Talal Naji detained in Syria amid rising tensions

On May 3, 2025, Syrian authorities detained Talal Naji, a prominent leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, in Damascus. Naji, 79, was apprehended shortly after leaving his home in the Mazze neighborhood, accompanied by a driver and two guards. His detention has raised questions regarding the ongoing relationships between the Syrian government and various Palestinian factions, especially following recent actions against members of the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad, indicating a shift in the political landscape within the region. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, under Naji's leadership, has a historical record of engaging in significant attacks against Israel, which places this detention in a context of heightened sensitivity and scrutiny by the authorities. Reports suggest that after Naji's arrest, security officials interrogated his guards for about an hour, indicating the seriousness of the situation and the government's attempt to gather more information regarding Naji’s activities and connections. Naji’s detention comes amidst a broader backdrop of increased tensions and crackdowns on various Palestinian groups within Syria, particularly as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict continues to evolve since the attack on October 7, 2023, which involved the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The authorities' actions may be seen as a move to consolidate power and address internal security concerns within Syria, especially related to foreign alignments and activities of these groups within its borders. Given the historical background of the PFLP-GC’s past operations and its ties to the Assad regime, this incident could have far-reaching implications for the region’s fragile political balance. Observers are closely watching how this will alter the dynamics between these factions, the Syrian government, and regional players, particularly in light of the ongoing conflicts in the surrounding areas.