Germany: Calls Grow to Tighten Migration Policy and Rapidly Repatriate Most Syrian Refugees
ARK News.. German political debate over migration intensified on Friday as the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary bloc called for a tougher migration policy and the swift return of most Syrian refugees to their home country.
According to the German Press Agency (DPA), a policy paper prepared by the CSU parliamentary group during a meeting at Seeon Abbey in Bavaria argues that “most Syrians who currently enjoy temporary protection status will lose the grounds for protection once the civil war has ended.”
The document urges authorities to “initiate deportation procedures as quickly as possible for those refugees who do not leave voluntarily.” It further states that 2026 should witness a large-scale deportation campaign “using regular flights to Syria and Afghanistan.”
To facilitate this, the CSU is calling for the establishment of nationwide departure centers, as well as a dedicated deportation terminal at Munich Airport.
The party is also advocating a harder line stance toward Ukrainian refugees. The document states: “We will also push to ensure that Ukrainian men fit for military service fulfill their duty to defend their country,” though it does not provide details on how such a policy would be implemented.
In addition, the CSU plans to tighten measures against individuals it labels “foreign enemies of democracy.” The paper calls for the criminalization of public calls to establish an Islamic state or caliphate.
It further stipulates that “demands to abolish the free democratic order or the commission of anti-Semitic crimes must result in mandatory deportation, the denial of residence permits, and, in cases of dual nationality, the revocation of German citizenship.”
The bloc also stressed the need to curb what it described as abuse of Germany’s social welfare system. It criticized current EU freedom-of-movement rules, which grant EU citizens the right to reside in Germany after working as little as 5.5 hours per week. “We want to restrict the definition of the term ‘worker’ under the EU Freedom of Movement Directive,” the document said.
Alexander Hoffmann, head of the CSU parliamentary group, told Merkur newspaper: “Labor migration to Germany must not turn into poverty migration.”
According to figures cited by Deutsche Welle (DW), around 948,000 Syrian nationals currently live in Germany. Of these, approximately 667,000 hold temporary protection status, based on the latest data from 2025.
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Israel Deploys “Hashmonaim” Brigade Forces in Southern Syria
ARK News.. The Israeli military has announced the deployment of forces from the Hashmonaim Brigade—which includes soldiers from the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community—to the security zone in southern Syria, marking the brigade’s first-ever deployment in the area.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 1, 2026, the Israeli army said that infantry units from the brigade have begun carrying out field operations following a series of military training exercises. These activities included what the army described as “targeted search operations,” during which intelligence was gathered, allegedly aimed at eliminating security threats and ensuring the safety of Israeli civilians, particularly residents of the Golan Heights.
The statement added that the Hashmonaim Brigade will continue operating in “various arenas,” while emphasizing that arrangements are in place to allow Haredi soldiers to maintain their religious way of life during military service.
The deployment comes days after the Israeli army announced the conclusion of the mission of Reserve Brigade 55 in Syria, following more than 100 days of continuous field operations, marking the end of its activities in the area.
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One Suspect Arrested Over Terrorist Attacks on Syria’s Coastal Region
ARK News.. Syrian Internal Security forces in Tartous have announced the arrest of an individual implicated in terrorist acts targeting positions of the Ministry of Defense and the Internal Security forces along Syria’s coast.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Internal Security Directorate in the Baniyas area of Tartous countryside apprehended a member of the remnants of the former regime who was involved in carrying out terrorist operations against military and security sites during the events of March 6, 2025.
The source said investigations revealed that the suspect took part in assassination and arson attacks targeting members of an Internal Security patrol, following a deadly ambush on the Deir al-Bashl Bridge, which was carried out by a group affiliated with remnants of the former regime.
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Kurdistan Democratic Party to Discuss the Iraqi Presidency
ARK News.. A senior source within the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said on Thursday, January 1, 2026, that the party’s Political Bureau will hold a meeting to discuss the issue of the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq, along with several other key matters.
According to the high-level source, the meeting will be chaired by President Masoud Barzani, with the participation of his deputies, Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani. It is scheduled to take place in Pirmam on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
The source noted that the meeting’s agenda will include the following topics:
1. The position of the President of the Republic of Iraq.
2. The recent election of the Iraqi Parliament’s Presidium.
3. The formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government.
4. The formation of the new federal government.
5. Relations between Erbil and Baghdad.
6. The overall political and security situation in Iraq and the region.
The source added that it has not yet been decided whether the KDP will nominate a candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Iraq, stressing that this issue, along with other related matters, will be discussed during the meeting.
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Syrian Network Documents the Killing of 3,338 People During 2025
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights network has documented the killing of more than 3,000 people in Syria during 2025, including hundreds of children and dozens of women.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said in a report that it documented the deaths of 3,338 people throughout 2025, among them 328 children, 312 women, and 32 victims who died as a result of torture.
According to the report, Latakia Governorate recorded the highest number of victims during 2025, accounting for approximately 19.3% of the total, followed by Suwayda, then Hama and Tartous.
The network also documented at least 65 attacks on vital civilian facilities during 2025, including educational institutions, medical facilities, and places of worship.
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Israeli Army Deploys Reinforcements to Tel Ahmar al-Gharbi in Quneitra Countryside
ARK News.. Local sources reported that an Israeli army patrol advanced into the Quneitra countryside amid heightened alert in the area.
According to the sources, a patrol comprising several military vehicles entered Syrian territory on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, moving toward the Armored Unit post west of the town of al-Mu‘allaqa in rural Quneitra.
The incursion came amid increased security alert, as local observers monitor the developments and potential implications of the military movement, against the backdrop of ongoing tensions along the Quneitra border strip.
Separately, the Israeli army reportedly deployed a force of around 200 troops to the Tel Ahmar al-Gharbi area in rural Quneitra on Tuesday, a move believed to be part of a troop rotation and redeployment process involving forces stationed at military bases in the region.
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Internal Security Imposes Curfew in Latakia
ARK News.. Internal Security forces in Latakia Governorate have imposed a curfew starting Tuesday evening, December 30, until Wednesday morning.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Internal Security Command in Latakia announced a curfew in the city of Latakia, effective from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday until 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The decision does not apply to emergency cases, medical personnel, or ambulance and firefighting teams.
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Ahmad al-Sharaa: Currency Replacement Does Not Improve the Economy, but Facilitates Transactions
ARK News.. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that the process of replacing the national currency represents a symbolic marker of the end of a previous phase “that is not regretted,” and the beginning of a new chapter aspired to by the Syrian people and by regional actors observing Syria’s evolving reality.
Speaking during the official ceremony marking the launch of the new Syrian pound on Monday evening at the Conference Palace in Damascus, attended by Syrian cabinet ministers and Arab and foreign diplomats, President al-Sharaa said that the currency replacement file had undergone lengthy discussions.
He noted that there are six international experiences in currency replacement and the removal of zeros, half of which succeeded while the other half did not, stressing that the process is highly sensitive and requires careful management during monetary transition.
President al-Sharaa emphasized that one of the key concepts that must be clarified is that removing zeros from the currency does not mean economic improvement, but rather aims to facilitate financial transactions.
He explained that genuine economic improvement depends on increasing production rates and reducing unemployment, adding that strengthening the banking sector is a fundamental pillar of economic growth, as banks function like arteries within the economy.
The Syrian president described the transition phase as delicate and critical, stressing the importance of avoiding public panic and refraining from rushing to discard the old currency in favor of the new one. He reassured citizens that all holders of the old currency will be able to exchange it for the new notes, warning that unnecessary haste could negatively affect the exchange rate of the Syrian pound.
Al-Sharaa further stated that the country requires calm and gradual implementation of the currency replacement process, noting that the Central Bank has established a clear and defined timetable for the transition.
He also pointed out that public confidence in the Syrian pound is inseparable from confidence in the national economy, which has suffered severe damage in recent years. He highlighted the collapse of several economic sectors, particularly the banking sector, and noted that the sharp rise in exchange rates had eroded trust in the currency, prompting citizens to hoard cash at home instead of depositing it in banks.
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Rami Makhlouf, Kamal al-Hasan, and Abu Ali Kheder Hold Meetings with Israeli Officials
ARK News.. A Syrian media source reported that Kamal al-Hasan, former head of the military intelligence branch under the ousted regime, and businessman Abu Ali Kheder, affiliated with the Assad family, made an unannounced visit to Israel in early December 2025, holding meetings with officials from Israel’s internal security service (Shabak).
According to Syria TV, the discussions focused on seeking Israeli support for the Syrian coastal regions, amid Moscow’s waning enthusiasm for providing political cover or protection for a proposed “Alawite state” project, coinciding with improving Damascus-Moscow relations.
The meetings reportedly presented a comprehensive plan for separation from Damascus, suggesting that Israel could act as a guarantor, in coordination with certain European countries along the Mediterranean.
The plan is based on concerns from European powers about potential refugee flows across the Mediterranean if security and economic conditions deteriorate in Syria’s coastal regions, highlighting thousands of officers and officials positioned between the Syrian coast and Lebanon ready to act if political backing and external support are secured.
The source added that direct meetings had previously taken place in Iraq and Lebanon to coordinate positions and exchange assessments on potential moves against Damascus and on unifying political and security pressure in later stages.
Separately, it was reported that Rami Makhlouf, cousin of the ousted Assad, met with an Israeli embassy official in a regional country to discuss what he described as the challenges facing the Alawite minority under a rule he considered “Sunni-dominated.”
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Turkey Seeks Energy Exploration Agreement with Syria for Offshore Resources
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraqtar announced that Turkey is seeking to sign an agreement with Syria in 2026 to conduct offshore energy exploration.
In an interview with the Turkish news outlet GDH, Bayraqtar said: “We have a general framework agreement with Syria. However, a specific agreement will be required for offshore exploration. We hope to conclude it in 2026.”
He added:
“I am not saying that drilling operations will begin in 2026, but once the agreement is signed, we may need to conduct seismic surveys to obtain information about the geological structure of the seabed.”
Turkey and Syria signed an agreement in May 2025 aimed at enhancing and developing cooperation in the energy sector.
At the time, Bayraqtar stated that “the agreement we signed today in the fields of energy, mining, and hydrocarbons constitutes an important roadmap for the next steps.”
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