SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The President of the Syrian Arab Republic is heading to the United States of America to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Syrian Presidency told SANA in a written statement on Sunday.

Aleppo – (SANA)

Syria’s Defense Ministry on Sunday categorically denied accusations by media outlets affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that the Syrian Arab Army shelled the village of Umm Tina in Aleppo countryside, saying SDF itself carried out the attack.

The ministry said that at 6:20 p.m. Saturday, SDF shelled the villages of Tal Maaz, Alsa and Al-Kiyariya with mortars, and during the bombardment, launched rockets toward Umm Tina, which is under its own control, for reasons that remain unclear.

The ministry stressed the accusations were aimed at distorting the image of the Syrian Arab Army and falsely blaming it for the shelling.

It added that SDF has systematically targeted civilians, noting a September 10 attack on Al-Kiyariya village that killed two civilians and wounded three others.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to its national duty of defending Syrians and maintaining their security and stability, holding SDF fully responsible for the shelling of Umm Tina.

Adnan

Vienna – (SANA)

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Austrian capital Vienna on Sunday against Israel’s latest ground assault on Gaza,  calling it genocide.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the protest was organized by the Palestinian community in Austria with the participation of about 70 human rights organizations.

Gathered outside the Austrian Parliament, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried banners rejecting the war on Gaza, condemning what they described as genocide against the Palestinian people, and demanding an end to the occupation, freedom, independence, and recognition of a Palestinian state.

Participants said the mass protest reflects a deep shift in Austrian and European public opinion on the Palestinian cause, with solidarity growing daily and more voices demanding an immediate stop to the war in Gaza and accountability for Israeli war crimes.

Large protests have been held in capitals and cities worldwide against Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which began Oct. 7, 2023, and has left more than 65,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, along with massive destruction across the territory.

Adnan

Damascus-SANA

More than 4 million students across Syria headed to school on Sunday morning as the 2025–2026 academic year began, according to the Ministry of Education.

The ministry’s media office told SANA that the total number of students reached 4.2 million across all levels of education, distributed among nearly 12,000 schools nationwide.

The office said education directorates in the provinces completed preparations to receive students, carrying out general maintenance in schools that included classroom furniture, drinking water stations, and sanitation facilities. Comprehensive disinfection campaigns were also conducted to ensure a safe and healthy school environment.

The measures come as part of the ministry’s efforts to provide the necessary requirements for the educational process and to ensure the academic year starts smoothly and in an orderly manner, in cooperation with teaching and administrative staff across the provinces.

Tuhama al-Saidi / Manar Salameh

Syria has launched a new campaign to raise funds and support reconstruction efforts in Damascus countryside, with wide participation from officials and residents.

The “Our Countryside Deserves” campaign kicked off at the Damascus Fairgrounds on Saturday and aims to improve public services and rehabilitate key infrastructure in the province.

“We launch the ‘Our Countryside Deserves’ initiative to show the world that Damascus countryside is capable of rising and rebuilding after the great sacrifices it made during the years of revolution. We thank everyone who contributes to this campaign,” Governor Amer al-Sheikh told SANA at the event.

Culture Minister Mohammad Yassin al-Saleh said the campaign builds on similar initiatives that began with “Homs Wednesday” and have now spread across the country. “We say to our people in Sweida and the eastern region that we are coming, now that the clouds have cleared, and similar campaigns will be held in those areas,” he said.

Damascus countryside’s Health Director Tawfiq Hasaba stressed that the slogan “Our Countryside Deserves” represents a genuine commitment, citing urgent needs across 25 health centers requiring rehabilitation and specialized facilities like prosthetics centers needing equipment.

Education Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman Turko highlighted the campaign’s role in rebuilding the school system, noting that 469 schools were destroyed in the province.

“So far, 25 schools have been rebuilt, and 68 more are currently under reconstruction,” he added.

MHD Ibrahim

Polish and NATO allied warplanes took to the skies early Saturday after Russia launched a sweeping aerial barrage on Ukraine, including strikes close to the Polish border, according to the Polish military.

“Due to the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation, which is carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,” the Polish military said on X.

The alert came just hours after NATO jets intercepted three Russian aircraft suspected of violating Estonian airspace.

“Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched nearly 600 attack drones overnight, along with eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles, in one of the largest strikes in weeks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said three people were killed and dozens injured in the attacks.

34 Palestinians were killed and 200 others wounded in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours as Israeli strikes continued, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a statement on Saturday.

The ministry added the dead include members of the family of Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, who were killed in an airstrike west of Gaza City. Ambulance and civil defense crews are still unable to reach some victims believed to be trapped under rubble and in the streets.

The Israeli military (IDF) said Saturday that aircraft struck several targets in the Jabaliya area, an area near al-Shati camp where Dr. Abu Salmiya’s family home is located.

“In the areas of Gaza City and the Jabaliya, IDF troops continue operational activity. Yesterday (Friday), the troops directed an aircraft that struck and eliminated several terrorists in Gaza City,” the Israeli miliray statement reads.

Saturday’s update brings the overall death toll since October 7, 2023, to 65,208, with 166,271 people wounded, according to the ministry.

Among those killed in the last 24 hours, four civilians were seeking humanitarian assistance raising the number of what Gaza authorities call “livelihood martyrs” to 2,518, with more than 18,449 injured since the war began.

The ministry reported two additional deaths due to famine and malnutrition, bringing the total to 442 malnutrition-related deaths, including 147 children, since famine conditions were formally declared under IPC Phase 5.

Famine, classified as IPC Phase 5, the most severe level of the IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale, is declared when an area records at least two deaths per 10,000 people per day, or four child deaths per 10,000 per day, due to starvation or a combination of malnutrition and disease.

Nawal/ Fedaa

Latakia – SANA

Syria’s Latakia Port has recorded a significant increase in ship arrivals and cargo volume in 2025, underscoring its growing importance as a key hub for the country’s maritime trade, a statement shared with SANA by the port’s PR manager, Ali Adra said.

Adra added that more than 290 ships have docked at Latakia so far this year, handling over 1.5 million tons of cargo. The increase follows a series of development measures, administrative reforms, and technical upgrades implemented by the port’s new management.

Port authorities have rehabilitated key infrastructure and repaired previously non-operational cranes, improving loading and unloading operations.

In May, Syria signed a 30-year agreement with French shipping giant CMA CGM to manage and operate the port, a move aimed at boosting efficiency and modernizing services.

Adnan

Damascus – SANA

Senior Syrian and Turkish officials met Saturday to discuss strengthening security coordination and boosting cooperation with Interpol, according to a statement from the Syrian Interior Ministry sent to SANA.

Syrian Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Tahan met with Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Munir Karaloğlu during an official visit to Ankara.

Talks focused on activating Interpol’s work inside Syria to support joint efforts against organized crime, as well as following up on a training agreement signed earlier this year.

The agreement allows Syrian Interior Ministry personnel to travel to Turkey for specialized training in multiple security fields to improve performance and readiness.

The two sides also discussed Syria’s participation in the upcoming Internal Security Equipment Exhibition as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral security ties.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at will be an important step toward ending wars in the region.

“In our meeting at the White House with my esteemed counterpart and friend, US President Donald Trump, we will discuss a range of issues with our ally, the US, with whom we have a comprehensive strategic relationship, including trade, investment and the defense industry,” President Erdogan said in a post on Turkish social media platform NSosyal on Saturday.

“I believe that our meeting with President Trump will contribute to ending wars and conflicts in our region within the framework of our shared vision for global peace, and further strengthen cooperation between our countries,” Erdogan added.

 Nawal/ Mazen

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in Washington on Saturday.

According to the Syrian MFA statement the meeting aimed to discuss “strengthening dialogue and fostering greater understanding between cultures.”

A cyberattack on a service provider has disrupted operations at several major European airports, causing delays and cancellations for travelers on Saturday.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport said in a written statement its provider was targeted, forcing it to shut down affected systems and delay multiple flights. Passengers were warned to expect longer check-in and boarding times, though the airport itself was not directly attacked.

Brussels Airport reported “major operational consequences,” with staff resorting to manual check-in and boarding. The airport urged passengers to check flight status before leaving for the airport and to arrive early.

London Heathrow confirmed technical problems with a third-party system used by several airlines, saying teams are working to restore services as quickly as possible.

The hacking incident underscores the growing vulnerability of Europe’s transport infrastructure to cyberattacks. A similar disruption in April left large parts of the continent without power, crippling airports, railways, and communications.

Rana/Mazen

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCO) has called on the UN Security Council to take action to support Syria’s economy, including reforming sanctions, according to a statement published by the FCO on Saturday.

“We will witness a historic visit by President Ahmad al-Sharaa to the United Nations as we look forward to hearing more details on his vision for a more secure and prosperous Syria,” the FCO statement reads.

The UN has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Syria, including ones during the Syrian revolution, citing repression of protests and human rights violations. Additional sanctions were introduced in 2005 after the Assad regim was accused of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic al-Hariri.

Khadega/Mazen

Damascus. SANA

Mohammad Baraa Shukri, Director of Europe Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said on Friday that following the revolution victory, Syria looks forward to development and peace, warning that some parties continue to violate Syrian sovereignty and ignore international resolutions.

Shukri added during a political dialogue session at the meetings of senior officials of the member states of the “Union for the Mediterranean”, that Syria is ready to engage in efforts to reform the Union and enhance collective coordination, noting the importance of developing working mechanisms and unifying visions on collective security in the Mediterranean.

He pointed out to the importance of developing work mechanisms and unifying visions on collective security in the Mediterranean.

Shukri called for supporting development projects dedicated to Syria and enhancing direct communication between the Syrian side and the General Secretariat of the Union

Iman / Mazen

Rome – SANA

The Italian port of Ravenna, located on the Adriatic Sea, yesterday blocked the entry of two cargos carrying weapons bound for Israel, amid growing protests against the war being waged by Israel on Gaza Strip by port workers and other labor groups across Italy.

Alessandro Barattoni, the mayor of Ravenna, stated in a press release that the port authority approved a request from him and the local government to deny entry to the two cargos, which were transporting explosives en route to the port of Haifa.

He added: “The Italian state claims it has banned the sale of weapons to Israel, and it is unacceptable for such weapons to pass through its territory from other countries due to bureaucratic loopholes.”

Port workers in other European countries such as France, Sweden and Greece have taken similar actions to prevent arms shipments from reaching Israel.

Adnan/Mazen

Quneitra – SANA

 The Israeli army carried out raids Friday on towns and villages in southern and western Quneitra, accompanied by reconnaissance flights.

SANA reporter said that an Israeli army patrol advanced to the eastern town of  Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya and set up a checkpoint on the road leading to the town of Ajraf, while another force entered Ruwayhinah before withdrawing half an hour later.

Earlier, seven Israeli military vehicles entered Abdeen and the outskirts of Koya in the Yarmouk Basin in the western Daraa countryside.

The step comes within the framework of a series of repeated Israeli violations, including airstrikes and ground inflitrations into Quneitra, Daraa and Damascus countryside, in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, international law and UN Security Council resolutions.

Rana/Mazen

Washington-Agencies

The Trump administration is seeking congressional approval to sell nearly $6 billion in weapons to the Israel entity, agencies reported.

The planned package includes a deal worth $3.8 billion for 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and $1.9 billion for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles for the Israeli army.

Another $750 million worth of support parts for armored personnel carriers and power supplies are also working its way through the sale process.

The agencies clarified that the purchase would be funded through U.S. military aid to Israel—that is, from American taxpayers’ money. Israel buys most of its American weapons using the billions it receives annually from the United States as “security assistance.”

At this stage, the State Department is seeking approval from the four top congressional leaders—Republicans and Democrats on the Senate and House Foreign Affairs committee. Committee leaders are typically required to approve major arms deals before the administration can send a broader message to Congress and the public.

However, On Thursday, a group of U.S. senators introduced the first Senate resolution to urge recognition of a Palestinian state and more than half of Democrats in the Senate recently voted against further arms sales, according to the agencies.

Noura /Mazen Eyon

Latakia – SANA

The Internal Security Forces in Latakia arrested Captain Mundher Abbas Nasser, a commander in the National Defense Militia affiliated to the former era.

In a statement released via the Ministry of Interior’s Telegram channel, Brigadier General Abdulaziz Hilal al-Ahmad, head of Internal Security in Latakia, confirmed: “Units of the Internal Security Forces in Latakia, in coordination with the Counterterrorism Branch, carried out a high-level security operation that led to the arrest of Captain Nasser, born in Baniyas of Tartous countryside.”

Al-Ahmad added: “Investigations revealed that the suspect was a prominent figure in the National Defense Militia and maintained close ties with Bashar Talal Al-Assad and Wassim Al-Assad. He was involved   in numerous massacres against unarmed civilians across several provinces during the Syrian revolution and maintained direct communication with armed leaderships abroad.”

Adnan/Mazen

Damascus – SANA

The European Union delegation in Damascus described the raising of the Syrian flag in Washington as a symbol of resilience and hope for a new chapter that the Syrian people deserve.

In a post on the X platform today, the delegation said: “We congratulate Syrians on raising their flag in Washington. This is resilience and hope for a new chapter that the Syrian people deserve.”

Yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani raised the national flag above the Syrian embassy chancery in Washington.

Members of the Syrian community in the United States expressed their joy and happiness at the raising of their homeland’s flag during their gathering in front of the embassy chancery.

Adnan

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Friday raised the Syrian flag over the embassy in Washington, the first time it has flown there since the diplomatic mission was suspended in 2012.

In a statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry called the ceremony “a historic moment,” marking the symbolic return of Syria’s presence at its embassy in the U.S. capital.

“In a historic moment, Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic over the Syrian Embassy building in the U.S. capital, Washington,” the MFA statement reads.