Sharaa signs new Syrian constitutional decree as Israel bombs the capital

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa signed a constitutional decree on Thursday that will be enforced over a five-year transitional period, its national news agency SANA reported.

The 44-article declaration reportedly retains Islamic jurisprudence as the foundation of its laws while also enshrining freedom of opinion and expression, notably women's "social, political and economic rights," the committee of legal experts tasked with drafting the decree said, adding that the declaration also stipulates the "absolute separation of powers."

A summary of its 44 articles was read out by a member of the committee, which was appointed by Sharaa less than two weeks ago, Reuters reports.

"We have kept Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation among sources of legislation," said the summary. "This jurisprudence is a true treasure that should not be squandered."

Sharaa, who has promised to run Syria in an inclusive way, has been grappling with the biggest test of his leadership in the wake of a wave of sectarian killing in the coastal region, blamed on fighters aligned with his government.

Sharaa said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the start of “a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice,” as he signed the document setting out the transitional period following the end of the Assad era. The declaration mandates the dissolution of the existing Constitutional Court, branding it as a “remnant of the previous regime.”

In its place, the president has the authority to appoint a new constitutional court, which would operate under existing legal frameworks until a new judicial system is established, according to a report from the Turkish Anadolu Agency.

The drafting committee emphasized the judiciary’s independence and the crucial role of judges, Andalou reports, and declared that any decision regarding the president’s dismissal, removal, or limitation of powers would fall under the jurisdiction of the Legislature of Syria, the country's parliament.

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After the massacres, Syria drowned in a wave of misinformation

Israel targets Palestinians in Damascus

News of the draft constitution broke just moments after the Israeli army bombed a building on the outskirts of Syria's capital, Damascus. The Israeli army promptly took responsibility for the attack, with Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz confirming that his air force had targeted what the military claimed was a "headquarters" of Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian army group allied with Hamas.

Islamic Jihad spokesperson Muhammad al-Haj Musa denied the targeted building was a command centre, writing on Telegram that it was an empty house. Reports of at least one person killed circulated in Syrian media, while Reuters cited Syrian health officials who said two people were injured in the Israeli airstrike. Two Syrian security sources told Reuters that the target was a Palestinian person.

"The Zionist aggression in Damascus was aimed at an empty house, and not at the movement's headquarters, as the occupation claims," Musa stated. "We affirm our solidarity with the brotherly Syrian people who are suffering from the ongoing occupation and aggression."

According to a Times of Israel report, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Syria told reporters that the attack targeted the home of the group’s leader Ziad Nakhaleh.

Ismail Sindak reportedly told the Associated Press that the apartment has been empty for years, adding that Nakhaleh is not in Syria. Asked whether anyone was killed in the strike, Sindak says “the house was empty.” It is not immediately clear where Nakhaleh is, but he is believed to spend his time between Lebanon, Iran and Syria, Times of Israel stated.