By Al-Fassel | 2026-07-24

Syria's new 210-seat parliament, the People's Assembly, convened in Damascus on July 12 for its first session under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The inaugural session came roughly 19 months after opposition forces toppled the al-Assad family's five-decade rule.

Lawmakers took the constitutional oath, opening the assembly's inaugural meeting since al-Sharaa assumed the presidency last year.

Free elections

Two-thirds of the 210 members were chosen last year through regional electoral colleges across Syria's provinces.

President al-Sharaa appointed the remaining seventy lawmakers earlier this month, completing the chamber's full 210-seat composition.

After taking the oath, lawmakers elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak as the assembly's new speaker for its opening term.

The chamber's primary task is drafting a new constitution and establishing democratic foundations after decades of single-party rule.

Syria's 14-year civil war killed roughly half a million people before Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed in December 2024.

President al-Sharaa urged lawmakers to prioritize national interest, calling for accountability and a culture of dialogue among factions.

"I urge you to make this assembly a model of responsibility and competence and to help foster a culture of dialogue, the rule of law and respect for institutions," al-Sharaa told lawmakers.

He emphasized that reviving the economy, restoring public services and attracting foreign investment remain critical national priorities.

Women hold 21 seats in the new assembly, representing roughly 10 percent of the chamber.

ISIS falling apart

The transition unfolds as Damascus works to secure high-security prisons holding fighters from the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

ISIS once controlled a self-declared territorial caliphate across large parts of Syria and Iraq before its defeat in 2019.

However, Syrian authorities are now coordinating with neighboring Iraq to prevent the group from regrouping across the shared border region.

ISIS has struggled to mount major operations this year, with attack numbers falling to historic lows despite occasional spikes.

Syrian security forces killed senior ISIS leader Mohammad Shahada near Damascus and captured another operative late last year.

In July, Syria's Interior Ministry announced it had dismantled several ISIS cells and arrested a senior leader nationwide.

A United Nations (UN) report also found the group behind five foiled assassination plots against al-Sharaa and two cabinet ministers.

Furthermore, vigilant public reporting remains a vital weapon, empowering authorities to dismantle terror cells and protect the nation’s security and stability.