Syria-US Relations: The Trump administration has formally started the process to remove Syria from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio citing assurances from transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa that Syria will not support international terrorism. Security & Accountability: Syrian authorities arrested former colonel Ahmed Habib Ali, described as a chemical weapons specialist overseeing sarin depots and production under Assad’s Unit 417, as part of a broader crackdown on alleged chemical-weapons crimes. Damascus Stability: Despite recent bombings and unrest signals reaching the capital, Syrians in Damascus say they feel relatively safe, while also warning that official information is distrusted and conspiracy theories spread quickly. Parliament Watch: A new episode of GeoSpace highlights hopes and doubts around Syria’s newly convened parliament, including concerns about how members were selected and what it means for Kurdish and minority communities. Regional Diplomacy: Saudi and Syrian foreign ministers met in Riyadh to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, while Lebanon and Syria also moved to revive trade links through business council talks in Damascus. Israel-Lebanon-Syria Dynamics: Trump said Israel’s withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon and Syria could calm the region, and suggested al-Sharaa could handle Hezbollah “more precisely,” while U.S.-brokered Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome advanced “pilot zone” planning without a firm timeline.