2026 in Syria

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2026 List of years in Syria

Events in the year 2026 in Syria .

Incumbents

Photo	Post	Name
	President	Ahmed al-Sharaa
	Vice President	Vacant

Events

For events related to the civil war, see Timeline of the Syrian civil war (November 2024–present)

January

• 3 January –
  • An unidentified missile explodes at Mezzeh Air Base in Mezzeh, Damascus. ^{[1] [2]}
  • The United Kingdom and France carry out a joint airstrike on an underground arms cache used by Islamic State north of Palmyra. ^[3]
  • New banknotes for the Syrian pound to replace those issued during the Assad regime begin circulation. ^[4]
• 6 January – At least nine people are killed in clashes between the transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo. ^[5] The fighting subsides with the SDF's withdrawal on 11 January. ^[6]
• 10 January – A drone attack is carried out on the headquarters of the Aleppo Governorate's government in Aleppo city. ^[7]
• 13 January – The Syrian army declares the towns of Maskana and Dayr Hafir in Aleppo Governorate as closed military zones due to the presence of the SDF. ^[8]
• 16 January –
  • President Ahmed al-Sharaa issues a decree recognising Syrian Kurds as an essential part of the Syrian people and the country’s diverse national identity. The decree also recognizes Kurdish as a national language and Nowruz as a national holiday. ^[9]
  • The United States carries out an airstrike in northwestern Syria that kills a senior al-Qaeda militant. ^[10]
• 17 January – The Syrian army retakes Dayr Hafir following the withdrawal of the SDF. ^[9]
• 18 January –
  • The Syrian army retakes the Al-Omar field following the withdrawal of the SDF. ^[11]
  • The transitional government reaches a ceasefire agreement with the SDF, allowing for the government in Damascus to reassert control over Al-Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa Governorates. ^[12]
• 19 January – Around 120 members of Islamic State held in al-Aqtan prison in Al-Shaddadah escape amid clashes in the town between the Syrian army and the SDF. ^[13]
• 20 January – The transitional government reaches a new four-day ceasefire agreement with the SDF. ^[14] The ceasefire is extended for another 15 days on 24 January. ^[15]
• 21 January –
  • The transitional government takes control of the Al-Hawl refugee camp from the SDF. ^[16]
  • Seven Syrian army soldiers are killed in a drone strike blamed on the SDF in Al-Hasakah Governorate. ^[16]
• 30 January –
  • The SDF reaches a comprehensive agreement with the transitional government to be integrated into the Syrian Armed Forces. ^[17]
  • The Lebanese government approves an agreement allowing for the repatriation of Syrian nationals serving prison sentences in Lebanon. ^[18]

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Syria

In January 2026, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a further decree establishing Newroz as a public holiday. ^{[19] [20]}

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 18 March – Syrian Revolution Day
• 20–22 March – Eid al-Fitr
• 21 March – Mother's Day
• 21 March – Newroz
• 5 April – Gregorian Easter
• 12 April – Easter (Eastern Christianity)
• 17 April – Independence Day
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 26-30 May – Eid al-Adha
• 16 June – Islamic New Year
• 25 August – The Prophet's Birthday
• 8 December – Liberation Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day

Deaths

• 11 January – Ahmad Melli, 80, actor. ^[21]
• 20 January – Rifaat al-Assad, 88, vice president (1984–1998). ^[22]

References

1. "Missile hits near military airport in Syria's Damascus". The New Arab . 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
2. Sio, Mohammad (3 January 2026). "Explosions heard as rockets hit Syria's Damascus". Anadolu Agency . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
3. "UK and France bomb underground IS arms bunker in Syria". BBC . 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
4. "Syria begins circulating new post-Assad currency bills". AP News. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
5. "Nine dead in clashes between Syria govt, Kurdish forces in Aleppo". France 24. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
6. "Syria govt forces take control of Aleppo's Kurdish neighbourhoods". France 24. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
7. "Syrian army declares a closed military zone east of Aleppo as tensions rise with Kurds". AP News. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
8. "Syrian army declares military zones in rural Aleppo as SDF destroys bridges". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
9. "Syria decree grants Kurds new rights, formally recognising Kurdish language". Al Jazeera. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
10. "US strike in Syria kills man linked to attack on soldiers, officials say". BBC. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
11. "Syrian army seizes country's largest oil field from Kurdish forces". BBC. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
12. "Syria agrees ceasefire with Kurdish-led forces after two weeks of clashes". BBC. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
13. "Syrian army clashes with SDF test ceasefire, ISIL fighters arrested". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
14. "Syrian government, SDF agree on a four-day ceasefire". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
15. "Ceasefire with Kurdish-led force extended for another 15 days, Syrian army says". AP News. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
16. "Syrian army takes control of camp holding thousands linked to ISIL". Al Jazeera. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
17. "Kurdish-led SDF agrees integration with Syrian government forces". Al Jazeera. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
18. "Lebanon's government approves a deal to transfer Syrian prisoners back to Syria". AP News. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
19. Zaman, Amberin (16 January 2026). "Syria's Sharaa declares Kurdish a national language, recognizes Nowruz". AL-Monitor. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
20. "Syria Public Holidays 2026". timeanddate. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
21. Al Amir, Khitam (11 January 2026). "Veteran Syrian Actor Ahmad Melli dies at 80". Gulf News. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
22. "Rifaat al-Assad, Syria's 'butcher of Hama', dies at 88, family says". France 24. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.

External links

• Online calendar