SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Daraa – SANA

Daraa National Hospital has restored its mammography imaging device to service after repairs, following a two-month shutdown.

Head of the Reproductive Health Department at the Daraa Health Directorate Aida al-Taleb, stated to SANA that “the device has returned to service at an ideal time,” allowing it to be utilized during the global Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which begins in early October.

She added that the Health Directorate has three mammography devices located in the hospitals of Daraa, Izraa, and Nawa.

These will offer free services to women throughout the Pink Month, dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

Mammography helps detect any growths or lumps in their early stages—before they become palpable—making it one of the essential tools for early detection of breast cancer.

This early diagnosis can increase recovery rates to up to 95%.

Damascus – SANA

The University of Damascus opened its Innovation and Development Exhibition 2025 on Monday at the Rida Said Conference Hall, featuring 40 student inventions from undergraduate and postgraduate participants.

The event aims to foster research skills and promote innovation in fields that support Syria’s reconstruction and development.

Organized by the Directorate of Scientific Research and Postgraduate Studies in collaboration with the International Team for Invention and Development Science, the exhibition showcases projects in medicine, engineering, agriculture, architecture, biosciences, and recycling.

These inventions are the result of a five-month training program.

Among the highlights are a smart ambulance designed to stabilize stroke patients during transport, and a device that recycles water vapor into sterilized reusable water, potentially saving millions of cubic meters annually.

A parallel exhibition titled “Syrian Innovations Under Fire” presents creative solutions developed during wartime and siege conditions, reflecting the resilience and ingenuity of Syrian inventors.

The initiative is part of the university’s broader mission to promote a culture of innovation, empower young talents, and enhance its academic reputation.

The Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity (SAAPP) has renewed its call on the U.S. Congress to repeal the so-called Caesar Act and open a new chapter of constructive engagement with Syria.

In a post published Monday on the “X” platform, the organization expressed its gratitude to Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, praising his supportive stance and appreciation for SAAPP’s efforts to end sanctions imposed on Syria, and considering that these steps fall within the framework of enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

The organization emphasized that it is working closely with its partners in Congress to advance initiatives aimed at lifting economic restrictions and paving the way for new avenues of political and economic cooperation, which would positively contribute to regional stability and international relations.

Congressman Wilson had previously called for the full repeal of the Caesar Act following his meeting with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani in Washington on the 19th of this month, during which both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and lift the sanctions.

These developments come amid growing calls within U.S. political circles to reconsider punitive policies and pursue diplomatic solutions that safeguard the interests of nations and support efforts for peace and prosperity.

The General Authority for Tourism and Hotel Training and the General Authority of Civil Aviation held a coordination meeting Sunday in Damascus to strengthen cooperation in training national cadres for the tourism and aviation sectors.

The meeting, hosted at the Civil Aviation Authority headquarters, was attended by Muslim Al-Naem, director of the General Authority for Tourism and Hotel Training, and Ghaith Suleiman, director of the Administrative Development and Training Department at the Civil Aviation Authority.

Discussions focused on launching specialized training programs in air hospitality and ground operations, unifying efforts between the two institutions, and making better use of available resources.

Participants underlined the importance of exchanging expertise and providing modern, practical training aligned with international standards in air service and ground operations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both authorities stressed that the initiative marks the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the training system and preparing qualified national cadres to meet the needs of the coming phase.

U.S. authorities confirmed on Sunday that a deadly rampage at a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to nine others.

The incident occurred at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in the Grand Blanc township. The Associated Press cited Police Chief William Rennie.

Rennie stated that hundreds of people were inside the church when a 40-year-old man intentionally crashed a pickup truck into the facility’s front door. The suspect then reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire before deliberately setting the building ablaze. Police pursued the gunman and ultimately shot him dead.

This tragic event follows another violent incident in the state late last July, when 14 people were wounded in a stabbing attack at a Walmart store in Traverse City, located in northern Michigan.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani gave an interview to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, filmed Thursday and aired Sunday from the Council on Foreign Relations. Al-Shaibani described Syria’s post-liberation period as a time of rebuilding, reconciliation, and renewed efforts to achieve peace both at home and across the region.

Minister al-Shaibani stressed that Syria is not “a machine or a robot” but a free nation that endured 60 years of oppression under the previous regime. “When the Syrian people chose to claim their freedom and dignity through peaceful demonstrations, we stood by their side. We were among the soldiers of the peaceful revolution,” he said, noting that Syrians had persevered through every challenge from 2011 until liberation in December 2024.

Al-Shaibani emphasized that Syria’s current political trajectory confirms that it is a popular movement rooted in Syrian culture and the values of the revolution. He dismissed comparisons to Taliban-style governance, insisting that Syria’s model “is consistent with its civilizational history” and that Syrians are capable of representing themselves without imported ideologies.

On governance, he pointed out that Syria has already announced a widely supported constitutional declaration and is preparing for parliamentary elections that will lead to a permanent constitution. “The law approved by the Syrian people is what will govern Syria,” he said, adding that some articles may draw from Sharia, customs, and the realities of 2025, but the goal is a system that “truly represents the Syrian people.”

Addressing sectarianism, al-Shaibani said Syria is working to heal a fractured society and rebuild trust. “We are not like the previous regime. We want Syria to be one united state that represents all Syrians,” he said, rejecting the idea of sectarian enclaves or federal divisions.

On security, he asserted that weapons must be under state control to prevent chaos and partition. “We must now form a national army that represents the Syrian people, defends its borders, and protects its interests,” he said, noting that a March agreement in northeast Syria achieved full integration of armed groups into the Syrian army.

Turning to recent violence, al-Shaibani said the government quickly contained clashes in the coastal region within 48 hours, formed a fact-finding committee with UN participation, and received domestic and international backing, proof of Syria’s commitment to civil peace and accountability. In Sweida, he said unrest was worsened by Israeli interference and armed groups refusing integration, but emphasized that a new U.S.-Jordan-backed roadmap has gained strong support and aims to restore stability, guarantee humanitarian aid, and ensure accountability.

Al-Shaibani accused Israel of escalating tensions since December 8, 2024, citing more than 1,000 airstrikes, 400 ground raids, and occupation of buffer-zone territory under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. He urged Israel to withdraw and send positive signals to Syrians before any discussion of normalization or future agreements.

On foreign relations, al-Shaibani praised Washington’s lifting of sanctions as a “rational and natural decision” and called for a full repeal of remaining sanctions, including the Caesar Act. “Sanctions relief means stability, stability means development, and development means Syrians can stay, refugees can return, and Syria can move from being seen as a threat to being seen as a stable, safe country,” he said.

He expressed optimism about Syria’s future, predicting that within five years it will be “safe, stable, and focused on economic development, with Syrians returning from around the world” and enjoying strong relations with neighbors, Europe, and the United States.

“Before liberation, Syrians could not even speak to each other about politics,” al-Shaibani said. “Now we must give them the space and the chance to engage in dialogue and solve their problems themselves,” al-Shaibani concluded.

Amer Dhawa

Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa visited on Sunday the Saudi state-run news agency headquarters in Riyadh, where he met the agency’s chairman, Abdullah bin Fahd al-Hussain.

Both sides emphasized, during the meeting, cooperation and joint work between SANA and WAS to boost their media presence.

Al-Mustafa toured the agency’s departments, including production and editorial sections and the agency’s training academy, where he attended part of the scholars’ presentations and received briefings on training programs and methods for developing media personnel.

Al-Hussain briefed the Information Minister on the agency’s archives, which include Syrian newspapers dating back to the era of former Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli, noted that Syria was a pioneering country in the field of journalism.

Amer Dhawa

Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa held talks with his Saudi counterpart Salman bin Yousef al-Dosari in Riyadh on strengthening media cooperation.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the meeting covered various aspects of joint media collaboration, its enhancement, and development, as well as opportunities for media exchange through joint programs.

The ministers formed a joint work team to prepare initiatives, programs, and joint media projects, SPA added.

During his visit, Minister Al-Mustafa toured the Government Communication Center at the Saudi Ministry of Information, where he was briefed on media enrichment initiatives and programs for training and developing media professionals.

Internal Security force in Daraa Province have arrested Ala Ghassab Al-Soudi, known as “Jobar Sniper,” who was involved in committing grave crimes against civilians during the era of the former regime, Interior Ministry announced on Sunday.

The Ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel that Al-Soudi is involved in battles in Damascus’s Jobar district. He also took part in several battles inside Daraa Province, the last of which was the Tafas battle in which he lost his hand.

investigations “confirmed his involvement in acts of mutilating victims’ bodies and boasting in documented photos while carrying various weapons”, the statement added.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Sunday that there is an agreement between Ankara and Washington on the need to preserve Syria’s territorial unity, political integrity and stability.

Fidan’s remarks came during a press briefing at the “Turkish House” in New York, on the sidelines of his participation in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to maintain its strategic independence, and its reliance on dialogue and diplomacy to achieve national interests, Anadolu Agency reported.

Defense Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra said Sunday that 31 soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army were martyred over the past nine months while they were clearing mines left by former regime across the country.

Minister Abu Qasra added in a post on X that 60 others were injured, including twelve amputations, during demining and dealing with unexploded ordnance.

“The men of the Syrian Arab Army are moving forward with unwavering determination and an unbreakable will to cleanse our homeland of mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by the defunct regime,” the minister said.

Mines pose a daily threat to the lives of citizens and hinder the return of residents to their liberated areas.

A Syrian Interior Ministry delegation participated Sunday in a meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC) General Secretariat in Tunisia to boost joint security coordination, the Ministry said.

The delegation included Colonel Mohammad Qaddour Suleiman, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Colonel Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Head of the Communication Division in Damascus, according to the Ministry’s statement.

Talks with Arab counterparts focused on strengthening security cooperation, particularly coordination with the Arab Interpol (Arab Criminal Police Organization), and activating mechanisms to combat cross-border organized crime, the statement added.

The delegation stressed the importance of upgrading Arab security systems to address regional challenges and improve information exchange among member states.

The meeting is part of AIMC’s efforts to unify security strategies, confront shared threats, and advance cooperation in policing and criminal justice.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) distributed 320 health packages to the displaced women from Sweida living in temporary shelters in Bosra al-Sham, Daraa governate as part of a final batch provided by UNICEF.

Speaking to SANA (SARC) field officer, Ibrahim Omar said that the aid program has included the distribution of over 5,500 health packages across various areas of the governorate, noting that further needs will be met through other humanitarian organizations.

During September, the Red Crescent branch in Daraa has distributed thousands of health packages for the displaced women from Sweida, as part of its ongoing efforts to support affected people and meet their basic needs.

King Abdullah II reaffirmed Sunday Jordan’s commitment to supporting Syria and Lebanon in preserving their sovereignty and stability.

During a meeting with former Jordanian prime ministers, King Abdullah II reviewed regional and international developments, the Jordanian Royal Court said in a statement on X.

The king reaffirmed “Jordan’s constant readiness to safeguard its sovereignty and security, highlighting ongoing coordination with Arab allies and international partners on the comprehensive Gaza plan” proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the statement added.

King Abdullah II condemned the Israeli aggression against Qatar, describing it as an “attempt to intimidate the region and destabilize regional relations” and called for confronting such disruptive policies, the statement added.

A commercial convoy of approximately 150 trucks carrying food, flour, building materials, fuel, and gas tanks entered Sweida province on Sunday, according to SANA reporter.

On September22nd, a convoy of 95 trucks had entered the province, loaded with food and basic necessities.

The UN Security Council has reinstated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program after Britain, France, and Germany accused Tehran of failing to comply with its commitments.

Britain, France and Germany asked the Security Council to re-impose the sanctions on Iran over accusations it had violated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal reached in 2015 aimed stopping it developing a nuclear bomb.

The EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas said in a statement on Sunday that the UNSC “re-imposed all nuclear-related UN sanctions and restrictions against Iran” that had been terminated under Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), accusing Tehran of failing to fulfill its pledges.

“I have, together with the E3 and many international partners, had intensive diplomatic efforts with Iran ahead and during the 30-day timeframe” but unfortunately did not result in positive outcome, Kallas said.

Consequently, the European Union will now proceed to implement the re-imposition of all previously lifted UN and EU nuclear-related sanctions without delay, she added.

Iran’s foreign ministry on Sunday rejected the UN sanctions, and denounced Britain, France, Germany and the United States for “manipulating” the nuclear deal and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to bring back restrictions.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects the claim of the three European countries and the United States regarding the return of previous resolutions” that ended under Resolution 2231 in 2015, the ministry said in a statement, according to Iranian semi-official agency IRNA.

“Any attempt to revive terminated resolutions is legally baseless, morally unacceptable and logically flawed,” the statement added.

The ministry stressed that Iran has “fulfilled its obligations under the nuclear agreement until 2019, and presented multiple initiatives to revive it”, However, all these efforts have “failed due to the lack of seriousness and bad faith on the part of the Western side”, it added.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X: “This evening, the UN triggered snapback sanctions on Iran. We commend France, Germany, and the United Kingdom on their decisiveness and resolve”. Six UN resolutions have been reactivated, “prohibiting Iranian nuclear enrichment and restoring restrictions on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and arms trade”, Rubio added.

On September 26, the Security Council rejected a last-ditch bid by Russia and China to delay the reimposition of the sanctions on Iran.

Homs – SANA

A Civil Defense Center was established Sunday, in the city of Talkalakh, western Homs.

Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh, said the center is part of a “comprehensive national plan aimed at strengthening rapid response capabilities to emergencies and disasters” nationwide. “New centers will be opened” in the next phase, he added.

The new center is equipped with a full range of firefighting, ambulance, and rescue vehicles, and operates through a centralized operations room to coordinate interventions and ensure swift response to incidents, according to the center’s director.

The Spanish government has decided to join the 34-nation coalition known as “The Hague Group” led by South Africa and Colombia, which aims to impose new economic sanctions on Israel.

Madrid also confirmed its participation in the donor group responsible for financing the Palestinian Authority, alongside countries such as France and the United Kingdom.

The group aims at supporting international efforts to stop the was on Gaza and “end Israeli’s impunity.”

According to European news media the decision was announced on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s meetings in New York.

The coalition’s program includes a range of measures, such as banning the export of dual-use equipment to Israel, prohibiting the transit of military shipments through member states’ ports, and terminating public contracts with institutions that support the occupation.

Idleb – SANA

The Directorate of Administrative Development and the Human Resources Development Center were inaugurated in Idleb Governorate on Sunday, aiming to develop human resources.

Minister of Administrative Development, Mohammad Hassan al-Skaf said during the opening ceremony that “this initiative is part of comprehensive institutional transformation efforts aimed at restructuring public entities, developing human capital, and streamlining administrative procedures”.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening citizens’ trust in state institutions, noting that Idleb deserves to be a starting point for administrative reform in Syria.

 He revealed a future plan to establish similar directorates in other governorates.

Germany reiterated on Sunday its commitment to continued support for peace and stability in Syria.

The spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the German Federal Foreign Office, Annika Clasen-Edris said that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul discussed with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani in New York “the importance of national consensus and comprehensive transition” in Syria.

She affirmed Germany’s readiness to continue supporting Syria to achieve the goals, noting that there is an “opportunity to achieve peace and reconstruction in Syria”.

On Friday, minister al-Shaibani met Wadephul on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.