Latest news with #SyriaConflict
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan condemns Israeli airstrikes in Syria, calls UNSC to act on Gaza, Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, calling them 'unprovoked' and a 'dangerous escalatory path,' as the country's foreign minister chaired high-level UN Security Council meetings in New York under Pakistan's ongoing presidency. Tensions have escalated sharply between Syria and Israel this month after sectarian violence erupted in Syria's Druze-majority region of Sweida, resulting in scores of deaths and prompting a fragile ceasefire. In response, Israel launched airstrikes it says were aimed at protecting the Druze community and demilitarizing southern Syria. 'Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the Israeli attacks against the Syrian Arab Republic in contravention of international law and principles of the UN Charter,' the Foreign Office said in its weekly briefing. 'These unprovoked attacks mark a dangerous escalatory path being pursued by Israel in the region with impunity,' the statement added. 'Pakistan expresses its full support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of Syria and calls on the international community to prevent Israel from its acts of aggression that continue to undermine the peace and stability in the entire region.' Separately, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is also Pakistan's deputy prime minister, is currently on a visit to New York and Washington to represent Pakistan during its rotating presidency of the UN Security Council. His engagements have included meetings with the UN Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly, and ministers from Austria, the UK, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Earlier this week, Dar presided over a Security Council debate on multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In his remarks, he 'highlighted selective application of international law as untenable from Gaza to Jammu and Kashmir' and called for respect for international agreements such as the Indus Water Treaty 'to preserve peace and cooperation,' the foreign office briefing said. On the same day, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2788 under Pakistan's presidency, urging 'greater use of UN Chapter 6 tools, including negotiations, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, and resort to regional and sub-regional organizations, as well as good offices of the Secretary General, and calls for inclusive diplomacy.' Dar also addressed the Security Council's quarterly debate on the Middle East, where he condemned Israel's continued military offensive in Gaza. 'Delivering Pakistan's national statement, the DPM condemned systematic targeting of hospitals, schools, UN facilities, aid convoys, and refugee camps as deliberate acts of collective punishment and fragile violation of international humanitarian law,' the foreign office said. Dar called the Palestinian issue 'a litmus test for the credibility of the United Nations' and urged the Council to act for 'immediate ceasefire, unimpeded aid access, end to occupation and forced displacement, renewed and reinforced international support for UNRWA, implementation of the Arab and OIC-led reconstruction plan for Gaza, and revival of the two-state solution.' The Foreign Office also reiterated Pakistan's longstanding position on Palestine, stating: 'We firmly believe that the only just solution to the Palestinian question is the creation of an independent, viable, sovereign, and contiguous Palestinian state along the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.'
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Explosion heard in Syria's Idlib, several people killed: Sources
An explosion rocked Syria's Idlib on Thursday, killig several people, according to Al Arabiya sources. The cause was not immediately known. Developing
Sky News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Syria's new president has won over Trump but his chequered past is still causing concern
It is no secret that Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize. But the very man who could help him achieve this is also the man keeping the trophy at bay. The Israeli prime minister nominated Trump for the prize during a recent trip to Washington but Netanyahu's actions in Syria and Gaza over the past few weeks prompted yet another call from the president telling him to rein it in. But why this time? Firstly, because of Syria. Tribal fighting between the Druze minority community and Bedouins in the southern city of Sweida has seen over 1,000 dead and many more injured. Netanyahu has declared himself protector of the Druze across the region, partly because a large portion of that community live in the occupied Golan Heights and are loyal to him. The Druze also serve in the IDF. So, when a Druze leader asked him to help, he did. In an extraordinary way. Not only did he bomb the city of Sweida, but he launched a strike on military headquarters in the capital Damascus, a stone's throw away from the Presidential Palace. Groups flocked to Sweida to help fight against the tribe who called on Israel's aid, further fanning the flames of violence. A shaky ceasefire is now in place - brokered by the US which, for now, is standing firm behind Syria's new President Ahmed al Sharaa. It is firmly in the US's interests for Sharaa's vision of Syria to work. A reformed jihadist who cut his teeth in ISIS and al Qaeda is now calling for an equal and open Syria. His chequered past makes him an unlikely ally of President Trump. A man who once was in a group that chanted "death to America" now shakes the hand of the leader of the same country. It is also no secret that Trump respects Sharaa, calling him an "attractive, tough guy". But Trump has plans for the region that require a lasting peace in Syria. And right now, Sharaa is the only person promising to deliver this. Hungry for an expansion of the Abraham Accords and normalisation between Syria and Israel, Trump lifted sanctions and welcomed Sharaa to the world stage. But Israel and the Emiratis remain suspicious of the new president and are deeply sceptical of his promise of reformed jihadism. 1:37 Netanyahu's strikes were a warning as much as anything. Arab officials tell me that Sharaa can't even use the toilet without telling the Turks, but the Israelis have made it clear he will also have to watch his back. Trump was reportedly deeply angry at Israel's strike on the only Catholic Church in Gaza. The IDF said it was "unintentional" but the incident warranted a call from the president which led to a rare public statement from Netanyahu on the "tragic incident". Add to this the brutal murder of the Palestinian-American Saifullah Kamel Musallet in the West Bank by Israeli settlers, and an increase in violence against the Christian community in general, and you have all the elements in place to warrant criticism from a usually staunch ally: the evangelical MAGA base. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called an arson attack on a Christian church in the West Bank "terrorism" in a recent trip to the village where the settler attack happened. This is a man who once said there is "no such thing" as the West Bank, calling it Judea and Samaria - a biblical term used by the right in Israel and America. "There's no such thing as a settlement," he continued. "They're communities, they're neighbourhoods, they're cities. There's no such thing as an occupation." Add to that Trump's original pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, who called into question Israel's investigation into what he called the "pattern of Israeli settler attacks", and MAGA diehard Marjorie Taylor Greene who proposed a slashing of America's funding to Israel by $500m. These are some of Trump's most loyal of followers now voicing a once rare criticism of Israel. Again, this will be frustrating to Trump - who as quickly as he tapes up one fissure within his base, sees another starting to tear.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
The Druze in Suwayda: A Community at the Crossroads
Dr. Gil Feiler Suwayda governorate in southern Syria—known historically as Jabal al‑Druze—is home to around 700,000 members of the Druze religious minority. While Druze in Israel are well-integrated, those in Syria have long sought autonomy from central regimes in Damascus. Since the collapse of Bashar al‑Assad in December 2024, regional tensions have intensified, driven by competing Druze visions for Syria's future, local rivalries with Sunni Bedouin tribes, and external interventions. In early 2025, Druze militias in Suwayda formed the Suwayda Military Council (SMC), an umbrella coalition of local armed groups led by former Syrian army officer Tareq al‑Shoufi. The council emerged with aspirations of local autonomy, coordination with Syria's new interim leadership under President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, and alignment with other decentralized forces such as the Kurdish-led SDF. It has drawn in groups like Men of Dignity and the Ahrar Jabal al‑Arab Gathering. However, Druze religious leadership is divided: Sheikh Hikmat al‑Hijri, one of Syria's three Druze 'sheikhs al‑Aql,' rejects cooperation with the central government and accuses Damascus of complicity in massacres of Druze civilians. He frames the struggle as existential for his community and supports federalist or even secessionist tendencies. By contrast, Sheikh Youssef Jarbou, another spiritual leader, endorses integration with Damascus, backs cooperation with security forces, and supports initiatives for religious delegation visits—including one to Israel in March 2025—believing in working within state structures. This internal rift shapes the region's politics: while some factions lean toward relative autonomy, others push for union with central authority. Local Spark: Druze vs. Bedouin Clashes Tensions escalated in July 2025 following tit-for-tat kidnappings between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze militias, especially those allied with Hikmat al‑Hijri. Violence quickly spiraled into widespread street fighting, ambushes, and retaliatory raids in and around Suwayda city. Government forces were deployed to restore order. Promised ceasefires collapsed rapidly, with both sides accusing each other of violations. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported anywhere from 100 to over 360 dead in initial days, including civilians and security personnel. The Syrian transitional government under President al‑Sharaa initially deployed troops into Suwayda city to intervene. But they soon faced accusations—from Druze leaders and independent monitors—of extrajudicial killings and targeting of Druze civilians. Field executions by individuals identified as government-affiliated or security forces were widely reported, including summary shootings near Suwayda and Harvest Guest House, with many victims in civilian clothing. President al‑Sharaa publicly condemned violence, announced investigations into human rights offenses by troops or militias, and pledged accountability. He also announced plans to turn security control over to Druze elders and local factions under a broader ceasefire framework. Israeli Intervention On July 15, Israel launched airstrikes near Damascus and Suwayda, claiming to protect Syria's Druze community—a group with which it shares close ties. Initial strikes hit Syrian military vehicles and the defence ministry complex in Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said its aim was to prevent government forces from harming Druze civilians and to establish a buffer zone in southern Syria. Israel's actions created regional controversy. Critics linked the interventions to geopolitical motives and a broader strategy to weaken Damascus. Many Druze in Syria saw Israel's involvement with suspicion, arguing it was more self-serving than protective . Escalation: Mass Displacement and Executions As fighting intensified, reports emerged of Druze militias—particularly those loyal to Sheikh al-Hijri—carrying out mass executions of Bedouin men, burning villages, and forcibly displacing entire Bedouin communities. Accounts describe mutilations, rape of women and children, and villages emptied of inhabitants. Over 130,000 people fled their homes amid what the UN called a humanitarian crisis. Human Rights Watch and UN officials demanded investigations into the atrocities. Among the victims were a Syrian‑American Druze family—including Hossam Saraya, a U.S. citizen from Oklahoma—abducted and executed; his case drew international attention and condemnation, and congressional requests for clarity. By this point, the death toll reached several hundred, and Al Jazeera reported over 300 fatalities, while other sources suggested numbers closer to or exceeding 600. Ceasefire and Current Stakes By mid‑July, a mediated ceasefire—brokered by Turkey, Jordan, the U.S., and Arab states—called for Syrian troops to withdraw from Suwayda city and hand over local security to Druze clerics and factions. Jordan and Turkey supported local ownership of security to avoid future violence. While an official ceasefire holds for now, its durability is uncertain: 1. Community divisions remain deep, with local factions loyal to al‑Hijri rejecting prior agreements and insisting on continuing autonomy efforts 2. Turkey has warned that it may intervene if autonomy within Syria becomes a breaking point, rejecting any fragmentation of the state. Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan called Israeli involvement destabilizing and confirmed Ankara's readiness to act in defense of Syrian unity 3. President al‑Sharaa's ability to reassert centralized governance remains fragile, as minority communities fear a repeat of past repression or exclusion from national decisions. Confidence in the transitional regime has eroded, particularly after reports of violence in the coastal Alawite region and now Suwayda.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
US citizen among eight Druze family members executed during Syria's sectarian violence
An American citizen from Oklahoma was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack during the sectarian violence that flared in Syria last week. Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was identified by friend Bahaa Imad and a US relative as one of eight men whose killing was captured on a video that circulated on social media over the weekend. The video, which has been geolocated by CNN, shows a group of armed men wearing military uniforms and face masks firing on eight captives while shouting 'God is great.' CNN cannot independently verify the identify of the gunmen in the video. It has reached out to the Syrian government for comment. Saraya's brother Kareem and other family members were also executed, according to the US relative, who asked not to be named for her safety. She spoke directly with relatives in Syria who said the family's male members had all been killed – leaving only their wives and daughters. The killings occurred on July 17 amid an outbreak of sectarian violence between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Saraya, who had studied in Oklahoma before returning to Syria, belonged to the Druze community, an Arab religious group of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. He had gone to Syria to care for his father who was ill, the US relative said. The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the family's multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense. After one of the family members was wounded, the rest surrendered their weapons, she said, and the men were taken outside. Bahaa Imad, a 20-year-old friend of the Saraya family, corroborated these details, saying he witnessed the militants storm the home and forcibly remove eight men, while leaving female family members inside. 'Pray for us' The US relative first learned of the attack when one of the female survivors sent her a desperate message: 'Pray for us, they kidnapped the boys, they shot the house, they stole stuff'. Twelve hours passed as the family desperately waited for news, hoping their relatives would return safely. It wasn't until another overseas relative saw the videos circulating of their execution that they realized the eight men had been killed. Imad said relatives later told him the captives were marched 200 meters to Tishreen Square, where they were lined up and executed. One of the men had sent a final message to friends that read, 'Come and help us if you can. They surrounded us,' Imad said. Imad identified Hosam Saraya's body after watching the video. 'I don't know how monsters can do that,' the US relative told CNN. Asked about Saraya, the US State Department confirmed Monday that an American citizen had died in Suwayda. It did not offer details about the death but said it was 'greatly concerned when any US citizen is harmed overseas, wherever they are' and called 'for accountability in all cases where US citizens are harmed abroad.' Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin also confirmed the killing of an American from the state in Syria. 'Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria,' Lankford wrote on X. 'We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss.' Mullin wrote on X that an 'American citizen from Oklahoma' was 'brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria,' adding he was working with partners in the region to learn more. His tweet did not name the Saraya family. Widespread violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria erupted on July 13 and has left hundreds dead in the latest explosion of sectarian bloodletting since the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a coalition of Islamist rebels. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, as well as US condemnation and an international scramble to stop the fighting spiraling further. The Syrian government said over the weekend that clashes in Suwayda had stopped after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the government, Druze groups, and Bedouin tribes. A separate ceasefire was agreed between Syria and Israel. The deal was announced by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said it was 'embraced' by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries.
