Syria Country Report

Syria is currently embroiled in a civil war which began in 2012 and has resulted in a dangerous and unpredictable security environment. The indiscriminate use of small arms, airstrikes, artillery, tanks and chemical weapons, against both combatants and civilian populations, by the government and rebel groups is highly possible. Iran, Russia and Lebanese Hezbollah have propped up President Bashar Assad through direct military support which has resulted in the regime recapturing most of the territory lost to rebel factions in 2014/15. However, regional conflicts between the government and insurgents have continued. The opposition has also attracted varying degrees of support from international backers, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, who have also been involved in military developments. There are daily armed clashes in northern and south-western areas of Syria including Dar'aa, Idlib and Sweida, which can leave large numbers of people dead or wounded. There is an extreme threat from terrorism in most major urban centers. Methods of attack have included shootings, bombings, suicide bombs and vehicle bombs. Crime rates are also currently high due to the ongoing conflict. Reports of thefts, armed robberies, carjackings and house break-ins have increased as security forces are redeployed to fight insurgents. Kidnapping is a serious threat; abductions can be for financial or political gain and are carried out by both criminal organizations and terrorist groups. Demonstrations are met with security force crackdowns, which have fueled anti-government sentiment among targeted populations. The health system has deteriorated significantly, with many hospitals no longer operating and reported shortages of basic medical supplies. National infrastructure is generally poorly maintained and below Western standards. The country is at risk from earthquakes as it is located in a seismically active area.

The political situation in Syria remains unstable despite major territorial gains by government forces in 2017 and 2018. Conflict is still ongoing in the south-west and north of the country where fighting has had a debilitating effect on security. Many urban areas under government control or covered by ceasefire deals are very unstable due to residual tensions and the destruction of local infrastructure. The indiscriminate use of small arms, airstrikes, artillery, tanks and chemical weapons may result in civilian deaths. Terror attacks and kidnappings by extremist groups are common. Equally, reports of thefts, armed robberies, carjackings and house break-ins are frequent. Protests in government areas are likely over price increases or unpaid salaries; whilst protests over militia behavior and foreign involvement are likely in northern rebel-controlled areas. Westerners kidnapped by extremist groups face severe risk of execution for propaganda purposes. The risk of detention is also high.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. The conflict in Israel is unlikely to impact Syria directly. However, Iran-backed proxy groups in the country have significantly escalated their attacks against US military interests in the country. Such attacks will almost certainly continue for the duration of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Occasional projectile attacks from Syria targeting the Golan Heights will also continue, eliciting Israeli counterstrikes' which may also target Damascus and Aleppo International Airports.

Many airports in Syria remain closed to civilian traffic due to structural damage or military seizure. Some commercial airlines have ceased flying to Syria, and a number of no-fly zones are still in place in certain areas due to the risk of militants using anti-aircraft guns or man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).

Driving in Syria may be hazardous and requires great caution. Roads and border crossings may be blocked without warning.

The Port of Latakia is inefficient due to the ongoing conflict.

More than ten years of conflict have severely compromised access to essential services in Syria, including access to safe water.

Earthquakes impacted large swathes of northern Syria's infrastructure in early 2023.

There are various cyber attacks against Syria.

Syria largely experiences an arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Slightly more temperate conditions are prevalent along the Mediterranean coast and in the western mountains. Temperatures can reach uncomfortable extremes during the summer months (June-September), when rainfall is also sparse in interior regions.

Syria is located in an active seismic zone and has experienced several severe earthquakes in the past. Dust and sand storms occur in southeastern areas and can be a serious impediment to visibility. Landmines are widespread along Syria's borders, particularly near the borders with Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and in the Golan Heights bordering Israel. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is a serious threat.

The ongoing conflict continues to degrade the Syrian healthcare system. Several hospitals are no longer functional with a continued shortage of healthcare professionals. The passage of medicine and medical supplies to anti-government areas can be blocked or stolen. There are regular outbreaks of infectious diseases across the country.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has now regained most of the territory the government lost to rebel groups from 2012-2015. With support from Russia, Shia militias and the Iranian Quds Force, regime forces have sustained a wide-reaching military campaign to retake Syria's major cities. Following military successes in Aleppo, Homs, Eastern Ghouta and Dar'aa, Assad is now in a stronger position domestically, and international calls for regime change, which were prevalent in 2015, have since fallen silent. Over the coming months, government-held areas are likely to stabilize as regional institutions are rebuilt and international trade resumes. Further military action to retake Idlib in the north of the country is also likely. Opposition groups will continue to exist in Syria and their status within a post-war state is yet to be determined. However, Assad has very little incentive to make any meaningful concessions to rival organizations, and further political suppression is likely.