Syria: Syrian singer Assala returns to Damascus stage after 16-year absence.

SHOTLIST DAMASCUS, SYRIA (SEPT. 17, 2026) 1. WIDE OF CONCERT HALL WITH SPECTATORS AS LARGE DIGITAL SCREEN SHOWS FOOTAGE OF SYRIAN SINGER ASSALA NASRI PERFORMING 2. WIDE OF SPECTATORS 3. MUSICIANS SITTING ON STAGE IN FRONT OF LARGE SCREEN 4. VARIOUS OF NASRI TAKING TO STAGE AS AUDIENCE CHEERS AND APPLAUDS 5. VARIOUS OF NASRI SINGING ON STAGE AS AUDIENCE WATCHES AND LISTENS DAMASCUS, SYRIA - SEPT. 17: Syrian singer Assala Nasri returned to the stage in Damascus on Thursday for the first time since 2010, performing before a large audience in her hometown after years away from the country. The Damascus-born artist had publicly supported the 2011 uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad and remained outside Syria during the rest of his rule. She was also removed from the Syrian Artists Syndicate following her political stance. The concert at Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall was promoted as "The Return of Assala" and was backed by Syria's Culture Ministry. Nasri performed songs from her decades-long career as well as material reflecting her connection to Syria. Her return has also drawn differing reactions in Syria, with some groups criticizing the concert, while the Culture Ministry continued to support the event. Culture Minister Mohammed Yassin Saleh described Nasri's return as carrying significance beyond music, praising her support for Syrians during the uprising.