Latest news with #Ameral-Sheikh
Shafaq News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Deadly day in Syria: Sahnaya Mayor assassinated
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, unidentified gunmen shot and killed the mayor of Sahnaya and his son in a volatile suburb of Damascus, Syrian media reported. The mayor, identified as Warwar, was gunned down shortly after security forces from Syria's Interior and Defense ministries deployed to the area in an effort to quell days of violence involving Druze residents and government-aligned fighters. Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack. Warwar had appeared in a video the previous day discussing efforts to restore calm after the General Security Directorate entered the town. Earlier, the Syrian government announced troop movements into Sahnaya to contain unrest that had spilled into neighboring Jaramana and reportedly left nearly 40 people dead. By nightfall, state news agency SANA reported a preliminary ceasefire agreement between local factions. Officials pledged to 'protect all communities, including the Druze.' Israel Intervenes As tensions escalated, an Israeli drone strike hit near Sahnaya, targeting a Syrian security patrol in what observers described as Israel's first known direct intervention involving Syria's Druze minority since the civil war began. Damascus Governor Amer al-Sheikh confirmed the strike killed one officer and a local, while several others were wounded. Israel's military said the operation targeted 'extremists involved in attacks on Druze civilians.' Public broadcaster Kan reported that a missile struck a building housing armed men allegedly preparing an assault on Druze-populated areas. Israeli officials also announced the evacuation of three wounded Druze from Syria for medical treatment inside Israel. Syria's Foreign Ministry denounced the strike without explicitly naming Israel, rejecting 'all forms of foreign interference' and reaffirming its 'commitment to protecting all components of the Syrian people, including the noble Druze community.'
Rudaw Net
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Plans for rebuilding Syria's Rif Dimashq province ready: Governor
Also in Syria SDF, Syrian new authorities begin prisoner swap France urges continued dialogue between SDF, Damascus Syria condemns Israeli strikes as 'blatant violation' of sovereignty SDF's Abdi announces amnesty in meeting with Raqqa notables A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Plans to reconstruct the devastated areas in southern Syria's Rif Dimashq province are 'ready' and awaiting official kickoff, the governor said on Thursday. Amer al-Sheikh told Rudaw's Solin Mohammed that 'the damages [in Rif Dimashq] are extensive,' adding that 'in some areas the percentage of damage reaches as high as 70 percent.' On Saturday, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed a 23-member transitional cabinet, including four ministers from minority groups. The government is expected to guide the country through its transitional phase and address post-war crises. Upon announcing the new cabinet, Sharaa on Saturday stated, 'at this historic moment, we mark the beginning of a new phase in our national journey' and 'advance toward the future we deserve with strong will and unwavering resolve.' Governor al-Sheikh explained on Thursday that the reconstruction process in Rif Dimashq province depends on 'the government [decisions] and the plans we have in this regard,' adding that provincial officials have already met with 'investors and some organizations' to begin the process. He also highlighted that the government has made significant strides in assessing the province's needs and the extent of the damage, highlighting that the plans to start the reconstruction are 'ready.' Syrians rose against the regime of toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2011, leading to a full-scale civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and left millions more in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Much of the country's infrastructure remains in ruins, with more than 13 million Syrians displaced - half the country's pre-war population. Over 6 million of the displaced Syrians sought refuge abroad, according to UN figures. International donors have pledged substantial financial support for Syria's reconstruction and stabilization following the fall of Assad. At a European Union-led conference in Brussels, global donors committed nearly $6.5 billion, comprising $4.6 billion in grants and $1.7 billion in low-interest loans. Key contributions include €2.5 billion (around $2.75 billion) from the EU for 2025 and 2026 to aid Syria's transition and socio-economic recovery, addressing urgent humanitarian needs within Syria and in neighboring countries.
