Ahmed al-Sharaa

Syria, Iraq stir hope despite memories of war with resumption of Shiite pilgrimages- analysis

The prospect of renewed activity has also revived concerns among Syrians who remember the involvement of Iran-backed armed groups in the country's civil war.

Shiite muslim pilgrims hold portraits of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (R), Imam Ali (C) and depiction of Sayyida Zaynab bint Ali ibn Abi Talib (L) as they march to the shrine city of Karbala ahead of commemorations for Arbaeen on July 19, 2026.
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 23, 2026.

Syria seeks Islamist expansion into Lebanon, Golan to serve Turkish interests, expert tells 'Post'

 Rebel fighters walk near a military vehicle in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province, Syria December 1, 2024.

French jihadists clashes with Syrian authorities show Al-Sharaa's struggle for control - analysis

Iraqi Prime Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chairs the Ministerial Council for National Security for an emergency meeting, to discuss the latest security developments and the attack carried out by the US and Saudi air forces, Baghdad, Iraq, July 29, 2026.

Iraqi PM al-Zaidi arrives in Syria in landmark post-Assad summit on security, trade - analysis


Macron’s visit to Syria showcases Damascus's rising regional status - analysis

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa is also expected to travel to Turkey to hold meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the following days.

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) is welcomed by Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (R) as he arrives for a state visit at the Damascus International Airport in Damascus on July 6, 2026.

French President Emmanuel Macron lands in Syria in first visit to post-Assad Damascus by EU head

The visit underlines Syria's geopolitical transformation under Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that shunned Assad.

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after a joint press conference after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025.

Syrian women push for real political power: 'Representation is not just numbers'

As Syria’s first post-Assad parliament takes shape, activists say a rise in female lawmakers will matter only if women can shape legislation and oversight.

Women activists protest in Aleppo against what they say is inadequate female representation in Syria's newly formed People's Assembly, July 2.

Trump to meet leaders of Ukraine, Syria alongside NATO summit

A senior US official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity about the trip said Trump will meet with Zelensky on Wednesday to discuss "how we can end the war."

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa in the White House, Washington, DC, November 10, 2025

French President Macron set to visit Syria to expand political and economic ties - analysis

Macron visited Lebanon in January 2025, and Saudi Arabia in December 2024, attempting to increase France’s role in the region.

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a bilateral meeting within the framework of the COP30 UN climate conference in Belem, Para State, Brazil on November 6, 2025.

Trump, do not bet on Syria's leader al-Sharaa to dismantle Hezbollah - opinion

Using Syria’s new government against Hezbollah could shift the balance of power in ways Israel may later regret.

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa in the White House, Washington, DC, November 10, 2025

Israel’s opposition voters back policy change, not just replacing Netanyahu - opinion

A new survey finds Israel's center-right opposition favors diplomacy, regional ties, and policy change, not just replacing Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a Christian Conference in Jerusalem, on April 27, 2025

Syrian FM visits Beirut after Trump suggests Damascus should fight Hezbollah

The Syrian minister, Asaad al-Shibani, met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on his first stop, and then headed for a meeting with the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in Beirut, Lebanon, July 2, 2026.

Syria forms first post-Assad parliament to kickstart new era of 'managed democracy'

The new parliament has 140 elected seats and 70 appointed by the president.

A person clicks a photo of Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad as he announces the names of 70 lawmakers appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa to a transitional parliament, in Damascus, Syria, July 1, 2026

Confidence in Sharaa’s People’s Assembly low, majority want talks between Damascus, Sweida - poll

The majority of Syrian respondents said they couldn’t predict what influence the assembly would have, while 26% said they didn’t think it would have any weight on government decisions at all.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives to attend the second day of the first Syrian-Emirati (United Arab Emirates) Investment Forum, at the People's Palace in Damascus on May 12, 2026.