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Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin clans in Syria kill more than 30 people
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Clashes between local militias and clans in Syria's Sweida province have killed more than 30 people and injured nearly 100, and government forces were being sent to the area to restore order, authorities said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 37 people killed, including two children, in the clashes between armed groups from the Druze religious minority and Sunni Bedouin clans around the province. The U.K.-based war monitor reported that military convoys were sent to the area to reinforce security checkpoints. The observatory said the clashes had started after a series of kidnappings between both groups, which began when members of a Bedouin tribe in the area set up a checkpoint where they attacked and robbed a young Druze man. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the observatory, said the conflict started with the kidnapping and robbery of a Druze vegetable seller, leading to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings. Syria's defense and interior ministries were deploying personnel to the area to attempt to restore order. The interior ministry in a statement called the situation a dangerous escalation that 'comes in the absence of the relevant official institutions, which has led to an exacerbation of the state of chaos, the deterioration of the security situation, and the inability of the local community to contain the situation despite repeated calls for calm.' Factions from the Druze minority have been suspicious of the new authorities in Damascus after former President Bashar Assad fell in a lightning rebel offensive led by Sunni Islamist insurgent groups in December. Earlier this year, Druze groups in Sweida clashed with security forces from the new government. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south. The Druze developed their own militias during the country's nearly 14-year civil war. Since Assad's fall, different Druze factions have been at odds over whether to integrate with the new government and armed forces.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
German minister to press Hegseth on arms supplies, missile deployment
By Sabine Siebold BERLIN (Reuters) -German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius heads to Washington on Monday to meet U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to seek clarity on American arms supplies to Ukraine, missile deployment plans and the future of U.S. troop levels in Europe. Pistorius is likely to receive a warm reception as Europe's biggest economy recently emerged as a key player in NATO's largest military build-up since the Cold War, having for decades lagged behind in defence spending. As European officials fret over a possible future attack from Russia and brace for a drawdown of U.S. forces, Germany loosened its constitutional debt brake to meet NATO's new core military spending target of 3.5% of national output by 2029. The move will boost German defence spending to 162 billion euros ($189 billion) in 2029 from 95 billion euros in the draft budget for 2025. At a meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon, Pistorius will discuss Berlin's offer to pay for American Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, a proposal made public by Chancellor Friedrich Merz weeks ago after private discussions failed to elicit a response from Washington. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine. He did not give a number, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union. Germany has already donated three Patriot units to Kyiv, as Ukraine endures some of the heaviest Russian attacks in recent weeks. However, European allies remain uneasy about the new U.S. administration's unpredictable stance on arms supplies. On Tuesday, Trump said he had approved sending defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, just days after the Pentagon halted shipments of critical arms to Ukraine. Pistorius will also seek clarity on whether Washington remains committed to temporarily deploying long-range missiles to Germany from 2026, as agreed under former President Joe Biden. The deployment would include systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles) and the developmental hypersonic weapon Dark Eagle with a range of around 3,000 km. Russia has criticised the plans as a serious threat to its national security and dismissed NATO concerns that it could attack an alliance member. Another key issue will be an ongoing review of the U.S. force posture worldwide that could lead to troop cuts in Europe where around 80,000 U.S. soldiers serve, including some 40,000 in Germany. European allies are urging Washington to ensure any drawdown is coordinated to prevent capability gaps that might leave NATO members vulnerable to Russian aggression. ($1 = 0.8555 euros)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
German minister to press Hegseth on arms supplies, missile deployment
By Sabine Siebold BERLIN (Reuters) -German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius heads to Washington on Monday to meet U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to seek clarity on American arms supplies to Ukraine, missile deployment plans and the future of U.S. troop levels in Europe. Pistorius is likely to receive a warm reception as Europe's biggest economy recently emerged as a key player in NATO's largest military build-up since the Cold War, having for decades lagged behind in defence spending. As European officials fret over a possible future attack from Russia and brace for a drawdown of U.S. forces, Germany loosened its constitutional debt brake to meet NATO's new core military spending target of 3.5% of national output by 2029. The move will boost German defence spending to 162 billion euros ($189 billion) in 2029 from 95 billion euros in the draft budget for 2025. At a meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon, Pistorius will discuss Berlin's offer to pay for American Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, a proposal made public by Chancellor Friedrich Merz weeks ago after private discussions failed to elicit a response from Washington. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine. He did not give a number, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union. Germany has already donated three Patriot units to Kyiv, as Ukraine endures some of the heaviest Russian attacks in recent weeks. However, European allies remain uneasy about the new U.S. administration's unpredictable stance on arms supplies. On Tuesday, Trump said he had approved sending defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, just days after the Pentagon halted shipments of critical arms to Ukraine. Pistorius will also seek clarity on whether Washington remains committed to temporarily deploying long-range missiles to Germany from 2026, as agreed under former President Joe Biden. The deployment would include systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles) and the developmental hypersonic weapon Dark Eagle with a range of around 3,000 km. Russia has criticised the plans as a serious threat to its national security and dismissed NATO concerns that it could attack an alliance member. Another key issue will be an ongoing review of the U.S. force posture worldwide that could lead to troop cuts in Europe where around 80,000 U.S. soldiers serve, including some 40,000 in Germany. European allies are urging Washington to ensure any drawdown is coordinated to prevent capability gaps that might leave NATO members vulnerable to Russian aggression. ($1 = 0.8555 euros) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
