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The National
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israel carried out strike on 'extremists' preparing to attack Druze in Syria
The Israeli military has carried out a warning strike against 'extremists' preparing to attack members of Syria's Druze minority in a Damascus suburb, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday. The strike followed an overnight attack on Druze areas of Sahnaya, a large suburb of the Syrian capital, by militants from the nearby areas of Hajar Al Aswad, Mouaddamiyeh and Balbila. Parts of the southern province of Suweida, the sect's ancestral home, also came under assault from gunmen in nearby Deraa, in the biggest threat to the ancient minority since Bashar Al Assad Hayat Tahrir Al Sham took power last year. The group led the rebel offensive that toppled president Bashar Al Assad in December and formed the current government. Mr Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Defence Minister Israel Katz that the Israeli military 'carried out a warning operation and attacked an extremist group that was organising to continue attacking the Druze population in the town'. 'A serious message was also conveyed to the Syrian regime – Israel expects it to act to prevent harm to the Druze,' they said. An official from HTS said Israeli drones struck Sahnaya and its surroundings several times. A car and a security position were among the targets, he said, without elaborating. Israel's military later said that troops had been instructed to hit "targets belonging to the Syrian regime" if violence against Druze communities continues. Syrian state news agency Sana confirmed that Israeli strikes had taken place in the Sahnaya area. The Israeli military also said three wounded members of the Druze community had been "evacuated from Syria" for treatment in Israel, without explaining how. A statement from Syria's Foreign Ministry rejected all forms of "foreign intervention" in its affairs. The areas around Sahnaya are controlled by former rebel brigades allied with HTS. A delegation comprised of senior members of the Druze spiritual leadership met with the government late on Wednesday, and reached a general ceasefire agreement, according to Suwayda 24, a network of citizen journalists, but the hostilities have continued. The organisation said that attacks against Druze civilians and looting of Druze property were continuing in the area and in the south of the country. The state's official news agency reported that an 'initial ceasefire' was reached. . The Interior Ministry said 16 people were killed in 'the targeting of civilians and security forces by outlaw groups' in the suburb, and that reinforcements had been sent to the area. Hussam Al Tahhan, a local police official, said that several parties had intervened to try to stop the bloodshed but failed, without naming them. Suwayda 24 said that electricity has been cut off in the province as villages and town come attack by militants firing mortar rounds from Deraa. Clashes were reported in several areas of Suwayda and at least one man was killed in an ambush on the road between Suweida city and Damascus. Insults circulated on social media against the Druze, and Druze students have been either evacuated from or forced out of university campuses across the country. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, who had opened a channel with the new government as soon as Mr Al Assad was toppled, said Israel is trying to "use" the Druze to create sectarian strife in Syria but that the authorities in Damascus should start a transparent investigation into the killings. Turkey meanwhile said the violence should be ended by "dialogue and common sense". It said Israeli strikes were "harming efforts for unity and integrity in Syria". Clashes killed 12 people in another Druze-populated Damascus suburb on Tuesday. The attack on Jaramana by HTS-affiliated militias came amid anger over a video showing a Druze leader appearing to criticise the Prophet Mohammed. The government later said the video was fake. Eight of the dead in the two attacks were members of the Druze community, which Israel vowed to defend after HTS-affiliated forces attacked Jaramana in early March. Rayyan Maarouf, a researcher at the Suwayda 24 network said the dead in Sahnaya included a Druze fighter who was defending the area and a Druze civilian, as well as 10 members of the attacking forces drawn from militant brigades based in towns on the outskirts of Damascus. Mr Maarouf said that although Syria's Druze are not pro-Israel, the Israeli intervention could deter pro-government forces from further attacks. President Ahmad Al Shara is seeking to consolidate the new government's control over the country in the face of resistance from minorities. At least 1,300 members of the Alawite sect, mainly civilians, were killed in their coastal heartland on March 8 and March 9 as state security forces and allied militias responded to attacks by Assad loyalists. Druze representatives agreed to integrate the sect's militias into the state forces in a deal signed on March 10. Another deal with the country's more powerful Kurds stalled after their representatives called for decentralisation of power. 'This is not the way to apply political pressure. It could result in massacres,' Mr Maarouf told The National by phone from Suweida city, pointing to the continued killing of Alawites. The minority sect, to which the former president belongs, dominated Sunni-majority Syria during more than five decades of Assad family rule. The Sunni political ascendancy after the overthrow of Mr Al Assad has changed Middle Eastern power dynamics to the disadvantage of Shiite-majority Iran and Russia, the main backers of the former regime. The Druze are a transnational minority of about one million people, present mainly in Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. In Syria they are concentrated on the southern outskirts of Damascus and the southern province of Suweida, near the border with Jordan. The sect's main focus has been survival amid rise of religious forces in the region, although those in Syria staged a civil disobedience movement against Mr Al Assad for more than a year before the rebel offensive forced him to flee the country. 'The Druze could use even intervention from devils now,' Mr Maarouf said. 'They are afraid that what occurred on the coast will happen to them. It is very regrettable that the government is supporting an assault on a whole sect.' A member of the inner circle of Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syrian Druze, declined to comment on the attacks in Sahnaya and Jaramana but said the government could easily have prevented militants from gathering around the two suburbs. Sheikh Hikmat has criticised the new government as being led by 'extremists' and has opened channels with Israel in a quest for protection. Over the past month, the government has recruited hundreds of Druze from Suweida to its new security troops. Druze militias loyal to Sheikh Hikmat have responded by raising their presence in the streets of Suweida, and patrolling the province's borders, residents said.
The National
21-04-2025
- Business
- The National
First flight from Syria arrives in UAE as commercial services resume
A landmark passenger flight from Syria arrived in the UAE on Sunday, heralding the long-awaited resumption of direct air travel between the countries. The Airbus A320-212 from Syria's national airline Syrian Air left the capital city of Damascus just after 7am, according to online flight tracker, FlightRadar 24. Dubai Airports reported the plane landed in Dubai at 12.39pm. It was announced last week that Syrian Air would resume direct flights to Dubai and Sharjah from Sunday. The airline said it was working 'to add more flights as soon as possible, once we receive the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities'. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of flights between the Emirates and Syria on April 14. It came after Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara visited the UAE for the first time since taking office last Sunday, during which he held high-level talks with President Sheikh Mohamed. Mr Al Shara, who led the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebel group that ousted President Bashar Al Assad, is looking to improve relations with Arab neighbours and the Gulf states following a 13-year civil war in Syria. Sheikh Mohamed told of the need to confront 'the challenges of the transitional phase and rebuild Syria in a way that meets the aspirations of its people for a future of security, stability and prosperity', state news agency Wam reported. The security and stability of Syria are important to the entire Middle East, Sheikh Mohamed said, stressing that the UAE would 'spare no effort in providing all possible support to Syria'. Samih Arabi, director general of Syrian Air, who was on board the inaugural flight from Damascus to Dubai, said the resumption of flights highlighted the airline's commitment to reconnecting Syria with key international travel markets, particularly those with large Syrian communities such as the UAE. He underlined the significance of the step in helping to reunite Syrian citizens living in the Emirates with family members back home. Countries had suspended flights to and from Syria during the civil war, but some airlines restarted services since former president Bashar Al Assad was ousted last year. 'Resuming our flights to the United Arab Emirates marks an important moment for Syrian Air and for the many Syrians who call the UAE home," Mr Arabi said. "This route is not just about restoring connectivity, it's about bringing people closer to their loved ones, easing travel for families, and strengthening the bonds between our two nations.'
Yemen Online
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
First flight from Syria arrives in UAE as commercial services resume
The first passenger aircraft departed from Syria bound for the UAE on Sunday as aviation links restarted between the two countries, the Syrian state news agency Sana said in a post on X. The Airbus A320-212 from Syria's national carrier Syrian Air left the capital city of Damascus just after 7am, according to online flight tracker, FlightRadar 24. Dubai Airports reported the plane landed in Dubai at 12:39pm. It was already announced last week that Syrian Air would resume direct flights to Dubai and Sharjah from Sunday. The airline said it was working 'to add more flights as soon as possible, once we receive the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities'. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of flights between the Emirates and Syria on April 14. It came after Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara visited the UAE for the first time since taking office. Countries had suspended flights to and from Syria during the civil war, but some airlines restarted services since former president Bashar Al Assad was ousted last year.
The National
14-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai tops list of world's busiest international airports for 11th year
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has extended its dominance as the world's busiest international hub for the 11th year in a row, after higher investment in technology and infrastructure, and as global long-haul travel overtook pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Dubai, home base of super-connector Emirates airlines, handled 92.3 million passengers last year, up 6.1 per cent from 2023 and 7 per cent from 2019, according to the latest data by Airports Council International (ACI), which represents 2,181 airports in 170 countries. London's Heathrow, Incheon in Seoul, Singapore's Changi and Schiphol in Amsterdam rounded off the top-five busiest hubs for international air traffic in 2024, ACI said in a report on Monday. Including domestic passenger travel, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson – the base of Delta Air Lines – retained its title as the world's busiest airport, handling 108.1 million travellers. It was followed by Dubai International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth in second and third place, respectively. The biggest jump in the top 10 rankings was Shanghai Pudong International Airport, leapfrogging from 21st position in 2023 to the 10th in 2024. The progress was fuelled by expanded visa policies, resumption and growth of international flights, operational improvements and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, ACI said. Global air travel surged last year, despite geopolitical and economic headwinds. Passenger volumes reached nearly 9.5 billion, an increase of 9 per cent from 2023, ACI data showed. "Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world's busiest airports shines. These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce and connectivity," ACI World's director general Justin Erbacci said. However, global passenger travel growth faced "significant uncertainties" last year from economic and geopolitical challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza war, tension in Lebanon and Iran, as well as the toppling of the Bashar Al Assad regime in Syria. "Ongoing supply chain challenges and production delays from aircraft manufacturers, as well as geopolitical tensions, posed a risk to growth opportunities by potentially altering flight routes, increasing operational costs and affecting passenger sentiment," ACI said. "Additionally, the threat of tariffs raised concerns about potential disruptions to global trade, which indirectly affected international travel demand and increased constructions." The sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump has rattled markets and supply chains globally. Global passenger traffic this year is forecast to reach 9.9 billion, with a 4.8 per cent annual growth, ACI said. "While passenger demand remains strong, the pace of expansion is expected to slow as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term growth patterns," it said. "Key challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and capacity constraints are expected to increasingly shape the industry's trajectory." This year's growth is split into a tale of two markets. In advanced markets, demand stabilisation, supply chain bottlenecks in production and airports' capacity shortage may "temper growth", ACI said. However, in emerging markets, higher infrastructure investment and rising middle-class travel demand are expected to continue driving expansion. "As the industry moves into a new era of growth, the airport industry must focus on financial viability, investment in infrastructure, operational efficiency and sustainability," ACI said.
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Turkey holds 'technical talks' with Israel to ease Syria tensions
Turkey is holding technical-level talks with Israel to ease tensions over Syria but is not moving toward normalising ties, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday. Turkey is a key backer of the Islamist-led coalition in Syria that toppled Bashar Al Assad in December after almost 14 years of civil war. Its influence has worried Israel, which has launched air strikes and ground incursions to keep Syrian forces away from its border. "Now, while we are carrying out certain operations in Syria, there needs to be a deconfliction mechanism at a certain point with Israel, which is flying its planes in that region, just like we do with the Americans and the Russians," Fidan told CNN-Turk television. "Of course, it is normal to have contacts at the technical level to establish this," he added. But the foreign minister said this did not mean there would be a normalisation in ties strained over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "state terror" and "genocide" in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. US President Donald Trump on Monday offered himself as a mediator between Israel and Turkey. Trump, speaking alongside key ally Netanyahu at the White House, touted his "great relations" with Erdogan as an avenue for negotiations.
