Syrian Authorities Detain PFLP-GC Leader Talal Naji

Syrian authorities briefly detained Talal Naji, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC), along with his chief of staff in Damascus, before releasing him hours later. The reasons for the detention were not disclosed, and no official statements were issued by either the Syrian government or PFLP-GC. This incident is part of a broader pattern of arrests targeting leaders of Palestinian factions operating in Syria; in April, two senior Islamic Jihad officials were also detained. These developments have raised questions about shifting relationships between the Syrian authorities and Palestinian groups long based in the country, particularly as Syria’s political landscape evolves post-Assad. The arrests come amid ongoing regional tensions and scrutiny, with the U.S. maintaining sanctions on Syria over concerns related to terrorism and support for blacklisted groups. Palestinian officials reportedly sought intervention from regional leaders in response to the detentions.