Syria: Vandalism and Illegal Excavation Threaten the Mari Archaeological Site East of Deir-ez-Zor

Syria: Vandalism and Illegal Excavation Threaten the Mari Archaeological Site East of Deir-ez-Zor

On the banks of the Euphrates River, the ancient kingdom of Mari stands as one of Syria’s most remarkable windows into early urban civilisation, its history stretching back more than five millennia. Today, however, this once-illustrious landmark has become the target of theft, vandalism and illicit excavation, placing at risk an archaeological legacy that long preserved the stories of kings, diplomacy and a flourishing Bronze Age society. The Sy…

Deir ez Zor, Syria, resumes domestic and international ops

Deir ez Zor regained scheduled domestic and international connectivity for the first time in 14 years on August 5, 2026. Syrianair (RB, Damascus) operated the inaugural flights from Damascus and Kuwait respectively. The Syrian flag carrier will now operate the routes 2x weekly, using A320-200 aircraft. Jazeera Airways also launched scheduled flights between Kuwait and Deir ez Zor on August 8, 2026. The Kuwaiti airline will operate the route 2x w…