SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the continued violations committed by the Israeli occupation authorities and extremist settlers against the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the provocation of worshippers there, as well as the reprehensible assault on the Hajjah Hamidah Mosque in the Palestinian village of Kifl Hares.

Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday  that the continuation of those attacks  undermine international and regional efforts aimed at establishing peace, and lead to escalating tension and the continuation of the cycle of conflict in the region.

The Kingdom affirms that the continuation of those assaults without deterrence undermines the international and regional efforts aimed at achieving peace, and leads to increasing tensions and perpetuation of the cycle of conflict.

The administration of Information and Communication at the Ministry of Defense said that Damascus came under a treacherous attack as two Katyusha rockets, fired from the outskirts of the city, hit residential neighborhoods in the Mezzeh area and its vicinity, causing civilian causalities and material damage to the place of explosion.

The Defense Ministry told SANA that in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, it has begun investigating the conditions of this heinous attack and is working to gather the necessary evidence and determine the missiles’ launching- pads.

It stressed that the ministry will not hesitate to hunt those responsible for this criminal act, and will take deterrent measures against anyone who tampers with the security of the capital and targets the lives and stability of Syrians.

The Syrian Arab Republic announced the reactivation of membership of the Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization (SASMO) to the Standards and Metrology Organization for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), which operates under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), after more than 12 years hiatus, Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a statement Friday.  

The Ministy added that “The reactivation of the membership reaffirms Syria’s commitment to the international system of standards and quality, and reflects its continuous efforts to modernize its institutional framework in line with the latest global standards”.

This step serves sustainable development, quality of life, and the strengthening of the national economy” the Ministry underlined.

Noura/ Mazen

A woman was injured in the explosion that hit al-Mazzeh, Damascus, according to initial reports, a military source told SANA Friday.

The military source said that “a loud explosion was heard in al-Mazzeh district of Damascus; the incident is still under investigation”. He added that “the treacherous assault on areas of Damascus was carried out using missiles launched from a mobile platform”.

“The perpetrators of this assault and the weapon used remain unidentified”. “The relevant ministries are exerting significant efforts to follow up on the details of the treacherous assault and provide the public with updates” the source concluded.

Amer Dhawa

The seventh Syria International Petroleum, Gas, and Mineral Resources Exhibition “SyrPetro 7” concluded Friday at Damascus Fairgrounds.

The event was organized by Mashhadani International Group for Exhibitions and Conferences, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Syrian Petroleum Company, and supported by Qatar’s UCC Holding.

“SyrPetro 7” inaugurated on the 11th of this month with the participation of more than 60 local, Arab, and foreign companies specializing in petroleum industries, refining, and oil marketing.

Amer Dhawa

The Syrian Interior Ministry said on Friday that a delegation representing it participated in the international workshop on “International Standards for Audit and Inspection,” held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The ministry said on its Telegram channel Friday that the workshop discussions focused on ways to strengthen border security in line with the latest international standards, emphasizing improved efficiency in audit and inspection procedures and the use of advanced digital technologies to ensure flexibility and reliability.

It added that the Syrian delegation conducted a field visit to the Kazakh Border Service Academy, where it examined Kazakhstan’s experience in preparing specialized personnel and developing human-capacity programs. The delegation also received briefings on training curricula and operational methods used at the academy.

The event was organized by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in cooperation with Kazakh and international agencies specializing in border security.

Amer Dhawa

Media Directorate at the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic on Friday denied media reports alleging that President Ahmad al-Sharaa had cooperated with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS or al-Qaeda since 2016, calling the claims “untrue and baseless.”

The Media Directorate added that President al-Sharaa neither coordinated nor collaborated with any foreign entity in this regard, nor did he release directives related to such matters.

The Media Directorate confirmed that all decisions and measures taken at that time were made independently and internally, without coordination or requests from any external party.

Amer Dhawa

Justice Minister، Mazhar al-Weis, discussed on Friday with his Egyptian counterpart, Adnan Fanjari, ways of enhancing judicial cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

According to a statement by Syria’s Ministry of Justice, the talks focused on supporting joint Arab efforts in judicial, legal and legislative fields, while reaffirming the deep historical ties that unite Syria and Egypt.

In a relevant context, minister al-Weis visited the National Center for Judicial Studies, where he reviewed the center’s mechanisms and specialized training programs for preparing and qualifying members of judicial bodies.

He praised the center’s distinguished level of expertise and the quality of its training programs, which reflect Egypt’s outstanding experience in judicial and legal fields.

The Council of Arab Justice Ministers convened its 41st session earlier this week at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in Cairo, with Syria’s participation.

Yaser Alaiwi, Director General of the Syrian Arab Organization for Standardization and Metrology (SASMO) announced Syria’s accession to the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), an affiliate to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Speaking to SANA, Alaiwi stated that ‘’Syria’s membership to SMIIC opens broad horizons for technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise with standardization bodies in Islamic countries.

He emphasized that the move will contribute to harmonizing standards, facilitating intra-Islamic trade, and enhancing the competitiveness of Syrian products in regional markets.

He explained that ‘’joining SMIIC will strengthen Syria’s quality infrastructure by enabling participation in technical committees and the adoption of best international practices.

Syria’s joining will support national industries in aligning their products with global requirements, thereby boosting consumer confidence both locally and internationally.

Alaiwi added that ‘’this step repositions Syria on the global standardization map and underscores its commitment to applying modern standards in support of sustainable development and improving quality of life for Syrian society.

SMIIC is one of the specialized institutions of the OIC, the world’s second-largest international organization after the United Nations.

Its mission is to unify standards and technical regulations, strengthen quality infrastructure, and facilitate trade among member states through the development of common standards, accreditation systems, conformity assessment schemes and the provision of training and technical support

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met on Friday with British businessmen and investors in London to discuss opportunities for expanding economic and investment ties between Syria and the UK.

According to a statement by the Ministry, al-Shaibani highlighted potential partnerships aimed at supporting Syria’s development and emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a more favorable environment for foreign investment.

The discussions took place as part of al-Shaibani’s official visit to the United Kingdom, which seeks to strengthen Syria’s international economic engagement.

With the rainy season delayed and after years of drought linked to climate change, thousands of Syrians took part on Friday in the “Istisqa prayer” (prayer for rain) across provinces nationwide, following a call by the Ministry of Awqaf.

The “Istisqa” prayer is a traditional Islamic ritual performed when rainfall is scarce or drought persists, serving as a communal plea for mercy and relief.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, during their talks in Singapore Friday, emphasized the importance of supporting Syria and Lebanon in maintaining their security, stability, and territorial integrity.

According to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), King Abdullah also stressed during the discussions the need to exert efforts to ensure compliance with the agreement for ending the war in Gaza, and stopping the escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, highlighting Singapore’s role in humanitarian response in Gaza.

The two sides also underlined that achieving peace based on the two-state solution is the only path to ending the conflict in the region.

The Energy Ministry has brought Unit Four of the Baniyas Power Plant back online following a full overhaul, a move officials say will significantly improve electricity stability across the country and support critical sectors still recovering from years of infrastructure damage.

In a statement, the Ministry said the rehabilitation was carried out by local technical teams from both the public and private sectors. The restored steam unit is now supplying an additional 150 megawatts to the national grid.

Adnan al-Hamoud, director of the General Company for Electricity Generation in Baniyas, said the plant can now operate four units with a combined capacity of up to 500 megawatts—an improvement from previous years when only one unit was functional. He added that post-conflict efforts have focused on reviving the plant’s four fuel-powered steam units and its three gas-powered units.

Before the overhaul, Unit Four generated an unstable 40–45 megawatts. It now provides a consistent 150 megawatts, marking a significant boost to the country’s strained power grid.

The Syrian Ministry of Culture has released detailed descriptions of six artifacts stolen from the National Museum in Damascus, appealing for assistance in their recovery.

The missing pieces include six Venus statues made of marble, alabaster, and plaster, all formerly displayed in the museum’s public galleries. They include a restored marble Venus with broken feet, an incomplete alabaster figure, and a plaster statue of a standing woman considered a classical example of feminine sculptural art.

The Ministry urged official and civil institutions inside Syria and abroad to help locate the missing works, stressing that protecting the country’s cultural heritage is a collective responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Ministry, in coordination with security authorities, has launched an investigation into the theft, which took place on November 10.

Syrian table tennis star Hind Zaza claimed the silver medal in the women’s singles event at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, marking another milestone in her rising career.

Zaza finished second after a thrilling final against Iran’s Neda Shahsavari, winning 4-2 in the fourth set. She reached the final following a hard-fought 4-3 semifinal victory over Turkey’s Sebal Altınkaya, showcasing her skill and resilience throughout the tournament.

Having gained international fame as the youngest athlete to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Zaza’s performance underscores Syria’s growing presence on the global sports stage and serves as an inspiration for young athletes across the Arab world. The silver medal adds to her growing list of achievements and highlights her dedication to representing Syria with pride.

The Islamic Solidarity Games brought together athletes from across the Muslim world, promoting unity and celebrating sporting excellence

The Syrian Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a “dangerous criminal cell” following a complex security operation conducted jointly by the Internal Security Command in Tartous and the Counterterrorism Directorate.

Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said the cell was linked to remnants of the deposed regime and maintained foreign connections. “The group carried out multiple operations aimed at undermining social stability,” he said.

Al-Baba identified the cell’s leader as Abdul Ghani Kassab, a key operative affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its militias in Syria, along with several of his followers and sons. Authorities seized large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and explosives during the arrests.

“Kassab was previously considered one of Iran’s main ideological agents in Aleppo. He ran a center in al-Azamiya neighborhood to promote extremist ideas and recruit individuals, using it to carry out security activities on behalf of Iran and the former regime against the Syrian people,” al-Baba added.

DP World has officially started operations at Syria’s Tartous Port under a concession agreement with the Syrian General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports (GALMP). The project is one of the country’s largest foreign investments and marks the beginning of a major modernization and development program for the port.

According to GALMP, the first phase focuses on upgrading existing infrastructure and equipment, deepening navigation channels, basins, and berths, replacing handling machinery, and introducing advanced digital systems. The program also includes training for national staff to enhance operational efficiency and meet international standards.

Tartous Port also welcomed its new 22-meter tugboat, Al-Fath, with a towing capacity of 50,000 tons. Equipped with fire-fighting water cannons and other advanced features, the vessel is expected to improve maritime safety and reduce ship waiting times.

The initiative represents a strategic step in modernizing Syrian ports and enhancing their competitiveness, positioning Tartous as a key trade and logistics hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Syrian Ministry of Tourism signed on Thursday an executive program with the Arab Tourism Organization, aimed at advancing tourism development and attracting investment in Syria. The agreement was formalized at a high-profile event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, attended by government officials and regional investors.

The program, signed by Syria’s Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salhani and Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, head of the Arab Tourism Organization, outlines a comprehensive strategy to develop Syria’s tourism sector.

It includes activating investment guarantee policies, training and qualifying local tourism professionals, establishing a dedicated tourism academy, and upgrading facilities to meet ISO certification standards. It also aims to promote Syrian investment opportunities at regional and international forums.

Minister Al-Salhani highlighted that the recently signed tourism investments in Syria total approximately $1.5 billion, covering upgrades to existing facilities, construction of new hotels and entertainment complexes, and projects to revitalize historic sites. He emphasized that traditional crafts will play a key role in preserving Syria’s cultural identity.

Al-Fuhaid reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Syrian tourism and providing the expertise needed to achieve the program’s goals.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani took part late Thursday in the launch of the new Syrian-British Business Council in London.

The event came as part of the minister’s first official visit to the United Kingdom for talks with British officials.

Earlier on Thursday, al-Shaibani met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. The two discussed prospects for improving Syrian-British relations and explored ways to expand cooperation across various fields in ways that serve their mutual interests.