Damascus, SANA – Ministry of Education signed Thursday a cooperation protocol with Turkish counterpart to rehabilitate destroyed schools in Syria, expand educational opportunities for Syrian youth, and strengthen educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

Iran expresses deep concern and suspicion over recent diplomatic and strategic shifts involving Azerbaijan and Syria, particularly following Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Baku.

The presidents of Turkey and the UAE discussed ways to deepen cooperation on trade, defense and regional diplomacy as both nations navigate new opportunities amid shifting balances in the Middle East.

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Syria on Saturday pledged to deepen their cooperation particularly in the energy sector, as they moved to revitalize the ties that had been strained under former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Sharaa’s visit to Baku last weekend highlighted a dramatic shift in regional alliances, prompting a mix of concern, suspicion, and strategic recalculation across Iranian media.

The development of Syria’s energy sector is crucial for the Syrian government as it is witnessing a major transformation in light of international diplomatic and economic openness that has resulted in various agreements, with the aim of modernizing the infrastructure and achieving energy security.

The PKK disarmament ceremony also could mark a new era for the Kurds, one of the largest stateless groups in the world with over 30 million people living across Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. The PKK has said it will now shift from armed resistance to political dialogue and regional cooperation.

The mountainous coastal region in northwest Syria, particularly the northern rural areas of Latakia, is experiencing one of the worst waves of wildfires in years. The fires have spread extensively, consuming vast tracts of forests and agricultural lands amid rugged terrain and strong winds,

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Syria's interim leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa aim to bolster ties, focusing on energy cooperation. Following Assad's ousting, the two countries plan gas exports and energy infrastructure rebuilding,

Helicopters bearing Turkish flags were flying over the forested region of Qastal Maaf, close to the Turkish border, supporting more than 60 Syrian civil defense and disaster teams working on the ground.