The move expands an emergency arrangement under which Iraq has already been exporting fuel oil through Syria’s port of Baniyas following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which the vast majority of Iraqi crude exports traditionally pass.

Iraqi officials said the strategy will remain in place even after maritime traffic through Hormuz normalizes, reflecting a broader government effort to diversify export routes and reduce dependence on a single corridor.

“The Iraqi government and the oil ministry attach the highest importance to diversifying crude export routes, particularly through Syrian territory,” Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman Saleem Al-Rikabi told Reuters.

Al-Rikabi said state oil marketer SOMO was continuing discussions with Syrian authorities aimed at expanding energy exports through Iraq’s western neighbor.

Iraq typically exports around 3.6 million barrels of crude oil per day, with approximately 3.4 million barrels previously shipped through southern terminals near Basra before the conflict disrupted Gulf trade routes.

The closure of Hormuz forced Baghdad to seek alternative export channels as storage facilities filled and outbound shipments became constrained.

An interim solution introduced in April involved transporting Iraqi fuel oil by tanker truck across Syria to Baniyas for re-export through the Mediterranean.

Syrian officials said preparations are underway to expand the arrangement. Mohammed Al-Ahdab, head of the media office at the Syrian Petroleum Company, said operations at Baniyas were continuing despite expectations that the strait could reopen.

A Syrian Energy Ministry official said two additional unloading areas and supporting facilities would become operational within a week to accommodate Iraqi crude oil and naphtha shipments.

According to Iraqi oil officials, crude exports through Syria could initially reach around 50,000 barrels per day once loading infrastructure is completed. Tanker-truck shipments are expected to begin in early July, while SOMO plans to establish offices in Baniyas to support operations.

The expansion represents a significant opportunity for Syria, which is seeking to rebuild its economy and reconnect with regional markets after years of conflict and international isolation.

Officials said Syria is earning transit-related income from the movement of Iraqi fuel products, although details of the financial arrangements have not been disclosed.

Shipping data cited by industry sources indicate that Iraqi fuel oil exported through Syria has already reached destinations in Africa and Europe, including a tanker that arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, earlier this month.

The overland route faces logistical and security challenges. Roads linking Iraq and Syria have suffered extensive war-related damage, while fuel transport operations have encountered accidents and occasional disruptions from local protests.

At Baniyas, Iraqi fuel oil is being unloaded into storage facilities connected to marine export infrastructure rather than processed domestically, according to a source familiar with the operations.

Syrian authorities are also exploring longer-term solutions, including the rehabilitation of damaged pipeline infrastructure. Officials said the Iraq-Syria pipeline network has the capacity to transport up to 300,000 barrels per day if restored to operational status.

The initiative underscores how the disruption of Hormuz has accelerated efforts by regional producers to develop alternative export routes and strengthen resilience against future geopolitical shocks affecting global energy markets.

The Interior Ministry said security raids conducted over the past two days in Daraa, Aleppo and Idlib resulted in the detention of several individuals wanted for alleged involvement in abuses and security violations during Assad’s rule.

According to a ministry source cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), those arrested include a former commander of the First Corps, a former head of the security and military committee in southern Syria, a former officer in the Republican Guard and a former guard at Saydnaya prison, a facility long associated with allegations of torture and mistreatment of detainees.

The arrests form part of a broader campaign launched by the Syrian authorities to identify, detain and prosecute former regime figures accused of human rights violations, unlawful detentions and other offenses during more than a decade of conflict.

The latest operation follows the arrest earlier this week of Osama Mahmoud Hamouda, a former non-commissioned officer detained in the coastal province of Latakia.

Internal Security Forces said Hamouda was apprehended after an extensive surveillance operation while allegedly attempting to flee the country with assistance from criminal networks.

Authorities accuse Hamouda of supplying information to intelligence agencies, participating in arbitrary detention campaigns and engaging in financial extortion against civilians during the Assad era.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Aziz Hilal Al-Ahmad, head of Internal Security in Latakia, said investigators had been tracking Hamouda for an extended period before carrying out the arrest.

The detentions come amid broader efforts by Syria’s new authorities to establish a transitional justice framework following the collapse of the Assad government.

Attorney General Hassan Al-Turba said on Wednesday that pursuing individuals accused of major crimes was essential to restoring public trust in state institutions and advancing national reconciliation.

Speaking to SANA, Al-Turba said the Ministry of Justice was coordinating with the Interior Ministry, the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for Missing Persons to document violations and bring suspects before the courts.

He said authorities had implemented measures to prevent wanted individuals from leaving Syria, including travel restrictions, arrest warrants issued in absentia and efforts to track fugitives through international legal mechanisms.

The attorney general added that Syrian authorities were seeking cooperation through Interpol, bilateral agreements and diplomatic channels to locate and return suspects believed to be outside the country.

Al-Turba also said witness-protection programs had been introduced to encourage testimony from victims and witnesses, while international organizations were providing technical support, training and institutional assistance to strengthen judicial processes.

“Prosecuting major criminals is not merely a judicial procedure,” Al-Turba said, describing accountability as a necessary component of transitional justice and long-term stability.

The latest arrests underscore the scale of the challenge facing Syria’s post-Assad administration as it seeks to address allegations of past abuses while balancing demands for justice, accountability and national reconciliation after years of conflict.

State-owned Syria Telecom said services had returned to normal through the Tartus-Alexandria fiber-optic cable connecting the Syrian port city of Tartus with Alexandria on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.

The restoration came two days after the company announced that the cable had been subjected to an “act of sabotage,” an incident that affected internet connectivity across several parts of the country and forced network operators to activate emergency contingency measures.

According to Syria Telecom, internet traffic was temporarily rerouted through alternative infrastructure, including the Ugarit Cable System, a 239-kilometer submarine connection linking Tartus with Pentaskhinos in Cyprus.

Authorities also relied on another communications route passing through Turkiye, which has been used by telecommunications provider CereTel to deliver internet services to users in Aleppo since the beginning of June.

Syria Telecom characterized the incident as part of a broader “systematic sabotage campaign” aimed at undermining critical national infrastructure, although officials did not provide details regarding the perpetrators or the precise nature of the damage.

The disruption highlighted the vulnerability of Syria’s telecommunications network as the country continues rebuilding after more than a decade of conflict that severely damaged public infrastructure and essential services.

Thirteen years of civil war have left significant portions of Syria’s banking, energy, transportation, aviation and water sectors weakened, creating substantial challenges for reconstruction efforts and economic recovery.

Digital connectivity remains a major obstacle. According to World Bank Group data, approximately 66 percent of Syria’s population still lacks internet access, placing the country among the least connected societies in the region.

In recent months, Syrian authorities have sought to modernize parts of the economy and financial system. Last year, the country introduced contactless payment technologies, marking a significant step toward reintegration with international digital and financial networks after years of isolation.

The latest disruption underscored the growing importance of undersea cable infrastructure to Syria’s communications network and the broader risks posed by attacks or technical failures affecting strategic telecommunications links in the eastern Mediterranean.

Syria Telecom said internet services were operating normally following the restoration of traffic through the Tartus-Alexandria connection.

Syrian Telecom told the state-run news agency SANA that repair work on the submarine cable system would take time and warned that full restoration of services would not be immediate.

The operator said the incident formed part of what it called a broader “systematic sabotage campaign” targeting Syrian infrastructure, though no further evidence or attribution was provided in the report.

The damaged cable is part of an international undersea network intended to connect 12 countries across North Africa and southern Europe, underscoring the strategic importance of subsea communications infrastructure in the region.

Authorities did not provide details on the cause of the disruption or indicate when service might be fully restored, and independent verification of the circumstances was not immediately available.

The incident adds to a series of reported disruptions affecting Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure in recent years, amid broader challenges to the country’s connectivity and reconstruction efforts following prolonged conflict.

Officials said Lebanon had not been informed of the details or timeline of the agreement, which includes a call for military operations to end across multiple fronts.

An official source said Lebanon was not aware of the specific terms of the ceasefire arrangement, while few details of the deal had been made public.

The conflict’s spillover into Lebanon has caused widespread displacement, with around 1.2 million people forced from their homes during the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah.

Municipal authorities in southern Lebanon urged residents to postpone returns, citing continued uncertainty over security conditions. Israel has said it will not withdraw troops from parts of southern Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would maintain security zones in southern Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and warned that Israel would respond to any attacks linked to Iran.

Lebanon’s conflict escalated after Hezbollah began attacks against Israel in support of Tehran, drawing a major military response and causing extensive damage in southern areas.

The US-Iran agreement was announced after more than three months of conflict. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator between Washington and Tehran, said the deal called for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

In southern Lebanon, displaced residents expressed caution about returning. Some said they feared security conditions remained uncertain despite the diplomatic breakthrough.

The agreement’s implementation and further negotiations are expected to determine whether displaced communities can safely return to their homes.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had adopted a policy under which the Israel Defense Forces would stay in the areas to protect Israeli borders and communities.Katz said the deployment was intended to counter threats from armed groups and warned Iran that Israel would respond with full force if attacked in connection with the conflict in Lebanon.

The statement came after Washington and Tehran announced a deal calling for an end to military operations, including fighting linked to Lebanon.Lebanon has urged displaced residents not to return immediately, saying details of the agreement remain unclear and security conditions are still uncertain.

The Israeli government has maintained that its forces must continue operating in strategic areas, while regional actors continue diplomatic efforts following months of escalating conflict.

The developments come as the Middle East faces ongoing security tensions involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

The ministry identified the detainee as Qais Hassan al-Abd al-Rajab, a former brigadier general who previously served as deputy director of the General Intelligence Directorate, also known as State Security.

According to a statement published on the Interior Ministry’s Telegram channel, al-Abd al-Rajab was detained by the Counterterrorism Directorate after what authorities described as extensive tracking operations.

He is accused of involvement in violations against residents of the Damascus countryside, including areas such as Hajar al-Aswad, Daraya and Moadamiyat al-Sham, as well as parts of Daraa province, the ministry said.

Officials said the suspect had attempted to evade arrest prior to his detention, and that investigations are ongoing ahead of legal proceedings and referral to the judiciary.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in earlier remarks that security forces continue to pursue individuals accused of crimes committed under the former Assad administration as part of wider accountability efforts.

He added that intelligence and internal security units were conducting surveillance and enforcement operations aimed at bringing suspects before the courts.

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to investigate alleged abuses committed during the Assad era, including broader transitional justice measures and attempts to document violations against civilians.

State media, citing security officials, said the grave was discovered in the Sednaya area in the Damascus countryside and is believed to contain fighters who died during battles in the western Qalamoun region.

The individuals were described by authorities as “martyrs” killed in 2014 fighting between opposition forces and militias aligned with the then Assad administration.

Security forces were seen inspecting the site, according to images released by state media, which showed personnel working at the location where remains were found.

The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to document wartime events and investigate sites linked to past conflict-era violence.

Officials did not immediately provide details on the number of remains recovered or the process for identification, and further forensic work is expected to continue.

The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Al-Sharaa had been invited to travel to the United States later this month but did not confirm whether the Syrian leader would accept the invitation.

The proposed visit would come months after Al-Sharaa met U.S. President Donald Trump in November, marking the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the United States since Syria gained independence in 1946.

The invitation coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations on June 14. Trump is scheduled to host an event at the White House on that day.

Relations between the United States and Syria have improved significantly since Al-Sharaa assumed power after the overthrow of Assad in 2024. Washington subsequently lifted sanctions on Syria, while Damascus joined the international coalition against Daesh.

The invitation also follows recent comments by Trump suggesting Syria could play a role in addressing security concerns linked to Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

In remarks to NBC last week, Trump said Al-Sharaa was willing to assist efforts against the Iran-backed group. He described the Syrian leader as having made significant progress in a short period and indicated that Damascus could help address regional security challenges.

According to a diplomat familiar with the matter, Washington has encouraged Syria since the outbreak of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in March to take a more active position regarding Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon.

Any potential Syrian involvement would be politically sensitive. Syria maintained close ties with Hezbollah under the Assad government and exerted significant influence in Lebanon for decades following its intervention in the country’s 1975-1990 civil war. Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon in 2005.

Hezbollah also fought alongside Assad’s government during Syria’s civil war, a factor that has contributed to strained relations between the group and Syria’s current leadership.

Neither Syrian authorities nor U.S. officials immediately commented publicly on whether Al-Sharaa would travel to Washington following the invitation.

Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said Ankara’s security was directly linked to developments in neighboring Syria and Lebanon and accused Israel’s leadership of expanding its military actions in the region.

“The attacks by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his network of murder on Lebanon and Syria have brought the issue to a point where it also threatens Turkiye,” Erdogan said, adding that Turkiye would not remain unaffected by instability along its southern borders.

NATO member Turkiye has been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and has repeatedly called for international legal action against Israel. Ankara has also suspended trade with Israel in response to the conflict and has urged coordinated international measures.

Erdogan said Israel’s actions were not limited to the Levant, accusing it of attempting to destabilize regions beyond the Middle East, including parts of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. He also referred to tensions involving Cyprus, warning against what he described as efforts to inflame divisions on the island.

“These small entities, whose ambitions far exceed their size, have boarded Israel’s boat of mischief,” Erdogan said, without providing further detail, adding that Turkiye would respond strongly to any perceived infringement of its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Turkish president also urged global powers to take a firmer stance against Israel, arguing that it had been emboldened by what he called the “silence of the international community.”

“Pulling Israel back to within the bounds of the rule of law has become a shared duty not just for certain countries, but for all of humanity,” he said.

Turkiye shares borders with Syria and lies near Lebanon across the Eastern Mediterranean, placing it within the broader strategic arc affected by the ongoing regional conflict.