Third of Syrians were under observation by al-Assad's security forces
Around 8 million people in Syria, almost a third of the country's population, were under observation by long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad's security forces before his fall from power last year, according to a Syrian government official.
"The number of people who were wanted by the former regime for political reasons exceeded 8 million," a spokesman for the Syrian Interior Ministry, Noureddine al-Baba, said on Saturday.
"Nearly one-third of the Syrian people had security records at the intelligence service and other agencies," he added.
In al-Assad's Syria, the term "wanted for security reasons" referred to persons accused mostly of terrorism for participating in anti-government activities.
The accusation brought them under authorities' close surveillance, or led to their detention in notorious jails.
Al-Baba made the remarks at a press conference in the Syrian capital Damascus, highlighting efforts to restructure the interior ministry that was dreaded under al-Assad's reign.
"The Interior Ministry is making great efforts to restore these citizens' rights that were unjustly usurped from them," he added.
In 2011, a pro-democracy peaceful uprising erupted against al-Assad's rule, demanding political change.
However, his government responded with brutal oppression. The situation soon evolved into a full-blown conflict that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and massive devastation.
Hundreds of thousands more ended up in prison, subjected to torture or disappearance, according to rights advocates.
Al-Assad, who governed Syria for more than two decades, fled to Russia in December after an Islamist-led rebel alliance advanced on Damascus.
Syria's new leadership is at pains to project a moderate image and respect for human rights as they seek economic support in rebuilding the war-shattered country.
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Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - After years of war, Syria glances westward — toward Trump
President Trump has announced the beginning of sanctions being lifted on Syria, which had been imposed during the genocidal rule of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian people and their new leadership deserve a chance to rebuild their great nation. While the sanctions were still in place, the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity invited us to visit post-Assad Syria at a very tenuous moment for the Syrian people. We agreed and set off on an open-minded, fact-finding mission. What we saw was daunting, but we ultimately we came away cautiously optimistic. When we arrived in Damascus, we observed grown men openly weeping and others cheering as they saw their homeland for the first time in decades. For centuries, Syria had boasted a diverse, multicultural population, until the 54-year reign of the Assad regime. Assad leveled entire villages while waging war on his political enemies, inflicting billions of dollars of damage on his own country. In this political genocide, Assad murdered close to a million of his own people — Christians, Muslims, Kurds and Druze alike, regardless of religion — all while using military aid and financial support from Russia and Iran. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Iranian activities being curtailed through sanctions and the degradation of their terrorist proxies, support that had been vital to Assad's reign dissipated. He was ultimately forced to flee to Russia as rebel forces advanced, although he regrettably was able to pilfer additional billions from the nation's coffers on his way out the door. During our visit, we witnessed the devastated Syrian economy, where cash is almost worthless and credit cards are not accepted. Open-air markets resort to basic barter and trade for items like clothing and necessities, which are laid out next to rubble. With no functioning gas stations, young men with large hand-held jugs stand along the road to fill vehicles for a price negotiated on the spot. Despite this, the spirit of the Syrian people is not broken. Banners reading 'Make Syria Great Again' were displayed along the roads, sending messages of hope for the first time in decades. We heard nothing but admiration for President Trump and his administration — most notably for his decision to stop the bombing of Idlib in 2019. We then met individually with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, well aware of his previous history as a Syrian Al-Qaeda member, though having cut ties in 2016. However, contrary to his biography, the actions al-Sharaa has taken to help the country so far have been positive. Al-Sharaa has enlisted an impressive and diverse group of Syrian advisors, some of whom had fled the country years ago to escape Assad. His Minister of Social and Labor Affairs, Hind Kabawat, is an accomplished Christian woman, and not a choice one would expect from someone with prior ties to al-Qaeda. Just as surprising, one of al-Sharaa's first acts upon taking power was to free thousands of Syrians that Assad had imprisoned and tortured. Al-Sharaa has declared a return to religious freedom, and during our visit, we witnessed a huge gathering of the Christian population for the first public celebration of Easter held in decades. In our meetings, al-Sharaa expressed a desire to work with the West. He called Israel by name and simultaneously emphasized his desire to promote peace and even possibly join the Abraham Accords. His commitment to avoid the often alluring proxy relationship with Iran is a testament to his desire to find more favorable partners. America is accustomed to being asked for funds and military support, but al-Sharaa wants Syrians defending Syria. His main request was for sanctions relief and for Syria not to be divided into regions. This is not only good for Syria, but a more stable western-leaning Syria provides a new layer of protection for America's ally to the south, Israel. He expressed the importance of having democratic elections, welcoming tourists of all faiths, and creating new trade routes, pointing to the country's strategic location and its ability to allow faster transit of products to the West. He emphasized the necessity for post-conflict Syria to have an economic partner, pointing out that Russia has already made an offer, in addition to others like China and Iran making overtures; however, al-Sharaa has not yet accepted these. His clear preference is to make the U.S. the preferential trade partner, an opportunity Syria finally has for the first time in over 50 years. Hearing al-Sharaa and the Syrian government express an interest in being a stabilizing force in the region for peace and prosperity is a moment in time we must consider carefully, and why we applaud President Trump's decision to lift the sanctions on a war-weary Syria. For accountability, we also believe al-Sharaa must be willing to accept international investigations into the treatment of Syria's religious minorities. When a new leader opens the doors to his country without restriction while still weakened from decades of dictatorial destruction, and when he promotes religious freedom while simply asking for a chance to open trade with the West, we should explore what might be possible. We believe huge investments are waiting to rebuild this great nation. With Trump at the helm, this could be a monumental moment for unexpected peace in the Middle East. Cory Mills represents the Florida's 7th Congressional District and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees. Marlin Stutzman represents Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
44 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Hamas Ally Calls on Group to Accept ‘Partial' Ceasefire in Gaza
A representative of a left-wing faction fighting alongside the Islamist Hamas movement in Gaza has told Newsweek his group is open to a temporary ceasefire in their war with Israel and called for greater efforts to establish a unity government among different Palestinian parties. Amid an apparent deadlock in Israel-Hamas negotiations being mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) issued a statement on Friday urging Hamas "to intensify efforts, in cooperation with the Arab mediators, to reach an agreement to halt the aggression—even if only for 60 days." The message, which emphasized "the grave dangers our people face if an immediate ceasefire is not achieved," came as Hamas said it was consulting with its allies on the path forward in talks. Hamas has demanded a deal that would provide stronger guarantees toward a lasting cessation of hostilities, a position the U.S. and Israel have dismissed. Speaking with Newsweek on Thursday, DFLP Political Bureau member Motasem Hamada explained that this statement "was an attempt by us to reach a 'partial step' that would guarantee a ceasefire, open the crossings, and meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza because we observed that living conditions had worsened and that the specter of famine was beginning to loom large." "Our call to Hamas coincided with other positions with which Hamas consulted," Hamada said, "and based on this position, it formulated its position, which was rejected by the Israelis and the Americans." Ultimately, Hamada said, the group seeks a solution based on United Nations Security Council resolution 2735, the measure put to a vote Wednesday and vetoed by the U.S., and is fighting to secure new governance that would include both top Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, which leads the West Bank-based Palestinian National Authority. "We want an immediate ceasefire, unconditional aid for our people in the Gaza Strip (food, medicine, fuel, infrastructure, medical care, etc.), an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, a meaningful prisoner exchange, and the return of the Gaza Strip to the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority under the administration of a national unity government." "This requires convincing both Fatah and Hamas," Hamada said, "and this is what we are working on." Newsweek has reached out to Hamas for comment. Newsweek also reached out to the IDF for comment. The DFLP was established in 1969 as a splinter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which was created two years earlier. Like the PFLP, the DFLP was organized along Marxist-Leninist lines, though its founders expressed opposition to the original group's embrace of Arab nationalist ideas and high-profile attacks as opposed to revolutionary ideology and mass mobilization. The DFLP has also been linked to major attacks against Israel and joined both the PFLP and Hamas in criticizing the 1990s Oslo peace accords. By this time, Hamas and its Islamist outlook had begun to eclipse the traditional left-wing and nationalist orientations of leading Palestinian parties, leading to its victory in the 2005 elections that paved the way for its 2007 takeover of Gaza in a violent clash with Fatah. Numerous attempts have been made to mend the Fatah-Hamas rivalry, including a dialogue hosted last June among Palestinian factions hosted by China, though without a breakthrough. Hamas today remains the most dominant group in Gaza, though a number of other influential factions continue to operate there. And while vast ideological differences exist among the groups in Gaza, the DFLP participated directly in the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel that sparked the current war. Israeli officials say around 1,200 people were killed in the surprise Palestinian assault and 251 taken hostages, 58 of are believed to still be in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has estimated that more than 54,600 people have been killed amid the Israeli operations that ensued. Meanwhile, the DFLP's armed wing, known as the National Resistance Brigades or Martyr Omar Al-Qassem Forces, continues to conduct joint operations against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). National Resistance Brigades spokesperson Abu Khaled claimed on Monday the detonation of an explosive device targeting a gathering of Israeli troops near a bulldozer in the town of Al-Qara, north of Khan Younis. The U.S. proposal, a draft of which was obtained by Newsweek, outlines a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release 10 living and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the bodies of 180 dead Palestinians held by Israel in two transfers conducted on the first and seventh days of the truce period. In addition to resuming the flow of international humanitarian aid into Gaza, the proposal also called for the initiation of new negotiations aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire. The deal does not, however, provide a U.S. guarantee that Israel would agree to a final resolution, something for which Hamas has repeatedly called. "Upon careful examination, it is clear that the Israeli response fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation and perpetuate policies of killing and starvation, even during what is supposed to be a period of temporary de-escalation," Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim said in a statement shared with Newsweek last Tuesday. "The response fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people," he added, "among them an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza." Following criticism of Hamas' position by President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is presiding over the talks, as well as the DFLP's plea, Naim clarified in a follow-up statement on Saturday that his rejection was aimed at Israel's position, not the U.S. proposal itself. "We now responded positively and responsibly in a manner that fulfilled the minimum of demands and aspirations of our people, (1st to guarantee the 60 days of cease fire will be respected by Israel and proper and sufficient influx of aid into Gaza, 2nd guarantees for negotiations that leads to end the war on Gaza)," Naim said at the time. The United Nations and a growing number of international powers have also demanded an immediate ceasefire without conditions, with 14 of the 15 representatives at the Security Council gathering Wednesday voting in favor of the measure, leaving the U.S. as the sole opponent. While Israel and Hamas fail to reach a resolution in the ceasefire and hostage release negotiations being held in Qatar, questions continue to surround the future of Gaza even in the event that hostilities are halted. The U.S. and Israel have stated that Hamas must be removed from power. The two allies have rallied behind President Donald Trump's vision for the U.S. to assume control of Gaza in order to pursue reconstruction, real estate development and the resettlement of the territory's roughly two million residents, a proposal rejected by all Palestinian parties as well as the region and other major powers. In March interviews with Newsweek, Israeli Deputy Consul General in New York Tsach Saar said that neither Hamas nor Israel, which previously occupied Gaza from 1967 through 2005, would be in control of the territory in the long run. "It's not for us to determine who is going to be there the day after [the war is over]," Saar told Newsweek on Monday. "We are making sure that it's not going to be Hamas. And when Hamas is defeated, we will have to work together with our allies, with regional the countries, surrounding countries, neighboring countries to find a solution for the day after." "But as long as Hamas is there, and unfortunately, it is still alive and kicking, kicking its own people, of course, also it is hard to work on the day after," he added. "But now we're focused on the mission of elimination as Hamas is the organization that is controlling the Gaza Strip both militarily and in governance." Hamada, for his part, said that "the 'day after' in the Gaza Strip is of great concern to us in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as it is an integral part of the territory of the Palestinian state recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 67/19, based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital." He argued that some progress was made toward achieving a united for bringing Gaza back under a joint Palestinian government during the conference held in China last June but argued that the Palestinian National Authority continued to hold out for fear of the international backlash over bringing Hamas back into the fold. "We succeeded in the Palestinian National Dialogue in Beijing in June of last year in formulating a comprehensive national position based on the formation of a national consensus government composed of competent, independent and competent Palestinian national figures, providing the necessary resources to manage the affairs of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and cooperate with the official Arab framework for the reconstruction of the Strip," Hamada said. "It is clear that the decision did not take effect, but rather stalled, due to the refusal of the official Palestinian leadership in Ramallah to form a national consensus government, lest it anger Israel and the United States, given that Hamas remains on the terrorist list." The U.S. State Department removed the DFLP's terrorist organization designation in 1999, "primarily because of the absence of terrorist activity, as defined by relevant law," for at least two years. Without a Palestinian mandate, Hamada said the DFLP was not opposed to the proposal drawn up by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League in March as an alternative to Trump's plan. This framework would establish an administrative committee comprised of independent Palestinian experts tasked with leading Gaza until the territory could be handed back to a reformed Palestinian National Authority. "We did not take a negative stance on this idea, as we believe there is still a chance to form a national unity government and reach a comprehensive national position, centered on a government agreed upon by all factions," Hamada said. "This would block the remaining solutions proposed by American President Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." U.S. and Israeli officials have, however, dismissed the Arab initiative, arguing that it did not sufficiently address the realities on the ground in Gaza. While much of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is centered around the events in Gaza, the broader war has reverberated across the region. Iran-aligned factions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen all joined the battle from abroad in support of Hamas, with the Islamic Republic itself also twice exchanging direct fire with Israel as tensions boiled over. Amid the unrest, and just as Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement signed a ceasefire, an Islamist-led coalition of insurgents launched a surprise attack in Syria. The lightning offensive ultimately toppled President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime ally of Iran, as well as the DFLP, which maintains a presence in Syria. The rise of Syria's new leader, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda associate who has renounced jihadi ties in recent years, has brought new uncertainties over the country's role in the region. While facing regular Israeli air and ground attacks, Sharaa has called for easing tensions with Israel and has even opened the door for potentially normalizing ties, though Israeli officials have expressed skepticism. At the same time, the new Syrian government has reportedly cracked down on several Palestinian factions involved in the war in Gaza, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad and another PFLP splinter, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command. Hamada, however, stated that the DFLP has maintained its relationship with the new rulers of Damascus and expects to do so for the foreseeable future. "With the new political regime in Damascus, our situation, as a democratic front, remains the same," Hamada said. "We did not interfere during the era of President Assad, nor did we interfere during the era of President Sharaa. We have been refugees in Syria since 1948, and we do not have any military formations in Syria." "Our headquarters, clubs, and social centers engage in social work, serving youth, women, and children, and defending the right of return for Palestinian refugees under Resolution 194," he added. "Our headquarters remained as they were before December 8, 2024, and we have not perceived any negative positions toward the Democratic Front from the new political regime." He attributed this position to the DFLP having taken "the correct position" in Syria's civil war that erupted in 2011, having "refused to drown in Syrian blood and we have refused for our Palestinian people in Syria to be a party to Syrian disputes." "We have a cause: the Palestinian cause," Hamada said, "and these are the political borders within which we operate." Related Articles Greta Thunberg Boat Tracker as 'Freedom Flotilla' Sails Toward GazaHamas Says US Ceasefire Veto Violates 'American Values'Israel Fears Arms Race in Fight to Remain Middle East's Only Nuclear PowerHamas Accuses Israel of Setting 'Death Traps' at US-Backed Gaza Aid Sites 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
At campaign event, Wu impugns federal agents as Lyons demands she ‘stop putting my people in danger'
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has had enough. Lyons, a native of South Boston and a graduate of Boston College High School in Dorchester, on Thursday called out Mayor Michelle Wu for her 'ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments' that he said are putting federal agents and officers in danger. Federal immigration agents and officers are met with danger every day, said Lyons, whose agency on Wednesday announced the arrest of a foreign fugitive and suspected member of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in Philadelphia who is wanted overseas. 'My officers and agents walk into danger so other people can sleep safely at night. So kids can make it to school safely and play outside,' Lyons said in a video message posted on X on Thursday morning. 'So while it's easy to be an armchair quarterback and make up talking points that get activists riled up, the bottom line is my officers and agents are out there protecting the same people who are threatening their safety,' Lyons said. Federal agents and officers have been 'doxed' on social media, and sometimes wear masks while on duty and enforcing immigration laws and making arrests after officers, and their families, have received death threats, Lyons said this week. Assaults against ICE officers are up 400 percent since this time period last year, Lyons said. His comments came one day after Wu volleyed additional criticism against federal law enforcement while speaking about masks worn by some federal officers who are enforcing immigration laws. Wu, while discussing the masks worn by some law enforcement on Wednesday with Boston 25, brought up the prominent New England neo-Nazi group Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131. In a recent interview with WBUR, Wu likened ICE immigration officers to 'secret police.' Wu, who is seeking re-election, repeated that phrase at a campaign event on Thursday morning. 'We've seen it in our neighborhoods, on our streets, and what other definition of secret police is there when people are getting snatched off the street by masked individuals,' Wu said, 'not being told where they're going, disappeared until somehow someone finds some information, not given justification for why they are being taken.' Lyons doubled down on Thursday, calling the mayor's comments 'ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments.' 'Law enforcement is common sense. Politicians need to stop putting my people in danger. I'm not asking them to stop. I'm demanding that they stop,' Lyons said in his video message on Thursday. 'Here's what I have to say to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and anyone else stirring up the outrage about what ICE does: These are real people with real families you're hurting with your ridiculous rhetoric and inflammatory comments and it's time to remember that,' Lyons said. He spoke one day after U.S. Attorney Leah Foley also addressed Wu's remarks about federal agents and officers in a video message on social media Wednesday morning. Foley condemned Wu's comments, calling them 'reckless and inflammatory statements.' The U.S. Attorney again cited the increasing threats faced by federal law enforcement in doing their job. 'Referring to federal agents as 'secret police' is offensive,' Foley said Wednesday. 'There are no secret police.' 'ICE agents along with other federal law enforcement partners are making immigration arrests. That is no secret,' Foley said. 'They are arresting individuals who are here illegally, which is a violation of federal law. Every enforcement action is conducted within the bounds of the Constitution and our laws, with oversight, legal justification and accountability.' In response, during a campaign event on Thursday morning, Wu said, 'The US Attorney is attacking me for saying what Bostonians see with our own eyes. We've seen the videos,' Wu said. Wu said Boston Police officers do not wear masks routinely. She also claimed that federal agents and officers are undermining the work on Boston Police. The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association declined comment on the matter on Thursday. 'Our Boston police officers are in very, very difficult situations every day,' Wu said. 'They make arrests. They are in challenging encounters as is part of the job that they take on 24 hours a day. They do not wear masks routinely. They do not hide anything.' On Monday, federal officials announced the arrest of nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts, in the month of May alone, who are living in the U.S. illegally. More than half of those arrests, federal authorities said, were of people with 'significant' criminal backgrounds -- convicted murderers sought by Interpol, child rapists, drug traffickers. 'And so we hear these numbers that are thrown out there 1,500 or 300, left and right, to prove or to suggest that some campaign goal of mass deportation is being fulfilled and that it's supposedly about some criminal behavior,' Wu said during her campaign event on Thursday. 'And I want to acknowledge that there is partnership that happens between Boston police and federal agencies every day on criminal behavior,' Wu said. 'When someone commits harm in our community, when there is a criminal warrant, we enforce it, no matter who the agency is,' Wu said. 'If it's out-of-state, if it's out of the country, you will be held accountable for committing harm in our community regardless of immigration status, just as you're provided services and support and access regardless of immigration status.' She added: 'We are safe, and we are the safest major city in the country because we are safe for everyone.' Boston 25 has reached out to Lyons and Foley for comment on Wu's remarks on Thursday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
