Israel puts pressure on Hamas with massive offensive on Deir al-Balah
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L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Syrian American Druze killed in Sweida
BEIRUT — A U.S. citizen was killed last week during sectarian clashes between pro-government Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze factions in Syria's Sweida province, the State Department confirmed Monday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,260 people have been killed in these clashes, which began July 13 between Druze militiamen and Sunni Bedouin fighters in Sweida, backed by government forces deployed in the city by order of Damascus' authorities. The latest toll provided by the NGO Monday evening reports 505 Druze fighters and 298 Druze civilians killed, including 194 "summarily executed by members of the Defense and Interior Ministries." The toll also includes 408 members of government security forces and 35 Sunni Bedouins, including three civilians "summarily executed by Druze fighters." In addition, 15 government soldiers were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to the Observatory. 'He was supposed to return to the USA at the end of the month' Among the civilian victims is the Syrian American, Houssam Saraya, a 35-year-old Druze. Contacted by the Washington-based media outlet al-Monitor, a State Department official confirmed Monday the death of an American citizen in Sweida, without identifying him. "We are deeply saddened by the death of Houssam Saraya, tragically executed along with other members of his family in Syria," Oklahoma Republican Senator James Lankford, where the victim had resided in the U.S., confirmed on X. "We pray for his family, friends and the entire Druze community mourning this senseless loss," he added. Photos of Houssam Saraya's American passport also circulated widely on social media, as did videos purportedly showing his execution in a public square in Sweida. In footage posted online on Wednesday, July 16 — the day after Syrian government forces entered the city — a man in his thirties is seen being forced to walk in a single line down a street with seven other people. They are under threat from armed men, some dressed in military fatigues. Moments later, the group is coldly executed by bursts of automatic gunfire in Techrine Square, downtown. The gunmen shout "Allahu akbar" as the executions take place. The military uniforms worn by some of the assailants appear to indicate they are members of government forces. A source close to the family confirmed the authenticity of these videos to L'Orient Today. The person said that several members of the Saraya family, including Houssam, were indeed killed in Techrine Square on July 16. Among the eight people lined up at the time of the execution, one survived, she said. Contacted by phone Tuesday by L'Orient Today, a relative of the victim, who requested anonymity, said Houssam Saraya received American citizenship five years ago after earning his master's degree at Oklahoma Christian University in 2016. He subsequently founded an online teaching platform aimed at Syrian students. This relative confirmed that other Saraya family members were also executed, including Houssam's brother, Karim, and father, Ghassan, the only one holding American nationality. Other victims were named Walid, Yehya, Ali and Ismail, all cousins of the Saraya family. "They (the assailants) stormed the house Wednesday morning and forcibly took all the men there. We found their bodies the next day and then buried them," the relative said. "Houssam returned to Sweida about a year ago to care for his sick father. He was supposed to return to the United States at the end of the month," she said. On Friday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated there are "credible reports" that Syrian government forces, as well as Druze and local Bedouin fighters, committed "arbitrary executions, abductions and looting" during this latest wave of large-scale violence that has bereaved Syria since the fall of the Assad regime last December. 'Bring the perpetrators to justice' This third round of sectarian bloodshed, after the attack in March against the Alawite community on the Syrian coast, and then (again) the Druze community in late April on the outskirts of Damascus, has led to the forced displacement of more than 128,500 people since it began July 13. A fragile truce, supported by the United States, took effect July 17 after Damascus withdrew its forces from the southern province, where a precarious calm has since returned this weekend after security was officially handed over to local Druze factions by the Syrian government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa. On Saturday, the U.S. envoy for Lebanon and Syria, Tom Barrack, also announced a cease-fire between Syria and Israel, which had carried out airstrikes targeting Syrian security forces in Sweida as well as several government buildings in Damascus. For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Damascus to "mobilize its forces to prevent violent jihadists from committing massacres" and to "bring those found guilty of atrocities to justice, including within [its] own ranks."
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'We are making progress, I am hopeful,' Barrack says after Beirut visit
BEIRUT — In an interview with al-Jadeed Tuesday, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack reported "progress" in Lebanon talks but warned that "the timeline is short" for achieving stability amid the conflict with Israel. Barrack had been in Lebanon since Sunday, where he met with Lebanese officials to collect their response to the U.S. roadmap aimed at de-escalation with Israel and the disarmament of militias. On Tuesday, he had a lengthy meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah's main ally. In response to a question, the U.S. envoy described his talk with Mr. Berry as "excellent," praising Berry's extensive political experience and deep understanding of Lebanon and the region. "He asked me what could be done to reduce tensions," he said. When asked whether it was true that Berri proposed 15 days of cessation of hostilities on the Israeli side as a condition for progress on the weapons issue (with Israeli violations remaining daily in South Lebanon and beyond), Barrack replied it was "much more than that." He recalled that there has been a cease-fire since November and that this text includes the steps to be taken to achieve lasting stability for all parties. He emphasized that efforts are focused on revitalizing this agreement to resolve all resulting disputes and to see how it can be fully implemented. "We are making progress, I am hopeful," he said. When pressed to elaborate on the progress of the talks, he assured that everyone is working toward a peaceful solution, including the government. "But the timeline cannot be long, we do not have much time given the developments in the region," he said. And if Hezbollah refused to hand over its weapons? "There is a law that mandates a monopoly on weapons, and it is for the government to decide if and how it wants to enforce it. Everyone in Lebanon has weapons, light or heavy, and this is not the Americans' business," he replied. He added, "Where we can intervene is on the tensions at the border with Israel, using our influence to convince the Jewish state to implement the cease-fire. Everyone in the region is cooperating for this stability and the timeline is short," he said. Asked about the possibility of a new Israeli war if Hezbollah does not disarm, Barrack said, "There will certainly not be another Israeli war, no one wants war." He pointed out that he does not dialogue with Hezbollah but with Lebanese officials, arguing that there needs to be an understanding among Lebanese factions. Regarding Syria, Barrack emphasized that stability in that country contributes to stability in Lebanon and vice versa, and that both countries have an interest in cooperating. "There are a few disputes to be resolved along the borders and they can be settled," he said. As for reforms, he finally stated that one of the priorities is banking reform in Lebanon, highlighting government efforts in this regard, and stressing that security and stability are necessary conditions for these reforms to be carried out.
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Qassem denounces 'savagery, genocide, famine and massacres' in Gaza
BEIRUT — The secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, on Tuesday denounced the "American-Israeli aggression" against the Gaza Strip, which he said is marked by "savagery, genocide, famine and massacres," arguing that it "surpasses all human and moral standards." In a statement, he asserted that "the global silence (...) nullifies what is called international law." He said, "It is not enough for 25 countries to call for an end to the war against Gaza," adding, "What is needed are concrete measures to put an end to the massacres and crimes," including "imposing sanctions against the Israeli entity, isolating it, bringing it to justice and ceasing any form of cooperation with it." Qassem also emphasized that "the heaviest responsibility lies with Arab and Muslim countries," calling on them to "end normalization, close the enemy's embassies, ban trade exchanges and support Gaza." "Unite to support Palestine and Gaza, even if only by providing a minimum of means for survival," he added. "When the United States sees a single hand and a single voice, united alongside the Palestinian people, it will give in and back down." He concluded his statement by asserting that "history will remember this shame that stains humanity's leaders and their regimes." This statement comes as a Gaza hospital said on Tuesday that 21 children have died from malnutrition or hunger in the besieged territory, where 2.4 million residents are suffering from severe shortages of food and essential goods. The U.N. has accused the Israeli army of killing more than 1,000 people since the end of May while they were waiting for humanitarian aid. The war was triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel launched an offensive that has killed at least 59,106 people in Gaza, according to Hamas' Ministry of Health, figures considered reliable by the U.N.
