Latest news with #Bashar al-Assad
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Turkish foreign minister in Damascus for talks with Syria's Sharaa, source says
ANKARA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister will hold talks with Syria's president in Damascus on Thursday to assess bilateral ties, tensions between Syria and Israel, and recent clashes between a Kurdish-led group and the Syrian government, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said. NATO member Turkey has emerged as one of Syria's main foreign allies after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad last year. It has pledged to help rebuild the war-torn country, train and advise its armed forces, and support it in the international arena. The source said Syria's reconstruction would be among the top agenda items during Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in addition to Ankara's security concerns over recent violence in Syria. "The talks are expected to assess Turkey's national security concerns stemming from northeast Syria, as well as cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorist organisations... at a time when preserving Syria's territorial integrity and unity is more important than ever," the source said. Ankara considers the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces a terrorist organisation. It has repeatedly said the SDF, which controls much of northeast Syria, must abide by an agreement it signed with Damascus in March to integrate into the Syrian state apparatus, while also providing technical, advisory and military support to Syria to increase its defence capabilities and fight Islamic State militants. Fidan's visit follows clashes this week between the SDF and Syrian government forces in Manbij and Aleppo, and weeks of tensions between Israel and Syria over fighting between Druze and Bedouin forces last month, which Ankara has described as an Israeli sabotage attempt against efforts to achieve stability in Syria. Fidan, who has said Israel aimed to fragment Syria and that Ankara would not allow this, will also discuss "the actions and rhetoric of Israel that pose a threat to Syria and the region's stability", the source said.
LBCI
31-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Russia, Syria to bolster ties, review Assad-era agreements
Russia and Syria signalled Thursday they would bolster ties and review agreements made under the previous pro-Moscow government of Bashar al-Assad amid uncertainty over the future of two Russian military bases in the country. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani appealed for Russia's support at talks in Moscow, where Assad had reportedly fled after he was ousted after a lightning offensive by rebels last year. It was the first time a high-ranking Syrian official visited Russia, formerly Assad's biggest backer, since he was overthrown. "Of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side," Shaibani told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, but said there were factors complicating relations. Russia's naval base in Tartus and its air base at Hmeimim -- both on Syria's Mediterranean coast -- are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow had used the bases extensively during its intervention in the civil war on Assad's side in 2015, with heavy air bombardments of rebel-held areas. It was unclear whether the new Islamist government would allow Moscow to keep its outposts in the country. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review "agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions." This was echoed by his Syrian counterpart, who said a review of the agreements was needed to understand whether they were "serving the needs of the Syrian people." Neither of the ministers mentioned whether the military bases' lease, which lasts till 2066, was under discussion. Syria needs "friends and partners" on its transition path, al-Shaibani told a press conference after the talks. Lavrov said Russia's historic support for Syria "doesn't depend on the political situation or changes of government." AFP
The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
France's top court annuls arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad
France's highest court has cancelled an arrest warrant for the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war. The Cour de cassation declared the warrant invalid under international law, which gives heads of state personal immunity from prosecution in foreign courts while they are in office. The judges ruled there were no exceptions, but said their decision did allow for a new arrest warrant to be issued now Assad was no longer a head of state. Since December 2024, Assad has been living in exile in Russia after rebels led by Turkish-backed forces took control of Syria. Mariana Pena, a senior legal counsel with the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), said the ruling was a 'missed opportunity' for the court to make an exception on the waiving of immunity for heads of state accused of the most serious crimes, but added the campaign to bring Assad to justice would continue. A French court issued the international arrest warrant in November 2023 in response to two chemical weapons attacks in Syria. In the first, in August 2013, the banned gas sarin is believed to have killed more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, in the district of Ghouta, in eastern Damascus. In the second, in April 2018, 450 people were injured in the towns of Adra and Douma. The case that led to the arrest warrant was brought by civil parties including survivors of the attacks, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression and the OSJI. Its cancellation was initially sought by France's anti-terrorism office on the grounds of head of state immunity. Last year, the Paris court of appeal upheld the warrant following a request for annulment, only for the anti-terrorism office and the public prosecutors' office to lodge a fresh appeal. At the appeal hearing, the OSJI argued that immunity should not apply when leaders perpetrated grave crimes against their own population. France has previously issued international arrest warrants for three other senior Syrian officials, including the former leader's brother Maher al-Assad for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Cour de Cassation did not rule on these warrants, which are still in effect. The sarin attack in 2013 almost led to US intervention in Syria's civil war. Barack Obama, then US president, had warned Assad that the use of chemical weapons would be a 'red line', but backed down from military action after Syria agreed to dismantle its chemical weapons. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion In 2020, a report by the UN-aligned body that oversees chemical weapons use accused Syria of using sarin gas on the battlefield. The report was hailed by rights groups as a landmark moment with implications for war crimes investigations. The Syrian conflict began with protests and pro-democracy rallies in 2011 and escalated into civil war the following year. Up to 610,000 people are believed to have died.
The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
French supreme court cancels arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad
France's supreme court has cancelled an arrest warrant for the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war. The Cour de cassation declared the warrant invalid under international law, which gives heads of state personal immunity from prosecution in foreign courts while they are in office. The judges ruled there were no exceptions, but said their decision did allow for a new arrest warrant to be issued now Assad is no longer a head of state. Since December 2024, Assad has been living in exile in Russia after rebels led by Turkish-backed forces took control of Syria. Mariana Pena, a senior legal counsel with the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), said the ruling was a 'missed opportunity' for the court to make an exception on the waiving of immunity for heads of state accused of the most serious crimes, but added the campaign to bring Assad to justice would continue. A French court issued the international arrest warrant in November 2023 in response to two chemical weapons attacks in Syria. In the first, in August 2013, the banned gas sarin is believed to have killed more than 1,000 people including hundreds of children in the district of Ghouta in eastern Damascus. The second, in April 2018, saw 450 people injured in the towns of Adra and Douma. The case that led to the arrest warrant was brought by civil parties including survivors of the attacks, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression and the OSJI. Its cancellation was initially sought by France's anti-terrorism office on the grounds of head of state immunity. Last year, the Paris court of appeal upheld the warrant following a request for annulment, only for the anti-terrorism office and the public prosecutors' office to lodge a fresh appeal. At the appeal hearing, the OSJI argued that immunity should not apply when leaders perpetrated grave crimes against their own population. France has previously issued international arrest warrants for three other senior Syrian officials, including the former leader's brother, Maher al-Assad for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Cour de Cassation did not rule on these warrants, which are still in effect. The sarin attack in 2013 almost led to US intervention in Syria's civil war. Barack Obama, then US president, had warned Assad that the use of chemical weapons would be a 'red line', but backed down from military action after Syria agreed to dismantle its chemical weapons. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion In 2020, a report by the UN-aligned body that oversees chemical weapons use accused Syria of using sarin gas on the battlefield. The report was hailed by rights groups as a landmark moment with implications for war crimes investigations. The Syrian conflict began with protests and pro-democracy rallies in 2011 and escalated into civil war the following year. Up to 610,000 people are believed to have died in the conflict.
Al Arabiya
22-07-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia says it will organize Saudi-Syrian investment forum in Damascus
Saudi Arabia will organize a Saudi-Syrian investment forum in Damascus, aimed at exploring the potential for cooperation and signing deals that should promote sustainable development, the Saudi investment ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement did not set a specific date for the forum. Also on Tuesday, the Saudi embassy in Damascus announced the introduction of special travel permits for businesspeople and investors from both countries, aimed at facilitating mutual visits and exploring investment opportunities. Relations between Riyadh and Damascus have significantly improved since the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Saudi Arabia has since emerged as a key backer of Syria's new leadership. In a major policy shift announced in May during a visit to Riyadh, US President Donald Trump said he would lift all US sanctions on Syria at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – an important win for Damascus as it works to rebuild after years of conflict.
