What You Need to Know
• Mohammad Sallouta, a local shop owner in Set Zaynab, reports that security is 90 percent stable.
• The tourism industry in Set Zaynab has significantly declined since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
• The new Syrian government has successfully thwarted ISIL attacks in Set Zaynab, including recent bombings.
Mohammad Sallouta, a 47-year-old printing shop owner in Set Zaynab, southern Damascus, stated that the area’s security is 90 percent stable but that residents remain apprehensive. The area, known for the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab, once attracted many Shia pilgrims, particularly from Iraq, but tourism has plummeted since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Locals report that only a few tourists, mainly from Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, visit now, and Iraqi visitors are rare unless they are married to Syrians. The new Syrian government has managed to prevent attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Set Zaynab, including the arrest of a cell responsible for bombings during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in July 2023.
Why It Matters
The situation in Set Zaynab reflects the broader instability in Syria following the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which lasted for over five decades. The region was previously secured by Iranian forces and Hezbollah, but fears of sectarian violence have emerged since the regime’s collapse. The decline in tourism not only affects local businesses but also highlights ongoing security challenges in areas outside central Damascus. This context is crucial for understanding the ongoing struggles faced by communities in post-Assad Syria.
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