Syrian authorities signed two agreements for Tartus port on January 15, 2026, granting Turkish company DENİZCİLİK SANAYİ VE TİCARET construction and operation of a shipyard and authorizing UAE-based DP World to manage the port for 30 years with an $800 million investment, according to a post by QalaatAlMudiq on X between 4:16 PM and 5:15 PM UTC. The shipyard project aims to boost shipbuilding, develop maritime industries and support the shipping sector, as stated in the QalaatAlMudiq post. The DP World agreement, which has officially come into effect, includes a first phase focused on deepening channels and upgrading equipment to handle increased bulk and general cargo, followed by a second phase modernizing infrastructure, expanding capacity and adding new container and cargo facilities, per the quoted details from emaratalyoum.com shared in the same post. Separately, VeSyria fact-checked and debunked circulating claims on Facebook that the Washington Tribune newspaper revealed secret details of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's recruitment through sexual blackmail and humiliating recordings in Bucca prison, confirming no such U.S. newspaper currently operates, with its last publication in 1946, and no reliable international media or human rights reports mentioning these details, as posted on X in the same 59-minute window ending at 5:15 PM UTC.
