SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

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.

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Justice on Tuesday affirmed that preserving the unity and sovereignty of the state is a core constitutional principle that may not be violated, warning that any incitement or practices that undermine this principle constitute serious crimes threatening state security.

In a statement obtained by SANA, the ministry said such acts will be met with strict legal measures in order to protect the supreme national interest.
At the same time, the ministry reaffirmed the Syrian state’s commitment to the rule of law and to respecting public rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.

The statement stressed that freedom of opinion and expression is a protected right, provided it is exercised within the existing legal framework, in a manner that serves the public interest and preserves civil peace.

In this context, the ministry said current legislation regulates the exercise of these rights through binding rules and procedures aimed at ensuring public security, protecting public and private property, and preventing any actions that disrupt security or affect public services.

The ministry said the state clearly distinguishes between lawful, peaceful expression of opinion and acts that incite against public order or undermine it, including sectarian or religious rhetoric and any form of hate speech or social division.

It added that such practices are prohibited by law and constitute criminal offenses subject to accountability and judicial prosecution, as they pose a direct threat to societal unity and stability.

The ministry also stressed that state institutions will not tolerate any violation of the law, which applies to all individuals without exception or discrimination, regardless of their status or affiliations.

In conclusion, the Ministry of Justice urged citizens to abide by legal provisions when exercising their lawful rights and to uphold their national responsibilities, affirming that the competent authorities will take all necessary measures to protect public order, preserve civil peace, and ensure the unity of society and the security of the state.

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Damascus countryside, Dec. 31 (SANA) The Cultural Bus of the Damascus Countryside Directorate of Culture continued its tours across the governorate, stopping in the town of Saidnaya in the Western Qalamoun region, where it offered recreational and educational activities for local children.

The activities, hosted by Al-Inaya Private Kindergarten at the Monastery of the Transfiguration on the occasion of the Feast of Liberation and Christmas, involved 75 children.

They included a mobile cultural bus carrying a library of stories, educational games, competitions, storytelling sessions, and performances of holiday songs in Arabic, English and French in front of the church tree.

In a statement to a SANA reporter, Father Taher Youssef, parish priest of Hagia Sophia for the Melkite Greek Catholics, said the event helps raise awareness among children and youth and spreads a cultural atmosphere despite the effects of war. He stressed the importance of building children’s culture, spirit and values from an early age through education, art and dialogue.

Shireen Al-Khoury, supervisor of Al-Inaya Private Kindergarten, said the initiative brought children back to printed books, away from electronic games and mobile phones, praising cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Window in Saidnaya and young volunteers.

For his part, Mohammad Murad, supervisor of the Cultural Bus, said the event was organized to celebrate Christmas and comes within structured programs aimed at engaging children in interactive cultural activities such as writing and drawing workshops and cultural competitions.

Manal Azar, Director of the Cultural Window in Saidnaya, described the event as innovative and essential for strengthening children’s relationship with reading and knowledge, contributing to building a conscious generation capable of taking part in rebuilding Syria.

ISTANBUL, Dec. 31 (SANA) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday renewed his rejection and condemnation of Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, stressing that such recognition is illegitimate and unacceptable.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan made the remarks during a joint press conference in Istanbul with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying that preserving Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity under all circumstances remains a top priority for Turkey.

Erdogan warned that Israel seeks to drag the Horn of Africa into instability following what he described as its bloody aggressions against countries in the region.

He affirmed that Turkey will firmly continue to support Somalia’s territorial integrity and political unity and to stand by the Somali people.
For his part, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said it is impossible to accept the hostile stance of the Israeli prime minister toward Somalia’s territorial integrity.

He said this stance constitutes a violation of international law, the founding charter of the United Nations, as well as diplomatic principles and the agreements upon which the African Union was established.

Israel announced on Dec. 26 that it had reached a mutual recognition arrangement with the Somaliland region, becoming the only country to take such a step since Somaliland’s unilateral declaration of independence from Somalia in 1991. The move drew widespread Arab and international condemnation and renewed calls for respect for Somalia’s unity and sovereignty

DAMASCUS, Dec. 31 (SANA) Syria’s National Seismological Center said on Tuesday it recorded a 3.9-magnitude earthquake in the Mediterranean Sea, about 28 kilometers west of the coastal city of Latakia in western Syria.

The center said the tremor struck at a depth of 6.6 kilometers and caused no casualties.

In a statement to SANA, the center’s director, Jamal Zakour, said such tremors are routinely registered in the Mediterranean basin, which lies within a well-known seismically active zone intersected by several active faults.

He added that the quake was monitored through the center’s seismic observation stations.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Syria’s disaster response agency are working to strengthen seismic monitoring and early-warning systems, and to raise institutional preparedness to ensure public safety and rapid response to any potential emergencies.

 Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA)  Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz said he is determined to do everything possible to strengthen relations between his country and their dear neighbor “Syria”.

In a post published Tuesday on the X platform, Yilmaz expressed his thanks for what he described as a warm reception at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus, and for being presented with a Syrian banknote bearing a special serial number.

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani received yesterday Yilmaz in Damascus and was handed a copy of the ambassador’s credentials as Turkey’s envoy to the Syrian Arab Republic, according to an official statement. The meeting marked the formal start of Yilmaz’s diplomatic mission in Syria.

Damascus, Dec. 30 (SANA) Syria’s Minister of Administrative Development Mohammad Hassan al-Sakkaf said the launch of the new national currency represents a pivotal link in a series of deep economic reforms taking place in what he described as “the new Syria,” as part of an integrated national approach to rebuilding the state’s economic and administrative foundations.

In a post published on LinkedIn, al-Sakkaf said the step should not be viewed solely through its monetary dimension, but rather as carrying “a deep sovereign significance” that coincides with the post-liberation phase.

“At this stage, it is not only the homeland that is restored, but also its confidence in itself and in its future,” he said.

Al-Sakkaf said the launch of the new national currency comes as part of a comprehensive reform path aimed at strengthening financial stability, regulating monetary circulation and improving the efficiency of economic policies in line with the requirements of the next phase. He said the move is intended to enhance confidence in the national economy and its institutions.

“In the Ministry of Administrative Development, we view the consolidation of monetary stability as an integrated path alongside developing the institutional structure of the state, and building a modern public administration capable of implementing policies efficiently,” al-Sakkaf said. He added that reforms should be reflected “responsibly and gradually” in citizens’ living conditions.

“We are today at a stage in which we transform the sacrifices of liberation into solid institutions, well-considered decisions and future-oriented policies,” he said. “True reform is not measured by the speed of steps, but by their coherence, the readiness of state institutions to apply them, and their ability to protect stability and build trust.”

Al-Sakkaf said he hopes that “every Syrian will feel the real and positive impact of this new phase.”

The remarks came a day after President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Central Bank of Syria Governor Abdulkader Husrieh officially launched the new Syrian currency during a ceremony at the Damascus Conferences’ Palace, attended by senior official and public delegations.

Homs, Dec. 90 (SANA) Syria’s Central Agency for Financial Control said it has uncovered a serious corruption case involving manipulation of invoices for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment at Homs University Hospital, with the value of the violations estimated at millions of Syrian pounds.

In exclusive information to SANA, the agency said its Homs branch detected the case after a contractor supplying medical equipment submitted a formal report. The contractor stated that the hospital’s direct-purchase committee had requested inflating invoice values above real market prices by between 10 and 15 percent, in exchange for granting the supplier the largest share of the hospital’s orders.

According to the agency, the resulting financial differences from the inflated invoices were to be handed over to members of the procurement committee after the contractor received his dues through official channels. The methods used were aimed at circumventing applicable laws and regulations.

The agency confirmed that the report was handled in accordance with established legal procedures and that necessary measures were taken in coordination with the competent bodies. Official records were prepared, and members of the hospital’s procurement committee were arrested red-handed while receiving bribe payments derived from the manipulated invoice differences.

The suspects are to be referred to the competent judiciary to be held accountable under applicable laws, the authority said.

The Central Agency for Financial Control stressed that it will continue to carry out its oversight role with firmness and responsibility, pursuing all cases that affect public funds. It said it would not tolerate any violation or abuse of public trust, emphasizing that combating corruption, protecting public money, and strengthening accountability and transparency in public institutions are national priorities that allow no compromise. It noted that the most recent disclosure involved financial corruption amounting to about 8.49 billion Syrian pounds at the formerly known “Dar al-Baath,” dating back to the era of the deposed regime, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, accountability and the protection of public funds.

Damascus, Dec.30 (SANA) Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al‑Shaibani, received on Tuesday Mr. Nuh Yilmaz in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

During the meeting, Al-Shaibani received a copy of credentials of Yilmaz as the Ambassador of Turkey to the Syrian Arab Republic.

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Damascus, Dec. 30 (SANA) Syria’s Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said the launch of the new Syrian currency marks a pivotal step in managing the banking sector and monetary affairs, while noting that the move is also accompanied by many questions and expectations.

In an editorial article published Tuesday in al-Thawra al-Souria newspaper, al-Mustafa referred to remarks by President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the official ceremony held Monday to unveil the new currency. The president, the minister said, sought to correct public perceptions about the meaning and limits of replacing the currency so it does not become a source of fear or unrealistic hopes.

Al-Mustafa wrote that the president stressed that replacing the currency “does not at all mean announcing the immediate death of the old currency,” nor does it aim to push citizens to get rid of it quickly or “at any price,” even if the old notes carry images that remind people of “a time of tyranny and its heavy pains.”

The information minister also cited remarks by Central Bank of Syria Governor Abdulkader Husrieh, who said the old Syrian pound remains valid for circulation and that the exchange process will be gradual. According to the article, the governor set a “comfortable” time margin of three months, renewable, allowing markets and citizens to adapt calmly to the new reality.

The minister said the immediate effects of the currency replacement are expected to include easier cash circulation by reducing problems linked to worn-out notes, lowering transportation and storage costs, and simplifying daily settlements in Syrian pounds. Tackling inflation, creating jobs and improving living standards, however, remain dependent on broader production, development and financial reform policies beyond any single monetary step.

The information minister described the most sensitive aspect of the transition as its impact on relations between people, including debts, contracts, rents, dowries and mutual obligations.

Al-Mustafa concluded by stressing that the launch of the new currency should not drive Syrians to squander their savings, emphasizing that the move is a technical step with national and social dimensions. He said it could become the beginning of a broader recovery path if handled wisely by the state, institutions and citizens alike, as a tool to organize the market and enhance confidence rather than create fear or sell illusions.

Quneitra, Dec. 30 (SANA) Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday advanced into al-Asha village in the southern countryside of Quneitra province and detained a civilian after firing shots toward a shepherd, according to a SANA correspondent in the area.

The correspondent said the forces opened fire in the direction of a shepherd before entering the village and detaining him. No injuries were reported.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli unit comprising two Hummer vehicles and two Hilux pickups moved from western Tal al-Ahmar toward the village of Ein al-Zaytoun. The unit set up a temporary checkpoint between Ein al-Zaytoun and the town of Kudna, SANA correspondent said.

At the same time, a column of Israeli soldiers numbering about 100 advanced from western Tal al-Ahmar toward eastern Tal al-Ahmar, according to SANA correspondent.

Syrian authorities say Israeli occupation forces continue what they describe as aggressive policies and repeated violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through incursions into areas of southern Syria and attacks on civilians.

Damascus has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Syrian territory, asserting that all measures taken by Israel in southern Syria are “null and void” and have no legal effect under international law. Syria has also urged the international community to assume its responsibilities and deter what it describes as occupation practices.

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the occupied Syrian Golan for six months.

Damascus, Dec.30 (SANA) Syrian Foreign Minister, Assad Hassan al‑Shaibani, received on Tuesday Mrs. Nathalie Fustier, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria.

Talks during the meeting focused on the latest developments regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria and UN’s efforts to support humanitarian and developmental tracks.

The discussions also highlighted the Syrian government’s priorities and ways to strengthen joint cooperation in order to assist Syria during its recovery phase.

The talks further addressed mechanisms to support reconstruction, provide necessary assistance to refugees and create favorable conditions for their safe and descent return.

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Damascus, Dec. 30 (SANA)Ghiras Alkhaeer, a Syrian humanitarian organization, has completed the first phase of a project to rehabilitate war-damaged schools in cooperation with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), including the construction of 60 temporary classrooms in Idleb and Aleppo provinces, in northwest Syria.

The organization said the classrooms were fully equipped with desks, blackboards, tables, and chairs, providing a safe and suitable learning environment for students affected by years of conflict.

Project director Mohammad Jomaa said in a statement to SANA on Tuesday that “work is currently ongoing to restore the 34 targeted schools,” noting that the project aims to ease severe overcrowding in schools caused by widespread damage to educational infrastructure during the war.

He added that the initiative supports the education process, helps reduce pressure on students and teaching staff, and ensures the continuity of education in affected areas.

According to the Ministry of Education, more than 40 percent of schools in Syria have been damaged, with nearly 8,000 schools in need of rehabilitation. Authorities have restored 1,003 schools so far, while work continues on around 1,015 others as part of broader government efforts to rebuild educational infrastructure.

Founded in 2014, Ghiras Alkhaeer has carried out humanitarian activities in northern Syria, as well as in Turkey and Lebanon, focusing primarily on orphan support. In November, the organization launched a new program titled “A Smile of Hope” in partnership with KSrelief to assist orphans and their families across Syria

DAMASCUS, Dec. 30 (SANA) The Ministry of Interior said Tuesday that mistakes by certain individuals cannot be generalized or used as a pretext to justify other violations or abuses, stressing that vandalism and mob-like actions targeting public or private property are categorically rejected.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said that imitating the destructive behavior of the former regime or engaging in acts that damage property runs counter to the values of the Syrian state and the ethics of the Syrian revolution.

“Such conduct is alien to the authentic national identity of Syrians,” al-Baba said in a statement to SANA on Tuesday.

He emphasized that the Interior Ministry will not allow reckless or unlawful actions, regardless of the justifications presented, and reaffirmed the ministry’s full commitment to protecting all Syrian citizens within the framework of the law and the authority of the state.

Al-Baba added that the Syrian state firmly rejects any acts of vandalism or assaults that infringe upon the dignity or property of citizens, noting that such acts constitute clear violations of the law and that legal measures will be taken against those responsible.

The spokesperson called on residents of Latakia Governorate, in coastal Syria, to adhere to the law and refrain from actions that could undermine public security or national unity, including inciting rhetoric or irresponsible individual behavior, and from supporting those seeking to spread chaos and destabilize the country.

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Damascus, Dec. 30 (SANA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced that all fee-based consular services at Syrian diplomatic and consular missions worldwide will be temporarily suspended from the morning of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, until the evening of Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Mohammad Al-Omar, Director of the Consular Affairs Department at the Ministry, told SANA that the temporary suspension applies to all transactions that require payment of fees. He emphasized that this measure is being implemented as part of end-of-year and start-of-year financial and administrative arrangements, aimed at ensuring accurate accounting procedures and smooth management of all fee-related services across Syrian missions abroad.

Al-Omar added that all Syrian diplomatic and consular missions are scheduled to resume normal consular services on Monday, January 5, 2026, and urged applicants to plan their visits accordingly.

The Ministry confirmed that this temporary suspension is part of routine financial arrangements and will not affect the provision of other consular services that do not require fee payments.

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Capitals, Dec. 30 (SANA) The Earth is set to witness a rare astronomical event on August 2, 2027, as the longest total solar eclipse of the century takes place, lasting up to six minutes and 22 seconds.

According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, this eclipse will be the most significant since 1991 and will not occur again over land until 2114, making it a once-in-a-lifetime event for astronomers and skywatchers worldwide.

The eclipse will be total across large parts of North Africa and will be visible, either totally or partially, in Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

The Egyptian city of Luxor is expected to be one of the best locations globally to observe the phenomenon, prompting many tourists to plan trips that combine eclipse viewing with visits to the region’s renowned archaeological sites.

Astronomy experts noted that in certain areas, the moon will completely cover the sun, plunging the region into near-total darkness for several minutes, creating a rare and striking spectacle.

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