Damascus

Assassination attempt thwarted in Syria

Multiple suspects arrested in Syria on suspicion of attempting to assassinate Jewish rabbi in Damascus.

The Jordan-Syria "Drug Front":

Why the Monarchy is re-evaluating Damascus

Trump's normalizing relations with an Islamist government that tolerates-or profits from-a narco-economy is strategic suicide. The United States must stop viewing the drug war in the Levant as a secondary issue. Jordan has emphatically done so. Opinion.

Jewish trader released from Syrian prison

After about twenty days detained, a Syrian prison has released Salim Hamdani, a Jewish antiquities dealer and a well-known figure in the small remaining community in Damascus.

Syria kills senior ISIS leader, arrests others

Syrian forces, with US-led coalition support, kill a senior ISIS leader and capture several others near Damascus amid a new phase of coordinated anti-terror operations.

Top ISIS leader arrested near Damascus

Syrian security and US-led coalition forces capture ISIS’s Damascus governor, Taha al-Zoubi, after a lengthy surveillance mission near the Syrian capital.

Jews of Damascus awaits fate of detained antiquities dealer

Members of the small Jewish community in Damascus voiced concern after the arrest of antiquities dealer Saleem Hamdani, as authorities investigate allegations of illegal artifact trade.

Amid celebrations and unrest

Syria marks one year since Assad’s fall

Syria reflects on a year of celebration and violence as Sharaa urges unity amid ongoing insecurity, minority fears, and competing foreign influences.

Explosion rocks Damascus neighborhood, woman injured

Woman injured in explosion in Damascus. Syrian media say a missile hit a building in Al-Mazzeh neighborhood. Authorities are investigating and pursuing those responsible. Cause remains unclear.

In Damascus synagogue:

Jewish scholar views 1,700-year-old Dura Europos paintings

After years of war, world’s oldest synagogue paintings are revealed as intact in Damascus, Syria.

After years of war:

Few Jews remain in Damascus as community struggles to recover

In Damascus’ former Jewish quarter, optimism about the Syrian Jewish future is hard to muster.

The Damascus Affair's legacy

The 1840 blood libel - a throwback to the antisemitism of the Dark Ages - was initially accepted as fact by almost the entire European press, shocking world Jewry into action. Sound familiar? Op-ed.

Reports in Syria:

Dramatic IDF operation in the Damascus area

A Syrian source claims IDF troops entered a base near Damascus before withdrawing. The IDF responds: "We do not comment on foreign reports."

Report:

Six Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli strikes near Damascus

Israeli drone strikes kill six Syrian soldiers near Damascus, according to Syrian state media. The alleged attack comes amid reports of a potential security agreement between Israel and Syria. Israel has not commented.

Syria alleges:

Israeli strikes disrupting chemical weapons inspections

Syrian official claims Israeli airstrikes on Damascus have delayed OPCW inspections of the country's chemical weapons.

Watch:

IDF strikes Syrian Military General Staff headquarters

The IDF published footage showing strikes by its aircraft on the Syrian Military General Staff headquarters in Damascus.

Strikes caught live on air

Minister of Defense: The painful blows have commenced

Moments after Minister of Defense Katz warned of 'painful blows' to the Syrian regime, a live news broadcast captured the moment of an airstrike behind its studio.

Damascus

IDF strikes Syrian military headquarters and presidential palace

IDF targets entrance of Syrian regime's military headquarters, following attacks against Druze population in southern Syria.

Report:

IDF forces landed near Damascus, stayed for 5 hours

Arabic media reports IDF helicopters landed near the Syrian capital.

Syria:

Extremist group claims Damascus church bombing

Sunni extremist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claims responsibility for a Damascus church bombing that killed 25, challenging the Syrian government's assertion of ISIS involvement.

Suicide bombing tears through Damascus church

The attack occurred during a prayer service at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweil’a neighborhood

'Damascus Crowns' unveiled in tribute to Syrian Chief Rabbi

In a moving ceremony at the National Library in Jerusalem, the public was granted a rare glimpse of the ancient “Damascus Crowns” — Torah manuscripts smuggled from Syria in a daring operation led by Rabbi Avraham Hamra.

First time since 2012:

US envoy opens ambassador’s residence in Damascus

Envoy Tom Barrack raises US flag in Damascus, urges Syria-Israel non-aggression pact and border agreement

Despite 'reconciliation'

New Syrian regime confiscates Jewish properties

New Syrian regime transfers homes belonging to Jews who left the country to local residents.

Heartbreaking:

Austin Tice’s remains found in Syria, 12 years after kidnapping

Remains of American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing over 12 years ago, found in Aleppo, Syria, local reports say.

Grave desecration:

Grave of Rabbi Chaim Vital in Damascus renovated

Syrian authorities renovate grave of Rabbi Chaim Vital in Damascus, two days after discovering that unknown individuals had desecrated the holy site.

IDF strikes multiple targets in Syria

IDF confirms strikes on a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria. Syrian media report that Israeli fighter jets struck multiple areas in the country, including an air defense base used by the former regime.

UN chief:

'Israeli strike in Syria a violation of sovereignty'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns an Israeli air strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, says Israel must respect Syrian sovereignty.

Syria responds to attack in Damascus

Syria calls Israeli attack in Damascus 'a dangerous escalation against the state's institutions and sovereignty, intended to destabilize its regime.'

The Damascus Affair:

Blood, Lies, and the Birth of Modern Jewish Solidarity

So much has changed, yet so much of it seems so familiar... The crisis demonstrated that despite progress toward emancipation in Western Europe, ancient prejudices remained potent.

PM's refusal:

Netanyahu refused Mahmoud Abbas direct flight to Damascus

Mahmoud Abbas had to drive from Ramallah to the Allenby Bridge, where he crossed the border to Jordan, and flew from there by Jordanian helicopter to Syria.

Calls for stability

Germany reopens embassy in Damascus

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reopens her country’s embassy in Damascus, marking the first time in 13 years that Germany has had a diplomatic presence in Syria.

Watch

IDF confirms: IAF targets Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus

The IDF confirmed that the IAF struck the Palestinian Islamic Jihad headquarters in Damascus. Several casualties were reported.

Giulio Meotti

Western multicultural idiots know nothing and learn nothing

History, which is a teacher, never has students. When Israel defends itself from cutthroats, global indignation. When entire Syrian villages are erased, only silence. Opinion.

Syria clashes:

Bomb explodes in Damascus as tensions continue to rise

According to Arab media, the bomb attack targeted a General Security patrol in the Mazzeh neighborhood in Damascus. It is unclear if the explosion caused any casualties.

Do not forget:

The first antisemitic "Fake News" of the Modern Era was in Syria

The Damascus Blood Libel began in Adar of 1840 and is a prototype for the way fake news about the Jews spreads like wildfire leaving wasteland in its wake. Op-ed.

Syrian Jews return to Damascus for 1st time in 30 years

30 years after they left the country, Rabbi Joseph Hamra and his son Henry visited Damascus and read from a Torah scroll inside a synagogue.

Syria foils ISIS attack on Shiite shrine near Damascus

Syria's new government says it successfully foiled a plan by ISIS to detonate a bomb at a Shiite shrine in Sayyida Zeinab, a suburb of Damascus. Members of the cell arrested.

US citizen found near Damascus after 7 months in prison

Travis Timmerman, who was arrested after entering Syria on foot earlier this year, freed by men with a hammer as prisoners of the Assad regime have been set fee.

BBC reporter implies Jews still live in Syria in large numbers

BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet sparked an outcry after she suggested that Syrian Jews want to return to Damascus following the fall of Assad, despite the fact that only a handful of Jews remain in the entire country.

Watch:

Iranian Embassy in Damascus ransacked by rebels

Video from a reporter on the ground in Damascus shows the embassy of Iran, which backed the Assad regime, in shambles after rebels took the capital and the regime fell.

Syrian rebels reach outskirts of Damascus

Syrian rebels have progressed towards Damascus, claiming to have encircled the city.

Report:

Israel prevented Iranian plane from landing in Damascus

An Iranian flight from Tehran to the Syrian capital had to turn around after threats by Israel which feared that it was carrying ammunition, together with its passengers.

Islamic Jihad confirms:

Two senior members eliminated in Israeli strike in Syria

Rasmi Abu Issa, head of Islamic Jihad's foreign relations team, and Abdul Aziz al-Minawi, from the terror group's political bureau, were eliminated in an Israeli strike in Damascus.

IAF strikes Hezbollah intelligence HQ targets in Damascus

Sites belonging to Hezbollah’s central intelligence body struck in Damascus, Syria as IDF continues to degrade Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.

Reports in Syria:

Nasrallah's son-in-law among three killed in strike in Damascus

Syrian state media reports that Israel struck a residential building in the Mezzah suburb of Damascus, killing three people. Saudi report says IRGC members were in the apartment which was struck.

Reports in Syria:

Israel strikes Damascus, three locals killed

Syrian state television reports that three local citizens were killed in an attack attributed to Israel, including a television presenter. Nine civilians were injured.

Reports in Syria:

Extensive Israeli strikes in several areas

Syrian media report a wave of attacks attributed to Israel in the districts of Hama, Homs, Tartus and Damascus. Extensive damage reported in "scientific research institute" in Masyaf. Eighteen Syrians dead.

Hezbollah:

Nasrallah's former bodyguard killed in airstrike in Syria

Yasir Nimr Qaranbash was responsible for transferring manpower and arms from Syria to Hezbollah.

Reports in Syria:

Two Syrians killed in Israeli strike on the outskirts of Damascus

Syrian army says the Israel Air Force struck several targets in the south of the country. Sources say the strike targeted a structure belonging to the pro-Iranian militias.

Syrian reports:

Eight Syrian soldiers injured in alleged Israeli strike

Syrian media report that Israel struck a building used by Syrian security forces. Israel is not commenting on the reports.

US official:

'Iran attack on Israel won’t be big enough to draw US into war'

US official says the United States expects an attack by Iran against Israel but one that would not be big enough to draw Washington into war.

Iran to US:

'Our response to Israel will be non-escalatory'

Iranian sources tell Reuters that Iran has signalled to Washington that it will respond to the attack attributed to Israel on its Syrian embassy in a way that aims to avoid major escalation.

US to Arab countries:

'Tell Iran to de-escalate tensions with Israel'

US Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, reportedly asks foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iraq to deliver a message to Iran urging it to lower tensions with Israel.

Amid Iranian threats:

Senior US general to visit Israel

Axios reports that CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla will visit Israel on Thursday to coordinate around a possible attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies.

Iran:

'We will make Israel regret its actions'

The IRGC has announced that it will realize the national demand of Iran to punish Israel for the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Iranian officials:

'Iran on high alert, will directly respond to Israeli strike'

Iranian officials tell The New York Times that Iran has decided to respond directly to the strike attributed to Israel in Damascus, in order to create deterrence.

Nasrallah threatens:

'Iranian retaliation against Israel is coming'

Hezbollah leader says the air strike attributed to Israel in Damascus was a "turning point".

US intelligence:

This will be the Iranian retaliation

US picks up intelligence on what an Iranian retaliatory strike for the alleged Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus will look like.

Some Israeli embassies to temporarily close

Some of Israel's representatives around the world instructed to stay home amid concerns of Iranian retaliation for strike in Damascus.

Iranian President:

'Israel will pay a heavy price'

Iran's President describes the attack attributed to Israel in Damascus, in which senior Iranian officials were eliminated, as "an act of terrorism" and a blatant violation of the principle of immunity of embassies and consulates.