Syria Monthly Report

Summary

Bashar al-Assad visited China on 22 September to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian games in Hanghzou city. The president’s visit signaled a developing relationship between Damascus and Beijing, which could ease Assad’s international isolation, and provide potential reconstruction funding streams from China. It culminated in the announcement of a strategic partnership between both countries. Despite the political significance of the partnership, it is unlikely to materialize into investments and funding given the instability in Syria and unguaranteed returns.

In south and central Syria, the government employed a number of tactics in an attempt to end the As-Sweida protests. Local officials tried to negotiate with protest leaders, pro-government media tried to discredit them, government forces tried to intimidate the protestors, and government officials tried to dissuade domestic and regional Druze actors from supporting them. The protests however continued to grow, even generating interest from foreign governments. In Damascus, government employees complained of dysfunctional ATMs in government-held areas making it difficult for them to withdraw their salaries.

In northeast Syria, the Ar-Raqqa Civic Council (RCC) announced on 5 September that 93 families (360 individuals), left Al-Hol camp to return to Ar-Raqqa. The returnees are likely to face difficulties reintegrating into society, including from hostile host communities wary of their suspected links to ISIS, and their level of surveillance by the SDF. They also face challenges securing personal identification documents which could prevent them accessing housing and healthcare, and public education for their children. In Deir-ez-Zor, the Autonomous Administration issued measures to boost the economy and alleviate poor living conditions amid decreasing purchasing power and increasing prices. Salaries for public employees and the military were raised by 100%, while economic policy was introduced to attract investments, reduce monopolies and regulate payments. Finally, in retaliation to a terrorist attack in Ankara, claimed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, Turkey bombed key services infrastructure.

In northwest Syria, the first UN aid convoy since July entered through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing. A relatively new entity, the Humanitarian Action Coordination Office, has facilitated the aid deliveries, reportedly separate from an agreement reached between the UN and Damascus back in August following the Security Council’s rejection of the extension of the cross-border aid mechanism. How, and for how long, the deliveries have been allowed is unknown. In Idleb, the Syrian army has responded viciously to an attack on a Military Academy in Homs, launching extensive aerial campaigns targeting hospitals, schools and residential areas throughout opposition-held areas. Displacement and civilian casualties have been extensive. In northern Aleppo, infighting in the opposition armed group Ahrar al-Sham – Eastern Sector, affiliated with HTS and with members now linked to the Syrian National Army, caused instability throughout Euphrates Shield areas with Turkish intervention needed to restore peace.