Latest news with #EkhbariyaTV
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Syria, Israel agree to continue talks after Paris meeting
SYRIAN and Israeli officials agreed to meet again after no final accord was reached in U.S.-mediated talks in Paris on de-escalating the conflict in southern Syria, state-run Ekhbariya TV reported on Saturday, citing a diplomatic source. The source described the dialogue as 'honest and responsible', in the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place. On Friday, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said officials from both countries spoke about de-escalating the situation in Syria during the talks on Thursday. Representatives from the Syrian foreign ministry and intelligence officials were in attendance, Syria's Ekhbariya reported. Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killings of Druze by government forces. Last week's clashes underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilising Syria and maintaining centralised rule, despite warming ties with the U.S. and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel. The diplomatic source said the meeting involved initial consultations aimed at 'reducing tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December'. The Syrian side held Israel responsible for the latest escalation, saying that the continuation of such 'hostile policies' was threatening the region, according to the source. The Syrian delegation also said that Damascus would not accept 'imposing new realities on the ground'. - Reuters
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Syria, Israel agree to further talks on de-escalating conflict, Ekhbariya TV reports
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo Syrian and Israeli officials agreed to meet again after no final accord was reached in U.S.-mediated talks in Paris on de-escalating the conflict in southern Syria, state-run Ekhbariya TV reported on Saturday, citing a diplomatic source. The source described the dialogue as "honest and responsible", in the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place. On Friday, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said officials from both countries spoke about de-escalating the situation in Syria during the talks on Thursday. Representatives from the Syrian foreign ministry and intelligence officials were in attendance, Syria's Ekhbariya reported. Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killings of Druze by government forces. Last week's clashes underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilising Syria and maintaining centralised rule, despite warming ties with the U.S. and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel. The diplomatic source said the meeting involved initial consultations aimed at "reducing tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December". Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar The Syrian side held Israel responsible for the latest escalation, saying that the continuation of such "hostile policies" was threatening the region, according to the source. The Syrian delegation also said that Damascus would not accept "imposing new realities on the ground". REUTERS
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syria, Israel discuss containing escalation in southern Syria, Ekhbariya TV reports
Syrian and Israeli officials held talks in Paris mediated by the United States about containing any escalation in southern Syria, Syria's state-run Ekhbariya TV reported on Saturday, citing a diplomatic source. The diplomatic source said the meeting did not result in any final agreements but they agreed to continue talks and evaluate steps aimed at maintaining stability in southern Syria.
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Several dead and dozens injured in 'arms depot' explosion in Syria
Several people have been killed and dozens injured in a huge explosion in Syria, where local TV reports said the blast occurred at an ammunition depot. Emergencies Minister Raed Al Saleh said there were 'recurring explosions' near the town of Maarat Misrin, in the north-western province of Idlib. He said the cause was unknown. Syria's Health Ministry gave a preliminary toll of four people killed and 116 injured, according to Syrian state news agency Sana. State-owned Ekhbariya TV gave a figure of six people killed. 'Syrian Civil Defence teams rushed to the site immediately after the incident and are performing their duty to evacuate victims and transport the injured," Sana quoted Mr Al Saleh as saying. Idlib explosion - in pictures Syria TV reported that 'war remnants and ammunition' had exploded at the site, leaving several people dead and injured. A correspondent said some people might have been trapped under the rubble. 'The area witnessed successive explosions as a result of the detonation of war remnants and munitions present at the site,' the broadcaster said, citing sources. Bassel Seteif, the director of a medical centre treating patients, said almost 100 people had arrived there after the blast, of whom three had died. "All the injuries are civilians, mostly women and children. The injuries varied from mild to severe," he said. "We redirected medium cases to different wards as we finish their treatment or sign them up for surgery if needed." There was no immediate indication of any link to deadly fighting in Sweida in southern Syria, where hundreds of people have been killed in clashes involving pro-government forces and local militias. Syria is struggling to recover from a nearly 14-year civil war that ended with the removal of former President Bashar Al Assad last year. The Syrian economy has been devastated by the civil war that began in 2011 after an uprising against the Bashar Al Assad regime. The UN Development Programme estimates cumulative losses, including physical damage and economic deprivation, at $923 billion as of the end of last year. The estimated cost of reconstruction has varied from $250 billion to $500 billion.
Ya Libnan
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Syria's Sharaa skips Iraq summit after firestorm over invitation
Arab leaders gathered in Baghdad on Saturday for the annual Arab League Summit BAGHDAD/DAMASCUS – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa did not attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad this weekend, Syrian state media said on Monday, after Iraq's invitation spurred controversy over the rebel-turned-leader's potential return to a country where he fought and was jailed. Syria's delegation to Saturday's summit is headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, state-owned Ekhbariya TV reported, without providing a reason for Sharaa's absence. The summit is expected to focus on Gaza reconstruction and the Palestinian issue. Sharaa's decision highlighted Syria's mixed results establishing ties across the region after former President Bashar al-Assad's ouster last year. Sharaa has made rapid inroads with Sunni-majority Gulf Arab states Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but has tread more carefully with others where Iran has had strong influence, like Shi'ite-majority Iraq. A Druze lady holds up a sign reading 'no to sectarianism, long live a free and unified Syria' at a demonstration in southern Syria's Druze-majority Sweida province, 3/1/2025 (Sweida 24) . There is a huge concern that Syria's strong man Ahmed al Sharaa is planning to expel all minorities in Syria . In Sweida, Sharra's security forces are reportedly confiscating properties by removing or disturbing the demarcation markings . Hundreds of Alawites and Druze were killed during the past 2 months and Sharaa's Security forces reportedly made no attempt to protect them Sharaa fought with Al Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S-led invasion in 2003. He was imprisoned there for more than five years, then released for lack of evidence in 2011, according to a senior Iraqi security official. He then opened Al Qaeda's branch in Syria, breaking away in 2016 to form what became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that ousted Assad. Iraq's prime minister invited Sharaa last month to the summit, prompting criticism from mainly Shi'ite Muslim factions who accuse Sharaa of orchestrating attacks against Shi'ites during his years in Iraq. At least 57 Shi'ite lawmakers in Iraq's 329-member legislature petitioned the government to bar Sharaa from the summit, a copy of the request seen by Reuters showed. Rumours circulated that he could face an arrest warrant, but Iraqi authorities denied this. Sunni politicians largely welcomed his participation in the summit as a step towards pulling Iraq away from Iran and towards Arab states, who have largely backed Sharaa. 'There are elements… working against Iraq's progress to reclaim its rightful place within the Arab community,' said Raad al-Dahlaki, head of Azm Alliance, a major Sunni bloc in Iraq's parliament. Analysts view Iraq as the last strong pillar in Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance after Assad's ouster and Israel's degrading of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Some Syrians were also concerned that Sharaa could face danger in Iraq. For his Iraqi critics, 'it's not going to be easy for them to digest, nor for the Syrian secret service to disregard those threats,' said Mahmoud Toron, an analyst close to the Syrian government. (Reuters)
