Iran, Syria Corner Israel At UNSC Over Damascus Strikes
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Protesters in Syria's Druze heartland demand govt forces withdraw
Hundreds gathered in Syria's Druze heartland on Friday to demand the withdrawal of government forces after deadly sectarian violence last month and the opening of an aid corridor from neighbouring Jordan. Sweida province has seen tough humanitarian conditions since week-long clashes killed around 1,400 people last month, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The United Nations says more than 175,000 displaced people have yet to return to their homes. The violence initially pitted Druze fighters against local Sunni Bedouin tribes but rapidly escalated, drawing in Syrian government forces as well as Israel, which bombed them. The Islamist-led interim government said its forces intervened to stop the clashes, but witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory accused them of siding with the Bedouin and of committing abuses including summary executions. Dozens of protesters, including women and children, gathered in a main square in Sweida, holding placards calling for the opening of a humanitarian corridor from Jordan, an AFP photographer said. Similar protests were held in other Druze towns, according to the Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group. The government has deployed forces to several parts of Sweida province but not to the provincial capital. Residents accuse them of imposing a blockade, a claim the government has denied, instead blaming "outlaw groups", in reference to Druze fighters. Activist Rawan Abu Assaf said protesters' demands included "lifting the blockade imposed on Sweida province and the withdrawal of government forces from all its villages". The Observatory said the main Damascus-Sweida highway was still cut and accused armed groups linked to the government of blocking the resumption of normal trade. The monitor said the province was under de facto blockade despite the entry of several aid convoys. Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the convoys gave the lie to Druze claims of a blockade. But the Observatory said the government was just keeping up appearances for the international community. UN humanitarian coordinator Adam Abdelmoula said on Thursday that the United Nations and its partners had sent a new convoy to Sweida province, with 40 trucks carrying "a broad range of life-saving assistance" including food, water and medical supplies. He called it "a significant step toward expanding access and scaling up the humanitarian response in affected areas of southern Syria".
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
Why is Israel evacuating its employees and their families from UAE's diplomatic mission? Why is Abu Dhabi enraged with Israeli ambassador?
New Delhi: Israel has ordered the evacuation of most of the employees and their families posted at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) diplomatic mission. This decision has been taken after the National Security Council (NSC) issued a travel warning for Israelis living in the Gulf. The NSC quoted intelligence as saying that terrorist groups including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and global jihadist groups have intensified efforts to target Israelis and Jews in the UAE. Apart from this, tensions have increased between the two countries over an 'action' of the Israeli ambassador. The UAE had expressed displeasure with Tel Aviv over the ambassador and demanded his recall. Why is Israel concerned for its citizens in UAE? The NSC said in a statement, 'We are insisting on this travel warning because we know that terrorist organizations (Iranian, Hamas, Hezbollah and Global Jihad) are increasing their efforts to harm Israel.' Israeli officials have blamed recent military operations against Iran and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza for the increased threat. Officials have expressed concern that these factors could prompt retaliatory strikes. Why has threat level increased for Israeli citizens? Security officials believe that anti-Israel provocations and the situation after the attack on Iran have increased the threat to Israeli citizens and their representatives abroad. The Israeli and UAE foreign ministries have not yet commented on the evacuation of Israeli mission staff. When were UAE-Israel relations established? The relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates were normalized in 2020 through the US-brokered Abraham Accords led by Donald Trump. This was the first such agreement between Israel and an Arab country. Earlier, like other Arab countries, the UAE did not recognize Israel. Diplomatic contacts between the two were largely informal and limited. This normalization of relations between the two countries was historic, followed by the exchange of ambassadors, establishment of embassies and cooperation in various fields including trade, tourism and security. Since then, the activism of the Israeli and Jewish community has increased in the UAE. Why is UAE furious at Israeli ambassador? The recent tension between Israel and the UAE began over Israeli ambassador Yossi Shelly, when Abu Dhabi expressed strong displeasure over one of his actions. Israeli media outlet Channel 12 News reported that Shelly crossed the red line in Abu Dhabi. According to the report, Shelly went to a bar with friends in Abu Dhabi where he behaved indecently. The report quoted the official as saying that he behaved indecently with women, which is very wrong. When the Emirati government came to know about the incident, it expressed deep displeasure with Israel in this regard. The incident was kept away from the media for several months and it is not clear whether any document of this exists or not.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Pakistans opposition alliance slams hybrid model, demands change in system
Islamabad, Aug 1 (PTI) A coalition of Pakistan's six opposition parties Friday slammed the current 'hybrid" political system and called for a national dialogue aimed at creating a new democratic charter. Leaders of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aayeen-e-Pakistan or TTAP (the movement for protection of the constitution of Pakistan) made the demand during a press conference here on the second day of their multi-party conference. TTAP, which formed last year and formalised its organisational structure last month, pledged support for all anti-government protests and said they discussed the prevailing political conditions during their conference. 'The parties participating in the TTAP and its All-Party Conference (APC) agreed that at this time there is an urgent need for a new democratic charter among all political parties and political forces," TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said while presenting the alliance's resolution. 'As a result of the constant attacks of the hybrid system, the Constitution of Pakistan, the human rights given in it from Articles 8 to 11, and the parliamentary democratic system have become meaningless, and today the social contract between the people and the state has been shattered. 'Therefore, for the new charter, a complete consensus should be reached among all the political forces in the country after a national dialogue," it read. The 'hybrid model' that the group referred to was first mentioned by Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, a close aide of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. On June 20, Asif said Pakistan is being governed under a 'hybrid model" in which the military enjoys a major power share. The TTAP said that political consensus was needed on the supremacy of the Constitution and parliament, the rule of law, the judiciary's independence and the appointment of a free and independent Election Commission. The resolution also drew attention to the socio-economic condition of Pakistan and said, 'This has never been the case in the history of Pakistan. All the participating parties of the conference decided that a comprehensive and common strategy is needed to bring the country out of the current channels." The alliance condemned the 'unjust imprisonment" of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, demanding their early release and immediate appointment of their pending cases in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the Supreme Court for immediate hearing. It also criticised the recent sentencing against scores of leaders and workers of Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and also took a shot at the judiciary for failing to uphold the law. Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, in his reaction to the group's demand, said it aimed to sabotage the economy. Tarar also alleged that whenever important diplomatic meetings are due, such as the upcoming visit of the Iranian president, such events take place. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian will visit Pakistan on Saturday to hold talks with the country's top leadership on enhancing bilateral ties as well as the recent Iran-Israel conflict. PTI SH NPK ZH NPK NPK view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 00:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
