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From the Friday, December 19, 2025 edition

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Syria Diplomacy Shifts Toward Reconstruction and Refugee Returns

Regional officials said discussions around Syria are increasingly focused on reconstruction financing, cross-border access, and the conditions required for partial refugee returns. Aid groups warned that premature repatriation would remain unsafe in several areas.

Diplomats described the talks as a shift in emphasis rather than a political breakthrough, with sanctions and security guarantees still unresolved.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, The New York Times