Ahmad al-Sharaa

Syria Decrees Full Body Swimwear for Women on Public Beaches

Syria's new Islamist authorities said on Tuesday that women going to public beaches must wear burkinis or other "decent" clothes that cover the body, giving some private venues an exemption. In the largely conservative country, few women wear swimsuits that reveal their bodies. Six months after Islamist-led forces toppled longtime Syrian ruler ...

Plan to Repatriate Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Finalized (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Lebanese ministerial committee tasked with resolving the Syrian refugee crisis has finalized a comprehensive repatriation plan, which it intends to present to the Cabinet for approval in the coming days, Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who heads the committee, said the first phase of the voluntary return ...

Saudi Top Diplomat Says 'at Vanguard' of Efforts to Rebuild Syria

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan travelled to Damascus on Saturday, where he said his country would be at the forefront of efforts to rebuild Syria after nearly 14 years of civil war. Prince Faisal had landed in the Syrian capital earlier, alongside an economic delegation on a visit to discuss ways to support Syria's ...

Syrian President Tells Country Reconstruction Effort Has 'Just Begun'

Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, said in a speech on Tuesday that the country's post-war reconstruction had 'just begun,' calling on his people to unite. Sharaa was speaking at the "Aleppo, Key to Victory" event in said city, the first major population center to fall during the Islamist-led offensive that toppled longtime Syrian ruler ...

Trump Presses Syria Leader on Israel Ties after Lifting Sanctions

US President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday after visiting Riyadh, where he urged Syria's president to normalize relations with Israel after offering a major boost to the war-ravaged country by vowing to lift sanctions. Trump became the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader -- Ahmed al-Sharaa, an erstwhile Islamist ...

Trump Set to Meet Syrian Leader Ahead of Qatar Visit

Donald Trump is set to meet the leader of Syria and the heads of the Gulf states Wednesday in Riyadh before travelling to Qatar where controversy is swirling over the gifting of a luxury aircraft. The US president was set to "say hello" to Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during his last day in Riyadh, after vowing to remove sanctions against ...

Lebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead

France has stepped in decisively to take a leading role in the border demarcation process between Lebanon and Syria—an initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron during the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to France. According to French sources, Macron expressed his country’s readiness to provide both the Lebanese and Syrian ...

Macron Urges Washington to Quickly Lift Sanctions against Syria

Emmanuel Macron called on Wednesday for the United States to "rush to lift sanctions" against Syria, "with conditions," and to "maintain" its military operations against the Islamic State in the country. "The interest of everyone, including the Americans, is today (...) to act in support of lifting sanctions against the Syrian people," and "to ...

Syrian Leader Meets Macron in First European Visit

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday met French leader Emmanuel Macron on his first visit to Europe since overthrowing longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, despite alarm over deadly clashes that have overshadowed the new authorities' first months in power. Ahead of the high-profile talks at the Elysee Palace, Sharaa and his foreign minister ...

Joumblatt Meets Al-Sharaa, Calls for Accountability Over Tensions in Syria

In a surprise visit to the Syrian capital on Friday, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace. The private meeting marks a notable shift in regional political dynamics and comes amid rising tensions in southern Syria. Joumblatt left the palace without making any ...

Baghdad Divided Over Invitation of Syria's Interim President to Arab Summit

Several powerful pro-Iran Iraqi politicians have in recent days voiced opposition to a potential visit by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Iraq for the upcoming Arab League summit. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said earlier this week that Baghdad has invited al-Sharaa to attend the summit, scheduled to take place in the ...