Netanyahu Welcomes Assad's Fall, Reaffirms Israel's Hold on Golan Heights

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 21:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Middle East Benjamin Netanyahu USA Syria

A new chapter has unfolded in the Middle East following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the outset of a press conference in Jerusalem, his first in 99 days. Highlighting Iran's extensive financial and military support for Assad, Netanyahu emphasized the regime's brutality towards its own ...

Syria: Blinken Warns Against ISIS Resurgence and Fragmentation

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 21:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Antony Blinken United States Syria ISIS

The United States is determined to prevent the Islamic State group from reestablishing safe havens in Syria, as well as the fragmentation of the country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday. "ISIS will try to use this period to reestablish its capabilities, to create safe havens. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we ...

Israel Orders Military to Take Control of Bufferzone in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:43 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Syria Katz

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that his country's military takeover of the buffer zone along its border with Syria was a temporary move, after Islamist-led rebels took control in Syria. "This is a limited and temporary step we took for security reasons," Saar said in a press conference at the foreign ministry ...

European Countries Suspend Syrian Asylum Decisions After Assad’s Fall

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:39 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus European Union

Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and several Nordic countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Vienna signalled it would soon deport ...

Syria Rebels and Caretaker PM Discuss Power Transition Post-Assad

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Syria HTS

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met with caretaker Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali and discussed the "transfer of power", the rebels said Monday, a day after toppling president Bashar al-Assad. Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, met Jalali "to coordinate a transfer of power that guarantees the provision of ...

Turkey to Reopen Syrian Border Gate to Support Refugee Return

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pledged to reopen a border post on Turkey's southern frontier with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. "In order to ease the traffic at the border, we're opening the Yayladagi border gate," Erdogan said, referring to a crossing on the westerly edge of the ...

Syria Central Bank Assures Depositors Their Funds Are 'Safe'

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 16:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Damascus

Syria's central bank said Monday depositors' funds in the country's lenders were "safe" after rebels took the capital, and following chaotic scenes near some official institutions. "We assure our fellow citizens dealing with all operating banks that their deposits and funds at these banks are safe and have not been and will not be exposed to any ...

Hundreds of People Queue at the Syria-Turkey Border

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 15:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Turkey syria border Bashar al-Assad

Following the announcement of the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, hundreds of Syrians who sought refuge in Turkey are now heading back home.

Hezbollah Shifts from Military Tactics, Targeting Media, Opinion Leaders

Michael al-Andary 2024-12-09 15:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Forces Palestine USA

Hezbollah appears to be pivoting its strategy from direct military confrontation with Israel to targeting journalists and opinion leaders in Lebanon. This shift was highlighted recently by the assault on journalist Daoud Rammal, who was attacked by suspected Hezbollah members while visiting his parent's grave in Doueir, located in the ...

Under Assad, 'the Walls Had Ears'

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 15:49 - Reading : less than a minute

Damascus syria war Bashar al-Assad

After the sudden and unexpected fall of President Bashar al-Assad, Syrians in Damascus express their relief and optimism for the future.

Germany: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Will Be Judged by Its Actions

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 15:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union Germany HTS Syria Bachar el-Assad

Germany said on Monday it would judge Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) the Syrian rebel group that spearheaded the offensive to oust president Bashar al-Assad, by the actions it takes in government. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would "certainly play a role in the future of Syria", foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a regular press ...

S. Gemayel Gives Government 15 Days to Act on Lebanese Detainees in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 13:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, called on the Lebanese government on Monday to take immediate action to address the fate of Lebanese citizens detained and forcibly disappeared in Syria, describing it as a pressing humanitarian issue. In a letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Gemayel posed several critical questions about the matter ...