All posts tagged: Damascus

Syria welcomes US decision to ease Assad-era sanctions as ‘positive step’ | World News

Syria welcomes US decision to ease Assad-era sanctions as ‘positive step’ | World News

Syria considers the move by the Trump administration to ease sanctions imposed on the war-torn country as a “positive step” to ease humanitarian and economic suffering, its foreign ministry said Saturday. In a statement, the ministry said Syria “extends its hand” to anyone that wants to cooperate with Damascus, on the condition that there is no intervention in the country’s internal affairs. The statement came after the Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions on Friday in a major first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 14 years of civil war. Story continues below this ad Thomas Barrack , the US ambassador to Turkey who has also been appointed as special envoy for Syria, met with Syria’s president and foreign minister during their visit to Turkey on Saturday, adding the President Ahmad al-Sharaa welcomed Washington’s “fast action on lifting sanctions.” “President Trump’s goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive,” …

Syria’s driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus | World News

Syria’s driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus | World News

BARADA VALLEY, Syria — Inside a mountain above the Syrian capital, Hassan Bashi walked through tunnels that used to be filled with water from a spring famous for its pure waters. Syria’s driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus The spring rises inside the ruins of a Roman temple in the Barada Valley and flows toward Damascus, supplying the city with drinking water for thousands of years. Normally, during the winter flood season, water fills all the tunnels and washes over much of the temple. Now, there is only a trickle of water following the driest winter in decades. Bashi, who is a guard but also knows how to operate the pumping and water filtration machines in the absence of the engineer in charge, displayed an old video on his cell phone of high waters inside the ruins. “I have been working at the Ein al-Fijeh spring for 33 years and this is the first year it is that dry,” Bashi said. The spring and the Barada River that …

Sharaa Warms Up to Assad Allies? Russia Flies Cash To Syria, Iran Reports “Messages” From New Regime

Sharaa Warms Up to Assad Allies? Russia Flies Cash To Syria, Iran Reports “Messages” From New Regime

CNN name, logo and all associated elements ® and © 2024 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. © Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2024. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

German, French foreign ministers meet Syria’s new rulers in Damascus | News Today News

German, French foreign ministers meet Syria’s new rulers in Damascus | News Today News

The foreign ministers of Germany and France said they wanted to forge a new relationship with Syria and urged a peaceful transition as they met its de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday on behalf of the European Union. Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot are the first ministers from the EU to visit Syria since rebels seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8 and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war, ending his family’s decades-long rule. Their trip is meant to send a message of cautious optimism to the Islamist rebels led by Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), showing an openness to acknowledging the new rulers while also urging moderation and respect for minorities’ rights. “Our message to Syria’s new leadership: respecting the principles agreed with regional actors and ensuring the protection of all civilians and minorities is of the utmost importance,” wrote Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, on social media platform X about the trip. The French and German ministers met …

Former Assad Forces Surrender Weapons to HTS Fighters in Damascus News18

Former Assad Forces Surrender Weapons to HTS Fighters in Damascus News18

Former Assad Forces Surrender Weapons to HTS Fighters in Damascus News18 NEWS18 NEWS18 Shanaya Kapoor Glowing Like An Angel In White! | B… NEWS18 Suhana Khan Bringing The Style In Her Black And Wh… NEWS18 Ananya Panday Serving Pure Hotness In Black! | Bol… NEWS18 The Power Couple Shahid Kapoor And Mira Rajput Arr… NEWS18 Katrina Kaif Arrives At NMACC Arts Centre In A Bea… NEWS18 Janhvi Kapoor Shines In Her Glittery Pink Mini Dre… NEWS18 All Smile: Ambani Family Shines In Stunning Stylis… NEWS18 Khushi Kapoor Looks Cute And Stunning In Navy Blue… NEWS18 Orry Looks Stylish In Khaki Pants And White Shirt,… NEWS18 Former Assad Forces Surrender Weapons to HTS Fight… NEWS18 The Laughter Queen-Bharti Singh Talks About Laught… NEWS18 Russia’s Kazan Hit By ‘Ukrainian Drones’, Resident… NEWS18 Fabulous Lives Shalini Passi Looks Serene In White… NEWS18 The OG ‘Hero No 1’ Govinda Has A Cute Interaction … NEWS18 Bolton Spills The Beans on Trump’s Bangladesh Poli… NEWS18 U.S. Interests in Syria: Former NSA John Bolton Se… NEWS18 Two Versatile Actors In One …

'Jolani Might Use Chemical Weapons' Israel Slams 'Whitewashing Of Syria Jihadis' As EU Woos HTS

'Jolani Might Use Chemical Weapons' Israel Slams 'Whitewashing Of Syria Jihadis' As EU Woos HTS

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister accused the head of the group that led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria of being “a wolf in (sheep’s) clothes.” Speaking at a press conference, Haskel held up a photo collage of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, showing him while a member of jihadist organisations. “I’m not sure that this person is not gonna misuse chemical weapons as well. Do you think it’s safe to keep it there in his hand? My answer will be no,” Haskel said. Western states are slowly engaging with Damascus’ new HTS-led authorities, though they still label the group as a terrorist organization. 00:00 – INTRODUCTION 03:27 – EU PLEDGES DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH HTS05:52 – ERDOGAN SAYS NO PLACE FOR TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS IN SYRIAn18oc_world n18oc_crux Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Four Indians stuck in Syria reach Delhi, thank embassy for evacuation efforts – India TV

Four Indians stuck in Syria reach Delhi, thank embassy for evacuation efforts – India TV

Image Source : ANI Indians evacuated from Syria reach Delhi Amid the political turmoil in Syria, four Indians, who were evacuated from Syria, arrived at Delhi Airport. Expressing happiness on reaching India, they praised the efforts undertaken by the Indian embassy to ensure their safe return. India has evacuated all nationals from Syria who wished to return home after rebel forces toppled President Bashar Assad’s government in the Arab nation. The unrest in the country saw the collapse of the Syrian government on Sunday as the rebels took control of the capital Damascus. The capturing of several other important cities and towns in Syria followed it. During interacting with reporters after reaching Delhi, one Indian national said, “I went there 15-20 days ago. We did not know this would happen. The Indian Embassy evacuated us. First, they took us to Lebanon and then Goa, and today we have reached Delhi. We are happy that we have reached our country. The Indian Embassy helped us a lot. They brought us on a bus from Syria to Lebanon …

Turkish Spy Chief in Damascus, Israel ‘Destroys 86% of Russian Air Defence Systems in Syria’

Turkish Spy Chief in Damascus, Israel ‘Destroys 86% of Russian Air Defence Systems in Syria’

Last Updated:December 13, 2024, 00:11 IST India Crux Israel declared total air superiority over Syria following an extensive bombing campaign that dismantled most of Syria’s air defence systems. The Israeli Air Force reported the destruction of 86% of Syria’s air defences, including Russian-made systems like SA-22 Pantsir-S1 and SA-17 Buk, which had posed challenges since 2013. This operation enabled Israel to strike Iranian and Hezbollah targets with fewer risks. Over 1,800 munitions were used to eliminate nearly all Syrian strategic military sites. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated the strikes aimed to prevent military equipment abandoned by Syria from falling into terrorists’ hands. International watchdogs, however, cautioned about potential risks to chemical weapons sites, highlighting contamination and loss of evidence concerns. Meanwhile, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin visited Damascus, joined by Qatar’s state security head, sparking speculation over Turkey’s growing role in post-Assad Syria. The G7 called for an inclusive, non-sectarian government in Syria and emphasised human rights protection during the country’s transition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reiterated Israel’s commitment to …

Rebels Torch Tomb of Assad's Father, Jolani Vows To Punish 'Torturers', New PM 'Guarantees Rights'

Rebels Torch Tomb of Assad's Father, Jolani Vows To Punish 'Torturers', New PM 'Guarantees Rights'

Syria’s rebel leader vowed not to pardon officials involved in torture, as families sought missing detainees after mass releases“We will not pardon those involved in torturing detainees,” Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani saidAl-Jolani also urged “countries to hand over any of those criminals who may have fled so they can be brought to justice.” Meanwhile, the tomb of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s father Hafez was torched in his hometown of Qardaha.00:00 -INTRODUCTION01:18 -TOMB OF ASSAD’S FATHER SET ON FIRE02:24 -NEW SYRIA PM SAYS ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS’ RIGHTS ‘GUARANTEED’03:07: SYRIA’S NEW ADMINISTRATION TAKES CONTROL OF DAMASCUS AIRPORT n18oc_world n18oc_crux Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Dungeons, Torture Chambers Exposed After Assad’s Fall In Syria

Dungeons, Torture Chambers Exposed After Assad’s Fall In Syria

Damascus: Syrians lived in terror for decades of what went on behind the concrete walls of Damascus’s security compound. Now the Assad dynasty has been toppled, its dungeons and torture chambers are giving up their secrets. Rebel fighters stand guard at the entrances to the forbidden city in the capital’s Kafr Sousa district, where the feared security services had their headquarters alongside government offices. The myriad of different agencies which kept tabs on the lives of ordinary Syrians each operated their own underground prisons and interrogation chambers inside the walled defence ministry compound. Syrians lived in fear of being summoned for a round of questioning from which they might never return. AFP found first responder Sleiman Kahwaji wandering around the complex this week trying to locate the building where he was questioned and then detained. He said he was still at secondary school when he was arrested in 2014 on suspicion of “terrorism”, a frequent allegation under the rule of now toppled president Bashar al-Assad, who brooked no dissent. ‘My dear mother’ “I spent 55 …