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Ceasefire Order Fails to Halt Fighting in Syria's Druze Heartland

This is Beirut, 19/07 17:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syrian Bedouin and their allies fought Druze fighters in the community's Sweida heartland for a seventh day Saturday despite a ceasefire ordered by the government following a US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military intervention. AFP correspondents reported clashes in the west of the provincial capital as Druze fighters battled ...

New Clashes Rock Syria's Druze Heartland as Tribal Fighters Reinforce Bedouin

This is Beirut, 19/07 00:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Sweida Syria Druze SOHR

Armed tribes supported by Syria's Islamist-led government clashed with Druze fighters in the community's Sweida heartland on Friday, a day after the army withdrew under Israeli bombardment and diplomatic pressure. The United Nations called for an end to the "bloodshed" and demanded an "independent" investigation of the ...

Arab Tribes Warn Against Spreading Sweida Conflict to Lebanon

This is Beirut, 18/07 15:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Sweida Lebanon Tribes Syria Conflict Druze

The Arab tribes of Khaldeh and Mount Lebanon released a firm statement on Friday condemning the violence in Syria’s Sweida province, describing it as a “dangerous sedition” that threatens Syria’s unity and could spill into Lebanon. In a heartfelt appeal, the tribes addressed their Syrian counterparts, especially those in Sweida and Daraa, ...

Baabda Hosts Security Meeting to Address Prison Overcrowding

This is Beirut, 18/07 15:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Joseph Aoun prisons Syria Sweida

President Joseph Aoun chaired a ministerial and security meeting on Friday morning at the Presidential Palace, primarily focused on the situation in Lebanese prisons and the aggravating issue of overcrowding. The participants discussed urgent measures to address the saturation of detention facilities, particularly concerning judicial procedures, ...

When Sweida Exposes Lebanon’s Fault Lines: What’s at Stake for the Country?

Sana Richa Choucair, 18/07 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Druze Sweida Syria Lebanon

Clashes between Druze groups and government forces backed by tribal militias in the Syrian city of Sweida have claimed more than 500 lives since Sunday. Alongside this unprecedented wave of violence in this southern region, several Lebanese municipalities, mostly in Druze villages, have introduced preventive measures against foreigners, especially ...

UN Rights Chief Urges Prompt Probe Into Syrian Violence

This is Beirut, 18/07 14:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Sweida UN Syria

The United Nations rights chief demanded on Friday that Syria's interim authorities ensure accountability after days of deadly clashes in the southern city of Sweida that reportedly left hundreds dead. "This bloodshed and the violence must stop and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority," Volker Turk said in a ...

Syria Tribes Clash with Druze Fighters Near Sweida: Combatants, Monitor

This is Beirut, 18/07 13:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Sweida Syria Tribes Druze

Armed tribes supported by Syria's Islamist-led government clashed with Druze fighters outside Sweida Friday a day after government troops withdrew from the Druze-majority city, the warring parties and a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "clashes west of Sweida pitting tribal fighters and Bedouin supported by ...

Sharaa's Pullout From Syria Druze Heartland Exposes Shaky Leadership

This is Beirut, 18/07 12:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Israel Druze Ahmad al-Sharaa

Under Israeli bombardment and diplomatic pressure, Ahmed al-Sharaa pulled troops from Syria's Druze heartland -- a move that exposes the interim leader's weakness just as he sought to assert control. Since seizing office in December after ousting longtime autocrat Bashar al-Assad, Sharaa has worked to recast himself from jihadist to statesman, ...

Syria: Bedouin Tribes Mobilize, Damascus Redeploys Troops, Israel Delivers Humanitarian Aid

This is Beirut, 18/07 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Syria Druze bedouin mobilization Israel

Tensions continue to rise in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida in southern Syria. A spokesperson for the Syrian Interior Ministry said that government forces were preparing to redeploy to the city of Sweida in order to put an end to the ongoing clashes between Druze and Bedouin communities. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon ...

Lebanon-Cyprus Maritime Border Talks Reach Critical Stage

Bassam Abou Zeid, 18/07 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cyprus Lebanon Syria Oil economy exploration gas maritime borders

Lebanon’s push to revive oil and gas exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone remains stuck in limbo. Political gridlock and regional volatility have stalled progress, and even French energy giant TotalEnergies – holder of the license for Block 9 – has yet to take any operational steps or issue public statements. The only current movement ...

Erdogan Accuses Israel of Using Druze as Pretext to Expand Into Syria

This is Beirut, 17/07 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Erdogan Druze Syria Sweida

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday accused Israel of using the Druze minority in Syria as a pretext for expanding into the war-torn country. "Israel, using the Druze as an excuse, has been expanding its banditry into neighboring Syria over the past two days," Erdogan said in a televised speech after the weekly cabinet meeting. "I ...

Kurdish Official Urges Damascus to 'Review' Minorities Approach

This is Beirut, 17/07 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Syria Minorities

A Kurdish official on Thursday urged Syria's new authorities to rethink their approach to the country's minorities following deadly clashes with Druze fighters in the south. Syrian government forces withdrew from the Sweida province overnight on Wednesday following deadly clashes with Druze militants. Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in ...

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