Qatar

Qatar Embassy Reopens in Damascus with Flag Raising

Qatar reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, 13 years after it was closed early in Syria's civil conflict, as foreign governments seek to establish ties with the country's new rulers. An AFP journalist saw Qatar's flag raised over the mission, making it the second nation, after Turkey, to officially reopen its embassy since Islamist-led ...

US Sees 'Cautious Optimism' on Reaching Gaza Ceasefire

The United States said Tuesday it felt "cautious optimism" on the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in the 14-month war in Gaza, although it acknowledged that similar hopes had been dashed before. Hamas on Tuesday said that talks mediated by Qatar were "serious and positive," a day after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the two ...

All (Diplomatic) Roads Lead to Damascus…

This influx appears oddly under the auspices of all the imaginable paradoxes that Syria embodies: international sanctions, foreign interferences (Turkish interventions, Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, etc.), and not least, the fact that talks are being held with the ruling coalition of rebels now in power, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham ...

Qatar Announces Embassy in Syria Will Reopen on Tuesday

Qatar's embassy to Syria is to resume operations on Tuesday, the Gulf emirate announced on Sunday as its diplomats visited the country and met with its transitional government following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. "Qatar announces the resumption of the work of its embassy in the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic starting the day after ...

Qatar Delegation to Visit Syria Sunday

A delegation from Qatar is due to visit Syria on Sunday for meetings with officials in its transitional government following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, a Qatari diplomat told AFP Friday. "The first Qatari delegation visit to Syria is expected to happen Sunday where they will take the necessary steps to reopen the embassy and ...

Renewed Hope for a Gaza Truce: Talks Gain Momentum in Doha

Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday to discuss a potential deal. This meeting is part of a renewed mediation effort after months of deadlock. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in a phone call on Wednesday with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin ...

Presidential Election Session Scheduled for January 9, Multiple Rounds Expected

The Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, confirmed on Wednesday that the Lebanese presidential electoral session, called by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, will begin on January 9. The session will proceed with multiple rounds of voting until a new president – a position that has remained vacant since October 2022 – is ...

Qatar Says to Reopen Embassy in Syria 'Soon'

Qatar said on Wednesday that it would soon reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus after president Bashar al-Assad's ouster in an Islamist-led rebel offensive. The Gulf country "will soon reopen its embassy in the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic after completing the necessary arrangements", foreign ministry spokesman Majed ...

Qatar in Contact with Syrian Islamist Group HTS

Qatari officials are in contact with the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, as well as other groups in Syria, an official briefed on the developments told AFP on Tuesday. "The Qataris have established the first channel of communication with HTS. Communication with HTS ...

Qatar: Assad 'Didn't Seize Opportunity' to Engage with Syrian People

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to engage with his people and address issues like the return of refugees during a period of calm in the country's war, Qatar's prime minister said Saturday. "Assad didn't seize these opportunities to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people, and we didn't see any serious movement, ...

Doha to Resume Its Role as Mediator in Israel-Hamas Talks

President-elect Donald Trump's new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Qatar and Israel to relaunch efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement on the release of hostages from Hamas, two Israeli media outlets, Haaretz and Times of Israel, reported on Thursday, citing sources close to the negotiators. This effort is being ...

Qatar Warns No Military Solution to Syria Civil War

Qatar said Tuesday that there was no military solution to the Syrian civil war, as the Damascus government scrambled to contain a rebel offensive now nearing its second week. The gas-rich Gulf state, which has remained an outspoken critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad even after his rehabilitation by most other Arab countries, called for a ...