This is Beirut - Damascus

Blinken to Meet Europeans on Syria Pathway

This is Beirut, 06/01 10:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Barbara Leaf US Secretary of State Damascus

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his European counterparts Thursday in Rome on Syria, as the West looks to engage the new Islamist-led leadership. Blinken will "meet with European counterparts to advocate for a peaceful, inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition", a State Department statement said as he visited ...

New Syria Foreign Minister Begins First Visit to UAE

This is Beirut, 06/01 10:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Damascus Saudi Arabia

Syria's new foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani landed in the United Arab Emirates Monday on his first visit to the country since rebels toppled president Bashar al-Assad last month, official news agency SANA said. "Shibani, accompanied by defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, has arrived in the United Arab ...

Syria Monitor Reports Blasts at Arms Depots Near Damascus

This is Beirut, 05/01 18:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

SOHR Syria Damascus

A Syria war monitor said explosions on Sunday rocked an area near Damascus housing weapons depots used by the toppled government of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the blasts in Kisweh, south of the Syrian capital, may be the result of an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military, which has struck many ...

Syrian Ministers Arrive on First Visit to Qatar

This is Beirut, 05/01 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Gulf Turkey United Arab Emirates

Ministers from Syria's transitional government arrived in Qatar on Sunday for their first visit to the Gulf state since the toppling of president Bashar al-Assad last month, officials and news agency SANA said. The interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, was accompanied by defence minister Morhaf Abu Kasra and the new head of intelligence, ...

Syria Says International Flights to and from Damascus to Resume Tuesday

This is Beirut, 04/01 15:48 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Syria

Syria said on Saturday the country's main airport in Damascus would resume international flights starting next week after such commercial trips were halted following last month's ousting of president Bashar al-Assad. "We announce we will start receiving international flights to and from Damascus International Airport from" ...

French and German FMs in Damascus on First High-Level Visit

Lyne Sammouri, 03/01 17:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Damascus

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus on Friday, marking the highest-level visit so far by major Western powers to Syria.

Lebanese Nationals Barred From Entering Syria, Investigation Underway

This is Beirut, 03/01 14:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Lebanese Army

Several Lebanese nationals were denied entry into Syria at the Masnaa border crossing on Thursday, taken aback by strict conditions newly imposed by Syrian authorities. A senior official from the Lebanese General Security (SG) stated to the local channel MTV on Friday that the department had not been informed of these new measures. According to ...

Top European diplomats urge inclusive transition in Syria visit

This is Beirut, 03/01 12:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Europe European Union

The European Union backs a peaceful, inclusive transition in Syria, top French and German diplomats said Friday as they visited Damascus to meet with new leader Ahmed al-Chareh. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock were in the Syrian capital for talks on behalf of the European Union, in the ...

Czech Republic Reopens Damascus Embassy to Help US

This is Beirut, 03/01 12:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Damascus Israel Middle East

The Czech Republic, whose embassy has represented the United States in Syria since 2012, has reopened its mission after closing it last month following a coup that toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Czech Republic has represented the US and other Western countries in Syria after nations closed their embassies because of civil war. "We ...

Syria's Top Diplomat Visits Saudi Arabia to Strengthen Relations

This is Beirut, 02/01 10:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Gulf Saudi Arabia Syria

Syria's top diplomat said he hoped to open a "new, bright page" with Saudi Arabia upon arriving in the kingdom Wednesday, the first foreign visit for Syria's new rulers, who seized power last month. "I have just arrived in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by the Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra and the ...

Saudi Arabia Launches Humanitarian Air Bridge to Syria

This is Beirut, 01/01 12:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria Saudi Arabia Air bridge Damascus

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday launched a humanitarian air bridge to Syria, delivering food, shelter, and medical supplies, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The air bridge, established by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), aims to "alleviate the effects of the difficult conditions currently facing the Syrian ...

Syria Welcomes the New Year With Hope After Assad's Fall

This is Beirut, 01/01 11:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Damascus Bashar al-Assad New Year

Umayyad Square in Damascus hummed to the throngs of people brandishing "revolution" flags as Syria saw in the new year with hope following 13 years of civil war. Gunshots rang out from Mount Qasioun overlooking the capital, where hundreds of people gazed up at fireworks, an AFP reporter at the square saw. It was the first new year's celebration ...