2026-08-23: Syria Roundup
(2026-08-23). Syria: First Assad-Era Verdicts a Test for Justice. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Atef Najib during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria, April 26, 2026. | © 2026 AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed | (Amman) — A Syrian court's first verdicts for crimes committed during the Assad era raise important legal issues the government should urgently address, Human Rights Watch said today. ⚪ Human Rights Watch released a question-and-answer document on the trial of Atef Najib, former head of the Political Security Branch in Daraa, who was convicted on August 11, 2026, along with former President Bashar al-Assad and six other defendants tried in absent…
(2026-08-23). Syrian foreign minister sees Israel security talks resuming despite no trust. tribune.com.pk 
Syria expects negotiations to resume soon with Israel over a security deal it hopes will lead to Israel's withdrawal from Syrian land, a top Syrian minister said, urging Israel to seize a "historic opportunity" as the door for diplomacy is open. | In a Reuters interview in Damascus on Saturday, days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also stressed that Damascus' priority is to halt Israeli attacks, saying confidence-building steps were needed in this direction. | Washington has been seeking to forge a security deal between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahme…