2023 in Syria

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See also:	Other events of 2023 List of years in Syria

Events in the year 2023 in Syria

Incumbents

Bashar al-Assad
President of Syria

• President: Bashar al-Assad ^[1]
• Vice President: Najah al-Attar
• Prime Minister: Hussein Arnous

Events

For events related to the civil war, see Timeline of the Syrian civil war (2023)

• 22 January – At least 13 people are killed when a five-story building collapses in Aleppo, due to a leaking of water in the building's foundation. ^[2]
• 6 February – 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes
• 10 February – The death toll in the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has passed 23,000.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 17 February – Islamic State gunmen massacre 68 people in Al-Sukhnah in Homs Governorate, including 61 civilians who were truffle hunting.
• 23 February – Fifteen people are killed and 40 others are kidnapped in Hama Governorate during an ambush on truffle hunters by Islamic State members. ^[3]
• 29 March – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reshuffles the government's cabinet amid an increase in prices and shortages of food due to the severe economic situation the country, which was worsened by the recent earthquake.
• 9 April – Eight people are killed after a land mine planted by Islamic State members explodes in Deir ez-Zor. ^[4]
• 16 April – At least 36 people are killed after Islamic State fighters attack a group of truffle hunters in Hama Governorate. ^[5]
• 16 April – 5 shepherds are killed when Islamic State gunmen open fire at them in Deir ez-Zor. ^[5]
• 10 August – Emergence of the 10th August movement of renewed civil protest against the government. ^[6]
• 17 August – Start of general strike and 2023 Syrian protests. ^[6]
• 22 September – President Bashar al-Assad visits China, meets with China's President Xi Jinping, and signs a strategic partnership with China on infrastructure as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. ^[7]
• 12 October – Syria says Israel has launched airstrikes on Damascus International Airport and Aleppo International Airport. Air defences were activated in response to the attacks. ^[8]
• 25 October – The Israeli Air Force launches airstrikes on "military infrastructure" of the Syrian Armed Forces in Daraa Governorate, killing eight Syrian soldiers and injuring seven others. ^[9]
• 27 October – The U.S. military says that it has conducted airstrikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. ^[10]
• 8 November – At least 30 pro-government militia forces and soldiers are killed in a series of attacks by the Islamic State (IS) near the cities of Deir ez-Zor, Homs, and Raqqa, with Russian airstrikes targeting the IS positions in response. ^[11]
• 8 December – Syria says an Israeli airstrike has killed four people in a vehicle in Madinat al-Baath, Quneitra Governorate. Local media reports the victims were affiliated with Iran-backed militias. Shortly after the airstrike, rocket sirens are triggered in Israel's Galilee region. ^[12]
• 12 December – Several drug dealers and a soldier are killed during a shootout at Jordan's border with Syria. ^[13]
• 17 December – Syrian military shelling in Aleppo Governorate kills six civilians in Darat Izza and two civilians in Abzimou. ^[14]
• 25 December – High-ranking Iranian general Sayyed Razi Mousavi is killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria. ^[15]
• 30 December – Four Hezbollah members and two other militants are killed during three airstrikes at Syria's border with Iraq. ^[16]

Deaths

Main article: Deaths in 2023

Further information: Category:2023 deaths

• 6 February – Nader Joukhadar, 45, football player (Al-Wathba, national team) and manager (Salam Zgharta). ^[17]

References

1. "Bashar al-Assad Fast Facts". CNN. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
2. Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (22 January 2023). "Thirteen killed after building collapses in Syria's Aleppo, state media report". Reuters. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
3. "Islamic State group kills 15 truffle hunters in Syria - UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
4. "Six civilians killed by land mine left by Islamic State in Syria - State News". Reuters. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
5. "Syria attacks blamed on IS kill at least 41". 16 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
6. "Protests in southern Syria as economy worsens - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
7. "Leaders of Syria and China announce strategic partnership as part of Asian Games diplomacy". AP News. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
8. "Syria says Israeli missiles hit Damascus, Aleppo airports". Reuters. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
9. Fabian, Emanuel (25 October 2023). "IDF strikes Syria after rocket attack on north; 8 Syrian soldiers said killed". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
10. "US fighter jets strike Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops". AP News. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
11. Presse, AFP-Agence France. "IS Attacks Kill 30 Pro-government Forces In Syria: Monitor". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
12. "Sirens blare in north after alleged assassination reported in Syria". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
13. "Jordan army kills drug runners at Syria border amid soaring Captagon trade". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
14. "Eight civilians killed by Syria army in rebel bastion". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
15. "Israeli strike in Syria kills Iranian commander, Iran says". 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
16. "Air raids over eastern Syria near Iraqi border kill 6 Iran-backed militants". AP News. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
17. "وفاة اللاعب السوري نادر جوخدار في الزلزال". رؤيا الأخباري (in Arabic). Retrieved 6 February 2023.