The US Congress has decided to lift sanctions against Syria, including the infamous Caesar Act (waiting only for Trump's signature). In their 51st letter from Aleppo, the Christian group paints a picture of a country marked by critical issues one year after the fall of Assad. Concerns are growing over a possible Islamist constitution and the plight of women and minorities.

Christian families are returning to the village in the Orontes Valley to claim their homes and lands 14 years after it was occupied by armed Islamists, who killed Fr François Mourad. For Father Ielpo, custos of the Holy Land, every true reconstruction is based “on the strength of faith, and of the power of forgiveness”.

It was launched by educator and activist Jina Achji, who wanted to “offer a space” capable of bringing together and uniting “all communities”. The idea took its first steps in Aleppo in 2012 and has now spread to Hama and Homs. The invitation is to live ‘the present and reality’ by putting aside the ‘lost dream [...] for an imaginary land’.

Syria's Assad regime was considered the narco-state par excellence, but its fall has led to a spread of production on a regional scale. Constant demand and growing distribution fuel trafficking. Among the new production centres is Yemen, home to the Houthi rebels. Today, the heart of production takes place in small laboratories scattered throughout various countries.

Damascus wants to secure the release of fellow citizens who have been detained without trial in Lebanon for years and are ideologically close to HTS. Their arrest was based on ideological motives linked to mere suspicion. According to Lebanese ministerial sources, there are at least 2,100 of them, 55% of whom have never appeared in court. At the root of the controversy are the civil war in Syria and Hezbollah's hegemony.

In northern Syria, the first elections since the fall of Assad were followed by renewed violence. Kurdish authorities say that government troops have imposed a siege, while attacks on checkpoints were reported in Damascus. A witness in Aleppo spoke to AsiaNews about a “terrible night” with people “holed up in their homes.” The understanding for the control of Rojava is at an impasse, while voting was not held in Kurdish areas and Suwayda governorate.