Mohamad El Chamaa

With only six Jews left in Syria, émigrés now have a chance to return Thousands of Syria’s Jews left in recent decades. But after Assad’s ouster and easing of sanctions, they can now reconnect with their centuries-old community.

@washingtonpost.com's @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social on Syria's Jewish émigré community and new efforts to return to the country and reconnect: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

With only six Jews left in Syria, émigrés now have a chance to return Thousands of Syria’s Jews left in recent decades. But after Assad’s ouster and easing of sanctions, they can now reconnect with their centuries-old community.

Spoke with members of Syria's Jewish community at home and abroad about life after the fall of the Assad regime, the efforts to rebuild the ancient Jobar Synagogue, and the community's rich history in the country.

Photos by Salwan Georges

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Lebanese army making progress in displacing Hezbollah near Israeli border Under a shaky ceasefire deal, the Lebanese military is to expand its presence in the south, dismantle Hezbollah’s positions and take its weapons.

@washingtonpost.com's @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social and Suzan Haidamous on functioning of Lebanon's ceasefire mechanism and Lebanese army deployment in the country's south: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Lebanese army making progress in displacing Hezbollah near Israeli border Under a shaky ceasefire deal, the Lebanese military is to expand its presence in the south, dismantle Hezbollah’s positions and take its weapons.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam tells me and Suzan Haidamous that his country is working to ensure the state’s right to monopolize the bearing of arms “north and south of the Litani.”

With comments from Filippo Dionigi

Read our story here 👇

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Joy and grief as returning Gazans find communities smashed to rubble The skies over Gaza fell silent for the first time in 14 months, bringing both relief and a sharper understanding of all that has been lost.

“The skies over Gaza fell silent for the first time in 14 months, bringing both relief and a sharper understanding of all that has been lost.”

Our report 👇

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Live updates: Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire deal, including hostage release, Biden says The first phase of the agreement brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt will halt, for now, a 15-month war that changed the Middle East.

A hostage & ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel was reached Wednesday, following more than 15 months of bloodshed & violence in Gaza, President Biden said Wednesday. Implementation of the agreement is set to start Sunday, according to Qatar’s Prime Minister www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

For Syria’s Christians, Christmas is a time to grapple with hope and fear Although members of the Christian community said they are happy to see the Assad regime go, many are wary of their new Islamist leaders.

“We don’t just want to put up Christmas trees and not to be called minorities, we want all our rights.” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

@mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social
@salwangeorges.bsky.social

To evade Assad’s secret police, Syrians developed a code language Fear of the regime was so pervasive that Syrians felt they could never speak freely, even in their own homes.

“parsley”: U.S. dollars
“has nice handwriting”: is an informant
“at his aunt’s house”: in prison

The code Syrians used to evade detection by Assad’s secret police, courtesy of Ruby Mellen, @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social and @reemakkad.bsky.social

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For Syria’s Christians, Christmas is a time to grapple with hope and fear Although members of the Christian community said they are happy to see the Assad regime go, many are wary of their new Islamist leaders.

Some holiday cheer, hope and uncertainty this Christmas for Syria’s Christians.

@salwangeorges and I report from Damascus 👇

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This account of Syria’s rebellion is based on more than a dozen interviews with rebel fighters and commanders, Western & Turkish officials, Syrian opposition figures & regional diplomats, as well as Assad family members and confidants. Some spoke on the condition of anonymity.

How Syria’s rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad The Syrian regime’s collapse came more quickly than the rebels had dreamed — the circumstances were both serendipitous and part of a larger global realignment.

How Syria’s rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad.

Our report 👇

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U.S. citizen found in Syria says he was imprisoned for months The man, who identified himself as Travis Timmerman, said he had crossed into Syria from neighboring Lebanon months ago on a “pilgrimage” to Damascus.

Timmerman said he was detained for seven months after crossing into Syria, initially intending to go on a “pilgrimage” to Damascus. Arrangements are being made to take him out of Syria through Lebanon.

Our report 👇

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. @washingtonpost.com’s A1 this morning

Live updates: Syrian rebels say they’re in Damascus and looking for Assad Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said its forces entered the Syrian capital, bringing the rebels one step closer to their goal of overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Syrian rebels said they had entered Damascus early Sunday local time, in the crucial stage of a lightning advance of less than two weeks after 13 years of civil war in the Middle Eastern nation. The whereabouts of President Bashar al-Assad were unknown.

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Live Briefing: Syrian rebels gain in south, say they’ll besiege Damascus Syrian rebel groups reported gains in the country’s south on Saturday, advancing in Daraa and putting pressure on the capital, Damascus.

Syrian rebel groups reported gains in the country’s south on Saturday, capturing swaths of territory including Daraa, the city known as the birthplace of the country’s 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, and closing in on the capital, Damascus.

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Christians in Aleppo fear for their future after Islamist takeover Though the rebels, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, have sought to soften their image in recent years, many worry they will revert to their repressive roots.

Over nearly 14 years of civil war, Aleppo’s Christian population has fallen from 300,000 to just 25,000. In 2013, two of the city’s archbishops were kidnapped; their whereabouts remain unknown. w/ @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social

Christians in Aleppo fear for their future after Islamist takeover Though the rebels, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, have sought to soften their image in recent years, many worry they will revert to their repressive roots.

@washingtonpost.com's @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social and @joesnellreports.bsky.social talk to Aleppo Christians who are trying to get a sense of what's next: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

Christians in Aleppo fear for their future after Islamist takeover Though the rebels, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, have sought to soften their image in recent years, many worry they will revert to their repressive roots.

Aleppo has long been home to one of Syria’s largest and most vibrant Christian communities.

@joesnellreports.bsky.social and I spoke to a number of Christians there about their current situation and how they see their future after the HTS capture of the city
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Syrian rebels take Hama, a second major city, in another blow to Assad The Islamist rebels’ breakneck advance has redrawn the country’s front lines and revealed the fragility of the government’s security forces.

The capture of Hama could serve to protect their previous gains in Aleppo & placed the rebels 25 miles north of Homs, a junction leading to the Syrian coast and to Lebanon — areas critical to the gov’t, as well as Iran & Russia

@kareemf.bsky.social & I report
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Live Briefing: Syrian rebels take new city as army announces withdrawal from Hama A Syrian Islamist rebel group said Thursday it has entered neighborhoods in the central city of Hama.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said it has entered neighborhoods of the city of Hama. The Syrian army appeared to concede its loss of Hama saying that “military units stationed there have redeployed and repositioned outside the city”

@kareemf.bsky.social & I report
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

BREAKING: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he has ordered the withdrawal of troops and will formally lift the martial law.

Live updates: South Korea president declares martial law; parliament votes it down South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol blamed the opposition party for “unprecedented” impeachment attempts of various government officials.

“The decree prohibits all political activities, rallies and demonstrations and subjects all media to martial law control. Parliament convened a plenary session to respond to the move and promptly voted down the martial law decree, amid lawmakers’ applause”
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Syrian rebels defend gains in Aleppo, push south The insurgent offensive, shocking for its speed, has posed the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

Syrian rebels held Aleppo and pushed south toward Hama, seizing control of government-held areas along the way & causing civilians to flee. The surprise offensive has abruptly shifted the long-fixed front lines in Syria’s civil war @kareemf.bsky.social @megkelly.bsky.social & I report
bit.ly/4fQfdOY

Syrian rebels defend gains in Aleppo, push south The insurgent offensive, shocking for its speed, has posed the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years.

Syrian rebels held Aleppo and pushed south toward Hama, seizing control of government-held areas along the way and causing civilians to flee. It’s the greatest challenge to Bashar al-Asaad in years @kareemf.bsky.social @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social and @megkelly.bsky.social report
bit.ly/4fQfdOY

In startling advance, Syrian rebels breach country’s largest city The lightning advance by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham abruptly redrew the front lines of Syria’s civil war for the first time in years.

THE LIGHTNING ASSAULT ON ALEPPO, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, abruptly redrew the front lines of Syria's 13-year civil war @kareemf.bsky.social and @mohamadelchamaa.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

In startling advance, Syrian rebels breach country’s largest city The lightning advance by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham abruptly redrew the front lines of Syria’s civil war for the first time in years.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's advance abruptly redrew the front lines of Syria’s civil war. Videos posted by HTS & confirmed by The Post appeared to show rebel fighters at an entrance & other locations on the western side of the city.

@kareemf.bsky.social & I report
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

4:00 am in Beirut. The ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has now begun.

Israel and Hezbollah agree to cease-fire, halting year-long conflict The deal would include a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, as well as the retreat of Hezbollah fighters to north of the Litani River.

The deal calls for Hezbollah to retreat north of the Litani River in south Lebanon in exchange for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops over an initial 60-day period, the Lebanese army & UN peacekeepers will redeploy and secure the region

Our report 👇
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

Traffic in Beirut tonight as people clamor to leave before imminent Israeli strikes. Have all my windows open.

Live Briefing: Israeli leaders to convene Tuesday to discuss cease-fire deal with Lebanon, Israeli officials say Intense negotiations over the last week have brought Israel and Lebanon closer to a deal, but it has not yet been finalized.

Local officials and foreign diplomats said Monday that Israel and Lebanon are close to reaching a cease-fire agreement, but they cautioned that the deal could still fall apart at the last minute.

Our report

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