Syria

Syria Rulers Plan 'Expanded' Committee to Prepare National Dialogue

Syria's new authorities are to set up an inclusive committee to prepare for a "national dialogue conference" to discuss the future of the country, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Tuesday. Since toppling president Bashar al-Assad nearly a month ago, Syria's Islamist-led rulers have spoken of a "national dialogue conference" to map out ...

Jordan Vows Security Cooperation During Syrian FM Visit

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Tuesday that the kingdom was ready to work with the new Syrian authorities to tackle drug and weapons smuggling across their shared border. Safadi welcomed his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani and other top officials, who are on a regional trip with stops in other Arab capitals including in Saudi ...

International Flights Resume at Damascus Airport

International flights resumed at Syria's main airport in Damascus on Tuesday for the first time since Islamist-led rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month, AFP journalists said. A Syrian Airlines flight bound for Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, took off at around 11:45 am (0845 GMT), marking the first international commercial ...

US Temporarily Eases Some Syria Sanctions

The United States announced Monday that it was providing additional sanctions relief on some activities in Syria for the next six months to ease access to basic services following the fall of strongman Bashar al-Assad. The US Treasury said it had issued a new general license to expand the allowed activities and transactions with Syria while ...

UAE and Syria Discuss Bilateral Relations in First Official Visit Since Assad's Downfall

Foreign ministers from the UAE and Syria's new government discussed strengthening relations at a meeting on Monday, marking the first official Syrian visit to the Gulf country since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. The United Arab Emirates' top diplomat, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Syria's new Foreign Minister Asaad ...

Macron: Iran 'Main Strategic and Security Challenge' in Middle East

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Iran was the main strategic and security challenge in the Middle East, citing the acceleration of its nuclear programme and support for Russia's war against Ukraine. "Iran is the main strategic and security challenge for France, the Europeans, the entire region and beyond," Macron said in a speech ...

Equivocations

The situation in both Lebanon and Syria is still shrouded in ambiguities, deliberate equivocations, and malevolence. Nothing seems clear, and actors continue to operate in grey zones, let alone in the dark alleys that persist throughout.. The chances of negotiations and constructive engagement are quite narrow and are not part of the political ...

France Stresses Importance of Protecting Syria from Foreign Exploitation

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated on Sunday that it is "essential that no foreign power" takes advantage of the regime change in Damascus to weaken Syria, while his Syrian counterpart began an official visit to Qatar. "Syria will obviously need help, but it is essential that no foreign power, as Russia and Iran ...

Syria Monitor Reports Blasts at Arms Depots Near Damascus

A Syria war monitor said explosions on Sunday rocked an area near Damascus housing weapons depots used by the toppled government of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the blasts in Kisweh, south of the Syrian capital, may be the result of an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military, which has struck many ...

Syrian Ministers Urge Lifting of US Sanctions in First Visit to Doha

Ministers from Syria's transitional government urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Damascus during their first visit to Qatar since overthrowing president Bashar al-Assad. In a statement, Qatar's foreign ministry said the Gulf country's premier met with Syria's interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, defense minister Murhaf Abu ...

Syria Says International Flights to and from Damascus to Resume Tuesday

Syria said on Saturday the country's main airport in Damascus would resume international flights starting next week after such commercial trips were halted following last month's ousting of president Bashar al-Assad. "We announce we will start receiving international flights to and from Damascus International Airport from" ...