عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Comprehensive Settlement for Daraa Residents Directed by Syrian President

Individuals at the reconciliation center in Daraa Al-Mahatta city, Syria (an image circulated on social media platforms)
Individuals at the reconciliation center in Daraa Al-Mahatta city, Syria (an image circulated on social media platforms)
TT
TT

Comprehensive Settlement for Daraa Residents Directed by Syrian President

Individuals at the reconciliation center in Daraa Al-Mahatta city, Syria (an image circulated on social media platforms)
Individuals at the reconciliation center in Daraa Al-Mahatta city, Syria (an image circulated on social media platforms)

The local security committee in Syria’s Daraa province, following President Bashar al-Assad’s directives, has called for a comprehensive settlement to address the status of all willing residents seeking reconciliation with the Syrian government.

This significant development occurred on Saturday and included those who aspire to return to their normal lives, including individuals who have fled military or police service, evaded mandatory or reserve military service, those facing security or military prosecutions, and individuals who have taken up arms against the Syrian state.

The committee urged all concerned parties to surrender their weapons to the appropriate authorities and engage in settlement agreements, emphasizing that this would contribute to regional stability and enable the state to restore normalcy to the region.

Scores of individuals flocked to the reconciliation center in Daraa Al-Mahatta city on Saturday morning, engaging in the new settlement process.

“This is the third settlement I have applied for,” one individual, who requested anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

It was revealed that many young people who attended to submit their settlements inquired about the effectiveness of the new reconciliation process and sought assurance from the relevant authorities and the security committee officers in Daraa, as previous attempts at reconciliation had not cleared their security record.

These individuals included former members of opposition factions who have not yet joined the local armed formations after the settlements, as well as individuals affiliated with groups formed by the security apparatus following the initial reconciliation agreement in 2018.

Reconciliatory authorities have recently pledged to swiftly clear the security prosecutions for all applicants, reaffirming that the leadership in Damascus is keenly interested in the process.

The settlement applicant interviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat pointed out that the previous settlements had similar advantages to the new reconciliation process.

The proposed settlement details include the removal of names of individuals who have evaded mandatory or reserve military service from the security lists, in exchange for a six-month grace period to join military service.

Meanwhile, military deserters or police defectors are granted a full month to rejoin their respective military or police units. They are provided with a judicial departure decision and a reenlistment assignment, with their names being removed from the security lists.

As for individuals listed as armed militants, their names will be removed from the security lists after surrendering their weapons.

Those facing security prosecutions will also have their names removed from the security lists, allowing them to resume their normal lives after engaging in the reconciliation process.

The recent settlement came after a series of meetings between local dignitaries, social figures in Daraa, and officials from the security committee affiliated with the Syrian government in the province.

Several reconciliations have recently taken place in the towns of Al-Naima, Nasib, and Umm Al-Mayazen in eastern rural Daraa, as well as in Ankhel and Sanamein in northwestern rural Daraa.

However, despite these settlements, the greater challenge remains in improving the living and economic conditions and providing essential services to the affected areas of the province, which have been subject to various agreements and decisions related to the reconciliation process that began in 2018.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.