This is Beirut

Assad Ally Russia Says 'Terrorist Group' Cannot Be Allowed to Govern Syria

This is Beirut, 2024-12-07 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of a "terrorist group" as Islamist-led rebels advance on President Bashar al-Assad's seat of power. Lavrov spoke after talks in the Gulf state of Qatar on Saturday with fellow Assad ally Iran and opposition supporter Turkey aimed at ...

Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos

This is Beirut, 2024-12-07 15:26 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Doha Russia Turkey Iran Syria meeting

The top diplomats from Iran, Turkey and Russia met in Qatar on Saturday for talks on Syria, where rebel forces have taken parts of the country in a lightning offensive. After the discussions in Doha with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the parties agreed on the ...

Unholy Alliance: The Dark Forces of Iran and Russia Undermining the Middle East

Amal Chmouny, 2024-12-07 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Russia USA Middle East Washington

The relationship between Russia and Iran has always piqued interest, often characterized as a unique alliance shaped by the complex geopolitics of the Middle East. This partnership has been notably reinforced through their mutual support for the Assad regime in Syria, enabling both nations to strengthen their military and economic connections. ...

Syria: Government Forces Retreat on All Fronts

This is Beirut, 2024-12-06 23:22 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Damascus Hezbollah Syria HTS SOHR Russia

According to a security source in Damascus, rebels have taken control of three army and police posts in Sweida, and most of Deraa is no longer in the hands of the regime. Rebel forces pressing a lightning offensive in Syria aim to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's rule, their Islamist leader said in an interview published on Friday. The ...

Syria: Despite Assad's Appeal, Russian and Iranian Support Remains Shy

This is Beirut, 2024-12-06 18:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Syria Iran war Russia Bashar al-Assad

As Islamist rebel forces from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) approach the city of Homs, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad desperately needs the help of his Russian and Iranian allies. However, Moscow and Tehran's military resources are already stretched thin due to the war in Ukraine and numerous conflicts in the Middle East. According to experts ...

Romania's Top Court Scraps Presidential Election

This is Beirut, 2024-12-06 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Romania president elections constitutional court Russia

Romania's constitutional court announced on Friday that it had annulled the presidential election following allegations of Russian interference, effectively cancelling the second-round run-off that had been due to take place this weekend. Romanian authorities had cried foul after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round of ...

Russia and Ukraine to Attend Rare Joint Summit in Malta

This is Beirut, 2024-12-04 21:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Kyiv Ukraine Russia

Russia and Ukraine will send their foreign ministers to Malta this week for a summit of the OSCE, officials said Wednesday, in one of the few events attended by both countries since Moscow's Ukraine offensive began. The trip marks Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's first to an EU member since the start of the conflict in February 2022, and ...

Russia Finds Itself Caught Off-Balance in Syria

Cian Ward, 2024-12-04 18:02 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Hezbollah Turkey Syria Russia Iran

Syria’s 12-year Civil War has surged to the top of global news bulletins this week after rebel fighters – largely under the banner of Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – seized control of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, advancing to the outskirts of Hama, a key node linking Damascus to Syrian President Bashar ...

Ukraine Pushes NATO for Invite as Trump Rule Looms

This is Beirut, 2024-12-03 13:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine NATO Donald Trump Russia

Ukraine insisted Tuesday that NATO membership was the only "real guarantee" for its security as foreign ministers from the alliance looked set to rebuff Kyiv's push for an invite ahead of Donald Trump's return to the US presidency. Trump has vowed to press for a quick deal to end Russia's war, leaving Kyiv scrambling to position itself ahead of ...

Assad Claims Rebels Attempting to 'Redraw' Regional Map

This is Beirut, 2024-12-02 16:51 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Syria Bashar Assad Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Turkey Russia

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday branded an Islamist-led offensive that has captured swathes of territory an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests. His comments in a phonecall with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian came as Syria's military and its ally Russia launched deadly air raids on areas under ...

US, Russia, Iran, and Turkey Address Escalation in Syria

This is Beirut, 2024-12-01 10:04 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey Syria Russia Iran

The United States on Saturday said Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad lost control of Aleppo because of his reliance on Russia and Iran. Syria's "reliance on Russia and Iran," along with its refusal to move forward with a 2015 peace process outlined by the UN Security Council, "created the conditions now unfolding," National ...

Syrian Rebels Advance Towards Hama After Capturing Aleppo

This is Beirut, 2024-11-30 16:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Syria Russia Hezbollah

War monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that jihadists and allied rebel factions had taken most of Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, in a lightning offensive that left more than 320 dead, a crushing blow to Bashar al-Assad's rule. Syrian rebels are now advancing towards the city of Hama, claiming to already ...

Russia