UN Considers Response to Israeli Move to Build a Military Compound on Site of Relief Agency
The United Nations is considering how to respond to Israel's announcement that it will build a military complex on the former headquarters of the UN relief agency for Palestinians in east Jerusalem, an official said Tuesday. Israel at the weekend announced the government's approval for a defense mi»»»
UN considers response to Israeli move to build a military compound on site of relief agency
DAMASCUS: The United Nations is considering how to respond to Israel’s announcement that it will build a military complex on the former headquarters of the UN relief agency for Palestinians in east Jerusalem, an official said Tuesday. Israel at the weekend announced the government’s approval for a »»»
Jordan's renewed war on drugs comes with political undertones
At the start of May, Jordan launched several airstrikes into neighbouring southern Syria, targeting facilities it deemed key assets for drug smugglers operating along the Syrian-Jordanian border. Jordanian warplanes struck warehouses and even residential buildings believed to shelter stockpiled dru»»»
EU removes key Syrian ministries from sanctions list
LONDON: The EU removed sanctions against seven Syrian government entities on Monday, including the defense and interior ministries. The move will “support the strengthening of the EU’s engagement with Syria,” the European Council said. The council also said that it was extending sanctions targeting»»»
Syria to Join G7 Finance Talks in Paris in Sign of Growing Status
Syria will take part in a closed-door session with G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Paris on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said, in a sign of its growing status less than two years after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Syrian Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh is expected t»»»
EU Renews Restrictions on People Involved in former Syria Administration under Assad
The European Union has decided to renew restrictions on individuals and entities linked to the former Syrian administration run by Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December 2024. "The EU considers that networks linked to the former al-Assad regime continue to retain influence and pose a risk of »»»
Syria to join G7 finance talks in Paris in sign of growing status
RIYADH: Syria will take part in a closed-door session with G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Paris on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said, in a sign of its growing status less than two years after the ousting of Bashar Assad. Syrian Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh is expe»»»
Is Anger at Iran Beginning to Spread Among Lebanon’s Shiites?
Growing frustration is emerging within Lebanon’s Shiite community, extending beyond the traditional political discourse of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to target Iran directly, as many residents feel the war launched in support of Tehran ended in the destruction of their villages, the displaceme»»»
Sharaa, Barrack Discuss Syrian, Regional Developments
US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack hailed on Sunday the “remarkable” progress that has been achieved in Syria over the past year. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received the envoy in Damascus on Sunday after which Barrack said: “Syria is now a laboratory for a new re»»»
Syria Names New Central Bank Governor
Syria named a new central bank governor on Friday in the latest reshuffle since last week's partial government overhaul. The official SANA news agency said Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa named Abdul Hamid Raslan, a longtime banker and former head of the Syrian Development Fund, to the role. He wi»»»
Syria appoints Safwat Raslan as central bank governor, Husriyeh named envoy
RIYADH: Syria has appointed Safwat Raslan, head of the Syrian Development Fund, as central bank governor while former Governor Abdelkader Husriyeh was named ambassador to Canada, state media reported on Friday. Reuters reported earlier on Friday, citing two people in Syrian banking sector, that »»»
Syria’s recovery could be a ‘success story’ if the world acts, Security Council told
NEW YORK CITY: Syria remains at a “critical, yet promising” juncture, the UN warned on Friday, as senior officials told the Security Council that progress on efforts related to accountability, recovery and the return of refugees risk being undermined by insecurity and economic hardship, coupled wit»»»
UN envoys highlight progress, major challenges in Syria’s transition
New York, May 15 (SANA) The UN Security Council heard a stark picture of Syria on Friday, with deputy special envoy Claudio Cordone and humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stressing both progress toward accountability and persistent humanitarian shortages. Claudio Cordone told the Council that there is»»»
Morocco and Syria Establish Joint Business Council
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani reopened on Thursday his country’s embassy in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The FM was on an official visit to the kingdom at the head of a ministry delegation. He met with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, hailing the historic ties between their count»»»
Syrian Hospitals Turned Into Torture Chambers, with Tishreen Military Hospital as a Model
Asharq Al-Awsat collected harrowing testimonies from survivors of “deliberate liquidation” operations carried out against detained opponents at Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus and other military hospitals during the years of the Syrian revolution. They described torture methods and killing t»»»
Syrian foreign minister raises his country’s flag to officially reopen embassy in Morocco
LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic officially reopened its embassy in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, on Thursday after a hiatus of nearly 14 years. Morocco severed diplomatic ties with Syria and declared the country’s ambassador persona non grata in 2012, following the brutal suppression by former pres»»»
Middle East Matters - Syria: Prosecuting Assad-era security officials
The new Syrian administration is trying to provide justice for the tens of thousands tortured and hundreds of thousands more killed by the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. But is enough being done to investigate and prosecute those accused? Some tentative steps have been taken. A trial is»»»
Amnesty calls for 'war crimes' probe into Israeli destruction of south Syria homes
Amnesty International said on Thursday that the Israeli army's destruction of civilian homes in southern Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad should be investigated as "war crimes". Israel moved its forces into a UN-patrolled demilitarised zone on the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan»»»
Amnesty calls for ‘war crimes’ probe into Israeli destruction of south Syria homes
DAMASCUS: Amnesty International said on Thursday that the Israeli army’s destruction of civilian homes in southern Syria since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar Assad should be investigated as “war crimes.”Israel moved its forces into a UN-patrolled demilitarized zone on the Israeli-occupied Syrian»»»
UN Food Agency Halves Syria Food Aid, Halts Bread Subsidy Over Funding Shortages
The World Food Program said on Wednesday it had halved emergency food assistance in Syria due to funding shortages, warning that millions remained vulnerable despite signs of stabilization in parts of the country. The UN agency's biggest donor, the United States, has slashed its foreign aid under »»»
TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips Sign Deal to Review Offshore Block in Syria
French oil major TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips have signed a deal with the Syrian Petroleum Company to launch a technical review of the offshore Block 3 area near the Syrian city of Latakia, TotalEnergies said on Tuesday. The memorandum of understanding “covers a technical review by»»»
Syria arrests former Assad-era air force chief of staff
DAMASCUS: Syrian authorities said Tuesday that they had arrested a former air force chief of staff under Bashar Assad who was sanctioned by the European Union including for his role in chemical attacks. Since Assad’s December 2024 overthrow, Syria’s new Islamist authorities have periodically announ»»»
Syria Arrests Former Assad-era Air Force Chief of Staff
Syrian authorities said Tuesday that they had arrested a former air force chief of staff under Bashar al-Assad who was sanctioned by the European Union including for his role in chemical attacks. Since Assad's December 2024 overthrow, Syria's new authorities have periodically announced the arrest o»»»
ISIS Claims Deadly Attack on Syrian Government Forces
ISIS claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack in eastern Syria that killed two Syrian army soldiers, the militant group's first deadly operation against the Syrian government since February. Monday's attack in the eastern province of Hasakah points to the lingering threat posed by ISIS as Pr»»»
Daesh claims deadly attack on Syrian government forces
DAMASCUS: Daesh claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack in eastern Syria that killed two Syrian army soldiers, the militant group’s first deadly operation against the Syrian government since February. Monday’s attack in the eastern province of Hasakah points to the lingering threat posed b»»»
Arafat and Tehran: From Revolutionary Embrace to Open Hostility
Yasser Arafat was the first foreign leader to visit Iran after Khomeini’s 1979 Iranian Revolution. At the time, he believed the Palestinian cause was gaining a powerful new ally in revolutionary Iran, which immediately closed the Israeli embassy and handed it over to the Palestine Liberation Organi»»»
UAE has its sights set on investing in free zones in Syria
RIYADH: The UAE and Syria are looking toward a new phase of economic cooperation aimed at transforming ideas and investment opportunities into joint projects on the ground, including the development of free zones in Syria, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al-Zeyoudi said. This comes as»»»
EU Ministers Agree to Lift the Sanctions on Syria's Interior and Defense Ministers
European Union foreign ministers reached an agreement on Monday to lift the sanctions on Syria's interior and defense ministers, EU's foreign chief Kaja Kallas said. Earlier on Monday, EU foreign ministers had already agreed to restore improved trade ties with Syria, reinstating a coopera»»»
EU envoy: Brussels forum signals Syria’s full return to European partnership
Brussels, May 11 (SANA) The Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Syria, Michael Ohnmacht, said Monday that the Syria Partnership Coordination Forum in Brussels marks an important step toward strengthening coordination between Syria and donor countries on social and economic recovery. Speaking »»»
Al-Shaibani says Syria seeks long-term partnership with EU at Brussels forum
LONDON: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani said that the country was entering a new phase centered on economic recovery and the rebuilding of institutions during the opening of the EU-Syria Partnership Coordination Forum in Brussels on Monday. “Syria today is not asking the world to s»»»