World

Netanyahu Welcomes Assad's Fall, Reaffirms Israel's Hold on Golan Heights

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 21:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Middle East Benjamin Netanyahu USA Syria

A new chapter has unfolded in the Middle East following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the outset of a press conference in Jerusalem, his first in 99 days. Highlighting Iran's extensive financial and military support for Assad, Netanyahu emphasized the regime's brutality towards its own ...

Syria: Blinken Warns Against ISIS Resurgence and Fragmentation

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 21:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Antony Blinken United States Syria ISIS

The United States is determined to prevent the Islamic State group from reestablishing safe havens in Syria, as well as the fragmentation of the country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday. "ISIS will try to use this period to reestablish its capabilities, to create safe havens. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we ...

Israel Orders Military to Take Control of Bufferzone in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:43 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Syria Katz

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that his country's military takeover of the buffer zone along its border with Syria was a temporary move, after Islamist-led rebels took control in Syria. "This is a limited and temporary step we took for security reasons," Saar said in a press conference at the foreign ministry ...

European Countries Suspend Syrian Asylum Decisions After Assad’s Fall

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:39 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus European Union

Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and several Nordic countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Vienna signalled it would soon deport ...

Mohammad al-Bashir to Lead Syria’s Transition After Assad’s Fall

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Turkey

Mohammad al-Bashir, a prominent figure in the administration led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been named Syria’s new Prime minister, according to reports on Monday. Al-Bashir previously headed the ‘Salvation’ Government, an HTS-affiliated authority that governed parts of northwestern Syria, including Idlib. Reports ...

Syria Rebels and Caretaker PM Discuss Power Transition Post-Assad

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Syria HTS

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met with caretaker Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali and discussed the "transfer of power", the rebels said Monday, a day after toppling president Bashar al-Assad. Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, met Jalali "to coordinate a transfer of power that guarantees the provision of ...

Turkey to Reopen Syrian Border Gate to Support Refugee Return

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 20:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pledged to reopen a border post on Turkey's southern frontier with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. "In order to ease the traffic at the border, we're opening the Yayladagi border gate," Erdogan said, referring to a crossing on the westerly edge of the ...

SpotlightThe King Is Dead, Long Live the King

Sana Richa Choucair 2024-12-09 18:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus

The 54-year-old Assad regime collapsed following an 11-day swift rebel offensive, launched without bloodshed. The country seems to be surfing the waves of change like a sailboat that has suddenly changed course. "Free elections," "the will of the people," "cooperation"—a political discourse at odds with that of the man who was overthrown. On ...

What Political Governance for Post-Assad Syria? (2/2)

Ali A. Hamadé 2024-12-09 17:40 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel Turkey Syria Iran Russia

Now that Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime has been overthrown, imagining what the “day after” might look like remains a challenge. Even more uncertain is the model of governance that could take shape in a post-Assad Syria. The rebel factions, collectively referred to as the “opposition forces,” form a disparate, profoundly ...

Syria Central Bank Assures Depositors Their Funds Are 'Safe'

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 16:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Damascus

Syria's central bank said Monday depositors' funds in the country's lenders were "safe" after rebels took the capital, and following chaotic scenes near some official institutions. "We assure our fellow citizens dealing with all operating banks that their deposits and funds at these banks are safe and have not been and will not be exposed to any ...

UN Watchdog Warns Syria to Safeguard Chemical Weapons Stockpiles

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 16:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus United Nations

The United Nations chemical watchdog OPCW said Monday it had warned Syrian authorities to make sure suspected stockpiles of chemical weapons were safe after the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The OPCW said it had contacted Syria "with a view to emphasising the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of all chemical ...

Hamas Calls for Unity and Celebrates Syrian People’s Resilience

This is Beirut 2024-12-09 16:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Syria

Hamas released a statement congratulating the Syrian people on their efforts to achieve freedom and justice, emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation in building a stable and prosperous future. In its message, Hamas praised the determination and resilience of the Syrian people, reaffirming its solidarity and commitment to Syria’s ...