According to Kurdpress, in January 2026, the new Syrian government headed by Ahmad al-Shora advanced to the areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), took control of the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa and key fields including Al-Omar and the Conoco gas facilities. This is the first time since the beginning of the 2011 crisis that the central government has practical control over most of the country's oil and gas resources.

Before the war, Syria produced about 380,000 barrels of oil and 25.5 million cubic meters of gas per day. As the conflicts spread, oil production fell to about 30,000 barrels per day, and gas production was almost halved. Most of the oil fields in the northeast of the country were under the control of the SDF, while the main gas fields around Palmyra and Damascus remained and suffered less damage.

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in late 2024, negotiations between Damascus and the SDF continued, but a turning point was reached in January 2026, when a new ceasefire agreement opened the way for the deployment of government forces in the energy fields. This development had an immediate economic effect and paved the way for the return of foreign exchange earnings.

Following these changes, the return process of foreign investment also began. In 2025, the United States and the European Union eased some of the financial restrictions, and limited access to SWIFT was granted to the Syrian Oil Company. The Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have signed contracts for the development of gas fields, the reconstruction of power plants and solar energy projects. Qatar also pledged to invest billions of dollars in the construction of gas power plants.

However, the presence of Western companies remains cautious. Major energy companies have chosen to refrain from large-scale direct investment for the time being. On the other hand, American companies such as ConocoPhillips and Chevron, with the political and security support of Washington, have conducted negotiations for development and exploration with the Syrian Oil Company.

Meanwhile, Russia remains the most active foreign actor. Tatneft was present in Deir ez-Zor before 2011 and maintained its influence during the war years through a network of private companies close to Moscow. After the fall of Assad, Moscow filled the gap in the market by increasing the export of oil and products and stabilized its economic position.

On a macro level, Syria's energy resources have now become a competition between Russia and the West. Moscow seeks to maintain its economic and political influence, while Western actors seek to create long-term political stability and economic influence through energy investment.