What's Happening in Syria, and Why Is Trump Lifting Sanctions?
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Since the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, Syrians who endured more than half a century of state repression and 13 years of civil conflict finally have a reason for optimism.
Most of the country is now ruled by an interim government formed by an Islamist militia, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, whose surprise push into Damascus forced Assad and his family to flee to Russia. Where once the Assad regime muzzled political discourse by routinely imprisoning and torturing those who spoke out, a vigorous debate over Syria's future is now under way on street corners and in cafes across the country while the new leadership tries to restore order and coax other former rebel groups to join a new national army.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Putin should be arrested in Alaska not feted
Vladamir Putin is indicted by the International Criminal Court, accused of ordering the theft of thousands of children from Ukraine to be sold to childless couples in Russia. This charge is just the tip of a massive iceberg, and the war crimes of using chemical weapons and directly targeting civilians must surely be added. With others, I hunted down the evidence that Putin's 'puppet' in Syria, Bashar Al Assad was using chemical weapons against his own population, perhaps under the direction or certainly the knowledge of Putin, and the German government will arrest Assad on this charge, if he ever leaves the Kremlin's clutches. Hence, Putin should be arrested when he touches down in Alaska to meet the US president on Friday – not feted and lauded like some conquering hero, who seems to have a worryingly beguiling hold over the greatest dealmaker on the planet. The Russian leader has again stated that he has no interest in a peace deal which does not come with a huge swathe of Ukraine, some already illegally annexed and some still very much in Ukrainian hands. This is pretty minimalistic from the Russian dictator, as the original aim of his Special Military Operation was the complete subjugation of Ukraine. A few weeks ago, an article from the Russian State news agency RIA Novosti was headlined 'There is no other option: no one in Ukraine should be left alive', under a chilling image of the Grim Reaper hovering over destroyed Ukrainian tanks, below an apocalyptic red sky. This leaves doubt as to the aims of the Russian tyrant, whatever guff he might be peddling to the US leader. President Trump should know, or at least must be briefed on the Budapest Memorandum which the US, the UK and Russia signed in 1994 'guaranteeing' the safety and the integrity of the borders of Ukraine, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. What Trump and Putin appear to be suggesting as the basis for their discussions in Alaska is in direct contravention of this treaty. I agree with Ben Wallace, the excellent former defence minister, that if Zelensky is not in Alaska, then the UK's Prime Minister should be there to ensure that the Budapest Memorandum is adhered to in word and deed – and the 'gangster' and the 'real estate king', don't hatch some dreadful deal that completely ignores the rights and will of the Ukrainian people. So, President Trump, if you are the greatest dealmaker in the universe then arrest Putin in Alaska and the war in Ukraine will end on Friday. No doubt there are many in the Kremlin and certainly most of the Russian population who would support this, with their economy in freefall and the rank and file barely able to feed themselves. Those with money cannot travel to their previously beloved Mediterranean beach resorts, and even flying to Russian holiday spots is often disrupted by Ukrainian cyber and drone attacks. Russia might be making a few small gains on the frontlines in Ukraine, but Ukraine is making massive strategic gains deep in Russia, destroying 17 per cent of its oil industry, routinely grounding flights and destroying armaments factories. With a bit more help Mr President, they could probably send Mr Putin packing themselves! The US president must understand that Ukraine is not losing this war and Russia is not winning it, so he must not appease Putin for an easy peace deal to enhance his rather obnoxious desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. The only acceptable peace deal is one that is 'just' and acceptable to President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people – and at the moment neither appear to be represented in Alaska where their fate may well be determined. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Saved from militants, Timbuktu's famed manuscripts return home after 13 years in Mali's capital
BAMAKO, Mali — The Malian military government on Monday started returning home the historic manuscripts of Timbuktu that were spirited out of their fabled northern city when it was occupied by Al Qaeda-linked militants more than a decade ago. Islamist radicals destroyed more than 4,000 manuscripts, some dating back to the 13th century, after they seized Timbuktu in 2012, according to the findings of a United Nations expert mission. They also destroyed nine mausoleums and a mosque's door — all but one of the buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The majority of the documents dating back to the 13th century — more than 27,000 — were saved by the devotion of the Timbuktu library's Malian custodians, who carried them out of the occupied city in rice sacks, on donkey carts, by motorcycle, by boat and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The first batch of the manuscripts were brought to Timbuktu by plane from the capital of Bamako, authorities said, adding that the return was necessary to protect them from the threats of Bamako's humidity. The shipment consisted of more than 200 crates and weighed some 5.5 tons. The rest would be shipped in the coming days, officials said. About 439 miles from Bamako, Timbuktu sits on the edge of the Sahara desert and has a dry climate. For years, the local municipal and religious authorities have asked for the return of the manuscripts. Diahara Touré, Timbuktu's deputy mayor, said the famous documents are important to the local people as they 'reflect our civilization and spiritual and intellectual heritage.' 'This is the first stage' of the return, said Bilal Mahamane Traoré, a local official. In February, the military government made a commitment to return the manuscripts, according to Bouréma Kansaye, the Malian Minister of Higher Education. He described them as a 'legacy that bears witness to the intellectual greatness and crossroads of civilization' of the city of Timbuktu — 'a bridge between the past and the future.' 'We now have a responsibility to protect, digitize, study and promote these treasures so that they continue to enlighten Mali, Africa and the world,' Kansaye said during Monday's return ceremony. The manuscripts, which UNESCO has designated as part of the World Cultural Heritage, cover a myriad of subjects, including Islamic theology and jurisprudence, astronomy, medicine, mathematics, history and geography. They are a testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Mali and Songhai empires in West Africa. Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has long battled an insurgency by armed militants, including some allied with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Following two military coups, the ruling junta expelled French troops and instead turned to Russia for security assistance. Still, 13 years after the occupation of Timbuktu, the security situation in Mali remains precarious and analysts say it has worsened in recent months. Although the city is back under government control, militants continue attacking its surroundings, including as recently as last month. Ahmed writes for the Associated Press.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
Wave of arrests in Mali targets soldiers accused of plotting against junta leader
Mali's complicated political terrain has been jolted once more with the alleged arrest of several dozen soldiers, including two high-ranking generals, over the weekend. Allegations emerged of a coup attempt in Mali, resulting in the arrest of several military personnel, including high-ranking officials. The arrests highlight deepening tensions within Mali's junta led by General Assimi Goïta. The military administration has yet to provide an official statement regarding these detentions. The arrests were tied to an apparent coup attempt to destabilize the institutions of the Sahel nation. According to security and political sources, the arrests were carried out in a massive nighttime operation targeting troops accused of attempting to depose Mali's military leadership. The detentions are anticipated to continue in the coming days, highlighting growing internal tensions within the junta. "Since three days ago, there have been arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions. There have been at least around 20 arrests," a Malian security source told AFP. Another source within the Malian army spoke of an "attempt at destabilisation", adding: "We have gone ahead with the necessary arrests". Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti area, and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women to reach the highest levels of the Malian army, are among those purportedly detained. A BBC source, however, debunked the claim, noting that the generals in question may not have been apprehended. The military administration has yet to release a formal statement regarding the arrests. Mali's recent political landscape Mali's current administration, commanded by General Assimi Goïta, took power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021, removing the previous civilian-led government amid growing unhappiness with instability. Relations with France, Mali's former colonial ruler, deteriorated as the junta accused Paris of failing to adequately combat Islamist organizations. Bamako made a strategic shift, turning to new friends, most notably Russia. The contentious deployment of Russian paramilitary soldiers, initially through the Wagner Group and now through its replacement, the Africa Corps, has aided the army's counterinsurgency operations while also drawing condemnation from Western countries and human rights organizations.
