Lebanon ceasefire begins, violations test fragile truce
The truce, brokered by the United States, is intended to halt cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Scenes of...
Geostrategy
Millions join ‘No Kings’ protests across US
More than 3,000 rallies were held across all 50 states, with participation estimates ranging from several million to as many...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Post-Assad Syria seeks peace; Erdogan pushes anti-terror agenda, US warns on Kurdish conflict
Barbara Leaf, Washington's top diplomat for the Middle East, told Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa of the "critical need to...
- On a recent tour to the region, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had stressed the need to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State group (IS) jihadists
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backed Assad's opponents, has stressed reconciliation and restoration of Syria's territorial integrity and unity
HRW accuses Israel of ‘acts of genocide’ for restricting Gaza water access
Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel of committing "acts of #genocide" in the Gaza Strip by damaging water infrastructure and...
- "Systematic nature" to deprive Gazans of water has "likely caused thousands of deaths"- HRW
- Israel also cut electricity supplies, attacked repair workers and blocked imports of repair materials
Geostrategy
UN urges ‘free and fair’ elections in Syria post-Assad ouster amid ongoing challenges
Turkey's Foreign Minister warned Syria's new government to address Kurdish militancy, signaling potential intervention if unresolved with tensions rising with...
- UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called for a massive aid boost by donor countries to respond to "this moment of hope" for Syria
- Years of civil war have also left the country heavily dependent on aid, deeply fragmented and desperate for justice and peace
UN envoy warns Syria conflict not over yet
United Nations' special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, referring to fighting between the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and...
- Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syrian military assets since Assad's overthrow
- Large-scale returns of refugees to Syria could destabilize the country further
Geostrategy
UN envoy warns Syria conflict persists as rebels seek international ties post-Assad ouster
The UN migration chief expressed concerns about large-scale refugee returns destabilizing Syria further, particularly affecting religious minorities who fled violence...
- The United Nations' special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Tuesday "there have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, before a ceasefire was brokered."
- Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syrian military assets since Assad's overthrow in what it says is a bid to prevent them falling into hostile hands
Syria since Assad’s overthrow: latest developments
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said that all rebel factions in Syria would "be disbanded and the fighters trained to...
- Assad denounced the country's new leaders as "terrorists"
- President Elect Trump said Turkey did an unfriendly takeover, without a lot of lives being lost
Jolani vows to disband rebel factions, integrate fighters into Syria’s Defence Ministry for unity
Jolani emphasized unity in Syria, advocating a social contract among religions for justice, while urging diplomats to lift sanctions to...
- Assad fled Syria on December 8, as rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured the capital Damascus, ending decades of dictatorship and years of civil war
- HTS leader Jolani has sought to reassure minorities at home and governments abroad that the country's interim leaders will protect all Syrians, as well as state institutions
Nations step up outreach to Syria’s post-Assad rulers
Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to engage with Syria's new interim rulers, just over a week after Islamist-led rebels...
- Diplomats have urged an inclusive new administration focused on nation-building and justice
- The interim government insists they will protect the rights of all Syrians, and the rule of law
Geostrategy
Israel approves plan aiming to double annexed Golan population, Saudi calls it ‘sabotage’ of Syria
The occupied Golan is home to about 23,000 Druze Arabs, whose presence predates the occupation and most of whom retain...
- The government had "unanimously approved" the 40 million shekel ($11 million) "plan for the demographic development of the Golan., Netanyahu office said
- Israel has occupied most of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau, since 1967 and annexed that area in 1981 in a move recognised only by the United States
Geostrategy
US contacts Syria’s HTS, Turkey reopens embassy, as Assad allies Iran and Russia face setbacks
The United States said Saturday it had made contact with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, despite previously designating the...
- US Secretary of State Blinken's comment on "direct contact" with the HTS rebels came despite the US having designated the group as terrorists
- While Blinken and other diplomats held talks on Syria in Aqaba, Jordan, Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus
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Lebanon ceasefire begins, violations test fragile truce
The truce, brokered by the United States, is intended to halt cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Scenes of...
Geostrategy
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Hamas wants to amend disarmament clause in Trump plan: source close to group leaders
Hamas negotiators held discussions Tuesday with Turkish, Egyptian and Qatari officials in Doha, the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss...
Geostrategy
US offers security guarantees to Qatar after Israel strikes: White House
Washington, United States -- The United States will regard "any armed attack" on Qatari territory as a threat to Washington...
Geostrategy
Israel issues ‘last’ warning for Gazans to flee main city as Hamas weighs truce plan
Israeli forces killed at least 46 people, including 36 in Gaza City. The deceased include two aid workers southwest of...
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Yemen’s Huthis take responsibility for attack on Dutch cargo ship
Sana, Yemen - Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on a Dutch cargo ship this week...
- The Iran-backed group, which holds swathes of territory in Yemen including the capital Sanaa, has said the attacks on commercial shipping are in support of Palestinians
- The cargo ship MV Minervagracht was hit by a projectile on Monday, wounding two people and sparking a fire, its owner said
Geostrategy
Trump gives Hamas ultimatum of ‘three to four days’ on Gaza deal
The plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, a disarmament of Hamas and...
- World powers, including Arab and Muslim nations, welcomed the proposal, but Hamas had yet to issue its response.
- Qatar, which hosts Hamas's exiled leadership, said it would hold a meeting with Hamas officials and Turkey later Tuesday.
Geostrategy
US sanctions on key Indian project in Iran take effect
US sanctions went into effect Monday on a major Indian port project in Iran, as President Donald Trump again showed...
- The sanctions on the Chabahar port come a day after wide UN sanctions also came back into force on Iran, as Trump, European allies and Israel have all targeted the country
- The first Trump administration issued a rare exemption in 2018 to allow Indian companies to keep developing Chabahar when the United States imposed sweeping unilateral sanctions