
Turkey to help Syria with weapon systems, equipment under new accord, source says
Turkey, a NATO member, has been one of Syria's main foreign allies since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last year. It has vowed to help train and restructure Syria's armed forces, rebuild the country and its state institutions, and support efforts to protect Syrian territorial integrity.
"The memorandum aims to coordinate, plan military training and cooperation, provide consultancy, information and experience sharing, ensure the procurement of military equipment, weapon systems, logistical materials and related services," the Turkish Defence Ministry source told reporters on Thursday.
Reuters
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Nahar Net
7 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Trump-Putin summit: What we know
by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 August 2025, 11:14 Here are the outcomes of a summit meeting on Ukraine between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, based on statements from Saturday: - No ceasefire - Ukraine and European leaders had urged Trump to push for an immediate ceasefire, but this was not agreed to at the summit. Trump said it was determined by all that the best way to end the "horrific war... is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up". This stance appears to be a victory for Putin, whose army has made recent progress in eastern Ukraine and who has called for a peace deal that would address what he says are the "root causes" of the conflict, notably the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine. According to Kyiv, Russian forces launched 85 drones and one missile at Ukraine overnight Friday to Saturday -- including during the meeting -- while Russia claimed to have taken two more villages in the east of Ukraine. - No 'severe consequences' - Ahead of the summit, Trump had threatened "severe consequences" if Putin failed to agree to a ceasefire. Trump could impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on any country that helps Russia's war effort as part of so-called "secondary sanctions", according to Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham. But when asked about this by Fox News after the talks, Trump said that, "because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now". European leaders, meanwhile, said they would keep pressuring Russia, including with further sanctions, until "there is a just and lasting peace". - Nothing on land concessions - Ukraine's biggest fear ahead of the Alaska summit was that the United States would push it to give up territories currently occupied by Russia, which comprise around 20 percent of its land, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump expressed support during a call with Zelensky and European leaders after the summit for a proposal by Putin to take full control of two largely Russian-held Ukrainian regions in exchange for freezing the frontline in two others, an official briefed on the talks told AFP. Putin "de facto demands that Ukraine leave Donbas," an area consisting of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine, the source said. In exchange, Russian forces would halt their offensive in the Black Sea port region of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, where the main cities are still under Ukrainian control. - Security guarantees - Guarantees to secure any future peace deal were not mentioned in the Trump-Putin final declaration. But Trump told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders that a NATO-style guarantee for Kyiv could be on the table, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a diplomatic source said -- but without actual NATO membership for Ukraine. France, Britain and others said they could contribute troops as peace deal guarantors in Ukraine, but not on the frontline. - Possible three-way meeting - Trump said he would meet Zelensky in Washington on Monday, and said three-way talks between himself, Putin and Zelensky could be scheduled later. He had said earlier that a deal to end the war depended on Zelensky alone. But Zelensky said that Russia refusing to accept a ceasefire "complicates the situation", and questioned its willingness to achieve a lasting peace.


LBCI
20 hours ago
- LBCI
UNIFIL renewal talks progress as Lebanon hosts US officials: Here's what we know
Report by Nada Andraos, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian On the issue of renewing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate, diplomatic contacts are intensifying between Beirut and key capitals ahead of Morgan Ortagus' visit to Beirut on Sunday, accompanied by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack. Lebanon plans to deliver a clear message rejecting any changes to the peacekeeping force's mandate, insisting it remain as it was set in last year's renewal decision. The Lebanese position is based on two factors: UNIFIL's mission and its funding. Beirut has been in continuous contact with both the French and American sides, alongside a meeting held in Paris two days ago between the U.S. and France dedicated to discussing the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate. France, as the 'penholder' on Lebanon at the U.N. Security Council, is playing a key role. According to reports, Washington had insisted, until the Paris meeting, on introducing changes to the resolution and to UNIFIL's tasks. It is still unclear how the United States will respond to Lebanon's stance, though Beirut is counting on initial signs suggesting possible flexibility in Washington's position, which could be reflected during Ortagus and Barrack's visit. Britain, like France, supports keeping the mission unchanged. Lebanon will tell the American visitors that it is firmly committed to its position and that the Lebanese army will remain ready to work alongside UNIFIL in the south to ensure no incidents occur between the peacekeepers and local residents. Sources confirmed to LBCI that Lebanon will emphasize three key points to the U.S. officials. The first is that UNIFIL is a vital necessity for the south and a cornerstone in implementing Resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army's deployment along the border. The second is that the Lebanese state plans to increase troop numbers in the south by 4,500 soldiers, after having already added 1,500 earlier, bringing the total to around 10,000 by the end of this year. This expansion requires ongoing coordination with UNIFIL. The army has completed the first recruitment and training phase and is preparing for the second. The third is that UNIFIL is not only a military or security force, but also plays an essential social and humanitarian role, providing health care, education, and employment opportunities. This is especially critical after Israeli attacks destroyed most social and health centers in the south. Many Lebanese families, from the south and beyond, rely on jobs created by UNIFIL. As for funding, sources said that if Washington insists on cutting its contribution to U.N. agencies, including UNIFIL in Lebanon, Arab and European states are expected to step in and cover the shortfall. European officials have already assured all parties of their commitment to maintaining UNIFIL's presence, mandate, and budget without any reduction.


LBCI
20 hours ago
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Protesters in Syria's Druze heartland demand right to self-determination
Hundreds demonstrated in Syria's Sweida on Saturday, denouncing last month's sectarian violence and calling for the right to self-determination for the Druze-majority province, an AFP correspondent reported. A week of bloodshed began on July 13 with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin, but rapidly escalated, drawing in government forces and volunteers from other parts of Syria. Syrian authorities have said their forces intervened to stop the clashes, but witnesses, Druze factions, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have accused them of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses against the Druze, including summary executions. The Observatory has said the violence killed some 1,600 people, many of them Druze civilians. In one of Sweida's main squares, some demonstrators waved the Israeli flag, the correspondent reported. Israel, which has its own Druze community, bombed government forces during last month's violence, saying it was acting to defend the minority group as well as enforce its demands for the demilitarisation of southern Syria. Other protesters chanted "free free Sweida... Jolani out," referring to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose nom de guerre as an Islamist rebel commander was Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Some held placards, one reading "the right to self-determination is a sacred right for Sweida," while another demanded an aid corridor from neighbouring Jordan. "Today Sweida has taken a stand... under the slogan of the right to self-determination," resident Munif Rashid, 51, told AFP. "This is Sweida's position today, and no one can blame it because the assault it faced was not normal." A live broadcast by the Suwayda 24 news outlet showed a woman telling the applauding crowd: "We do not want self-administration or federal rule, we want full independence." Demonstrator Mustafa Sehnawi, who said he was a U.S.-Syrian dual national, told AFP: "We've been under siege for more than one month. We call on the international community... to open (humanitarian) corridors." Residents have accused the government of imposing a blockade, something officials have denied, pointing to the entry of several aid convoys. State media said another convoy entered the province on Saturday. But the Observatory said the main Damascus-Sweida highway was still cut, accusing armed groups linked to the government of blocking the resumption of normal trade. Last month, authorities announced the formation of a committee to investigate the Sweida violence. AFP