SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

In a move aimed at modernizing Syria’s financial and economic system, the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria (CBS), Abdulkader al-Husrieh, announced plans to amend Law No. 34 of 2023, which governs the import and export of gold.

The reforms also introduce a new regulatory framework for licensing domestic gold refineries, developed in coordination with relevant government bodies and the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Commission.

According to the announcement by al-Husrieh, published on CBS Telegram channel, the initiative is part of a broader effort by the Central Bank to “revamp Syria’s foreign exchange and precious metals system and to bolster the country’s gold and jewelry sector”.

He emphasized that the new policy aims to support local production, encourage investment, and “establish a transparent and regulated gold market” that can build investor confidence while curbing smuggling and speculation.

The proposed framework includes licensing gold refineries that meet international technical and environmental standards, and upholding the highest levels of financial integrity and compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The goal, al-Husrieh noted, is to position Syria as a regional hub for gold and jewelry manufacturing and to revive its longstanding reputation for craftsmanship and high-quality production in this field.

The Central Bank will directly oversee implementation through a national digital registry for gold traceability, along with a dedicated licensing system for gold refineries, ensuring transparency and accountability at every stage of the supply chain.

Amending Law 34 is seen as a key milestone in restructuring Syria’s gold sector and opening new opportunities for investment and industrial development. It is a part of the Syrian government’s broader economic recovery strategy, aiming to build a more efficient and open financial environment.

Enacted in 2023, Law No. 34 regulates Syria’s gold import and export operations. It was introduced to channel gold trade through official mechanisms, enhance transparency, and combat illicit trafficking and market manipulation.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) targeted Syrian Army positions east of Aleppo on Thursday claiming the live of one soldier and injuring several others, in a violation of the newly announced ceasefire agreement, the Media and Communications Directorate at the Ministry of Defense said.

“The (SDF) targeted Syrian Army positions near Tishrin Dam, east of Aleppo. One soldier was martyred and several others injured,” the Directorate told SANA in a statement.

The Directorate added that SDF have “violated the ceasefire agreement (announced Tuesday) more than 10 times by attacking Army positions along deployment lines in eastern Aleppo”.

Defense Minister General Murhaf Abu Qasra announced Tuesday that he had reached a ceasefire agreement during a meeting with Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the SDF, in Damascus.

“I have recently met with Mr. Mazloum Abdi in the capital, Damascus, where we agreed on a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts and military positions in northern and northeastern Syria. The implementation of this agreement will begin immediately,” Abu Qasra wrote on X.

The ceasefire was reached following clashes erupted between SDF and Syrian Army in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood Monday night, after SDF shelled nearby residential areas.

“The SDF continues fortification and entrenchment operations along all axes,” the statement added, noting that Syrian forces had intercepted communications related to planned attacks targeting the Army and security forces in Aleppo city.

Leaders of several countries welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza.

Qatar, a mediator in the agreement, welcomed the accord as an initial step to end the war on Gaza and ensure hostage- prisoners swap.

“An agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid,” Majed Al-Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry, wrote on his social media account (X). The details will be announced later, he added.

In Canberra, Australian government welcomed the agreement as prime minister Anthony Albanese commended the accord as a “a ray of light” to bring peace in the middle east.

Albanese told the House of Representatives that “There is growing international momentum to bring peace and security to the Middle East and we must all continue to work together to build on this.

In a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Albanese urged “all parties to respect the terms of the plan”, stating there is a “long road to recovery in Gaza”.

Turkish Foreign Ministry also welcomed the agreement of a ceasefire in Gaza, hoping that it “will bring an end to the genocide that has continued for the past two years.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes announcement of ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

The announcement followed three days of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Senior officials from Qatar, Turkey, Egypt and the United States had joined the delegations from Israel and Hamas on Wednesday for those talks.

Nisreen / Abdull

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by the United States, Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, yielded late Wednesday an agreement on the first phase of a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza.

A senior Hamas official told Agence France-Presse the group will release 20 hostages in exchange for more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel, including 250 serving life sentences and about 1,700 others, detained since the war began two years ago.

A Palestinian source familiar with the talks said the prisoner exchange is to be completed within 72 hours after the agreement takes effect.

The deal, expected to be signed later Thursday in Egypt, also calls for at least 400 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza daily during the first five days following the cease-fire, with the amount set to increase in the days ahead.

It also allows displaced residents from southern Gaza to return to Gaza City and to central and northern parts of the territory.

President Donald Trump said early Thursday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace plan. Qatar confirmed both sides had agreed “on all terms and implementation mechanisms of the first phase,” which would halt fighting, free Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow aid to enter the Gaza Strip.

Hamas called on Trump and the guarantor countries to ensure Israel fulfills the agreement and does not delay or withdraw from its commitments.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the deal, urging its immediate implementation, the release of all hostages and prisoners, and the swift delivery of humanitarian aid through U.N. agencies. He also called for guarantees against displacement or annexation and for the start of reconstruction efforts.

The “Rastan Wednesday” fundraising campaign raised $3.765 million in donations to support charitable and development projects in the city of Rastan, in Homs Governorate, central Syria.

Homs Governor Abdul Rahman Al-Ama, Director of Political Affairs Obaida Arnaout, along with several government officials and community leaders, participated in the campaign’s activities.

The initiative aims to rehabilitate infrastructure and public services in Rastan, including the reconstruction of schools, medical centers, and water and sewage networks. It also includes plans to build a cement factory bridge connecting the eastern and western parts of the city.

Eight people were injured in an explosion at a complex of grain mills, silos, and warehouses in the town of Sbeineh, south of Damascus, on Wednesday evening, Syria’s Civil Defense reported.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Civil Defense said that local residents evacuated seven of the injured, while emergency units rescued one person who was trapped under debris. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, it added.

The blast triggered fires in three separate areas within the facility. Firefighting teams extinguished the blazes and continued cooling operations to prevent reignition, according to the Civil Defense.

Sbeineh, an industrial zone that houses several mills, factories, and storage facilities, is known for its intense economic activity, which increases the risk of industrial accidents. Civil Defense and emergency teams regularly monitor the area to ensure a rapid response to potential incidents.

Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II reaffirmed his country’s support for Syria’s sovereignty and stability.

During a meeting on Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, the Prince expressed Jordan’s support for Syria and Lebanon in preserving their sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity, Jordanian News Agency Petra reported.

The two sides discussed the strong relations between Jordan and France as well as developments across the region.

Prince Hussein also conveyed Jordan’s appreciation for France’s role in mobilizing international support for the recognition of a Palestinian state and for its efforts to end the war in Gaza.

He stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and a just, lasting peace based on the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that relations with Syria are “developing for the better,” with coordination underway to address common issues.

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Aoun said during a meeting with Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defense at the European External Action Service, that Syria and Lebanon are coordinating to address the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

On Israeli-Lebanese issues, Aoun called on “friendly nations, especially those in the European Union, to press Israel to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories, end its daily aggressions, and release Lebanese detainees.”

“Without meeting these demands, the situation will remain unstable, and the implementation of the army’s plan to ensure the exclusive possession of weapons by legitimate security forces will be hindered,” he added.

The Lebanese president welcomed any support from the European Union to the Lebanese Armed Forces to strengthen their role in maintaining security and stability across the country.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack emphasized that the March 10 agreement signed between the Syrian state and the Syrian Democratic Forces “SDF” is critical not only for the stability and security of Syria, but equally to the strategic interests of both Turkey and the United States.

Barrak said in a post on the X platform on Wednesday, “My engagement in Hasakah was conducted with full transparency and in the spirit of promoting regional stability, counterterrorism coordination, and humanitarian access—all of which directly serve Turkey’s security and economic interests.”

“My mission was-and remains-centered on advancing cooperative mechanisms that reduce cross-border threats and support the broader goal of regional peace and reconstruction,” Barrak added.

On March 10, the Syrian state reached an agreement with the “SDF”, stipulating their integration into the institutions of the Syrian Arab Republic, affirming the unity of Syrian territory and rejecting partition.

Nisreen/Abdull

Spain’s parliament passed on Wednesday a law imposing a ban on the sale or purchase of weapons from Israel, as part of measures taken to stop the war on Gaza

The Spanish Congress backed a total arms embargo on Israel – with 178 votes in favor, 169 against, which does not have a parliamentary majority, received the support of representatives from the far-left Podemos party, AFP reported.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Said that the government has proposed an embargo targeting the Israeli government to “stop the war of extermination” in Gaza.

On 8th of September, Sanchez announced a chain of measures to put an end to the “collective genocide” in Gaza, including imposing a ban on arms sales to Israel and preventing ships carrying fuel for the Israeli military from using the country’s ports.

Israel and Hamas announced late Wednesday that they had agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war on Gaza strip, a war that over two years, has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, displaced hundreds of thousands and left the enclave devastated.

The announcement came one day after the war entered its third year following talks hosted by Egypt the week before. The agreement is considered the first stage of Trump’s 20-point framework to end the war.

Trump hailed the deal and wrote on Truth Social, “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan.”

“This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting Peace,” Trump added.

In Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted the deal as “a diplomatic success” and a victory for Israel, saying that his government would meet Thursday to approve the agreement.

“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Netanyahu and Trump both described the agreement as a “historic achievement” during a phone call, according to Netanyahu’s office.

The Hamas Movement confirmed the agreement, which it sees as a starting point for ending the war, an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a hostage-prisoner exchange.

“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain,” the Movement said, pledging not to abandon Palestinians’ rights until “freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”

Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, more than 67,173 Palestinians have been killed, and approximately 169,780 others have been injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement and called on both sides to fully commit to it. In a statement he urged Israeli government to allow an “Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza” to end the suffering of the Palestinians.

The Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management received 1,335 food baskets, Wednesday, from the Qatar Fund for Development.

The aid will be distributed to families affected by recent incidents in Sweida Governorate, in coordination with the Syrian Development Organization.

The food baskets, supported by Qatar and Jordan, will be distributed across 23 centers in Sayyidah Zaynab area, as well as to 54 families in al-Mutlaa and 50 families in Zakiyah housing in Damascus countryside, in coordination with official bodies and humanitarian partners, Ahmad Bakeer from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management said in a statement.

This collaboration reflects the joint humanitarian efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of families affected by the recent incidents in Sweida Governorate. It highlights the role of partnerships between official entities, donor countries, and local organizations in addressing difficult humanitarian conditions and delivering practical solutions to meet urgent needs.

MHD Ibrahim

Omar Al-Husari, chairman of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, announced Wednesday the launch of regular flights between Damascus and Tripoli via Syrian Airlines, starting October 16.

The delay in launching these flights was due to the need to finalize procedures for implementing a tax exemption mechanism for Syrian citizens in Libya, al-Husari said on X.

He affirmed that the exemption has been officially activated thanks to close cooperation and ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, ensuring smoother travel for members of the Syrian diaspora.

Al-Husari reiterated the Authority’s commitment to utilizing available resources to provide the best possible services to Syrian citizens, reinforcing their right to mobility, connection, and continuous ties with their homeland.

MHD Ibrahim

Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat announced Wednesday that Syria has entered a recovery phase after years of war, highlighting the return of more than one million refugees as a turning point toward national stability.

Speaking at the 76th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, Kabawat expressed deep gratitude to UNHCR, donor countries, host nations, partner organizations, and civil society for their continued support during Syria’s most difficult years.

She emphasized the government’s top priority: ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians, noting that life is gradually returning to local communities.

Kabawat called for investment in essential services like schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and livelihoods, stressing that reconstruction is a humanitarian imperative, not a political act.

She concluded by affirming Syria’s readiness to open a new chapter, urging genuine international partnership to help Syrians rebuild their lives.

In a landmark joint press conference held in Ankara, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan outlined a renewed vision for bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and Syria’s post-war reconstruction.

Al-Shaibani declared the fall of the deposed regime as “the end of a dark era that lasted more than 60 years,” during which over one million Syrians lost their lives. He emphasized the country’s rapid transformation, stating, “In just a few months, we have managed to build a state of citizenship and establish a nation founded on justice and pluralism.”

The Syrian minister highlighted the purpose of his visit to Turkey as a step toward “strengthening our strategic partnership based on transparency and dialogue.” He also addressed ongoing talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), reaffirming Syria’s commitment to the March 10 Agreement.

“The SDF has been slow in taking the necessary steps, and to this day, we have not reached a practical step toward implementing the agreement,” al-Shaibani said.

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed support for Syria’s sovereignty and stability, describing recent Israeli military actions as “a dangerous escalation.” He warned that such interventions “would contribute to increased instability” and “affect our national security.”

Fidan praised Syria’s growing international engagement, particularly following President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

“Syria’s international engagement is growing day by day,” he said, adding that Turkey remains committed to ensuring no external player benefits from Syria’s instability.

Both ministers underscored their shared commitment to combating terrorism, with Fidan affirming Syria’s “strong will to fight Daesh in cooperation with the international community.”

The press conference marks a significant moment in Syrian–Turkish relations, signaling a mutual interest in regional security, reconstruction, and diplomatic normalization.

Mazen Eyon

A lecture hosted by the Social Forum in Damascus on Tuesday highlighted Syria’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Old Damascus, Aleppo, Bosra, Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, Saladin Castle, and the Forgotten Cities of the North.

Tourism planning and sustainability expert Faisal Najati, who delivered the lecture, emphasized Syria’s rich cultural and historical assets, calling for renewed international cooperation to reintegrate the country into the global tourism map.

He also highlighted Syria’s intangible heritage, including Qudud Halabiya music, oud craftsmanship, laurel soap, Karakoz and Hacivat theater, falconry, and glassblowing, all reflecting Syria’s diverse cultural identity.

In June 2013, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee placed Syria’s heritage sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing threats linked to the deposed regime’s actions.

Today, Syria’s Directorate of Antiquities and Museums is working with UNESCO to restore and preserve those sites.

Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani met on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The two sides discussed recent developments in the region and issues of mutual interest.

Health Minister Musab Al-Ali met on Wednesday with the Libyan Undersecretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Mohammed Al-Ghouj, to discuss ways to enhance health cooperation, exchange expertise, provide training, and develop health response systems.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 8th Conference of Health Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Amman, addressed common challenges faced by the healthcare systems in both countries and explored ways to overcome them through cooperation.

Al-Ali expressed Syria’s readiness to support Libya by offering expertise in medical rehabilitation and health crisis management.

For his part, Al-Ghouj welcomed Syria’s support in strengthening medical capabilities, noting Libya’s severe shortage of medical personnel.

The two sides agreed to maintain ongoing communication and establish technical follow-up teams between their ministries.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa chaired a meeting of the Higher Council for Development on Wednesday to discuss economic and service-related policies.

During the meeting, President al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of coordinating national efforts to achieve comprehensive development and enhance the performance of the national economy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed on Wednesday his country’s support for Syria and its territorial integrity.

Speaking to journalists on his way back from Azerbaijan, where he attended a summit of the Organization of Turkic States, Erdogan said that Turkey will not accept any attempts to undermine Syria’s unity.

 “The territorial integrity of Syria is essential for Turkey, and it is impossible for us to accept any attempts to undermine this unity, we will continue to stand by the Syrian people,” Erdogan was quoted by Anadolu Agency as saying.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, Erdogan stated: “Our priority is to achieve an urgent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza Strip, and it is necessary to deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip as soon as possible.”

Turkish President emphasized that Israel’s attacks on Gaza Strip are a violation of international law, describing them not as self-defense but as genocide and systematic terrorism.