28.07.25 – 03.08.25
Suweida
The situation in Suweida province remains unstable, with the Syrian Transitional Government enforcing an embargo and controlling exits through new checkpoints. Civilians report being monitored by military personnel wearing ISIS patches. Tensions remain high, as clashes between Ministry of Defense (MoD) forces and Druze fighters occurred recently.
On the 1st, hundreds of citizens protested in Suweida, demanding the withdrawal of transitional government forces and condemning their repressive policies. They criticized the “Committee to Investigate the Truth,” suspecting it aims to absolve the government of responsibility for recent massacres. In response to the government’s lack of transparency, the Druze community established six committees focused on human rights, legal application, humanitarian support, and religious matters. Addressing the humanitarian crisis is essential, as the transitional government has failed to provide electricity to the region for over 17 days.
Thomas Barrack statement
U.S. envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, stated that the United States will not remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism without significant political changes in the Syrian Transitional Government politics. He called for a “military restructuring” to eliminate hardline elements. Barrack also addressed the assassination of a US citizen during recent events in Suweida, promising accountability for those responsible.
The Syrian Transitional Government faces pressure to prove its reliability to the international community, especially following recent massacres and its collaboration with jihadist tribes, which have raised concerns about the Ministry of Defense’s control over its forces. Regarding Israel, Barrack noted that no mutual understanding has been reached between Syria and Israel, hindering progress. US efforts to facilitate agreements have yielded little success, as Israel has targeted military sites linked to the transitional government three times in the past three weeks.
Syrian transitional government – SDF/DAANES
Discussions about integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian National Army are ongoing. Mazlum Abdi stated the SDF’s commitment to the March 10 agreements, acknowledging that implementation will take time. Tensions persist regarding the integration approach: the SDF prefers to join as a block to retain its structures, while Syrian transitional government officials advocate for individual integration, which would dismantle SDF structures and command.
The SDF remains skeptical due to the Syrian government’s treatment of minorities and the inclusion of armed groups in the Ministry of Defense that have previously committed atrocities against Kurds. French, US, and UK officials are mediating the talks, with a meeting scheduled in Paris between the SDF and the Syrian Transitional Government to discuss the implementation of the March 10 agreements and the SDF’s integration into the Syrian state.
Syrian parliament
Between September 15th and 20th, Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections. The number of seats have been elevated to 210 (against 150 before). A third will be directly elected by Al-Sharaa, while the rest will be elected by subcommittees constituted of members chosen by the transitional president. The electoral process will be monitored by communities and international organizations.
The Chairman of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections confirmed that provisions for women’s participation of at least 20% are included. The People’s Assembly is responsible for proposing, adopting, and amending laws according to the Syrian Constitutional Declaration. However, it is questionable how effectively this body could challenge or oppose laws proposed by Al-Sharaa.
Syrian transitional governement – Russia
On July 31st, Syrian political and defense officials met with Vladimir Putin and Russian officials in Moscow for the first time. The discussion mainly focused on economic and military agreements. It seems that Putin wants to use the support of Russia to Syria’s reconstruction to negotiate basing rights in Syria.