Syria Monthly Report

Summary

The Astana process’ 21st session was held on 24 and 25 February in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana with Russia, Turkey, and Iran in attendance. While the session did not yield significant results in finding a lasting solution to the Syrian conflict, the different parties agreed to continued de-escalation, particularly in the northwest. The US launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes against an attack launched by Iran-backed militias on US military outpost Tower 22 in Jordan that killed three US soldiers. The number of attacks decreased following the retaliatory strike but did not stop.

In south and central Syria numerous civilians in As-Sweida lost their lives in an alleged Jordanian airstrike targeting hideouts of narcotic smugglers. This incident prompted local armed groups to extend an offer to assist Jordanian authorities in combating cross-border narcotics smuggling within Syria. Further, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued decrees prohibiting residents from engaging in foreign currency transactions or pricing goods and services in any currency other than the Syrian pound.

In northeast Syria, the General Council of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES) ratified an updated version of the social contract initially drafted in 2016. This new social contract delineates the relationship between AANES (and the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF) vis-a-vis Damascus, branding both as integral components of the "Democratic Republic of Syria."

In northwest Syria, the Syrian government granted a six-month extension to the ‘consent model,’ allowing the UN to utilize the Bab Al-Hawa crossing for cross-border aid deliveries until July 13. Major water pumping projects to Idleb City were suspended by an international organization due to insufficient funds, leading to a water supply crisis. In northern Aleppo, teachers organized protests in early December, advocating for salary increases to cope with living costs. Leaks of an unapproved draft law on Public Morals from the Syrian Salvation Government's Ministry of Interior surfaced in media outlets.