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Assad Ally Russia Says 'Terrorist Group' Cannot Be Allowed to Govern Syria

This is Beirut, 07/12 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of a "terrorist group" as Islamist-led rebels advance on President Bashar al-Assad's seat of power. Lavrov spoke after talks in the Gulf state of Qatar on Saturday with fellow Assad ally Iran and opposition supporter Turkey aimed at ...

Trump Says US Should ‘Not Get Involved’ in Syria War

This is Beirut, 07/12 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Syria Donald Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO ...

Islamist-Led Rebels Advance Towards Damascus

This is Beirut, 07/12 17:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Damascus Syria HTS Bashar al-Assad

Rebels on a lightning advance through Syria said they were nearing Damascus on Saturday, although Bashar al-Assad's government denied that the army had withdrawn from areas around the capital. "Our forces have begun the final phase of encircling the capital," said rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani, with the Islamist-led alliance ...

Families of Kidnapped and Disappeared Demand Action

Rayan Chami, 07/12 17:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Kidnapped Disappeared Syria

Following the release of Lebanese detainees in Syria, the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Disappeared urges immediate government action. With renewed determination, families continue their fight for answers, as the search for missing loved ones remains a national priority.

Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos

This is Beirut, 07/12 15:26 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Doha Russia Turkey Iran Syria meeting

The top diplomats from Iran, Turkey and Russia met in Qatar on Saturday for talks on Syria, where rebel forces have taken parts of the country in a lightning offensive. After the discussions in Doha with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the parties agreed on the ...

Hochstein: Hezbollah Has Been Weakened

This Is Beirut, 07/12 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Syria

The US special envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein, believes that “the war in Syria is not directly related to Lebanon, but it will have an impact on the country.” He declared, “I don't think we've eliminated or defeated Hezbollah, but it may no longer be strong enough to attack Israel or support President Bashar al-Assad.” In fact, he ...

Military Activity at the Eastern Borders

Bassam Abou Zeid, 07/12 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Borders

With the escalation of the war in Syria and the expansion of areas controlled by opposition forces reaching the outskirts of the Homs area, concerns in Lebanon have grown about the possibility of the conflict spreading to its territory, particularly through the eastern borders in Arsal and Hermel. These concerns are heightened by Hezbollah’s ...

Qatar: Assad 'Didn't Seize Opportunity' to Engage with Syrian People

This is Beirut, 07/12 11:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Qatar Syria HTS war

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to engage with his people and address issues like the return of refugees during a period of calm in the country's war, Qatar's prime minister said Saturday. "Assad didn't seize these opportunities to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people, and we didn't see any serious movement, ...

Syria Islamist Rebel Commander Says no Place for 'Sectarianism'

This is Beirut, 07/12 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria war minorities HTS religious

Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani sought to reassure religious minorities on Saturday, after Islamist-led fighters snatched key cities and swathes of territory from government control. His comments come as rebels sought to advance into Syria's third city of Homs, after their alliance led by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ...

Syria Army Says 'Redeploying' in Southern Daraa, Sweida Provinces

This is Beirut, 07/12 09:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria army war HTS

Syria's army said it was redeploying in two southern provinces on Saturday, after a war monitor reported government forces had lost control of most of Daraa province, the cradle of the country's 2011 uprising. "Our forces operating in Daraa and Sweida are redeploying and repositioning, and establishing a... security cordon in that direction after ...

Iran, Iraq Join Syria in Warning Rebel Advance Threatens Whole Region

This is Beirut, 07/12 09:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Iran Syria Iraq war

Iran and Iraq issued a joint statement with Syria on Friday warning that sweeping rebel gains at the expense of President Bashar al-Assad's forces posed a danger to the whole region. "Threats against Syria's security constitute a danger for the stability of the region," said the statement issued after a meeting of the three countries' foreign ...

Syria's Jolani: From Jihadist to Pragmatist

This is Beirut, 07/12 09:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Jolani HTS Syria war Assad

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Islamist rebel alliance that has captured swathes of Syria in a lightning offensive, is an extremist who has adopted a more moderate posture to try to achieve his goals. At the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is rooted in Syria's branch of Al-Qaeda, Jolani says the goal of his offensive is to ...

syria