics to major cities and conducting multiple attacks in the east. Government and joint US-Syrian forces conducted counter-terrorism operations. The new government also continues to navigate complex political and reconciliation challenges, including the release of former regime officers and scrutiny over new military appointments.

Key watchpoints are the potential for further spillover from the Israel-Iran conflict, the pace of economic normalization, and the domestic political fallout from governance and reconciliation decisions.

Detailed Analysis

1. Politics

International Affairs
  • Following Israeli strikes on Iran, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and TAROM cancelled flights to Damascus until at least June 14-16. The UK re-issued a travel warning for Syria, and the German foreign minister altered a planned trip. (13-Jun)
  • Israel reportedly expressed interest in US-mediated talks with Syria's new government to negotiate an updated security deal and a potential peace agreement, as communicated by US envoy Tom Barrack to Prime Minister Netanyahu. (12-Jun)
  • The military chiefs of Syria, Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Turkey, Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin Gurak, met in Damascus to discuss defense cooperation. (12-Jun) The Turkish defense minister later stated continued support for the Syrian military with no immediate withdrawal planned. (12-Jun)
  • A US House bill was introduced aiming to lift Assad-era sanctions on Syria. (12-Jun) This follows reports that US President Trump is expected to issue executive orders to cancel the "Syria sanctions architecture" and formalize the US military presence under a new deal with Damascus. (09-Jun, 10-Jun)
  • Syria condemned the deadly Israeli raid in Beit Jinn, calling it a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and urging the UN Security Council and UNDOF to act. (12-Jun)
  • Syrian Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Marhaf Abu Qusra met with the Czech military and air attaché, Lt. Col. Stanislav Vacek, in Damascus to discuss enhancing military cooperation. (11-Jun)
  • A Trump-linked evangelical pastor, Rev. Johnnie Moore, and a pro-Israel American rabbi, Abraham Cooper, held talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, stating that peace with Israel is "very possible." (11-Jun, talks held 09-Jun)
  • IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the agency had been provided "immediate and unrestricted access" to all relevant sites in Syria following his visit to Damascus, calling it a "step towards transparency." (09-Jun)
  • President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Iraq’s Special Envoy to Syria, Izzat Shahbandar, in Damascus. (09-Jun)
  • The Governor of Aleppo, Azzam al-Gharib, hosted a visit of Greek diplomats to discuss developing economic, cultural, and humanitarian relations. (09-Jun)
Domestic Affairs
  • The government issued guidelines calling for "more modest swimwear," such as burkinis, on public beaches, marking the first such guidelines on women's dress since the fall of the Assad regime. An official denied a ban on Western swimwear. (12-Jun)
  • An investigation by CNN alleged that Sayf Boulad Abu Bakr, a commander previously sanctioned for links to the abuse of Kurdish women, was appointed by President Ahmad Al Sharaa to lead a military division in Aleppo. (12-Jun)
  • Hassan Soufan, a member of the Syrian Committee for Civil Peace, addressed the recent release of former Assad regime officers, stating that investigations found "their hands are not stained in Syrian blood" and that some were granted amnesty for facilitating the regime's collapse. (10-Jun) This follows confirmation that "dozens" of men from Latakia were released on similar grounds. (08-Jun)
  • President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his wife Latifa al-Droubi hosted gatherings for Syrian women and students to mark Eid al-Adha. (07-Jun) Al-Sharaa also hosted a delegation from the Interior Ministry led by minister Anas Khattab. (09-Jun)
  • The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with ESCWA, launched a digital platform to register Syrian expertise to support national development. (13-Jun)
  • The Homs governor announced the city’s Baba Amr stadium would be renamed the Abdul Baset al-Sarout Stadium. (09-Jun)
  • The Ministry of Education postponed primary and secondary exams by one week after an agreement with the AANES to hold exams in northeast Syria. (08-Jun)
  • A tweet alleged that the ruling Al-Nusra Front is shaving the mustaches of Alawite prisoners in its prisons as an insult and to force conversion. (09-Jun)

2. Business

Financial Sector Normalization
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded its first visit to Syria since 2009, stating the country needs "substantial international" support for its post-war economic recovery. (10-Jun)
  • Syria is expected to reconnect to the SWIFT global financial system "within weeks," according to the Syrian central bank governor. (08-Jun)
  • Cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced it will allow users in Syria full access to its offerings, including trading bitcoin with the Syrian pound, following the US decision to lift sanctions. (12-Jun)
International Trade and Investment
  • Syrian Airlines resumed direct flights to Istanbul, Turkey, after a 12-year suspension, with the first flight departing on June 10. (10-Jun)
  • Turkey’s Minister of Trade Omer Bolat revealed a "roadmap" for developing trade ties with Syria, including negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Turkish exports to Syria reportedly rose 47% in the first four months of 2025. (07-Jun)
  • UAE businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, head of Al Habtoor Group, is set to visit Syria to explore investment opportunities. (09-Jun)
  • Syria's Minister of Economy, Nidal al-Sharaa, held a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment, Khaled al-Falih, to discuss potential investment opportunities. (08-Jun)
  • Syria is reportedly seeking Arab investment for the modernization of its telecommunications sector. (11-Jun)
Domestic Economic Initiatives
  • Syria offered farmers a $130 bonus for each ton of wheat sold to the state in an effort to boost local production and enhance food security. (11-Jun)

3. Security

Regional Spillover & Tensions
  • During the Iran-Israel missile attack, US troops at the al-Tanf garrison were ordered into bunkers. (13-Jun)
  • Israeli fighter jets were reportedly spotted refueling over Eastern Syria after returning from airstrikes inside Iran. (13-Jun)
  • Debris from an Israeli air defense interception of a Houthi ballistic missile was observed over Daraa and Suwayda provinces. (10-Jun)
Israeli Operations in Southern Syria
  • Israeli troops entered the town of Beit Jinn, southwest of Damascus, and arrested several people the IDF identified as Hamas "terrorists." Syria's interior ministry stated they were civilians and that one person was killed by Israeli fire. (12-Jun)
  • An Israeli drone strike hit a vehicle in Mazraat Beit Jin, killing one person and injuring two. The Israeli military claimed the target was a Hamas member. (08-Jun)
  • Israeli forces conducted multiple ground incursions into Quneitra province, including into the villages of al-Ruwayhinah (07-Jun), al-Rufayd (08-Jun), Manishiyat Suwaysa (09-Jun), and Umm al-Azm (10-Jun).
  • Israeli forces used armored bulldozers to flatten and uproot a large section of the historic al-Shahr Forest near Jabata al-Khashab in Quneitra. (08-Jun, 10-Jun)
  • Two men on a motorbike opened fire on an Israeli military base near Ma’ariyah in Daraa's Yarmouk Basin, triggering return fire from the IDF. (08-Jun)
Counter-Terrorism and Insurgency
  • ISIS is reportedly shifting tactics by moving fighters into major Syrian cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus as part of a broader strategy to activate sleeper cells. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated that ISIS is the "top of the list" of security challenges. (12-Jun)
  • ISIS militants conducted multiple attacks in Deir Ezzor, including an IED attack injuring four government soldiers (07-Jun) and grenade and machine gun attacks on SDF posts (08-Jun, 09-Jun). A suspected ISIS attack killed a former HTS fighter in Idlib (07-Jun).
  • Joint US-Syrian forces raided an ISIS compound in Deir Ezzor, seizing electronics and documents. (12-Jun)
  • The Interior Ministry’s security chief in Homs announced that a bomb attack was prevented after a large IED on a motorbike was discovered and defused. (08-Jun)
  • An ammo cache was found in a warehouse in Qerdaha, Latakia, with the location revealed by a recently arrested individual. (13-Jun)
  • Syria's Anti-narcotics director reported a raid leading to the arrest of two Lebanese nationals and the seizure of 800kg of hashish and 200,000 Captagon pills. (09-Jun)
Other Security Incidents
  • Iran-linked militias attacked a Syrian government military post near al-Bukamal from Western Iraq, injuring one Syrian soldier. (13-Jun)
  • Suspected US drone strikes targeted Syrian army factions in Tal Abyad, Raqqa (12-Jun). Two separate suspected US drone strikes in Idlib killed a total of three men (10-Jun).
  • Clashes erupted between SDF fighters and government soldiers along the Euphrates in Raqqa after an alleged infiltration attempt by the SDF, killing two of their fighters. This was the first such incident since Dec 2024. (09-Jun)
  • An attack by an outlawed group on a security patrol in Tal Kalakh, rural Homs, killed one officer and injured others. (10-Jun)
  • Multiple targeted killings were reported across the country, targeting a local activist in Daraa (10-Jun), a former Assad intelligence officer in Aleppo (10-Jun), and several others with past regime affiliations.
  • Unexploded ordnance (UXO) caused multiple casualties, including the deaths of two women and four children in Raqqa (07-Jun) and several other deaths and injuries in Aleppo, Daraa, and Deir Ezzor.
  • A Syrian man was killed by the Lebanese army at an illegal border crossing in Suwayda province. (12-Jun)

Relevant Context

The Fall of the Assad Regime and the New Government: The collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024 ushered in a new Islamist-led government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This government is navigating a complex transition, attempting to establish stability, achieve economic recovery, and gain international legitimacy after over a decade of devastating civil war. Its actions are closely watched as indicators of its future policies on governance, human rights, and regional relations.

US Sanctions and Economic Normalization: The US sanctions architecture, primarily the Caesar Act, was designed to isolate the Assad regime. Recent moves to lift some sanctions, coupled with diplomatic engagement and initiatives like Binance's entry and the anticipated SWIFT reconnection, signal a potential shift in international policy. This easing is critical for attracting the investment needed to rebuild Syria's economy and infrastructure.

The 1974 Disengagement Agreement and UNDOF: Syria's condemnation of the Israeli raid in Beit Jinn invoked the 1974 agreement that established a ceasefire line and a UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights. By referencing this long-standing legal framework, Damascus frames Israel's actions not just as hostile but as violations of international law, pressuring the UN to enforce its mandate and reinforcing the new government's commitment to established diplomatic norms.

Transitional Justice and Reconciliation: The public defense of releasing former regime officers (June 10) alongside reports of a sanctioned commander's appointment (June 12) highlights a core dilemma for the new government. It must balance demands for justice for past atrocities against the pragmatic need to integrate former state structures and ensure stability. These decisions are a sensitive bellwether for the new government's approach to national reconciliation, rule of law, and its ability to unite a fractured society.