Middle East

Rojava, Syria's Kurdish Enclave Under US Shield

Michael al-Andary 2024-12-10 12:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Turkey UN Security Council Kurds Syria

People of Kurdish descent make up the majority of the population of northeastern Syria. The Kurdish enclave, often called Rojava, is home to an estimated 2 million Kurds, making it the country’s largest ethnic minority. Rojava encompasses three cantons: Kobane in the middle, Cizre to the east and Afrin in the west. In the past, the three ...

What Unbearable Fate and Injustice Is This?

Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-10 12:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Bashar al-Assad Prisoners Saadnaya

Bashar al-Assad has fled—escaped after securing his safety and future, carving out a quiet life in Russia—the country that has shielded him, defended him, and propped up his regime for more than 14 years. Following his disgraceful flight, prisoners emerged from the decay and injustice of his dungeons, standing tall and victorious, finally ...

Israel Has 'Destroyed the Most Important Military Sites in Syria'

This is Beirut 2024-12-10 12:38 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Damascus Syria war

A war monitor said Tuesday that Israel had "destroyed the most important military sites in Syria" with a flurry of airstrikes since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad's government. Israel, which borders Syria, sent troops into a buffer zone on the east of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Assad's fall, in what Foreign ...

Access to Syria 'Crime Scene' a 'Game-Changer': UN Investigator

This is Beirut 2024-12-10 11:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

International Criminal Court United Nations syria Bashar al-Assad

UN investigators who for years have been gathering evidence of horrific crimes committed in Syria hope Bashar al-Assad's downfall will finally mean they can access "the crime scene" and "massive evidence". "There is a sea change," said Robert Petit, a Canadian prosecutor and legal scholar who heads the United Nations investigative body known as ...

VideosWar in Syria: 13 Years of Conflict

Paul Guillot 2024-12-10 11:13 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Bachar al-Assad HTS Civil War Iran Turkey Russia

2011: The winds of the Arab Spring reach Syria. Peaceful protests erupt in Deraa, as the people call for reforms and justice. Bashar al-Assad's regime responds swiftly and brutally. The crackdown is bloody, and anger becomes the driving force of the protesters. The demonstrations spread across the country like wildfire. This marks the beginning of ...

Israel's PM Arrives in Court to Testify in Corruption Trial

This is Beirut 2024-12-10 10:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu trial corruption

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to testify for the first time in his corruption case. Netanyahu, who has repeatedly sought to delay his appearance in court, is the first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial. Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public ...

Syria Rebel Leader Vows to Pursue Former Officials for Torture

This is Beirut 2024-12-10 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Jolani HTS torture

Syria's Islamist rebel leader said Tuesday that the incoming authorities will announce a list of former senior officials "involved in torturing the Syrian people". "We will offer rewards to anyone who provides information about senior army and security officers involved in war crimes," rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now using his real name ...

26 Years Old Suspect Arrested After US Insurance Executive's Murder in New York

This is Beirut 2024-12-10 05:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States New York Murder

A 26-year-old man was arrested Monday over the targeted killing of a health insurance executive on the streets of New York, with investigators charging him with possession of fake IDs and a gun. Investigators continued to interrogate Luigi Mangione in connection with last week's brazen murder, which triggered a nationwide manhunt and global ...

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

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

Nawaf Salam 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)

Nawaf Salam 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 ...