Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa presents himself as a bastion of stability in a region under attack. During his inaugural visit to Berlin, he is calling on Germany to provide economic support for the country’s reconstruction.
By Markus Bickel
A quarter-century after the last visit by a Syrian president to Berlin, the country’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is set to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Monday. His treatment of minorities, in particular, has drawn criticism.
By Markus Bickel and Wilhelmine Stenglin
Thousands of prisoners were tortured to death at Sednaya prison in Syria. Survivors and human rights activists have curated an exhibition on this reign of terror, which is now on display at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial.
By Markus Bickel
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has identified the Syrian air force as the perpetrator of the 2016 chemical weapons attack in Kafr Zeita. Syria has cooperated with the OPCW investigation team for the first time.
By Katharina Horban
The Syrian army is besieging the Kurdish enclave of Kobane and other towns in the area of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). A ceasefire has been extended in order to defuse tensions.
By Markus Bickel
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has canceled his trip to Germany at short notice, apparently due to a fragile ceasefire with Kurdish militias. The planned visit had drawn criticism in advance.
By Wilhelmine Stenglin
The human rights violations committed during the fighting in Aleppo must be investigated, and further violence in Syria must be prevented. To this end, the German government must expand its commitment – both humanitarian and political. This is what Khaled Davrisch, representative of the Democratic Self-Administration of North and East Syria in Germany, is calling for.
By Khaled Davrisch
The regime in Tehran is reacting with counter-threats to Donald Trump’s warnings of US intervention.
By Markus Bickel
The growing Turkish influence in Syria and Gaza is worrying Israel. Turkish President Erdoğan could use his good connections with Trump to obtain concessions from Netanyahu.
By Yossi Melman
Donald Trump clears the way for billions to be invested in Syria. In return for the lifting of sanctions, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa joins the US-led anti-terror alliance.
By Markus Bickel
