Located about 12 miles west of Damascus, Yaafour, one of Syria’s most exclusive residential areas, is once again attracting attention as investment interest grows around reconstruction projects and economic reopening efforts.

With growing risks threatening traditional maritime corridors, Syria’s geography could give it a renewed role in linking the Gulf with Turkiye and Europe through a network of highways and railway lines.

With the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime in December 2024, unsecured weapons depots emerged as a major threat to civilian life, even as the new authorities seek to establish security and political stability in the country.

As displaced Syrians make their way back to devastated towns, a deadly pattern is emerging—children and women are killed almost daily by landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by war.

The U.S. sanctions, which are the most comprehensive against Syria, remain the biggest obstacle to seeing a recovery in the transitional period and improving the livelihoods of Syrians.