Syria

• Hunderte versammelten sich am 29. April 2026 vor dem U.S. Supreme Court zu Anhörungen über den Temporary Protected Status (TPS) für Haitianer und Syrer, wobei die Richter die Befugnis von Präsident Trump zur Beendigung des Programms prüften. • Das Richtergremium schien Berichten aus der Anhörung zufolge skeptisch gegenüber einer weitreichenden exekutiven Gewalt zum Widerruf von Abschiebeamnestien zu sein. • Ein Urteil könnte Tausende betreffen, denen die Abschiebung droht, und die Grenzen für exekutive Maßnahmen im Bereich Einwanderung vor den Midterms testen.

• Syrische Beamte erklären, eine Gruppe von Australiern „warte auf eine Lösung“, da die Albanese-Regierung sich weigert, sie zu repatriieren • Die Trump-Administration gibt an, in „aktiver Kommunikation“ mit Ländern zu stehen und sie zu drängen, in Syrien gestrandete Bürger zu repatriieren, während die australische Regierung an ihrer harten Haltung gegenüber australischen Frauen und Kindern festhält, die seit dem Fall des Islamic State inhaftiert sind. • Eine Gruppe von vier Frauen, ihre neun Kinder und Enkelkinder verließen am vergangenen Freitag das Lager al-Roj im Nordosten Syriens in dem Bemühen, nach Australien zurückzukehren, wobei Berichte am Donnerstagmorgen besagten, dass die Weigerung der Albanese-Regierung, ihnen zu helfen, dazu geführt habe, dass sie in Damaskus festsitzen. Weiterlesen...

Fadi Saqr wird der Massentötungen von Zivilisten in Tadamon, Damascus, beschuldigt, wo Menschen sagen, er müsse sich der Gerechtigkeit stellen. Eine syrische Menschenrechtskommission bereitet ein Verfahren vor, das Fadi Saqr, einen Milizführer innerhalb des Assad-Regimes, der Beteiligung an Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit und Kriegsverbrechen beschuldigt, wie ein hochrangiger syrischer Beamter dem Guardian mitteilte. Saqr ist ein ehemaliger Kommandeur der National Defence Forces (NDF) Miliz und wird weithin der Beteiligung an Massentötungen und dem gewaltsamen Verschwindenlassen von Zivilisten im Stadtteil Tadamon von Damascus sowie in anderen Teilen der syrischen Hauptstadt beschuldigt. Weiterlesen...

Der Fall untersucht, ob die Trump-Administration die Befugnis hat, Hunderttausenden von Immigranten den TPS zu entziehen

• The UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on a resolution extending cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, with Russia vetoing the measure on Friday amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Western nations over the Syrian conflict's humanitarian toll. • Russia's veto marks the third such blocking in two years, preventing critical medical supplies and food assistance from reaching 5.5 million internally displaced Syrians, according to UN humanitarian coordinator statements. • Western diplomats warned the blockade could exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis, with aid agencies reporting shortages of vaccines, antibiotics, and nutrition programs across northern Syria.

Repatriation attempt comes after group was turned around when leaving camp in February. Albanese government says it’s not assisting cohortGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFour Australian women and nine of their children and grandchildren have left al-Roj camp in north-east Syria, seeking to return to Australia.The group is reportedly travelling across Syria by road to the capital Damascus, under the control of the Syrian government. Continue reading...

Amjad Youssef one of most-wanted fugitives in relation to slaughter of almost 290 civilians under AssadA Syrian former regime official suspected of leading a notorious civilian massacre revealed by the Guardian – and who became one of the country’s most-wanted fugitives after the fall of Bashar al-Assad – has been arrested by security forces, Syria’s interior ministry announced.Amjad Youssef was captured in the countryside about 30 miles (50km) outside the city of Hama and had “been taken into custody following a carefully executed security operation”, the interior minister, Anas Khattab, said in a social media post on Friday. Continue reading...

• Turkey convened emergency peace negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday involving representatives from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and international mediators to address escalating refugee flows and cross-border military operations. • Syrian government forces launched new offensive operations against opposition-held territories, displacing an estimated 340,000 civilians and creating a humanitarian emergency affecting 8.7 million people across the region. • UN humanitarian coordinator warned of imminent famine conditions in northwest Syria unless fighting ceases and aid corridors reopen, with food insecurity affecting 70% of the population in conflict zones.

Lafarge fined more than €1m and its former boss jailed for paying nearly €5.6m to groups including Islamic State A French court has fined the cement group Lafarge more than €1m (£870,000) and sentenced its former boss to six years in prison for paying protection money to Islamic State and other terror groups to maintain its business in war-torn Syria from 2013 to 2014.The ruling follows a 2022 case in the United States in which the French firm pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to US-designated “terrorist” organisations and agreed to pay a $778m fine (£580m) – the first time a company had faced the charge. Continue reading...

• The UN Security Council failed to authorize cross-border humanitarian assistance into Syria after Russia vetoed a resolution supported by 13 member states on Thursday, April 10, blocking aid deliveries to rebel-held northwest regions. • The veto marks the seventh Russian obstruction of Syria humanitarian measures since 2011, leaving an estimated 4.5 million Syrians in need without international UN-coordinated relief channels. • Humanitarian organizations warn the blockade will exacerbate a severe food and medicine shortage, with winter conditions deteriorating access to displaced populations in Idlib province.

• US forces conducted a drone strike on April 8, 2026, targeting an ISIS training camp in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, killing 18 militants including mid-level commander Abu Hassan al-Masri. • CENTCOM confirmed no civilian casualties, based on 72-hour battle damage assessment using satellite imagery. • The operation disrupts ISIS resurgence efforts, as the group claimed responsibility for a Baghdad suicide bombing last week killing 14.

• The UN World Food Programme reported on April 7 that Syria faces its worst food insecurity crisis in over a decade, with 16 million people—over half the population—unable to meet basic nutritional needs. • Persistent drought, currency collapse, and ongoing conflict have depleted grain reserves and disrupted agricultural production; humanitarian agencies warn of malnutrition reaching dangerous levels among children. • The US pledged $80 million in humanitarian assistance channeled through international organizations; however, political divisions over Syria's government complicate aid delivery and coordination.

• Tensions between the United States and Turkey reached new levels on Wednesday following Turkish military incursions into northeastern Syria targeting Kurdish militant groups, operations the US opposes due to potential civilian casualties and disruption to counter-terrorism efforts. • US Secretary of State issued a formal statement urging Turkey to exercise restraint, while Turkish officials countered by questioning US commitment to NATO and threatening to restrict American military access to Incirlik Air Base absent policy changes. • The dispute reflects broader disagreements over Syria strategy, regional stability priorities, and the role of Kurdish armed groups in counter-ISIS operations, complicating US military logistics and diplomatic coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The German chancellor has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own governmentFriedrich Merz has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government after he called for the vast majority of Syrians living in Germany to “go back to their homeland.”The German chancellor, who was elected last year after promising a tough line on immigration in a bid to beat the far right, made the remarks during a visit to Berlin on Monday by the interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear arguments over the Trump administration's effort to terminate temporary protected status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti, Syria, and other nations fleeing war and disasters. • Lower courts had blocked the end of protections allowing TPS holders to live and work legally in the U.S., prompting a Justice Department appeal. • The justices declined to immediately lift the protections, delaying action until hearings in coming weeks, following their prior ruling exposing 600,000 Venezuelans to deportation.

Conservative-majority court sided with administration before and lifted protections for 600,000 VenezuelansSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe supreme court will hear arguments over the Trump administration’s push to end legal protections for people fleeing war and natural disaster from countries around the world, including Haiti and Syria.The justices refused to immediately lift the protections for hundreds of thousands of people Monday, allowing them to live and work in the US legally for now. Continue reading...