Israel Expands Operations as U.S. Lifts Sanctions and Syria Faces Deepening Crisis
Syria is witnessing rapid military, political, and humanitarian shifts this week, with Israeli raids near the Golan, U.S. sanctions removal, Turkish defense alignment, and worsening drought conditions compounding displacement and aid shortfalls.
Damascus has accused Israel of launching a new incursion near Mount Hermon and carrying out overnight air raids in Quneitra within the 1974 disengagement zone. According to Al Jazeera and regional media, Israeli officials signaled that forces would remain stationed on the Syrian Hermon and in a self-declared security belt, citing protection of border communities and Syria’s Druze population.
In Washington, the U.S. Treasury announced the removal of the Syrian Sanctions Regulations from federal code, implementing President Joe Biden’s June 30 executive order. While the program itself is terminated, targeted sanctions against Syrian officials and entities remain under other authorities, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency noted that Turkey and Syria are moving ahead with a new defense accord covering weapons systems, logistics, and training—an unexpected alignment marking a shift in Ankara’s regional policy.
The humanitarian outlook remains grim. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 16 million Syrians need aid in 2025, yet funding shortfalls persist. Syria’s worst drought in 36 years has reduced wheat production by about 40%, exacerbating food insecurity. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) this month also cited fresh attacks on health facilities and aid convoys, adding to the crisis.
Since December 2024, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that more than 820,000 Syrians have returned across borders, though over 7 million remain internally displaced. Analysts warn that the combination of conflict, economic collapse, and climate stress is driving instability across the country.
