SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Damascus, Jan. 01(SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa extended his congratulations to the Syrian people on the occasion of the New Year.

President al-Sharaa said, in a post on platform (X): “At the start of a new year, we look forward with hope and optimism to a bright future in which Syria remains united, strong, and stable, with Syrians working hand in hand in construction and development, so that prosperity, peace, and harmony prevail across all parts of the country.”

President al-Sharaa concluded his message with greetings, saying: “Wishing you and Syria a blessed New Year.”

MHD

Aleppo, Dec. 31 (SANA) One Internal Security personnel was martyred and others were injured in a suicide bombing that targeted a police patrol in the Bab al-Faraj district of Aleppo.

Aleppo Governorate said in a statement that an unidentified individual carried out a suicide bombing using an explosive belt, targeting a police patrol in Bab al-Faraj in central Aleppo. Security forces had spotted him and attempted to arrest him, prompting the attacker to detonate himself.

The governorate reported that the blast resulted in the death of one patrol member and injuries to others.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident and have imposed a security cordon around the site.

MHD

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal al-Shaar, emphasized that the new national currency aims to improve the efficiency of transactions in the national economy, making the exchange of value smoother and more convenient.

In a Facebook post, al-Shaar noted that the real challenge lies not in the quality of the new currency itself, but in how it is used in daily economic life. He stressed that a currency’s success depends on its natural integration into everyday transactions, not just its technical specifications.

The minister urged citizens to approach the currency transition calmly and steadily, highlighting that money is more than paper or numbers—it reflects the mutual trust between the public and the economy. Patience and understanding, he said, give the market a chance to regain its natural balance without unnecessary worry or haste.

Al-Shaar added that regular, routine use of the new currency will form the foundation for stability and help any positive economic changes take hold, allowing the currency to reveal its true value over time.

The new Syrian currency was officially launched last Monday by President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdelkader Husrieh, at a ceremony in the Damascus Conferences’ Palace attended by numerous official and public delegations.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) The Syrian Arab Republic reaffirmed its full support for Yemen’s unity and sovereignty, standing alongside the legitimate government in preserving state institutions and fulfilling the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security and stability.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stressed, in a statement on Wednesday, that Syria is closely following developments in the brotherly Republic of Yemen. The ministry praised the efforts and positions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with all initiatives that serve the interests of the Yemeni people, support the political solution, and help alleviate humanitarian suffering.

The ministry reiterated Syria’s commitment to supporting all measures that strengthen security and stability in Yemen and the region. It reaffirmed its stance in favour of comprehensive political solutions that respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, while rejecting anything that could deepen crises or threaten regional peace.

MHD

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, confirmed on Wednesday that the ministry and Civil Defense teams are actively responding to the current weather system affecting the country, with the heaviest impacts in Aleppo, Idlib, Tartus, Lattakia, and Hama.

In a post on (X), al-Saleh stated that more than 100 Civil Defense teams are on full alert, responding to over 110 incidents so far. Their work includes clearing snow-blocked roads, draining water from flooded streets, and pumping water out of homes.

The teams have also handled more than 15 traffic accidents caused by slippery roads, and they remain fully ready to respond to any emergency.

The severe weather system, which began yesterday, has brought heavy snowfall and rain, leading to the closure of main and secondary roads and disrupting traffic in multiple areas.

Damascus, (SANA) – Since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, the Syrian woman has emerged as one of the essential pillars of the popular movement and as a central actor in the struggle against the regime of repression and tyranny.

The Syrian woman was not merely a witness to events, but an active participant on the ground: present in demonstrations, engaged in humanitarian, medical, and media work, and paying a heavy price in freedom, security, and family stability.

A Crucial Role in the Revolution and Social Fabric

From the very first days of the revolution, Syrian women took part in organizing peaceful demonstrations, raising slogans calling for freedom and dignity, defying a repressive machine that made no distinction between men and women.

They also played a key role in documenting violations, conveying the truth to the world through alternative media, as well as aiding the wounded, sheltering the displaced, and supporting the families of detainees and the disappeared.

Prisons… The Cruelest Face of Suffering

Thousands of women paid the price of their positions through arrest and detention in the prisons of the deposed regime, where they endured the most atrocious forms of physical and psychological torture, in blatant violation of all laws and humanitarian norms.

In Sednaya Prison and other detention centers, female prisoners suffered systematic torture, denial of medical care, malnutrition, forced isolation, and constant humiliation aimed at breaking their human dignity.

Many of them emerged from prison with exhausted bodies and souls deeply scarred by pain, while the fate of thousands of other women remains unknown to this day, within the framework of the regime’s policy of abduction and enforced disappearance.

Loss… A Wound That Does Not Heal

The suffering of the Syrian woman was not limited to prison; it extended through the loss of sons, brothers, and husbands.

Mothers lost their children under torture, while others still await news of the fate of their sons who were victims of enforced disappearance.

This loss transformed the lives of many women into a state of permanent waiting and silent pain, accompanied by feelings of helplessness and oppression.

After Liberation… The Shock of Truth

With the gradual revelation of certain truths after the liberation of several regions, Syrian women were confronted with the painful shock of learning of the martyrdom of their sons, their death under torture, or the confirmation of their definitive disappearance.

The Syrian Woman: Symbol of Struggle and Hope

The Syrian woman remains a symbol of resilience and struggle, a living memory of the revolution and its sacrifices.

Despite repression, prison, and loss, her will has not been broken, and she has never renounced her role in building society and in the pursuit of justice.

Recognizing the sacrifices of the Syrian woman, defending her rights, and involving her in the future of Syria is not only a moral duty, but an essential condition for building a free and just homeland worthy of the sacrifices of its daughters and sons.

The Syrian woman has never been marginal in the history of the revolution; she has been and remains its beating heart, the face of dignity, the witness of suffering, and the bearer of hope.

MHD

New York, Dec. 31 (SANA) A year after the collapse of ousted regime, tens of thousands of Syrian families are still searching for answers about the fate of more than 100,000 people who disappeared into the country’s security prisons during nearly 14 years of war.

Documents and Testimonies Reveal a Systematic Cover-Up

Over the past year, reporters reviewed thousands of pages of internal government documents, including memos labeled “top secret” exchanged among senior security officials. More than 50 former officials were interviewed, including interrogators, prison guards, forensic doctors, political figures, and workers involved in mass burials under the ousted regime.

Together, the documents and testimonies reveal how the ousted Assad and senior officials, particularly in the final years of the war, worked to conceal evidence of torture and deaths in detention. In the process, they erased or obscured the very information families hoped would reveal the fate of the missing.

From Denial to Erasure

As evidence of abuse mounted over the years, the deposed regime’s strategy evolved. Initially, it publicly denied allegations of torture and deaths in custody. But as international pressure intensified, denial gave way to systematic manipulation and destruction of records that could later be used for accountability.

The first major breach of secrecy came in 2014, when a Syrian military police photographer known by the code name “Caesar” smuggled out thousands of images showing more than 6,000 bodies from security facilities.

Orders to Obscure the Identities of the Dead

By 2018, the deposed regime concluded that denial alone was no longer sufficient. Documents reviewed show that security agencies were instructed to limit the traceability of detainees who died in custody.

In 2019, several agencies altered how deaths were documented. Some stopped sending identifying information with bodies transferred to military hospital morgues. Branch 248, according to two interrogators, removed its branch number entirely. The Palestine Branch went further, omitting both branch identifiers and prisoner numbers, according to interrogators and a hospital worker.

Fabricated Confessions and Backdated Files

For detainees who had died in earlier years, the deposed regime sought to retroactively justify the deaths. Ousted senior figures ordered security branches to fabricate confession statements for deceased prisoners and backdate them, according to two people familiar with the directive. Some of the falsified confessions alleged links to international terrorist organizations.

Concealing Mass Graves

The ousted regime also worked to hide physical evidence of mass deaths. Satellite imagery had revealed a mass grave near Qutayfa, north of Damascus. Beginning in 2019, the deposed regime ordered the transfer of bodies from that site to a new, secret burial location in the desert outside the capital, according to documents and interviews.

Families Left with Silence

For families of the missing, the outcome is a bitter reality. The records that once promised answers were deliberately stripped of the details that could have revealed the truth.

Efforts for Justice

On May 17 of last year, President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued two decrees establishing the National Commission for the Missing, tasked with uncovering the fate of thousands of forcibly disappeared persons, and the National Commission for Transitional Justice, concerned with revealing the truth, holding those responsible accountable, and providing reparations.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) In the historic al-Qanawat neighborhood of Old Damascus stands the Damascene Heritage House, a space that offers visitors a living journey into the city’s memory by bringing together stories, artifacts and traditional architecture that reflect the identity and collective history of Damascus and its people.

Behind the cultural project is heritage researcher Haytham Tabbakha, who transformed the traditional house into a living platform for preserving Damascene heritage and passing it on to younger generations.

Speaking to SANA, Tabbakha said the idea of the Damascene Heritage House began about 15 years ago, when the project was located in another site in the al-Amin neighborhood and consisted of only one floor. After moving to the current Arab-style house in al-Qanawat, the collection of heritage items gradually expanded.

The house covers an area of about 100 square meters and includes a liwan (long narrow-fronted hall), a central courtyard, two rooms overlooking the street and two rooms opening onto the alley. In line with traditional Damascene houses, it features two historic entrances: the haramlik for women and the salamlik for men.

The building itself reflects the spirit of traditional Damascene architecture, forming an essential part of the heritage message that Tabbakha seeks to convey to visitors.

Preserving Identity Through Story, Craft, and Tradition

The house contains a wide range of old household tools, including copperware, pottery, glassware, traditional textiles, prayer beads, rings, stamps, coins, photographs and documents. It also displays historical devices such as an English rotary telephone, cameras and radios dating back to the mid-20th century.

Among the most notable items are a French bag and sword, each about 250 years old, along with authentic Damascene household tools such as copper stoves, pots, irons and traditional kettles. Tabbakha notes that no modern reproductions can truly replicate the craftsmanship of the original items.

He says each piece in the house carries its own story, adding that his passion for collecting heritage began in childhood and continues as he searches for missing items that complete the picture of old Damascene life.

Where Academic Study Meets Lived History

According to Tabbakha, the Damascene Heritage House aims to preserve Damascus’ cultural identity and pass it on to new generations. It is not merely an exhibition space, but a living environment that revives details of the city’s past, from social customs to traditional professions such as upholsterers, wool beaters, silk workers and cotton merchants.

The house also displays tools related to farming and harvest practices, along with popular proverbs associated with them. Tabbakha says the site attracts local visitors, researchers and universities, with students and academics benefiting from its contents for their studies and research, particularly through stories linked to childhood, traditional games and folk tales.

Looking Ahead: Protecting Damascus’s Architectural Soul

Tabbakha expressed hope that the project could expand into larger venues, such as Khan Asaad Pasha, allowing the collection to be displayed more comprehensively. He also called on relevant authorities to pay greater attention to heritage and museums and to facilitate restoration efforts to preserve Damascus’ architectural identity.

He concluded by stressing that preserving heritage is a collective responsibility that requires cooperation between individuals and institutions to safeguard the cultural memory that strengthens awareness of Damascus’ history and its importance for future generations.

The Damascene Heritage House forms part of the al-Qanawat neighborhood, which was established as a residential area outside the walls of Old Damascus in the 18th century and developed during the Ottoman era as part of the city’s urban expansion.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 297 of 2025 appointing Omar Hisham al-Hosari as president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, with the rank of minister.

According to the decree, the appointment is made pursuant to the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration and Decree No. 213 of 2025.

Article 1 of the decree stipulates the appointment of al-Hosari to head the authority with ministerial status.

Article 2 states that expenditures resulting from the implementation of the decree shall be covered by the budget of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.

Article 3 provides that the decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and communicated to the relevant bodies for implementation.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Minister of Defense Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra, accompanied by his Deputy for the Southern Region Brigadier General Ahmad Issa Al-Sheikh, held a meeting on Wednesday with Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi and several provincial officials.

The discussions addressed a range of issues of mutual concern and explored mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between the military establishment and state institutions. The talks underscored the importance of supporting national efforts and enhancing security and stability across the province.

This meeting comes as part of ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Defense and local authorities, aimed at reinforcing institutional cooperation and ensuring effective responses to current challenges. Such engagements are viewed as essential to consolidating national efforts, enhancing public services, and fostering a secure environment that benefits citizens and supports long-term stability.

Damascus, Dec. (SANA) Interior Minister Anas Khattab emphasized Wednesday that the “New Syria” will never turn back, thanks to the efforts of its heroes in every field and specialty, adding that the state is the sole guarantor for all citizens, ensuring their security, preserving their dignity, and safeguarding their rights.

The minister said in a statement on X that since the early days following Syria’s liberation, the Ministry has positioned itself as a central force in restoring order and safety across the country. This effort has been carried out in coordination with other government agencies and local communities to confront a wide range of security challenges.

 Minister Khattab emphasized the ministry’s new approach to policing, one that prioritizes public safety over intimidation. “Our goal is to protect citizens, not to frighten them,” he said, noting that a formal code of conduct has been introduced to ensure law enforcement operates within clear legal and ethical boundaries.

Despite these reforms, remnants of the deposed regime who have aligned themselves with wanted criminals have misinterpreted the ministry’s ethical approach as weakness. “We will protect the oppressed and hold accountable anyone who threatens our country’s security,” he said.

The minister warned the remnants of the defunct regime and their criminal gangs, who insist on continuing the path of chaos, killing, and destruction to “await their inevitable fate”. “Let this message serve as a final warning to them to cease their actions,” he added.

Ankara, Dec 31 (SANA) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his country’s belief that Syria’s stability, political unity, and territorial integrity are fundamental to strengthening regional security and contributing positively to its surrounding region and the world.

In a recorded New Year’s address, broadcast by Turkish channel TRT on Wednesday, Erdogan stated that a strong Syria, achieving political unity and preserving its territorial integrity, will make significant contributions to its region and the world.

“Establishing stability in Syria directly contributes to an increase in voluntary returns,” the Turkish president added, noting that more than 600,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland since the Syrian revolution’s victory on December 8, 2014.

On the 9th of this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Turkey and its people will continue to strongly support Syria and its people in their efforts to rebuild their homeland.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA)  A nationwide public opinion survey recently showed that most Syrians continue to view their country’s trajectory positively, although expectations for the next phase are higher and there are regional variations.

Conducted by Investimate and Syria and Levant Market Compass, the survey included 1,062 participants from all Syrian provinces and was carried out between November 30 and December 5, 2025.

According to the results, nearly four out of five respondents rated the government’s performance as “good” or “very good,” and 85 percent said that Syria is moving in the right direction. About 69 percent reported having full or substantial freedom to express political views.

Compared to a similar survey conducted in January 2025, the percentage of respondents who believe the country is heading in the right direction declined from 94 percent to 85 percent, reflecting a shift toward a more realistic public assessment.

Trust in institutions

Eighty-three percent of respondents expressed confidence in President Ahmad al-Sharaa; 77 percent in the General Security Directorate and security agencies; 73 percent in the judiciary; and 71 percent in the traffic police. Trust in the Syrian Arab Army stood at 64 percent.

Mohammed Firas Al-Kayal, CEO of Investimate and Syria and Levant Market Compass, said that the variation in trust levels is linked to recent events in certain areas and perceptions of institutional performance.

Foreign relations

Saudi Arabia was ranked as the top economic partner, followed by the United States and Turkey, while political and security partnerships leaned toward Turkey and the United States.

Around 84 percent of participants supported cooperating with the United States to combat ISIS. Support for a peace agreement with Israel increased to 41 percent, while 59 percent opposed it.

Political context

On December 8, 2024, Syria entered a new political phase when revolutionary forces, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa (then Commander of the Military Operations Administration), entered Damascus, announcing the end of Assad family rule (1970–2024).

Since then, the new government has worked to consolidate security, address economic and service-related challenges, combat corruption, and rebuild state institutions based on legal and institutional foundations.

One year after liberation, the survey reflects widespread optimism and growing public expectations that stability will lead to better services, justice, and equal citizenship.

R.H

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) A powerful snowstorm swept across northwestern Syria early Wednesday, blanketing roads in snow, causing closures, and flooding parts of the coastal region.

The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management reported that civil defense teams have been working since dawn to clear blocked roads across several provinces following heavy snowfall and rain.

According to the ministry, traffic remains difficult in some areas. Most roads in the northern Aleppo countryside are completely blocked by snow, though other routes remain partially passable as crews work to clear them.

In Idleb province, weather conditions have forced the closure of several roads, and flooding has cut off others.

In Lattakia and Tartous along the coast, as well as in Hama in central Syria, floods have blocked several roads.

The ministry emphasized that emergency and civil defense teams are working around the clock to remove snow and reopen roads. Drivers are strongly advised to avoid travel due to the risk of accidents and slippery conditions.

Abdul

Hasakah, Dec. 31 (SANA)  The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) branch in Hasakah has delivered essential medical and in-kind assistance to 267 of the most vulnerable families in the governorate.

Khader Al-Zaher, head of the local branch, told SANA that the aid targeted returning families and newly arrived residents registered in the Social Care Center database, with priority given to households that include persons with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and cancer patients.

The assistance included water heaters, storage tanks, refrigerators, solar panels with batteries and all necessary accessories. Medical aid was also provided, comprising blood pressure and sugar monitoring devices, nebulizers, and oxygen cylinders. The operation was supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Al-Zaher emphasized that SARC continues to provide various forms of support to the most in-need families throughout Hasakah governorate through its humanitarian projects, in coordination with international relief and humanitarian organizations.

He also noted that at the end of November, the branch distributed a “sheep grant” to 150 rural families to help enhance their economic stability, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

R.A

Damascus, Dec.31 (SANA) Syrian security forces have carried out a series of operations in the coastal provinces of Lattakia and Tartous, arresting several individuals involved in war crimes and acts of incitement, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the ministry said the operations were conducted by internal security directorates in Lattakia, including the areas of Jableh and Qardaha, as well as in Tartous and its surrounding countryside, in coordination with a counterterrorism unit.

The ministry said the arrests followed externally driven, sectarian incitement campaigns that contributed to unrest in the region, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and damage to both public and private property. Authorities said further operations are ongoing.

The Interior Ministry highlighted that the government has sought to reintegrate individuals not accused of bloodshed into society and state institutions to reinforce the civil peace, while warning that some groups have attempted to exploit the current period to fuel instability.

The ministry said it would continue to confront any foreign-backed efforts to undermine social cohesion and public security calling on the residents of Lattakia and Tartous to remain calm, avoid responding to incitement, and help preserve social unity and public order.

Abdul

Quneitra, Dec. 31 (SANA)   Israeli occupation forces conducted a new incursion into areas of the southern Quneitra countryside on Wednesday, Syrian sources reported.

According to SANA’s reporter in Quneitra, the Israeli force, consisting of three vehicles—including two Hilux pickup trucks and a Hummer—advanced from the entrance of the town of Bir Ajam toward the village of Bariqa.

The incursion follows yesterday’s Israeli operations in the region, when forces moved between the villages of Ruwaihiniyah and al-Mushayrifa, established a temporary checkpoint at the intersection of Umm al-Adham in northern Quneitra, and entered the village of al-Ashah, detaining a local civilian. Another temporary checkpoint was set up between the village of Ain al-Ziwan and the town of Kudna in southern Quneitra.

Syria condemned the repeated Israeli incursions, that  violatie the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and asserting that all Israeli actions in southern Syria are null and void under international law.

Damascus has repeatedly called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory and urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in preventing such acts of aggression.

Istanbul, Dec. 31 (SANA)  Turkish authorities have arrested 29 individuals as part of ongoing efforts to combat the terrorist organization “ISIS,” as the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced

According to the statement, 28 of the suspects are accused of spreading ISIS propaganda on social media, while one is believed to have been directly involved in the group’s activities. The detentions followed an investigation by the Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Branch, acting on instructions from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Counter-terrorism teams carried out coordinated raids across 29 locations early Wednesday, seizing three pistols, ammunition, and organizational documents, the statement added.

The operation comes shortly after a security raid in Yalova province, western Turkey, which left three police officers dead and eight others injured, and resulted in the deaths of six ISIS members.

In related operations, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported the arrest of 357 suspects across 21 provinces during simultaneous anti-ISIS raids conducted recently nationwide.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA)  President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 293 of 2025 concerning the launch of the new Syrian national currency, effective beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Under the decree, existing Syrian banknotes, referred to as the “old Syrian currency,” will be gradually withdrawn from circulation according to a timetable set by the Central Bank of Syria and through designated exchange centers.

The decree stipulates that new banknote “new Syrian currency,” will be issued by removing two zeros from the nominal value of the withdrawn old currency. Accordingly, every 100 Syrian pounds of the old currency will equal one Syrian pound of the new currency.

During the transition period specified in the decree, both the old and new currencies will circulate concurrently and retain equal legal tender status. Upon the expiry of the exchange deadlines, the old Syrian currency will lose its legal tender status, be withdrawn from circulation, and become invalid for financial transactions.

The decree defines the smallest unit of the Syrian pound as the qirsh, with 100 qirsh equaling one Syrian pound under the new currency system.

No commissions, taxes, fees, or penalties will be imposed on conversion or exchange operations between the old and new currencies.

The monetary and financial impact of the exchange process will apply to all prices of goods and services, wages, salaries, transactions, and financial obligations of all types and sources, whether legal, judicial, administrative, contractual, or fiscal, in accordance with the exchange standard set forth in the decree.

All public and private entities are required to display monetary amounts in both the old and new currencies during the transition period.

Unless otherwise agreed, contracts, commercial instruments, documents, records, accounts, and financial evidence issued or signed prior to the start of the exchange process will be settled according to the value of the old Syrian currency, whether payment is made in the old currency before the removal of zeros or in the new currency during the period in which the old currency remains legally valid.

If financial documents or instruments do not specify an issuance date, or if the issuance date falls within the exchange period, such documents will not be executed unless the type of currency—old or new—is clearly specified, or unless the value is determined according to its old or new denomination by mutual agreement or judicial ruling.

The decree assigns the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria the task of issuing the necessary executive instructions to implement its provisions.