We spoke with @KseniaSvetlova about the upcoming elections in Israel and what they mean for Israeli-Syrian relations. While she believes opposition leaders would use their good ties to the Arab world to build a more coherent regional strategy, the constraints are significant. syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

For those who want a concise briefing on Syria’s economy, we present the Business Diary. This is a monthly column in SiT covering the most important business and economic news, with context provided by expert opinion and local reporting. It’s economic journalism in colour. And, as always, without unnecessary verbiage. Read the latest: syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

Private donations raised the $30,000 needed to renovate Syria’s historic Al-Hamra Theatre in Damascus. It reopened in September under actor and director Nawar Bulbul, who has ambitious plans to usher in a new era of Syrian theatre. His conviction that artistic expression – including its political dimensions – should be free will now be tested on the public stage. syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Brett McGurk attempted to elicit a public disavowal of al-Qaeda from Ahmad al-Sharaa, who resisted and turned the tables. The encounter tells a lot about a fundamental difference between the US establishment and Syria under al-Sharaa that may prove irreconcilable. syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

Anyone familiar with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s Idlib experiment will hardly be surprised by the Dubai-style consumerist culture on display. The current approach is best captured by the title of 50 Cent’s 2003 album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. For the 90 percent of Syrians struggling to survive, that leaves a far greater prospect of death than of riches. syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

Stay informed on Syria. From in-depth analysis to restaurant reviews – SiT is always political and produced with dedication. Subscribe for free to receive new issues directly in your inbox. syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

Reports of talks between the Syrian government and Hezbollah in Turkey reflect public sentiment. In our Syria Poll survey of April 2026, 63% of those polled opposed military action against the Lebanese group. Full results: syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

Grand Mufti Hassoun’s life sentence has opened the book on religious co-option. Will anyone turn the page? syriaintransition.com/en/hom…

The protests in Syria over fuel price increases come against a backdrop of economic grievances that had already built up over the spring and summer, as our polling suggests. ➖ In April, 66% of respondents said the government was not doing enough to tackle rising prices. ➖ By June, 56% said they struggled to cover basic living expenses at least once a month. ➖ The divide between poorer and richer areas was stark: approval and satisfaction ratings remained solid in better-off areas, while majorities in poorer areas reported both economic hardship and a lack of physical safety. ➖ Government approval fell to 20% in June, while only 25% of respondents said the country was heading in the right direction – down from 63% in February.