
EU sees Syria instability as terror risk for bloc, document says
'Terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a significant threat to the European Union and its Member States. The overall threat level remains high,' the document said.
'Developments in the security situation in Syria could lead to the resurgence of [extremist] groups in the region either with a risk of departure from Syrian territory, possibly to Europe, or through the remote activation of [extremists] on the European continent,' it added.
With Reuters

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Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Pope Leo's first 100 days in office inspire hope
Pope Leo XIV, in his first 100 days in office, has restored stability to the papacy, calming nerves as he signals continuity with the pontificate of his predecessor Pope Francis, while making his reign one that focuses not on himself but on the church and the faith as a whole. In a recent impromptu meeting with faithful around St. Peter's Square, his informal spontaneity alarmed some looking for a change from Pope Francis' papacy, but his message underlined his unifying and hopeful mantra when he asked young people to spread hope, faith and peace. In the world witnessing major shifts in international relations resulting in wars, displacement, suffering, and uncertainty, one can only look at the new pope's first 100 days in office and hope that his quiet, yet forceful, message can inspire leaders and nations in a way that re-instills hope and diminishes the hate that we see everywhere. It is clear that Pope Leo has gone out of his way at the start of his papacy to heal the divisions that deepened within the church during Francis's pontificate, offering messages of unity and avoiding controversy. His approach, even on highly complex issues such as his signature topic — confronting the promise and perils posed by artificial intelligence — is something that conservatives and progressives both in the church and outside agree is important. His recent invitation to several dozen homeless people and church volunteers to join him at his summer vacation residence, celebrating a special Mass for his guests, is unlikely to raise eyebrows, even though his predecessor's emphasis on caring for the environment and migrants often alienated conservatives in the church. Compared with US President Donald Trump, who was immediately busy on the world stage with volleys of statements, executive orders, bruising remarks, and tantrums, the pope seems to have eased into his new job slowly, deliberately, and quietly, almost trying not to draw attention to himself. He has refused to do lengthy interviews, avoided creating headlines with off-the-cuff comments, and failed to make any senior staff appointments or even undertake a major trip abroad. The pope has gone out of his way to heal divisions. Mohamed Chebaro Many believe that at 69, the new pope seems to know that he has time on his side, and that after Francis' revolutionary papacy, the church might need a bit of a breather. One Vatican official who knows Pope Leo said that he expects his papacy will have the effect of a 'calming rain' on the church. Nevertheless the pope has been far from idle in his first 100 days in office. In the church, his style and actions were seen as offering the Vatican bureaucracy a reassuring and a conciliatory message compared with his predecessor's occasionally authoritarian style. Continuity with the previous pope's environmental legacy was celebrated through the first ecologically inspired Mass, while Pope Leo also gave the go-ahead to turn a 430-hectare site north of Rome into a vast solar farm that will generate enough electricity to meet the Vatican City's needs and turn it into the world's first carbon-neutral state. Challenges and adversity will surely be lurking in the wings and will test his moral influence. Gender identity issues will no doubt test his papacy, as will his position regarding genocide and atrocities from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan. Pope Leo is clearly an Augustinian pope, insisting he is, first and foremost, a 'son of St. Augustine' — a reference to the fifth-century theologian and devotional giant of early Christianity who inspired a monastic order that advocated a life of poverty but was known for its activism in urban communities, preaching, teaching, and ministering to the poor and sick. It is this flavor of Augustine's teachings that has characterized the early work of the pope — his quiet activism, advocacy, and positive influence in a world becoming less hospitable for its inhabitants because of greed and excessive individualism. With hope and peace looking increasingly deficient everywhere, it is to be hoped the weight and symbolism of Pope Leo's teachings and actions can stir debate and help raise the guardrails that protect the weak and dispossessed. In an age when multilateralism and rule of law are being eroded, efforts ought not to be spared to preserve those values that for centuries have limited powers and the use of force, preserving our world and preventing its descent into disorder and social breakdown. • Mohamed Chebaro is a British-Lebanese journalist with more than 25 years' experience covering war, terrorism, defense, current affairs and diplomacy.


Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
UN warns situation in Syria remains fragile amid shaky ceasefire
NEW YORK CITY: The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told the Security Council on Thursday that the situation in the country remains 'deeply fragile,' with a ceasefire in Sweida under growing strain and political tensions on the rise. He urged the international community to renew its efforts to protect civilians, ensure accountability, and support a Syrian-led political process that is capable of delivering lasting peace. Marking the anniversary of the 2013 chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, carried out by the forces of former President Bashar Assad, Pedersen described the occasion as 'a painful reminder of the suffering endured by Syrian civilians, and of the grave abuses and violations of international law that must never be repeated.' He urged council members to help Syria 'emerge from a dark past toward a brighter future.' The July 19 ceasefire agreement in Sweida has so far prevented a return to open conflict following a spike in violence, Pedersen said, but he warned that the peace remains tenuous. 'We are still seeing dangerous hostilities and skirmishes on the margins of Sweida and violence could resume at any moment,' he said. 'Absent more tangible and binding measures, including to build confidence, the ceasefire risks remaining fragile — an interim truce rather than the foundation for lasting stability.' He welcomed the creation by the US, Jordan and Syrian authorities of a trilateral working group to support the truce. However, he cautioned that 'a month of relative military calm belies a worsening political climate, with escalatory and zero-sum rhetoric hardening among many.' He also condemned ongoing Israeli ground operations in southwestern Syria, despite a pause in airstrikes. 'Such actions are unacceptable,' Pedersen said. 'We must insist on full respect for Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.' The humanitarian cost of unrest, he added, remains severe, with more than 186,000 people displaced in Sweida, Daraa and rural Damascus. Access to affected areas is limited as a result of insecurity and road closures, and widespread damage to infrastructure compounds the suffering. Referring to reports of abuses during fighting in Sweida last month, including a video that appeared to show the execution of an unarmed man in a hospital, Pedersen said it was 'essential' that the conclusions of a fact-finding committee's investigation into such violations 'are made fully public and that all perpetrators — regardless of affiliation — are held responsible.' He called on all sides to combat divisive rhetoric and build a shared national vision, adding: 'Security forces must demonstrate that they are acting solely to protect all Syrians and do not constitute a threat.' To avoid future violence, Pedersen stressed the need for comprehensive reforms of the security sector, including disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed factions. He praised efforts by the new Syrian authorities to counter Daesh and Al-Qaeda but emphasized that 'continued vigilance' remains critical. On the political front, Pedersen noted a decree that was issued on Wednesday for indirect elections to appoint two-thirds of the 210 members of an interim People's Assembly. The remaining 70 will be appointed by the president. For this process to succeed, he said, it must be transparent, inclusive and allow the participation of all major groups within Syrian society, not only 'trusted individuals,' and include the 'equal and visible' representation of women. 'Anything less,' he warned, 'would entrench skepticism, aggravate the forces pulling Syria apart, and impede reconciliation.' 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He said 16 million Syrians remain in need of support, a situation he described as 'dire.' UN teams are managing to provide life-saving aid to about 3.5 million people a month, despite funding shortfalls and access challenges, he revealed. 'Our humanitarian appeal for 2025 is only 14 percent funded,' Fletcher said, warning that budget cuts could reduce humanitarian staffing levels by 40 percent. Already, he noted, '16 percent of health facilities have suspended or reduced capacity.' He welcomed recent sanctions-relief measures announced by the US, EU and UK, but said it will take time to feel the full effects of this. 'We need investment in longer-term support for development and reconstruction that will allow the people of Syria to reduce, and ultimately end, reliance on humanitarian aid,' he said. 'With funding and access, we aim to no longer be needed.' Fletcher concluded his remarks with a direct appeal to members of the Security Council: 'The people of Syria do not need us to be commentators and problem-observers. They need us to move with genuine urgency, generosity and purpose.'


Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan pays tribute to ‘resilient' Palestinians on ‘Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism'
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