Reef Dimashq

19 10, 2023
  • Satellite images show increasing damage to buildings in al-Hajar al-Aswad, a city south of Damascus, in the years since regime forces regained control in May 2018 (Google Earth/SkyFi/Syria Direct)

Buildings in Damascus’ al-Hajar al-Aswad demolished, rubble sold

By Habib Shehada|2023-10-20T09:47:21+02:00October 19, 2023|

In al-Hajar al-Aswad, south of Damascus, buildings are steadily being demolished—regardless of whether they are structurally sound—with the rubble sold for profit under the eyes of regime forces. Some fear demolitions could be a precursor to expropriations under redevelopment plans.

25 09, 2023
  • Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and First Lady Asma al-Assad are greeted as they arrive in China’s eastern city of Huangzhou for the first state visit in nearly 20 years, 21/9/2023 (AFP Photo/Ho/SANA)

Assad ‘looking for handouts’ on rare trip to China

By Hanna Davis|2024-01-30T18:17:29+01:00September 25, 2023|

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited China for the first time in nearly 20 years this week, deepening ties between the two countries in the hopes of increased financial support that may not be forthcoming.

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