Syrian President al-Sharaa visits Bahrain, urges for lifting of sanctions
Earlier, he was in the UAE and Qatar in mid-April. Sharaa also travelled to Saudi Arabia, and to Egypt in early March.
Sharaa has now been to many important Gulf countries, and has visited countries that do not always agree on regional policy.
The visit is seen as part of Damascus' regional strategy, and seeks to balance Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as the UAE and Qatar. Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, and other countries are important to Syria.
Syria also wants to improve ties with the US and is hoping that the Middle East visit by US President Donald Trump in mid-May could help improve ties with Washington.
Sharaa's visit to Bahrain is part of Syria's diplomatic efforts to secure Arab support for the lifting of sanctions and the funding of the country's reconstruction, Syrian officials say.
Bahrain is important because it is a close ally of the West, hosts a US naval base, and is also part of the Abraham Accords.
Sharaa arrived with an official delegation to the capital Manama on May 10. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of the King of Bahrain, received the President al-Sharaa.
Later, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain received Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara at Al-Sakhir Palace in the capital, Manama, as part of an official visit, Syria's SANA state media reported.
Bahrain and Syria have discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said on Saturday during the first official visit by Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
At a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Al Zayani said Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had held extensive talks with Al-Sharaa, highlighting the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two nations. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in areas including trade, civil aviation, energy, health, and education.
The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in Syria, including national efforts to uphold security, stability, and social unity, said Al Zayani.
Syria's foreign affairs chief Asaad Al-Shaibani described the visit as a turning point in bilateral relations, which opens a new chapter based on mutual trust and respect.
Al-Shaibani said Syria views Bahrain as an active partner in its reconstruction and a major contributor to efforts aimed at reviving the Syrian economy.
He renewed Syria's call for the lifting of economic sanctions, terming it as a humanitarian and regional necessity, as stability in Syria would contribute positively to regional security and reduce risks of migration, poverty, and extremism.
UNI ANV RN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
26 minutes ago
- United News of India
Angel pre-seed funding: Rs 42.77 lakh for KSUM startup Othor AI
Kochi, July 4 (UNI) Innovative vertical AI startup Othor AI has raised Rs 42.77 lakh (USD 50,000) in a follow-up pre-seed funding round, hiking the KSUM-registered company's total early-stage funding to Rs 68.40 lakh (USD 80,000), five months after an initial raise of Rs 25 lakh (USD 30,000). The latest round attracted significant participation from prominent names such as Whatfix Co-founder Vara Kumar Namburu, data analytics pioneer Madan Galla and angel investor Mithun Nair. Othor AI, which was founded by Unni Koroth and Nekender Shekhawat in September 2024, continues to gain traction with its specialised vertical AI agents designed for daily business decisions and planning. The company has shown progress since the launch of its beta version in January this year, with the product now having signed agreements with multiple design partners to validate and showcase its value proposition. Koroth said the rapid early traction validates the company's vision of AI-native business intelligence. 'Investors of this calibre joining our journey give us tremendous confidence as we push towards product-market fit,' he observed. 'Our momentum reflects a growing demand for AI-native solutions in the business intelligence space. Organisations seek faster, simpler and more secure alternatives to conventional BI and planning solutions.' The fresh capital will be strategically deployed to accelerate the company's path to product-market fit and prepare both the company and team for an upcoming seed funding round. Additionally, the funding will support Othor AI's ambitious plans for US market entry, positioning the company for international expansion. Koroth previously founded Foradian, widely recognised as a success story in the Indian startup ecosystem. After exiting the Bangalore-based ed-tech firm in 2019, he spent three years at SaaS-based digital adoption platform Whatfix before embarking on his newest entrepreneurial journey with Othor AI. KSUM (Kerala Startup Mission) is the state government's nodal agency established in 2006 for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities. UNI DS ARN 1718
United News of India
28 minutes ago
- United News of India
LG Manoj Sinha hails women's achievements in agricultural sciences & technology
Srinagar, July 4 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today expressed pride over the outstanding performance of women in the field of agricultural sciences and technology, saying their achievements reflect a promising future for the nation. He extended his felicitations to women students for their outstanding academic achievements at the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), held in Srinagar. 'Proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in agricultural science & technology. Out of 150 students conferred with gold medals, 115 were women students. Out of 445 certificates of merit, 334 were given to girls. Out of a total of 5,250 degrees of undergraduate, masters, PhD in today's convocation, 2,661 degrees have been awarded to women students. "It reflects a bright future for J&K and the nation,' the Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST-K said in his address. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was the Chief Guest at the convocation ceremony, which was also attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and SKUAST-K Pro-Chancellor, Omar Abdullah. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated the university for creating a competent and competitive human resource, shaping up the farm sector in J&K, remarkable improvement in its ranking and also wished the students for their bright future. The Lieutenant Governor spoke on the transformative reforms taking place in agriculture and allied sectors in the UT of Jammu Kashmir over the past few years. 'Under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the agriculture and allied sector has truly become a mainstay of India's economy. This change is strongly reflected in J&K's agriculture landscape. Today, Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) has emerged as a role model of agricultural revolution in the entire country,' he said. Sinha highlighted that in the last five years, J&K has set four major goals for agriculture and allied sector to transform the agriculture sector into a sustainable commercial agriculture economy, to create an agri-business ecosystem with value chain, farmer and community-centric approach for holistic development of agriculture and to increase the income of farming families and secure their livelihood. The Lieutenant Governor urged the graduating students to make their valuable contribution to innovation and progressive farming and take the lead in agri-technology, food technology, and groundbreaking innovation. "Your passion and ideas will shape the future of India's agriculture sector", he said. 'Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. And, I firmly believe that if education is in accordance with the time and the needs of the global industry, then it is the most precious asset of the society,' the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor also commended the Vice Chancellor and his team for developing modern, state of the art infrastructure and a new-age educational platform. New academic programmes, centres of excellence and research in modern technology areas -- artificial intelligence, machine learning, gene editing, regenerative medicine, speed breeding -- have brought Jammu and Kashmir closer to achieving its goal of becoming a knowledge economy and provided an opportunity to promote the UT's bio-economy. Prof. Nazir Ah. Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir, read out the university report and highlighted the academic, research and extension activities of the university. UNI MJR BM
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
5 hours ago
- First Post
Weakened and exhausted, Hezbollah explores if it can give up more arms
Hezbollah has since relinquished a number of weapons depots in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese armed forces as stipulated in last year's truce, though Israel says it has struck military infrastructure there still linked to the group read more Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila. File image/ Reuters Hezbollah has undertaken a comprehensive strategic assessment in the aftermath of its deadly conflict with Israel, which includes considering reducing its position as an armed force without entirely disarming, according to three individuals involved with the discussions. The internal negotiations, which have not yet been concluded and have not previously been disclosed, highlight the severe challenges that the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist organisation has faced since a truce was agreed in late November. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli forces continue to target Hezbollah-controlled areas, accusing the organisation of cease-fire breaches, which it denies. It is also dealing with acute financial pressures, US demands for disarmament, and less political influence since a new government was formed in February with US backing. The group's difficulties have been exacerbated by seismic shifts in the regional power balance since Israel crushed its leadership, killed thousands of its militants, and destroyed much of its weapons last year. Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah's Syrian ally, was overthrown in December, cutting off a vital weaponry supply line from Iran. A regional security source and a senior Lebanese official told Reuters that Tehran is now recovering from its own bruising battle with Israel, raising questions about how much help it can provide. Another senior insider, who is aware with Hezbollah's internal debates, said the party was conducting secret conversations about its future moves. Small committees have been meeting in person or remotely to discuss issues including its leadership structure, political role, social and development work, and weapons, the official said on condition of anonymity. The official and two other sources familiar with the discussions indicated Hezbollah has concluded that the arsenal it had amassed to deter Israel from attacking Lebanon had become a liability. Hezbollah 'had an excess of power,' the official said. 'All that strength turned into a weak point.' Under the leadership of Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last year, Hezbollah grew into a regional military player with tens of thousands of fighters, rockets and drones poised to strike Israel. It also provided support to allies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel came to regard Hezbollah as a significant threat. When the group opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war in 2023, Israel responded with airstrikes in Lebanon that escalated into a ground offensive. Hezbollah has since relinquished a number of weapons depots in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese armed forces as stipulated in last year's truce, though Israel says it has struck military infrastructure there still linked to the group. Hezbollah is now considering turning over some weapons it has elsewhere in the country - notably missiles and drones seen as the biggest threat to Israel - on condition Israel withdraws from the south and halts its attacks, the sources said. But the group won't surrender its entire arsenal, the sources said. For example, it intends to keep lighter arms and anti-tank missiles, they said, describing them as a means to resist any future attacks. Hezbollah's media office did not respond to questions for this article. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Isreal's military said it would continue operating along its northern border in accordance with the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, in order eliminate any threat and protect Israeli citizens. The US State Department declined to comment on private diplomatic conversations, referring questions to Lebanon's government. Lebanon's presidency did not respond to questions. For Hezbollah to preserve any military capabilities would fall short of Israeli and US ambitions. Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the US and France, Lebanon's armed forces were to confiscate 'all unauthorized arms', beginning in the area south of the Litani River - the zone closest to Israel. Lebanon's government also wants Hezbollah to surrender the rest of its weapons as it works to establish a state monopoly on arms. Failure to do so could stir tensions with the group's Lebanese rivals, which accuse Hezbollah of leveraging its military might to impose its will in state affairs and repeatedly dragging Lebanon into conflicts. All sides have said they remain committed to the ceasefire, even as they traded accusations of violations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Part of Hezbollah's 'DNA' Arms have been central to Hezbollah's doctrine since it was founded by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to fight Israeli forces who invaded Lebanon in 1982, at the height of the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war. Tensions over the Shi'ite Muslim group's arsenal sparked another, brief civil conflict in 2008. The United States and Israel deem Hezbollah a terrorist group. Nicholas Blanford, who wrote a history of Hezbollah, said that in order to reconstitute itself, the group would have to justify its retention of weapons in an increasingly hostile political landscape, while addressing damaging intelligence breaches and ensuring its long-term finances. 'They've faced challenges before, but not this number simultaneously,' said Blanford, a fellow with the Atlantic Council, a US think tank. A European official familiar with intelligence assessments said there was a lot of brainstorming underway within Hezbollah about its future but no clear outcomes. The official described Hezbollah's status as an armed group as part of its DNA, saying it would be difficult for it to become a purely political party. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nearly a dozen sources familiar with Hezbollah's thinking said the group wants to keep some arms, not only in case of future threats from Israel, but also because it is worried that Sunni Muslim jihadists in neighbouring Syria might exploit lax security to attack eastern Lebanon, a Shi'ite-majority region. Despite the catastrophic results of the latest war with Israel - tens of thousands of people were left homeless and swathes of the south and Beirut's southern suburbs were destroyed - many of Hezbollah's core supporters want it to remain armed. Um Hussein, whose son died fighting for Hezbollah, cited the threat still posed by Israel and a history of conflict with Lebanese rivals as reasons to do so. 'Hezbollah is the backbone of the Shi'ites, even if it is weak now,' she said, asking to be identified by a traditional nickname because members of her family still belong to Hezbollah. 'We were a weak, poor group. Nobody spoke up for us.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hezbollah's immediate priority is tending to the needs of constituents who bore the brunt of the war, the sources familiar with its deliberations said. In December, Secretary General Naim Qassem said Hezbollah had paid more than $50 million to affected families with more than $25 million still to hand out. But there are signs that its funds are running short. One Beirut resident said he had paid for repairs to his apartment in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs after it was damaged in the war only to see the entire block destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in June. 'Everyone is scattered and homeless. No one has promised to pay for our shelter,' said the man, who declined to be identified for fear his complaints might jeopardise his chances of receiving compensation. He said he had received cheques from Hezbollah but was told by the group's financial institution, Al-Qard Al-Hassan, that it did not have funds available to cash them. Reuters could not immediately reach the institution for comment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other indications of financial strain have included cutbacks to free medications offered by Hezbollah-run pharmacies, three people familiar with the operations said. Squeezing Hezbollah finances Hezbollah has put the onus on Lebanon's government to secure reconstruction funding. But Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, a Hezbollah critic, has said there will be no aid from foreign donors until the state establishes a monopoly on arms. A State Department spokesperson said in May that, while Washington was engaged in supporting sustainable reconstruction in Lebanon, 'this cannot happen without Hezbollah laying down their arms'. Israel has also been squeezing Hezbollah's finances. The Israeli military said on June 25 that it had killed an Iranian official who oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in transfers annually to armed groups in the region, as well as a man in southern Lebanon who ran a currency exchange business that helped get some of these funds to Hezbollah. Iran did not comment at the time, and its U.N. mission did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. Since February, Lebanon has barred commercial flights between Beirut and Tehran, after Israel's military accused Hezbollah of using civilian aircraft to bring in money from Iran and threatened to take action to stop this. Lebanese authorities have also tightened security at Beirut airport, where Hezbollah had free rein for years, making it harder for the group to smuggle in funds that way, according to an official and a security source familiar with airport operations. Such moves have fuelled anger among Hezbollah's supporters towards the administration led by President Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam, who was made prime minister against Hezbollah's wishes. Alongside its Shi'ite ally, the Amal Movement, Hezbollah swept local elections in May, with many seats uncontested. The group will be seeking to preserve its dominance in legislative elections next year. Nabil Boumonsef, deputy editor-in-chief of Lebanon's Annahar newspaper, said next year's poll was part of an 'existential battle' for Hezbollah. 'It will use all the means it can, firstly to play for time so it doesn't have to disarm, and secondly to make political and popular gains,' he said.
