Levant

Security

The security landscape in the Levant saw significant shifts in February 2026. The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reached a new security agreement, leading to the deployment of Syrian state forces into Hasakah. Concurrently, the U.S. military withdrew from its largest base in Syria at Tanf and is pulling troops from the country, while overseeing the transfer of thousands of ISIS fighters from Syrian detention camps to Iraq. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes reached their highest level since a 2024 ceasefire, with operations targeting Hezbollah, which rejected a government disarmament plan.

Politics

Political developments included contradictory reports from Syria, where a new government initiated steps to return property to Syrian Jewish families and made a deal with the SDF, while a Syrian official stated that President Bashar al-Assad had fled Damascus. In northeastern Syria, Kurds expressed fears about the end of their self-governing region, a concern amplified by the planned U.S. troop withdrawal. In Lebanon, Hezbollah faced pressure to show restraint, with the prime minister stating he would not allow the group to drag the country into a new conflict.

Humanitarian

Humanitarian issues included the Lebanese government's aim for the majority of Syrian refugees in the country to return home this year, alongside reconstruction pledges for conflict-damaged border towns. A building collapse in Tripoli killed at least 14 people, and Lebanon accused Israel of spraying a concentrated herbicide in the south. In Syria, residents of the al-Hol camp prepared to return home, and a non-governmental organization reported that Turkey again blocked an aid convoy destined for Kurdish areas.

Economy

Major economic developments were international in nature. Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a significant investment package valued at $5.3 billion, covering sectors including a joint airline and telecommunications. Separately, SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, prepared to begin commercial flights to Syria in March, marking a step in reconnecting the country with international air travel.

Information

No significant domestic or international events in the information domain were reported for the Levant region in February 2026.

Energy

Limited coverage was recorded for the energy sector in the Levant during February 2026.