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Nahar Net
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Syria church leaders condemn 'massacres targeting innocent civilians'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 09 March 2025, 12:32 The leaders of Syria's three main Christian churches have issued a joint statement condemning "massacres targeting innocent civilians", following reports of mass killings of Alawite civilians by the security forces. Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said "532 Alawite civilians were killed in the coastal regions of Syria and the Latakia mountains by security forces and allied groups". "In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children," the joint statement said. It was signed by the patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches. The reported killings on the Mediterranean coast -- the heartland of the Alawite religious minority -- was gripped by fighting between the country's new security forces and gunmen loyal to toppled president Bashar al-Assad. Though the majority of Syria's Christians fled during the civil war that erupted in 2011, the city of Latakia, which has been hard hit by the latest violence, is home to a small Christian community. "The Christian churches, while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values," the statement said. "The churches also call for the swift creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation among the Syrian people." They urged a "transition to a state that... lays the foundation for a society based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of vengeance and exclusion". The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, also called for an end to the violence. "The flames that burn under sectarian slogans will burn all of Syria and its people," he said in a statement. Assad, himself an Alawite who sought to present himself as a protector of Syria's minorities, was ousted on December 8 in a lightning offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has since been appointed Syria's interim president. The new authorities have repeatedly promised an inclusive transition that protects the rights of religious minorities. The Alawite heartland has nonetheless been gripped by fear of reprisals for the Assad family's brutal rule.
Rudaw Net
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
UN envoy urges ‘genuine compromises' to safeguarding Rojava peace
Also in Syria Demand for fuel sold on the streets of Damascus surges ENKS leader and Syriac Orthodox bishop advocate for a civil, inclusive Syria Armed groups in Syria push back against Damascus decision to disband them Damascus could uphold 'legally valid' oil, power deals with Iran, Russia: Syrian oil ministry A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria on Wednesday urged regional and global actors to present 'genuine compromises' to ensure peace in northeast Syria (Rojava), warning that failure to do so could lead to further instability in the country. 'I strongly encourage the United Nations, Turkiye, and regional and Syrian partners, to work together on genuine compromises that can enable peace and stability to take hold in northeast Syria,' Geir Pedersen told the UN Security Council. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Rojava and the new administration in Damascus have been in talks about the future of the group and its potential integration into Syria's national security forces. Additionally, discussions are ongoing regarding the fate of Rojava, which has been under Kurdish administration for over a decade. Pederson welcomed the establishment of a 'direct channel' between the caretaker Syrian authorities and the SDF, 'even if progress has not yet emerged.' He cautioned that continued conflict in Syria could drastically impact civilians, the country's economy, stability, and the broader transition. The UN envoy further warned potential impact on international efforts to combat the Islamic State (ISIS), which could undermine global peace and security. After meeting with SDF chief Mazloum Abdi last month, Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said the new Syrian army would include the US-backed force. Abdi expressed readiness to integrate the SDF into a national military, contingent on reaching a mutually agreed-upon framework. 'It is crucial that all doors remain open to ensuring the inclusion of all parts of Syria and all key constituencies within the political transition process,' Pedersen stressed. Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, on December 8 toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad who fled to Russia with his family. The new Syrian leadership in late January dissolved the country's army and parliament, and annulled its constitution. Notably, the HTS has not clashed with the SDF, which maintains it is not looking to start a conflict with the new administration in Damascus. The US-backed group controls about a third of the country and includes members of various ethnic groups, including Arabs, Christians, and Kurds, as well as female fighters. In late January, Pedersen expressed hope in a potential agreement between the Damascus authorities and the Kurdsh-led Rojava administration to avoid a full-scale military confrontation "that cannot serve the interests of the Syrian people.'
Rudaw Net
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Rudaw Net
Demand for fuel sold on the streets of Damascus surges
Also in Syria ENKS leader and Syriac Orthodox bishop advocate for a civil, inclusive Syria Armed groups in Syria push back against Damascus decision to disband them Damascus could uphold 'legally valid' oil, power deals with Iran, Russia: Syrian oil ministry 87 people 'kidnapped' in Afrin since start of 2025: local watchdog A+ A- DAMASCUS, Syria - The number of fuel vendors on the streets of Damascus has recently surged dramatically. They sell various types of benzene and kerosene, serving as an alternative to traditional oil stations. The demand for the fuel they sell, mostly imported from Lebanon, is rising due to its perceived better quality. A liter of benzene costs nearly 14,000 Syrian pounds, while a liter of kerosene is priced at 11,000. "This is Lebanese benzene with 97-Octane. Its quality is very high. It has gained high demand by drivers, including public and private taxis. It is cheaper than the benzene that is sold in the oil stations since it is almost 97 percent free of impurities," Ali Ahmad, a vendor, told Rudaw. Firas Abu Raqib has been transporting passengers for nearly 20 years. His car is his lifeline. However, he has spent the last four hours at a workshop repairing his car. He explains the difference between the quality of the fuel sold on the streets and that sold at the oil stations. "If I put five liters of benzene into a gallon, 2 cm of dirt settles at the bottom, and this dirt goes into the vehicle's engine. I just bought a new fuel tank for 300,000 Syrian pounds, but it stopped working. Look at my hands. All of this is because of the impurities in the fuel," he said. Most of the vehicles on the streets of Damascus are old, as sanctions imposed on the toppled regime prevented the import of new vehicles. Reviving the country's oil sector and reducing fuel prices are essential for alleviating the burden on citizens and revitalizing the economy. Firas Tawillah is a mechanic. He said most cars end up in his workshop because of bad quality fuel. "Most of the cars that end up here break down because of bad benzene. The impurities are blocking the pipes and pumps in the cars. A while ago, there used to be water added to benzene and a chemical substance that eventually made the liquid inside look like benzene. Many broken cars end up here because of tampered fuel," he stated.
