War-weary Syrians and Lebanese watch from the sidelines as missiles fly in Israel-Iran conflict
'We've been through 14 years of war , and this is the first time Syria has nothing to do with it and we're just spectators,' Hallak said.
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Washington Post
2 minutes ago
- Washington Post
UN envoy warns of renewed violence in Syria a month into a fragile ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS — Syria's transition remains 'on a knife-edge' and violence could resume at any moment in the southern city of Sweida, which saw deadly clashes last month, the top U.N. envoy for Syria warned on Thursday. Geir Pedersen told the U.N. Security Council that while violence in Sweida has largely subsided following a ceasefire, 'the threat of renewed conflict is ever-present — as are the political centrifugal forces that threaten Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity.'
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
UN envoy warns of renewed violence in Syria a month into a fragile ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Syria's transition remains 'on a knife-edge' and violence could resume at any moment in the southern city of Sweida, which saw deadly clashes last month, the top U.N. envoy for Syria warned on Thursday. Geir Pedersen told the U.N. Security Council that while violence in Sweida has largely subsided following a ceasefire, 'the threat of renewed conflict is ever-present — as are the political centrifugal forces that threaten Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity.' Syria is grappling with deep ethnic and religious divisions following the ouster of Syria's autocratic President Bashar Assad in December, which brought an end to decades of Assad family rule. The transition has proven fragile, with renewed violence erupting in March along the coast and in July in Sweida, a city with a significant Druze population, highlighting the continued threat to peace after years of civil war. Clashes erupted in Sweida on July 13 between Druze militias and local Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes, and government forces intervened, nominally to restore order but they ended up essentially siding with the Bedouins. Israel intervened in defense of the Druze, launching dozens of airstrikes on convoys of government fighters. Pedersen said in a video briefing to the council that although the July 19 ceasefire agreement has largely held, 'we are still seeing dangerous hostilities and skirmishes on the margins of Sweida. And violence could resume at any moment,.' Pedersen expressed concern that 'a month of relative military calm belies a worsening political climate, with escalatory and zero-sum rhetoric hardening among many.' The U.N. envoy said there is an urgent need for security forces under the transitional government led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa to demonstrate that they are acting to protect all Syrians. Pedersen called for major security sector reforms in Syria and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of non-government forces. He warned that international support for Syria 'risks being squandered or misdirected' without a genuine political transition that lays the path for long-term stability, good governance, credible reforms and a firm commitment to the rule of law and justice. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called the humanitarian situation in Syria 'dire,' saying 16 million people across the country need humanitarian support. He said aid workers need protection and safety, noting that humanitarian convoys came under fire this month. He said money for food and other assistance is desperately needed, pointing to the U.N. humanitarian appeal for $3.19 billion for 2025 being only 14% funded. ___
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Netanyahu orders ‘immediate negotiations' to release hostages as Israel advances Gaza City operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered negotiations for the release of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza 'on terms acceptable to Israel.' The Israel military still intends to advance plans to take control of Gaza City, Netanyahu said. The Israeli leader's remarks came in a video recorded on Thursday, ahead of a high-level security meeting Netanyahu convened with defense chiefs and cabinet ministers focused on approving the operational plans to take Gaza City and 'decisively defeat Hamas.' Netanyahu stressed that Israel is now at a critical juncture. 'We are at the decisive stage,' he said, underlining that 'defeating Hamas and securing the release of all hostages go hand in hand.' This is the first time Netanyahu has publicly addressed the Gaza war ceasefire talks since Hamas responded positively earlier this week to the latest proposal put forth by mediators from Qatar and Egypt. Still, the Israeli prime minister did not say to whom he had given the order to start immediate negotiations and avoided referring to the current proposal framework, which begins with a 60-day ceasefire during which half of the remaining Israeli hostages are to be released. Israeli officials believe that 50 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are thought to be alive. In his recent public statements and official briefings, Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel is seeking a comprehensive agreement that would secure the release of all hostages and meet Israel's conditions for ending the war. He continues to push forward plans for a massive assault on Gaza City, and on Wednesday instructed the military to shorten the timeline of the operation – despite concern from residents of Gaza City, who have described Israel's plans as the 'beginning of a new war.' Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists to take part in the impending military operation. The Israeli military is already on the outskirts of Gaza City, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman. 'We are at the stage of decision,' Netanyahu said in a video address. 'Today I came to the Gaza Division to approve the plans that the (Israel Defense Forces) presented to me and to the minister of defense for taking control of Gaza City and defeating Hamas.' At the same time, Netanyahu refrained from making any official reference to the mediators' proposal, leaving open the possibility of a partial agreement. Two Israeli sources say that Netanyahu is managing the developments under tight secrecy and confidentiality.
