Syria is facing another wave of sectarian clashes in Damascus. A war monitor says 14 people were killed in clashes between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters. Watch in for more details!

Syria: Druze fighter among several killed in fresh sectarian clashes near Damascus

Syria witnesses another wave of sectarian violence as clashes between Druze gunmen and Syrian authorities result in 14 deaths. The Syrian War Monitor reports 7 Druze gunmen killed, sparking concerns over ongoing instability and tensions in the region.

Syrian authorities strike deal with Druze leaders after clashes

7 Druze gunmen killed in clashes: Syrian war monitor

The tomb of Syria&rsquo;s former president and long-time strongman, Hafez al-Assad, in the western city of Qardaha has reportedly been exhumed, according to activists and local media.
Photos and videos that appeared on social media on Monday (April 28) showed the grave heavily damaged and emptied, looking more like a burnt-out pit. People dressed in military uniforms were spotted at the scene, although their identities and affiliations remain unclear.
The footage, some of which was shared by the Syrian news outlet Zaman al-Wasl, is believed to date back to 17 April. Activists said unknown individuals dug up the grave and moved Hafez al-Assad&rsquo;s remains to an undisclosed location. Some blamed armed groups active in the region for the act.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma1erca9-q3fhkm7f-mat14bdk">
Unknown individuals reportedly opened the grave of Hafez al-Assad, father of Syria&rsquo;s Bashar al-Assad, in Qardaha and took his body to an unknown location <a href="https://t.co/CGCFuKv57Y">pic.twitter.com/CGCFuKv57Y</a>
&mdash; RT (@RT_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1916739710510104800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
This is the first time that images have emerged showing the late ruler&rsquo;s tomb desecrated in such a way.
<h2>Background of the incident</h2>
The burial site had already been attacked and set on fire shortly after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad&rsquo;s regime a few months ago.
Following the withdrawal of government forces from Qardaha, a known Assad family stronghold in Latakia province, regime opponents stormed the site. Videos from that time showed protesters setting fire to the mausoleum and, in acts of public defiance, even urinating on the tombstone.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-delegation-supports-syrias-sovereignty-following-fall-of-bashar-al-assad-8664375" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Russian delegation supports Syria's &lsquo;sovereignty' following fall of Bashar al-Assad</a>
For more than twenty years, the Assad regime had treated Hafez al-Assad&rsquo;s tomb as a shrine, requiring visiting dignitaries, soldiers, and ordinary citizens to publicly pay their respects to the late president.
While some hailed him for bringing stability to Syria, critics accused him of setting the stage for repression, corruption, and the brutal sectarian divides that eventually erupted during the 2011 uprising and the subsequent civil war.
<h2>Collapse of the Assad regime</h2>
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad&rsquo;s rule, resentment among locals in Qardaha grew louder. Many expressed anger over the grand mausoleum&rsquo;s presence in a town that had long suffered from poverty, while the Assad family lived in luxury and power.
The reported exhumation has sparked mixed reactions online. Some activists praised the removal of Assad&rsquo;s remains as necessary to "cleanse Muslim lands of the tyrant," according to one post on X. Others pointed out that while symbolic, it would do little to mend Syria&rsquo;s deeply fractured society.
As of now, the exact date of the exhumation and the whereabouts of the remains remain unknown.

World: The burial site had already been attacked and set on fire shortly after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime a few months ago.

The tomb of Syria’s former president and long-time strongman, Hafez al-Assad, in the western city of Qardaha has reportedly been exhumed, according to activists and local media. Photos and videos that appeared on social media on Monday (April 28) showed the grave heavily damaged and emptied, looking more like a burnt-out pit. People dressed in military uniforms were spotted at the scene, although their identities and affiliations remain unclear. The footage, some of which was shared by the Syrian news outlet Zaman al-Wasl, is believed to date back to 17 April. Activists said unknown individuals dug up the grave and moved Hafez al-Assad’s remains to an undisclosed location. Some blamed armed groups active in the region for the act. Unknown individuals reportedly opened the grave of Hafez al-Assad, father of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Qardaha and took his body to an unknown location pic.twitter.com/CGCFuKv57Y — RT (@RT_com) April 28, 2025 This is the first time that images have emerged showing the late ruler’s tomb desecrated in such a way. Background of the incident The burial site had already been attacked and set on fire shortly after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime a few months ago. Following the withdrawal of government forces from Qardaha, a known Assad family stronghold in Latakia province, regime opponents stormed the site. Videos from that time showed protesters setting fire to the mausoleum and, in acts of public defiance, even urinating on the tombstone. Also read: Russian delegation supports Syria's ‘sovereignty' following fall of Bashar al-Assad For more than twenty years, the Assad regime had treated Hafez al-Assad’s tomb as a shrine, requiring visiting dignitaries, soldiers, and ordinary citizens to publicly pay their respects to the late president. While some hailed him for bringing stability to Syria, critics accused him of setting the stage for repression, corruption, and the brutal sectarian divides that eventually erupted during the 2011 uprising and the subsequent civil war. Collapse of the Assad regime After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s rule, resentment among locals in Qardaha grew louder. Many expressed anger over the grand mausoleum’s presence in a town that had long suffered from poverty, while the Assad family lived in luxury and power. The reported exhumation has sparked mixed reactions online. Some activists praised the removal of Assad’s remains as necessary to "cleanse Muslim lands of the tyrant," according to one post on X. Others pointed out that while symbolic, it would do little to mend Syria’s deeply fractured society. As of now, the exact date of the exhumation and the whereabouts of the remains remain unknown.

Grave of Syria’s Iron ruler Hafez al-Assad dug up: Is this the final fall of the Assad dynasty? | Video

Israeli warplanes intercepted Iranian aircraft en route to Syria last year, blocking them from delivering troops intended to support embattled President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Netanyahu: Israel intercepted Iranian planes sent to rescue Bashar Al Assad

Acclaimed Syrian actress and filmmaker Fawakher Ji has been expelled from the country's Artists Syndicate. The decision comes amid accusations that she showed disregard for the suffering of Syrian citizens and continued support for ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Watch this report for more details!

Acclaimed Syrian actress expelled from artists syndicate over Assad support allegations

#GRAVITAS |  In Syria's capital Damascus, Syrians can be seen gathering outside a bank to withdraw money from ATMs. People can be seen crowding up for hours to collect their salaries. Why is that? Watch this video to find out more.

Syria grapples with Assad-era sanctions & liquidity crisis

It has been a month since a brutal mass killing shocked Syria. Hundreds of civilians belonging to Syrian minority groups lost their lives. Reports say these revenge killings have not stopped. Syrian Alawites live in constant fear, and many of them have even migrated to Lebanon.

Syrian Alawites living in fear

The US military has started a significant troop withdrawal from Syria, shutting down three operational bases, according to multiple reports. Sources suggest at least 600 troops will be relocated as President Trump reportedly aims for a full exit. The decision could shift dynamics in the region and impact America’s role in the Middle East.

US begins major troop withdrawal from Syria, shuts down key bases

#Gravitas | In the final days of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a private jet undertook secret air missions, transporting cash, valuables, and sensitive documents to Abu Dhabi. Watch this video to see what flight paths were taken, and the materials that were reportedly smuggled.

Operation Assad: Secret air mission to transport ex-Syrian president's wealth

Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria's debts to the World Bank, three people familiar with the matter said, paving the way for the approval of millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and to support the country's paralysed public sector.

Saudi Arabia to pay off Syria's World Bank debts, reports claim

As many as 100 chemical weapons sites could still be existing in Syria, far more than the 27 sites initially declared by the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad when Damascus agreed to disarm in 2013, reveals a New York Times report based on the findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW, a treaty-based agency in The Hague with 193 member countries, is tasked with implementing the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Chemical weapons inspectors were taken to previously unseen production and storage locations, dating from the rule of Bashar al-Assad, by Syria&rsquo;s caretaker government.
The suspected sites were likely used for research, manufacturing, and storage of nerve agents like sarin, chlorine and mustard gas. Some are believed to be hidden in caves or similar difficult-to-reach sites, raising the risk that the dangerous stockpiles could fall into the hands of extremists and armed groups.
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An OPCW team visited Syria in March to prepare for the task of locating and destroying remnants of chemical weapons stockpile. They were taken to locations that had not been declared to OPCW by the Assad government. The team was given access to documents and details about Assad&rsquo;s chemical weapons programme. &ldquo;The Syrian caretaker authorities extended all possible support and cooperation,&rdquo; the agency said in a summary of the visit posted online. The OPCW was provided security and had &ldquo;unfettered access&rdquo; to sites and people, in sharp contrast to the situation under Assad when Syrian officials used to stonewall OPCW inspectors.
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Although the new leadership in Syria allowed OPCW to start its ground assessments and pledged to eliminate remaining weapons, some experts are still sceptical. &ldquo;There are many locations that we don&rsquo;t know about because the old regime was lying to the OPCW,&rdquo; Raed al-Saleh of the Syria Civil Defence told the NYT. Moreover, Israeli airstrikes on some suspected facilities after Assad&rsquo;s ouster may have destroyed key evidence, thwarting any bid to document violations. Israel says it struck suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors.
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Syria&rsquo;s chemical weapons programme dates to the 1970s and involved hundreds of scientists, most of them trained in Europe. Despite official disarmament, watchdogs documented repeated use of banned substances till 2018 at least.
Assad and his Russian backers always denied ever having used chemical weapons in the civil war that began in 2011 and left hundreds of thousands dead.
Syria joined the agency under a U.S.-Russian deal after a 2013 sarin gas attack near Damascus killed hundreds. Around 1,300 metric tonnes of chemical weapons and precursors were destroyed. But it is still believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in the following years.
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The destruction of any remaining chemical weapons was among the conditions the United States imposed on Syria if it wants sanctions relief.
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World: The suspected sites were likely used for research, manufacturing, and storage of nerve agents like sarin, chlorine, and mustard gas. Some are believed to be hidden in caves or similar difficult-to-reach sites.

As many as 100 chemical weapons sites could still be existing in Syria, far more than the 27 sites initially declared by the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad when Damascus agreed to disarm in 2013, reveals a New York Times report based on the findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW, a treaty-based agency in The Hague with 193 member countries, is tasked with implementing the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Chemical weapons inspectors were taken to previously unseen production and storage locations, dating from the rule of Bashar al-Assad, by Syria’s caretaker government. The suspected sites were likely used for research, manufacturing, and storage of nerve agents like sarin, chlorine and mustard gas. Some are believed to be hidden in caves or similar difficult-to-reach sites, raising the risk that the dangerous stockpiles could fall into the hands of extremists and armed groups. Also Read | Iran’s top diplomat rejects offer for direct nuclear talks with US, calls it ‘meaningless’ An OPCW team visited Syria in March to prepare for the task of locating and destroying remnants of chemical weapons stockpile. They were taken to locations that had not been declared to OPCW by the Assad government. The team was given access to documents and details about Assad’s chemical weapons programme. “The Syrian caretaker authorities extended all possible support and cooperation,” the agency said in a summary of the visit posted online. The OPCW was provided security and had “unfettered access” to sites and people, in sharp contrast to the situation under Assad when Syrian officials used to stonewall OPCW inspectors. Also Read | Senior US official heads to Pakistan with focus on critical minerals deal Although the new leadership in Syria allowed OPCW to start its ground assessments and pledged to eliminate remaining weapons, some experts are still sceptical. “There are many locations that we don’t know about because the old regime was lying to the OPCW,” Raed al-Saleh of the Syria Civil Defence told the NYT. Moreover, Israeli airstrikes on some suspected facilities after Assad’s ouster may have destroyed key evidence, thwarting any bid to document violations. Israel says it struck suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors. Also Read | Sam Altman shares his AI-generated cricketer avatar in India jersey; internet sees biz strategy, roasts him Syria’s chemical weapons programme dates to the 1970s and involved hundreds of scientists, most of them trained in Europe. Despite official disarmament, watchdogs documented repeated use of banned substances till 2018 at least. Assad and his Russian backers always denied ever having used chemical weapons in the civil war that began in 2011 and left hundreds of thousands dead. Syria joined the agency under a U.S.-Russian deal after a 2013 sarin gas attack near Damascus killed hundreds. Around 1,300 metric tonnes of chemical weapons and precursors were destroyed. But it is still believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in the following years. Also Read | Pope Francis makes surprise public appearance at the Vatican The destruction of any remaining chemical weapons was among the conditions the United States imposed on Syria if it wants sanctions relief.

Over 100 chemical weapons sites of Assad regime may still be existing in Syria: Report

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#Gravitas Israeli airstrikes pounded multiple military sites across Syria, carrying out five strikes within a 30-minute window.

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Syria and Lebanon signed an agreement in Saudi Arabia on Friday to boost cooperation on border demarcation and security coordination. Watch this report for more details!

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Israel has intensified its military operations in Syria, with airstrikes reportedly killing six people. Syria condemns the attacks, while Israel blames "armed fighters" for the escalation. The UN expresses concern as violence forces residents to evacuate, raising fears of a prolonged conflict.

Israel-Syria war: Israel blames 'armed fighters' for violence

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#Gravitas As Israel continues to intensify its strikes against Syria, one question looms large, is Turkiye the new front for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

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The Israeli Army says it has yet again struck two military bases in central Syria, a day after the European Union's foreign policy chief warned strikes in Syria and Lebanon risked escalation, now referring to the two targets, one in Palmyra and another 50 kilometers west of the city.

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From border clashes with Lebanon and Israel to protests and mass killings, Syria is dealing with a multilayered crisis.

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Lebanese and Syrian defense officials reached an agreement on Monday for a ceasefire to halt two days of clashes along the border Watch this report for more details!

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Syrians in Aleppo and Damascus rallied to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Syrian Uprising. People gathered in the main squares of the two cities, where they held Syrian flags, danced, and watched firework displays. Take a look.

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Just two days after Syria's new Islamist leadership issued a constitutional declaration, the government is already facing growing backlash and unrest over it. Watch in for more details!

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