Latest news with #AhmadalSharaa
ABC News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Why Israel is conducting strikes in Syria as sectarian violence rages
Just over six months since the downfall of Syria's long-time leader, Bashar al-Assad, the country's fragile post-war order is on the brink. The country is deeply divided as it tries to emerge from decades of dictatorship and nearly 14 years of civil war. In recent days, Israel has carried out strikes within Syria amid clashes between various factions. The strikes came in response to clashes between a religious minority sect, the Druze, another group known as the Bedouin tribes, and Syrian government forces. Dozens of people have so far been killed. Here's what you need to know about the conflict and what it means for the survival of Syria's new government. Syria is currently led by a transitional government, established after the Assad family's decades-long rule over the country collapsed in December last year. Before then, the country had been torn apart by 14 years of civil war between forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad and those who wanted to oust him. But under the Assad family's tight rule, religious freedom was guaranteed as the country then boasted about its secular and Arab nationalist system. However, the new transitional government is more Islamist in nature, with President Ahmad al-Sharaa himself a former member of Al Qaeda. Among the groups now navigating a vastly changed landscape in Syria is the Druze religious sect. The Druze began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam, and more than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. In Syria, they largely live in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus, mainly in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya to the south. The transitional government has promised protections and to include the Druze in decision-making, but so far, only one of the 23 members of the government is Druze. The Druze have been divided over how to deal with their issues with the new status quo in the country. Many Druze support a dialogue with the government, while others want a more confrontational approach. The latest violence began when members of another group, the Bedouin tribe in Sweida province, set up a checkpoint and then attacked and robbed a Druze man. This led to tit-for-tat attacks and kidnappings between the two sides. Government security forces deployed to the area to restore order, but were seen as taking the side of the Bedouin tribes against Druze factions. The clashes raise fears of another spiral of sectarian violence that has flared already since the ejection of Assad. In March, sectarian and revenge attacks between Assad loyalists and government security forces killed hundreds of civilians. There have also been rising tensions between authorities in Damascus and Kurdish-led authorities controlling the country's north-east. The most recent clashes between the Druze and Bedouin have captured the attention of neighbouring Israel. Israel does not want Islamic militants near the country's northern border. Since Assad's fall, Israeli forces have seized control of a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone in Syria near the border with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and have carried out hundreds of air strikes on military sites. Israel has periodically intervened in support of the Druze, who are seen within Israel as a loyal minority. The Israel Defense Forces on Monday announced it had struck military tanks in southern Syria on Monday to help the Druze. That was followed by further Israeli strikes on Syrian government forces on Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes hit "regime forces" and weaponry brought to Sweida to be used against the Druze. "Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel," the pair said in a statement. "We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria." Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra says a ceasefire between the government, the Bedouin and the Druze remains in place. The Druze spiritual leadership said in a written statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and cooperate with incoming troops. But hours later, influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, a vocal opponent of the new Syrian leadership, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and that Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents. Dozens of people have been killed in fighting in the region since Sunday. ABC/AP
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
'Israel', Syria discuss security agreement against Hezbollah, Iran
Israeli reserve colonel Moshe Elad disclosed on Thursday ongoing discussions regarding a potential security agreement between "Israel" and Syria, centered on intelligence cooperation to fight Hezbollah and Iranian influence in the region. According to Elad, the prospective agreement includes collaborative intelligence operations and does not fall under the framework of the normalization agreements, reported the Israeli outlet i24NEWS. As part of the plan, the agreement would reportedly implement new security arrangements along the border in the occupied Syrian Golan. Notably, it includes a declaration recognizing the Shebaa Farms as Syrian territory, a region historically disputed between Lebanon and Syria, while "Israel" continues to occupy it. In addition to security measures, the proposed agreement considers the possibility of exporting natural gas from "Israel" to Syria. It also includes discussions on water coordination in the Yarmouk River basin, a critical resource for both the new government took office in December 2024, Syria has continued to face Israeli airstrikes and attacks. Israeli occupation forces currently control Mount Hermon and large swathes of southern Syria, where frequent incursions are reported amid growing plans to establish military bases in the region. In response to the Israeli strikes and ongoing violation of Syrian sovereignty, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa urged the occupation to end the "tit-for-tat" bombings, claiming Syria and "Israel" have common enemies in the region. "The era of endless tit-for-tat bombings must end. No nation prospers when its skies are filled with fear. The reality is, we have common enemies, and we can play a major role in regional security," al-Sharaa said, in reference to "Israel", during an interview for the Jewish Journal. According to a report by Axios, "Israel" is engaging with Syria through at least four communication channels. These include Tzachi Hanegbi, the national security advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; David Barnea, director of the Mossad; Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar; and ongoing military coordination through the Israeli army. Al-Sharaa reportedly held a covert meeting with senior Israeli intelligence officials in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, marking a dramatic departure from Syria's historic rejection and refusal to submit to "Israel". Moreover, a source cited by i24NEWS reported that the April 13 meeting in Abu Dhabi was mediated by the UAE and attended by top Israeli representatives from the Mossad, National Security Council, and IOF intelligence. Additionally, previous reports have indicated that Netanyahu is interested in initiating negotiations for a broader security agreement with Syria, which could serve as a preliminary step toward a comprehensive "peace" accord. Read more: Preliminary US-backed talks underway between 'Israel', Syria: Axios
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
US backs Syria-Israeli talks, disarmament of Resistance: NYT
Damascus and Tel Aviv are engaged in high-level talks aimed at "restoring calm", according to Thomas J. Barrack Jr, a top Middle East envoy for US President Donald Trump, with Washington actively supporting the discussions as part of its regional stabilization efforts. In an interview with The New York Times, Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, expressed the American administration's desire for Syria to join normalization agreements. However, he cautioned that the process could take time, as Syria's new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, might face domestic resistance. Barrack warned that this process could take time, as Syria's new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, might face resistance at home. Additionally, he emphasized that al-Sharaa cannot be perceived by his people as pressured or compelled into normalization, which is why he needs to move cautiously. The envoy claimed that "everyone in this region respects only strength, and Trump has proven that America's strength is a prerequisite for peace," while also pointing out that "progress in democratic transformation and inclusive governance will not happen quickly, and these are not part of the American criteria." In a related context, US officials expressed concern about the thousands of foreign fighters who entered Syria to join the war. Barrack explained that Washington has recognized "Syria cannot expel those who remain within its borders, and that they may pose a threat to the new government if marginalized," which is why the Trump administration expects transparency regarding their assigned roles. On the topic of Trump's executive order ending decades of US sanctions on Syria, Barrack explained, "that rather than imposing strict demands, the administration has set achievable goals for the Syrian government to work toward while Washington monitors their progress." He added that these benchmarks include "achieving a peaceful settlement with Israel, integrating the US-backed Kurdish-led militias controlling northeast Syria, and investigating the fate of Americans lost during the war." Barrack stated that "lifting sanctions to encourage change had proven more effective than maintaining them until Syria meets specific demands," while acknowledging that the successive sanctions regimes had never achieved their intended results. On another front, Barrack described the ceasefire in Lebanon as a "complete failure," explaining that "Israel continues to bomb Lebanon while Hezbollah violates the agreement's terms." Barrack claimed that "disarming Hezbollah requires a carrot-and-stick approach, in additional to having the Lebanese Army conduct house-to-house weapons searches." Barrack suggested that "this process could provoke backlash from Shiite communities, which have long viewed Hezbollah as Lebanon's defender and the vanguard of resistance against Israel," emphasizing the potential for widespread discontent.
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Syria demands 1/3 of Golan, Lebanese areas for 'Israel' normalization
Syria is demanding the return of at least one-third of the Golan Heights territory occupied by "Israel" prior to the 1974 armistice agreement, according to a source close to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who spoke to i24NEWS on Thursday. "There is no such thing as peace for free," the source said, outlining two potential scenarios for a political settlement. The first scenario, the official indicated, would see "Israel" retaining strategic areas equivalent to one-third of the Golan Heights and handing over a third to Syria. The remaining third is leased to "Israel" by Syria for 25 years. Read more: 'Israel', Syria discuss security agreement against Hezbollah, Iran According to the Syrian official, the second scenario would see "Israel" keeping two-thirds of the occupied Golan Heights and handing over one-third to Syria, with the possibility of leasing it. Under this scenario, the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli and possibly additional Lebanese territories, including the Beqaa Valley, would be handed over to Syria, the official revealed. The source said that Syria aims to "reclaim sovereignty" over Tripoli, which it considers one of five regions detached from Syria to form the Lebanese state during the French Mandate, pointing out that the return of these areas, including other northern Lebanese regions, should be part of a comprehensive agreement. As part of the broader settlement, Syria is proposing a regional water agreement involving Turkey, Syria, and "Israel". This would allow "Israel" to extend a pipeline to transport water from the Euphrates River. Al-Sharaa "has demonstrated unprecedented openness and opened direct lines of communication with Israel for security and military coordination in southern Syria," the source mentioned. The Syrian source emphasized that the return of parts of the Golan Heights, particularly areas seized by "Israel" after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's rule, is crucial for gaining domestic support for any agreement. "Al-Sharaa would likely face significant internal resistance should he fail to do so," according to the source. While US sanctions relief is under discussion, the source stressed it should not be considered as "Israeli payment" for peace with Syria, noting that "the sanctions removal is a separate matter." Read more: US backs Syria-Israeli talks, disarmament of Resistance: NYT
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Syrian, Israeli officials to meet in Baku: Damascus source
A Syrian official and an Israeli representative are expected to meet in Baku on Saturday evening during President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, with the talks taking place on the sidelines of his trip, AFP reported, citing a diplomatic source in Damascus familiar with the matter. "There will be a meeting between a Syrian official and an Israeli official on the sidelines of the visit being conducted by Sharaa in Baku," the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said. The source emphasized that al-Sharaa would not participate in the meeting, clarifying that the discussions would center on the recent Israeli military presence in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December. Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is visiting Azerbaijan on Saturday to hold talks with Baku's President Ilham Aliyev. This comes amid the recent unrest the country has seen, particularly in light of Israeli violations and bombardments of Syria. "Israel" had been striking Syria since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, but the raids intensified in December 2024, when long-term President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by the current regime, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. Alongside airstrikes, Israeli occupation forces have occupied Mount Hermon and built at least 10 military outposts in southern Syria. This is accompanied by frequent incursions into the Quneitra countryside and other regions. Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly stated that Syria does not seek conflict with its neighbors while emphasizing that the country has instead urged the international community to apply pressure on "Israel" to stop its attacks. The Syrian government recently acknowledged engaging in indirect communications with "Israel" to restore adherence to the 1974 disengagement agreement that originally established the buffer zone. In late last month, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed "Israel's" interest in reaching a "peace" and normalization agreement with Syria; however, he emphasized that any normalization talks with Syria would not include returning the occupied Golan Heights to Syria, despite being occupied by "Israel" more than 40 years ago. A Syrian government source cited by state media dismissed the proposal as "premature"; however, during his visit to Lebanon this week, US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack revealed that "the dialogue has started between Syria and Israel." Following his meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh in May, US President Donald Trump informed reporters that he had shared his desire for Syria to follow in the footsteps of other Arab states in normalizing relations with "Israel", to which al-Sharaa reportedly responded affirmatively. "[Al-Sharaa] said yes, but the have a lot to do," Trump stated. In a related context, Azerbaijan announced on Saturday that it would supply gas to Syria to help alleviate the country's energy crisis, as President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Baku. "The importance of cooperation between our countries, particularly in the energy sector, was highlighted at the meeting, and it was reported that Syria is currently facing a serious energy problem," the Azerbaijani presidency said in a statement. The statement further noted that plans were underway to soon begin shipping Azerbaijani gas to Syria through Turkish pipelines, a move that would help strengthen Syria's energy stability. After overthrowing Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria's new government is now focused on reconstructing the nation's infrastructure and economy following nearly 14 years of a devastating war imposed on the country, which severely crippled the power grid and caused daily electricity shortages lasting over 20 hours.
