Levant Affairs
Assala, Daughter of Damascus, Comes Home
Assala Nasri performs before a packed Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall in Damascus, September 2026 © Celine KassemCulture

Assala, Daughter of Damascus, Comes Home

More than 15 years after her support for the Syrian uprising kept her away, one of the Arab world’s most celebrated voices returned to the city where she was born.

By Aladdin · September 18, 2026 · 1 min read
Aleppo seen from the Citadel in July 2011, during the early months of the Syrian uprising © Aladdin AljianPolitics

The Syria That Looked Stable

The years before the 2011 uprising are often remembered through what came after them. Look more closely, and they reveal a country in which political repression, uneven economic change and mounting social pressures were already testing the appearance of stability.

By Aladdin · September 6, 2026
A musician performs in the Old Damascus pavilion at the 63rd Damascus International Fair © Natasha Tarek El-MaissiCulture

Kurdish Culture Steps Into View in Damascus

At the Damascus International Fair, a dedicated Kurdish pavilion is presenting dress, music and craftsmanship in its own name for the first time, an unusual sight with a much longer history behind it.

By Celine Kassem · September 2, 2026
Society

Coming Home: What Return Means for Syria’s Diaspora.

Syrians have returned in large numbers since Assad’s fall, while many others are weighing whether, and when, to follow. Years of war have transformed Syria, while years abroad have left many of those considering return with homes, careers and families elsewhere.

By Aladdin · August 27, 2026
A motorist refuels a vehicle from a jerrycan in Damascus. © Aladdin AljianPolitics

The Expensive Road to Damascus

Fuel price rises have brought Syrians into the streets and their energy minister before parliament. Rebuilding Syria will take years. The difficulty is that everyone still has to get to work in the meantime.

By Aladdin · September 15, 2026

The Syria That Looked Stable

The years before the 2011 uprising are often remembered through what came after them. Look more closely, and they reveal a country in which political repression, uneven economic change and mounting social pressures were already testing the appearance of stability.

By Aladdin · September 6, 2026
President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, 15 September 2026. © HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum / X Economy

Al-Sharaa’s Vision for Syria’s Future

In Dubai, Syria’s president laid out an ambitious vision built around investment, trade and regional integration, arguing that the country’s geography and economic potential can help shape its next chapter.

By Celine Kassem · September 16, 2026

The Early Bet on Syria

American companies have arrived in Damascus looking for opportunity. Syria’s economy minister has an unusually candid proposition for them: the risks are real, but waiting for certainty may mean arriving too late.

By Aladdin · September 16, 2026

Coming Home: What Return Means for Syria’s Diaspora.

Syrians have returned in large numbers since Assad’s fall, while many others are weighing whether, and when, to follow. Years of war have transformed Syria, while years abroad have left many of those considering return with homes, careers and families elsewhere.

By Aladdin · August 27, 2026
Assala Nasri performs before a packed Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall in Damascus, September 2026 © Celine KassemCulture

Assala, Daughter of Damascus, Comes Home

More than 15 years after her support for the Syrian uprising kept her away, one of the Arab world’s most celebrated voices returned to the city where she was born.

By Aladdin · September 18, 2026

Kurdish Culture Steps Into View in Damascus

At the Damascus International Fair, a dedicated Kurdish pavilion is presenting dress, music and craftsmanship in its own name for the first time, an unusual sight with a much longer history behind it.

By Celine Kassem · September 2, 2026

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