SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) branch in Daraa Governorate on Friday distributed 4,000 health baskets to displaced women from Sweida Governorate, currently housed in temporary shelters.

The coordinator of the SARC’s Health Awareness Promotion Unit in Daraa, Ibrahim Omar, informed SANA that the distribution reached 40 shelters in different areas of the governorate.

The baskets, provided by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), were delivered alongside informational seminars on health and personal hygiene, aimed at promoting the well-being of the beneficiaries.

Currently, there are an estimated 70 shelters in Daraa hosting women displaced from Sweida.

MHD Ibrahim

The Center for Dialogue and Civil Peace organized a dialogue meeting on Friday in Inkhil, in the countryside of Daraa, bringing together tribal leaders from Hauran and the Golan, along with social and cultural figures from the region to discuss ways to boost trust and the spirit of belonging among all components of the people, and to establish civil peace as a strategic choice.

Participants in the meeting affirmed that the strength of Syrian society lies in its diversity and cohesion, and that inclusive citizenship is the cornerstone of any national project that guarantees dignity and justice for all.

They affirmed that the voice of reason and wisdom is the only path to establishing a state of peace and love that restores dignity to the Syrian individual and opens the door to a decent and secure life.

In a statement to SANA’s correspondent, Dr. Bilal Abu Huya, representative of the tribes of Al-Sanamayn, noted that the people of Hauran welcome their guests to declare to the world that the Syrians are working to build their new state.

For his part, Shawakh Al-Hafian, a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Civil Peace, highlighted the importance of the meeting in Hauran, as it is the cradle of the revolution and the starting point of calls for civil peace for all Syrians.

This meeting comes as part of the efforts of the state and society to strengthen convergence and cooperation, foster a shared sense of belonging among the sons of one homeland, overcome wounds and divisions, and strive for a safer and more just future for all Syrians.

Omar Hassari, Head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, announced that the authority has received the first shipment of navigation devices and equipment provided by Turkey, as part of its support to enhance air transport safety in Syria.

The shipment includes the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which facilitates aircraft landings in difficult weather conditions, in addition to the DVOR/DME system that provides aircraft with accurate data on direction and distance, Hassari explained in a statement to SANA.

He stated that these devices will be installed at Damascus International Airport once the necessary infrastructure work is completed, allowing pilots to approach the runway with greater precision and safety, and enhancing the level of safety and security in air navigation.

Hassari expressed the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority’s gratitude to Turkey for this technical support, stressing that this step represents a significant milestone in the efforts to develop Syria’s airport infrastructure and enhance the safety and security levels of air transport.

Syria’s National Committee for the Missings says it has begun recovering and documenting human remains from a mass grave uncovered in the countryside of Damascus, the committee told SANA in a written statement on Friday.

The committee said the effort, coordinated with civil defense teams and overseen by public prosecutors, began after local police in the town of Otaiba, on Thursday, found skeletal remains on the surface of an agricultural field.

Local officials have asked the residents nearby not to disturb the site and to allow authorities to handle the recovery and forensic work. According to the comittee, the mass grave is linked to a February 27, 2014, massacre in Otaiba, when civilians and defected soldiers were attacked in an ambush, killing dozens and leaving roughly 270 people missing.

The Syrian Public Prosecutor in Damascus countryside, Judge Mohammad Omar Hajar, announced on Thursday the discovery of a mass grave in Otaiba containing the remains of approxivmatly 170 civilians from Eastern Ghouta and nearby areas, who were killed while attempting to escape the siege and famine back in 2014.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington on Friday to discuss relations between the two countries and prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation.

Damascus, SANA

Minister of Transport Yarub Badr discussed with a delegation from the Turkish Freight Companies Union (UND) mechanisms to enhance cooperation in land transport and facilitate mutual truck transit between Syria and Turkey.

During the meeting, Minister Badr stressed the importance of reaching a practical framework that ensures smooth transportation between both sides by simplifying procedures at border crossings, contributing to faster shipping and supporting mutual interests.

For their part, representatives of the Turkish union noted that around 400 Turkish trucks unload their cargo daily at the Bab al-Hawa crossing, which is then transported by Syrian trucks to destinations within the country.

Both sides expressed hope that joint cooperation would contribute to strengthening trade exchange and facilitating logistical movement between the two countries, supporting their aspirations for a broader partnership in land transport.

MHD Ibrahim

New York – SANA- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to confront what he described as a “global crisis” of war, climate change, inequality and technological risk, calling for urgent and coordinated action ahead of the General Assembly’s high-level week.
“We are facing a global crisis. Conflicts are multiplying in a context where geopolitical divides prevent effective solutions,” Guterres told UN News. He warned of a growing sense of impunity, with countries acting unilaterally while developing nations struggle under heavy debt and limited access to financing.
On climate change, Guterres cautioned that it remains “not under control” and that keeping global warming below 1.5°C, the Paris Agreement target, is becoming increasingly difficult.
He also noted that while artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies hold promise, they risk fueling polarization and hate speech if left unregulated. “Governance must ensure that human agency is preserved and that they become a force for good,” he said.
The Secretary-General stressed that the upcoming General Assembly must deliver progress in three areas: cutting carbon emissions, reforming the global financial system, and strengthening multilateral cooperation. He called on leaders to “turn the tide” and embrace reforms to create a fairer and more equal international order

London-SANA

British Special Envoy to Syria Ann Snow affirmed its county’s clear position regarding Syria, as Israel must respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, alongside UK interest in a stable, free, and prosperous Syria, which serves its people and the region.

“Any disputes or disagreements in the region must be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.” Snow stated to SANA Friday “The United Kingdom and Syria have a common interest in a stable, free, and prosperous Syria”.

“There are enormous challenges after the long war, and after more than 50 years of tyrannical rule by the Assad family, including the security aspect and the devastated economy, in addition to the community challenge of restoring the country’s unity and achieving transitional justice” Snow added

“UK has worked extensively with Syrians over the past years to support transitional justice, which is a key part of any sustainable transition process, and it is complex, challenging, and time-consuming” Snow continued

“We commend the establishment of the “National Authority for the Missing” and the “National Authority for Transitional Justice,” and Britain is ready to work with Syria to support it in this regard” the British official explained

 Regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria Snow pointed out that it remains worrying after a long war, and “this year the UK is spending up to 254.5 million pounds to support Syrians at home and in the region”

“UK is funding life-saving aid and long-term recovery programs, particularly in the fields of education and agriculture, to help create suitable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons” snow concluded.

On the occasion of International Missing Persons Day, last August, Snow, reiterated her country’s stance in support of “Accountability and Transitional Justice efforts” as it is an opportunity to remember the missing and appreciate everyone who seeks a future of justice and hope.

Latakia – SANA– Internal Security Forces in Latakia, in cooperation with the province’s Counter-Terrorism Branch, have arrested Munther Abbas Nasser, a colonel at the former National Defense.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Aziz Hilal al-Ahmad, commander of Internal Security in Latakia, said Nasser was closely linked to militia figures from the former era and implicated in massacres against civilians in several provinces. He noted that the arrest highlights the determination of security services to pursue all those involved in crimes threatening the country’s security and stability.

Daraa – SANA

Israeli army (IDF) penetrated on Friday morning the village of Abdeen and the outskirts of the village of Koya in the Yarmouk Basin area in the western Daraa countryside.

“Israeli forces, consisting of seven military vehicles, penetrated the village of Abdeen and the outskirts of the village of Koya in the Yarmouk Basin area in the western Daraa countryside,” SANA reporter said, adding that they stayed for a short period before withdrawing towards the occupied territories, without any clashes or direct contact with the residents.

Earlier, Israeli army (IDF) had penetrated the villages of Ofaniya, Khan Arnabeh, and Jabatha al-Khashab in the Quneitra countryside, raiding a number of homes and arresting four citizens.

Israel continues its assaults on Syrian territory in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, international law, and United Nations resolutions.

Noura / Fedaa

Idleb-SANA

The organization “Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HiHFAD), in cooperation with the Idleb Health Directorate, has begun restoring and rehabilitating Maarat al-Numan National Hospital, which is the only central hospital in the southern countryside of Idleb.

Ibrahim Al-Wais, director of health facilities at the Idleb Health Directorate, emphasized that rehabilitating the hospital is an urgent necessity, as the only other hospital in the area, Al-Rahman Hospital in Atmah town, is dedicated to gynecology and pediatrics.

For his part, Salim Idris, Director of the Engineering Office of “Hand in Hand” Organization, pointed out that the hospital restoration project is being implemented with support from the Syria Aid Fund (AFS).

Maarat al-Numan National Hospital served more than 200 villages and towns in the southern Idleb countryside before suffering widespread destruction as a result of repeated attacks by former regime forces.

HIHFAD is a charitable organization committed to supporting vulnerable civilians in Syria.

Noura /Fedaa

Washington, SANA

Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, met Thursday in Washington with Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen, in the presence of US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack.

During the meeting, ways to enhance cooperation between Syria and the United States were discussed.

Dubai, SANA

The Director-General of the Syrian Postal Corporation, Imad al-Din Hamad, signed Friday a memorandum of understanding with the Director-General of Morocco Post Group, Ahmed Amine Touimi, on the sidelines of the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in the UAE, aiming to strengthen the strategic relations between the two parties.

The memorandum stipulates consolidating cooperation in multiple areas, including exchanging technical and technological expertise, organizing joint training programs, and cooperating in the areas of electronic remittances, urgent mail, e-commerce, and postal financial services.

Additionally, the memorandum includes joint work to develop postal services and improve their quality, which will have a positive impact on postal users in the two brotherly countries, as well as enhancing coordination between the two institutions in relevant regional and international forums. In the same context, Hamad also signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with the Director General of Turkish Post (PTT), Hakan Gulten, with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the fields of shipping and e-commerce

Iman/Fedaa

Washington, SANA –

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stressed the importance of achieving stability and economic prosperity in Syria.

This came during her meeting Thursday with Foreign Minister and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani, in the presence of the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and a group of senators from both parties.

During the meeting, the leaders gathered stressed the common interest between the United States and Syria in achieving a stable and economically prosperous Syria, and the importance of Syria’s future for achieving regional stability, and pointed out that sanctions hinder urgent and necessary investment in Syria’s economy.

Senator Shaheen, who introduced bipartisan legislation to lift sanctions on Syria, warned of the risk of inaction, saying: “The Syrian economy is in crisis, and its authorities need financial resources to maintain basic governance functions.”

Shaheen added: “If we slow down in moving, we risk pushing the Syrians back into conflict, which is in no one’s interest except Russia and Iran, and we have little chance of putting Syria on a path of stability and prosperity,” stressing that members of the last bipartisan parliamentary delegation that recently visited Syria, in addition to senior U.S. administration officials, agreed that the time has come for the Senate to move to cancel the Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria”.

Nisreen / Fedaa

Brussels, SANA

The European Union welcomed the announcement of a roadmap to address the crisis in Sweida province, considering it as a move toward a lasting solution that safeguards Syria’s stability and sovereignty.

“We encourage the rapid implementation of the agreement and the continuation of dialogue between all parties, with the aim of reaching a sustainable solution that protects all Syrians without discrimination and preserves Syria’s security, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Spokesperson Anita Heber said in a statement on the roadmap agreed upon between Syria, Jordan, and the United States regarding Sweida.

Heber added: “The European Union continues to call on the transitional authorities to ensure a comprehensive political transition that meets the aspirations of all Syrians.”

On Wednesday, a tripartite Syrian-Jordanian-American meeting agreed to adopt a roadmap for addressing the situation in Sweida province and enhancing stability in southern Syria.

Nisreen / Fedaa

Damascus, SANA – The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on Thursday the availability of 40 scholarships provided by the Algerian government for the first university stage, allocated to Syrian students who obtained a high school diploma for the 2024 and 2025 sessions, for the 2025/2026 academic period.

According to the ministry’s announcement, the scholarships are distributed as follows: 20 scholarships for the scientific branch, including 10 for studying human medicine, and 20 scholarships for the literary branch in various specializations within Algerian universities.

These scholarships come within the framework of ongoing cultural and educational cooperation between Syria and Algeria, which aims to enhance the exchange of academic experiences and provide quality educational opportunities for Syrian students in Algerian universities, whether at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Iman / Fedaa

Washington- SANA

As part of his official visit to Washington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, met Thursday US Senator Lindsey Graham.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between Syria and the United States and lift US sanctions imposed on Syria.

Washington, SANA- US Republican Representative Joe Wilson renewed his call for the US Congress to fully repeal the Caesar Act imposed on Syria, following his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Washington.

Wilson said in a post on the X platform: “I was honored to host Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, the first Syrian delegation to visit Congress in 25 years,” noting that the meeting marks the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

“President Donald Trump’s leadership has provided a historic opportunity for a new chapter that benefits everyone, and Congress must now act and fully repeal the Caesar Act.” He added.

He stressed that the time has come to give Syria a real opportunity to end the sanctions imposed on it.

Mazen

Washington, SANA- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met on Thursday a number of officials from the U.S. Treasury Department in the presence of US Special Envoy for Syria Thom Barrack.

Talks during the meeting addressed means of reconnecting the Syrian economy to the global financial system in a responsible and secure manner, ensuring enhanced joint efforts to combat terrorist financing.

This comes as part of the Foreign Minister’s historic visit to the United States for extensive discussions.

Mazen

New York-SANA

UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has announced his intention to step down from his position.

“I have informed the Secretary-General of my intention to step down,” Pedersen told the Security Council, according to the Associated Press.

Pederson, aged 69, was appointed as UN Special Envoy for Syria in 2018, succeeding Staffan de Mistura.

He was tasked with implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which aims to find a political solution in Syria.

However, efforts to achieve this solution have repeatedly faltered.

Mazen