Syrians

With Bashar al-Assad's government gone, attention is turning to Hezbollah's financial networks inside Syria. The group long relied on Syrian territory for smuggling routes, cash transfer and logistics that funded its operations in Lebanon. Analysts warn these informal economic channels could persist under the new authorities, complicating efforts to stabilise Syria and curb the organisation's regional influence.

Reuters reports, citing sources, that Syrian government officials and Hezbollah held secret talks in Turkey. The purported meeting would mark a notable channel between Damascus and the Lebanese armed group at a time of heightened regional tension. Details about the agenda, participants and outcome have not been confirmed, and neither Damascus nor Hezbollah has publicly commented on the reported talks.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the United Nations, describing Syria's recovery from the destruction of years of civil war and arguing that responsibility for securing a lasting peace in the region rests with Israel. His speech frames post-war Syria as reopening to the international community while keeping pressure on Israel over the region's unresolved conflicts.