Latest news with #AbuQasra
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Damascus Gives Syrian Armed Groups 10 Days to Join State Security Apparatus
Syria's post-Assad regime has given independent armed factions 10 days to merge with the state-run security apparatus or face punitive measures, according to Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. In a statement released over the weekend, Abu Qasra said Syrian 'military units' had been successfully merged into a 'unified institutional framework' subject to government control. But he went on to stress 'the need for the remaining small military groups to join the ministry within a maximum period of ten days ... in order to complete the efforts of unification and organization.' Abu Qasra's statement, however, did not specify which factions the ultimatum referred to. It did not appear to be aimed at the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led armed group backed by Washington that now controls much of the country's northeast. In March, the SDF signed a deal with Damascus to incorporate its fighters into the state security apparatus, and for SDF-held territory and institutions to be placed under the control of Damascus. Related Stories 5/18/2025 5/13/2025 At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the deal, reaffirming Washington's support for a 'political transition [in post-Assad Syria] that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict.' Last week, however, neighboring Turkey, which views the SDF as a terrorist group, said the terms of the deal between the group and Damascus had yet to be implemented. 'We expect these steps to be put into practice,' Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on May 15 after meeting both Rubio and his Syrian counterpart in Turkey's southern Antalya province. 'In order for stability to be achieved in Syria, there must be a comprehensive government, a single legitimate armed force.' Ongoing Violence The regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled last December by a rebel offensive led by Hezb Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an armed Sunni group formerly linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Since then, Syria's new HTS-led government has sought to consolidate its authority and bring the country's disparate armed factions under state control. Shortly after the regime's collapse, Sunni militant groups that had opposed Assad—including HTS—agreed to be merged into the state security apparatus. Graduates of Syria's General Security forces under the country's new administration attend a ceremony in the city of Aleppo, Syria, on Feb. 12, 2025. Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images Syria remains home to a host of armed factions that continue to operate independently, some of which support the new government while others oppose it. In March, Sunni militants in the coastal Latakia province killed hundreds of members of Syria's Alawite community, a religious minority from which the long-ruling Assad family hailed. Last month, scores were killed in southern Syria after fighting erupted between Sunni militants and armed members of the country's minority Druze community. On May 17, Syrian security forces raided sites linked to the ISIS terrorist group in the city of Aleppo, during which three ISIS terrorists were killed, according to Syrian authorities. The defense ministry said one member of the security apparatus was also killed during the raids, while another four ISIS terrorists were detained. The following day, three security personnel were killed when a As of publication time, the perpetrators of the attack were still unknown. During a landmark visit to Saudi Arabia last week, U.S. President Donald Trump met HTS chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim leader. After the meeting, Trump announced that longstanding U.S. sanctions on Syria, which had ostensibly targeted the Assad regime, would be lifted. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said the move would help efforts to 'consolidate security and stability and promote civil peace in Syria and the region.' Reuters contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Has the Damascus leadership begun reconciliation with Syria's minority groups?
Also in Syria Syrian forces detain 20 from Suwayda after forum participation: Monitor New batch of Damascus-SDF prisoners to be exchanged Sunday: Advisor Syria says working to repair Tishreen Dam Syria's first Kurdish education minister works to bridge gaps with Rojava A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The new leadership in Damascus is exerting efforts to mend fences with Syria's Druze community, weeks after the latter's spiritual leaders accused the new Syrian government of being 'extremist in every sense of the word.' The stated-run Syrian news agency (SANA) on Thursday reported that Damascus's newly-appointed Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra on Sunday 'received a delegation from the Rijal al-Karama (Men of Diginity) Movement, led by Sheikh Laith al-Bal'ous.' The Rijal al-Karama (Men of Dignity) Movement was founded in 2013 by Laith al-Bal'ous's father, Sheikh Abu Fahad Waheed al-Bal'ous, in Syria's southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda. The group opposed the compulsory military service imposed by the regime of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad regime. Following a swift offensive, a coalition of rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - on December 8 toppled the regime of president Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was in late January appointed as Syria's interim President, vowing to form an 'inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity,' hold "free and fair elections" and preserve Syria's "civil peace" and territorial unity. After the fall of Assad, the Rijal al-Karama Movement became one of the largest armed groups in Suwayda, playing a key role in protecting the local population in the Druze-majority province, ensuring security, and organizing local militias to safeguard the region from external threats and internal corruption. On Sunday as well, SANA reported that Defense Minister Abu Qasra received 'a group of officers from the Veterans' Association of Suwayda.' Abu Qasra's meetings with Druze community dignitaries notably coincided with similar meetings by Suwayda Governor, Mustafa al-Bakur. SANA on Sunday reported that Bakur led an official delegation to visit the Syrian Druze communities top spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari at his Qanawat headquarters 'to congratulate him on the Eid al-Fitr holiday,' the celebration of the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The state-run Syrian news agency quoted the Druze leader as stating, 'We have confidence in governor Dr. Mustafa al-Bakur who is the link between us and the government in Damascus." SANA further cited Hajari as urging officials in Syrian state institutions to 'address obstacles in a way that serves the public interest.' He also highlighted the importance of governmental and societal oversight 'to build a strong and balanced nation.' The Suwayda governor Bakur additionally met with other two spiritual leaders of Syria's Druze community, Youssef Jarbou and Hammoud al-Hannawi at their headquarters as well. The state-run news agency also reported that Bakur visited the Bostra, Horan, and Jabal al-Arab Orthodox Archdiocese and met with Metropolitan Archbishop Antonios Saad. 'During the meeting, the importance of Syrian unity, equality in citizenship, and brotherhood among all components of society was emphasized,' SANA said. Why this matters? The Syrian Druze community's top leader in mid-March Hajari slammed the current government in Damascus as "extremist in every sense of the word" and 'wanted by international [courts of] justice." He then denied reports that a deal had been struck between Syria's Druze community and the Damascus leadership. Dealing with the new Syrian leadership is something the Druze community cannot 'approach with leniency,' stressing that 'there is no entente or understanding with the current government in Damascus' and that 'we are working for the interest of our sect, and every sect [in Syria] is strong in its men, cadres, and national ideology.' Hajari's mid-March remarks notably came hours after Syria's interim President Sharaa approved a 53-article constitutional declaration that centers on Islamic jurisprudence, stipulates that the country's president must be a Muslim, and sets a five-year transitional period of the country. It also maintains the name of the country as the Syrian 'Arab' Republic. The constitutional declaration additionally grants Sharaa exclusive executive power – effectively abolishing the post of prime minister - the authority to appoint one-third of the legislature, and the ability to appoint judges to the constitutional court, which is the body that can hold him accountable. The interim constitution then sparked much criticism from Syria's Kurds, Druze, Christians, as well as international rights groups who warned that it consolidates power in the hands of the president and risks entrenching 'authoritarian control,' and censured the exclusion of Syria's ethnic and religious components from the drafting process. Amid tensions with the new leadership in Damascus, a delegation of Druze religious elders from Syria in mid-March crossed into Israel for the first religious pilgrimage in more than 50 years, since the creation of Israel in 1948. Around 100 Druze sheikhs from villages on the slope of Mount Hermon in Syria, overlooked by the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, visited shrines including sites. The clerics crossed the armistice line between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights and headed to northern Israel on board three buses escorted by military vehicles. They then headed to the tomb of Nabi Shuayb near Tiberias in the Galilee - the most important religious site for the Druze. The visit came weeks after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in early March underscored that 'Israel has strong ties with the Druze,' and urged 'the new rulers in Damascus' to 'respect the rights of minorities, including the Druze.' What's next? The apparent rapprochement between the Damascus leadership and Syria's Druze community comes only days after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Rojava and Damascus-affiliated forces on Thursday began the process of swapping nearly 250 prisoners. The swap came after the SDF and Damascus struck a key deal on Tuesday to exchange all prisoners and keep the SDF-affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) in Aleppo's predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsood. Prior to that in early March, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim President Sharaa signed a landmark agreement on Monday to 'integrate all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the [Qamishli International] Airport, and oil and gas fields.' The deal emphasized that 'the Kurdish community is indigenous to the Syrian state, which ensures this community's right to citizenship and all of its constitutional rights.' As the new Syrian leadership's efforts to build bridges with the Kurds and now Druze community seem to be underway, similar initiatives may well be launched by Damascus to mend fences with other religious and ethnic components in Syria, namely the Christians and the Alawites. This is especially possible in light of the international pressure on the Syrian government to uphold the rights of Syria's minorities or face delays in the much-needed sanctions relief. A European Union official in late February warned Damascus that eased EU sanctions would be reinstated if the situation in the country does not progress in the 'right direction.' The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President, Kaja Kallas, then elaborated that 'any [new] government formed [in Syria] must be inclusive, encompassing the [country's] various [ethnic and religious] groups.' She warned that if things 'do not head in the right direction, we are ready to reimpose the waived sanctions.' The most delicate rapprochement for Damascus will probably be with Syria's Alawite community. The Assad family, which ruled Syria from 1970 to 2024, notably descends from the Alawite religious sect. In early March, violence broke out in the Alawite-majority coastal areas of western Syria after loyalists of ousted Syrian president Assad launched attacks on security forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) then reported that around 1,500 people, mostly Alawite civilians, have been killed in the violence. The UK-based war monitor added that most casualties were caused by government or government-affiliated forces Global human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Thursday censured the 'mass killings' recorded in Syria's Alawite-majority coastal areas in March, accusing Damascus of perpetrating a 'war crime' against the minority group and warning of further 'atrocities' if accountability is not enforced. Amnesty stated that 'the Syrian government must ensure that the perpetrators of a wave of mass killings targeting Alawite civilians in coastal areas [west of Syria] are held accountable,' adding that its investigations concluded that 32 of the killings specifically 'targeted at the Alawite minority sect and were unlawful.'
Al Arabiya
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Lebanese, Syrian defense ministers to meet in Jeddah after postponing sitdown
Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, a day after a planned visit by the Lebanese official to Damascus was postponed, Al Arabiya reported. Lebanon's Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, are expected to hold talks in Jeddah, according to information obtained by Al Arabiya. Menassa was planning to head to Syria on Wednesday for talks with Abu Qasra that aimed to discuss tensions along the border. A Lebanese official told AFP on Wednesday that the delay was 'in no way related to tensions or conflicts' but didn't specify when the meeting was postponed to. Menassa had been set to meet Abu Qasra in the first visit by a Lebanese minister since the cabinet was formed in February. Border tensions flared earlier in March after Syria's new authorities accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah of kidnapping three soldiers into Lebanon and killing them. The Iran-backed group, which fought alongside the forces of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, denied involvement. But the ensuing cross-border clashes left seven Lebanese dead. Information obtained by Al Arabiya said that the Jeddah meeting will tackle border control between the two countries following the border clashes. With AFP
Gulf Insider
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Syria's New Rulers 'Open' To Letting Russian Bases Stay
In an unexpected development, Syria's Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) government says it is 'open' to allowing Russia to keep its permanent air and naval bases on the Mediterranean coast. Russian forces throughout the country had rapidly pulled back to the two bases since Bashar al-Assad's December 8 ouster. Since then the naval base at Tartus and the Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia have seen a scramble of personnel packing up equipment, with the fate of the bases uncertain. Regional reports have said that much of the equipment is being relocated to a 'friendly' port in eastern Libya under warlord Khalifa Haftar. But Moscow would clearly like to maintain its only deep-water Mediterranean port, and wants the best outcome for its strategic presence in the Middle East. Of course, the West is pressuring HTS and self-declared President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Jolani) to boot the Russian bases. The Washington Post reports, 'Syria is open to letting Russia keep its air and naval bases along the Mediterranean coast as long as any agreement with the Kremlin serves the country's interests, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in an interview this week, underscoring the pragmatic approach taken by his government as it charts new alliances and reassesses old ones forged under the previous regime.' It appears the new Syrian government realizes it may be more valuable to deal with Russia closely rather than force its exit from the region, as part of a pragmatic approach: Russia's attitude toward the new Syrian government has 'improved significantly' since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December, and Damascus is weighing Moscow's demands, Abu Qasra said, signaling a dramatic shift among the former militants who make up the new Syrian government. Until recently, rebel fighters like Abu Qasra, a key leader in Syria's insurgency, were under constant bombardment by Russian warplanes. But 'in politics, there are no permanent enemies,' he said of Moscow, once Assad's most powerful ally. Asked if Russia would be allowed to maintain its naval port at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base in Latakia, Abu Qasra said: 'If we get benefits for Syria out of this, yes.' One major card that Washington has yet to play is the ongoing crippling sanctions which still have not been lifted. Currently the EU is said to be discussing lifting its sanctions on the country's oil and energy sector, but the US appears in no hurry. Washington might attempt a quid pro quo which requires Damascus to tell the Russians to finally pack it up and leave, and in return US sanctions would be dropped. The capital and most other cities still only have perhaps an hour of electricity a day, and food and basic necessities of life are still extremely expensive after sanctions-induced inflation. But also, other US officials might see Russia as possibly a stabilizing presence at a moment Trump is said to be mulling a US withdrawal from Syria. Russia is generally friendly with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, made up largely of Syrian Kurds, and the fear is that Turkey will move in to northern Syria. A Russian presence might dissuade or balance this, however.
Daily News Egypt
08-02-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
EU considers easing sanctions on Syrian energy sector, conditions apply
The European Union (EU) is considering a partial suspension of sanctions targeting Syria's energy industry, potentially lifting the ban on crude oil imports and the export of oil and gas technologies, according to a report by Bloomberg. The potential move comes as the EU seeks to engage with Syria's new leadership and limit Russian influence in the country. Citing informed sources, Bloomberg reported that the proposed deal could ease restrictions on financing oil exploration, refining activities, and the construction of new power plants within Syria. Other contemplated measures include removing several Syrian banks from the EU sanctions list and partially lifting some restrictions on the Central Bank of Syria to facilitate the provision of necessary funds. Sources indicated, however, that Syrian assets linked to the Central Bank of Syria and currently frozen within the EU would likely remain so. The potential easing of sanctions follows an agreement among EU foreign ministers last month on a roadmap for gradually relaxing restrictions on Syria after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. Bloomberg reports that the easing of restrictions is 'conditional on reforms,' including 'engaging minorities.' EU foreign ministers have reportedly agreed to implement the measures in a way that allows for their reversal if the Syrian government fails to meet these conditions. Sources indicate that EU member states have yet to agree on the specifics of a 'snapback' mechanism to quickly reimpose the sanctions if necessary, with some EU capitals reportedly seeking a veto on any review once the mechanism is triggered. The proposed plan and measures will undergo legal review once an agreement is reached, and could change before any official announcement, as discussions are ongoing. The Syrian government is open to letting Russia keep its air and naval bases along the Mediterranean coast as long as any agreement with the Kremlin serves the country's interests, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra told The Washington Post in an interview last week. This underscores the pragmatic approach taken by his government as it charts new alliances and reassesses old ones forged under the previous regime. According to Abu Qasra, Russia's attitude toward the new Syrian government has 'improved significantly' since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December, and Damascus is weighing Moscow's demands, signaling a dramatic shift among the former militants who make up the government. Asked if Russia would be allowed to maintain its naval port at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base in Latakia, Abu Qasra said: 'If we get benefits for Syria out of this, yes.' Bloomberg suggests that lifting the sanctions would support Syria during its transition under the new President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa. The move could also facilitate the return of millions of displaced Syrians currently residing in Europe, ease the flow of humanitarian aid, and encourage protections for women and minorities. The report states that some EU member states are pushing for the closure of Russia's two military bases in Syria as a condition for easing sanctions. However, Moscow is reportedly in talks with Damascus to maintain its military presence. Russia has indicated its willingness to assist in rebuilding war-torn Syria, provided it can retain its existing military facilities: the Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia and the naval base in Tartus. Other proposed measures being considered by the EU include lifting the ban on the export of banknotes and jet fuel, as well as easing restrictions on airlines and access to Syrian airports. The proposals also include exemptions from existing sanctions related to opening bank accounts in Syria. Before the outbreak of the war in 2011, Syria produced approximately 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Since then, production has declined, and many of the oil fields are now controlled by US-backed Kurdish forces.
