Radio Damascus is the main and oldest national radio station of Syria, operating under the state broadcaster GART. The station primarily broadcasts Arabic-language programming nationwide on medium-wave and FM frequencies and on satellite feed on Nilesat 201 and worldwide on internet live stream. In addition, Radio Damascus has offered multilingual content via web streaming, including programs in Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
History
Radio Damascus began international broadcasting in 1957, targeting audiences outside Syria through medium-wave and shortwave transmissions. Between the late Cold War period and 2013, the station served as one of Syria's principal external broadcasting outlets. From the 2000s until 2013, Radio Damascus expanded its distribution using satellite transmission, including broadcasts via the Russian satellite Ekspress-AM22. International radio transmissions were gradually reduced and eventually discontinued in 2013.
Until 8 December 2024, Radio Damascus' programming largely reflected and promoted the policies of the Syrian ba'athist government under the Assad family.[3][4]