The Latest Breaking News from Bashar alAssad

The number of Syrians requesting asylum dropped significantly from 16,000 in October 2024, before the fall of al-Assad in December, to 3,500 in September 2025.

Euronews spoke to Syrians about their experiences of going back to the country after years as refugees and the push-and-pull factors that made them go. Some were enthusiastic to stay, while others were wary of the country’s future.

The interim president of Syria arrived on an unprecedented visit to the Russian capital on Wednesday, where he is expected to demand that the Kremlin extradites toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad — who received asylum in Russia following his ouster — to face trial back in his country.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Wednesday he wanted to "redefine" relations with Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him in Moscow, their first meeting since key Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted last year.

Syria held its first elections since the ousting of strongman President Bashar al-Assad in December in what the people hope will propel the country towards economic stability, prosperity and peace.

Syria will select members of its first post-Assad parliament on Sunday in a process criticised as undemocratic, with a third of the members appointed by interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Bashar al-Assad, the deposed Syrian president living in exile in Moscow, has reportedly survived a suspected poisoning attack amid claims it was an attempt to embarrass the Russian government.

The US removed Turkey from its flagship F-35 fighter jet programme after Turkey purchased the S-400 air defence system from Russia.

Since the war in Gaza erupted in 2023, governments around the world have been making their voices heard, whether they are staunch supporters of Israel or pleading the Palestinian cause. But Russia's position, which has received little media coverage, is harder to define.