Latest news with #ViolentClashes
The National
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syria claims clashes ended in Sweida as Rubio warns of extremist 'massacres'
Violent clashes have ended in the city of Sweida and tribal fighters removed from the area, Syrian authorities say, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on government security forces to prevent extremists from "carrying out massacres". Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al Baba said in a post on Telegram late on Saturday that "clashes within the city's neighbourhoods were halted". "After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Interior to implement the ceasefire agreement, following the deployment of its forces in the northern and western regions of Sweida governorate, the city of Sweida was evacuated of all tribal fighters," he said. Sectarian clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups have been raging for days in Sweida, killing hundreds from both sides. A ceasefire has been announced but has failed to hold. The violence has been marked by widespread reports of killings of civilians and surrendered fighters. It has drawn in government forces, which have also been accused of such behaviour. Sweida has been under siege by pro-government forces since last Sunday, but they have faced stiff resistance from the city's Druze defenders, who have repelled waves of attacks. Israel, which is home to a sizeable Druze community, launched a series of air attacks on Syria it said was aimed at protecting the minority. However, diplomats and analysts have said its goal is to weaken Syria's authorities. Under pressure from Israel and the US, Syrian security forces withdrew from Sweida on Thursday but returned on Friday, reportedly with Israeli consent. Syrian President urges all sides to 'fully commit' to ceasefire Mr Rubio on Saturday called on the Syrian government's security forces to prevent ISIS and other extremists from operating in the region. If Damascus wanted to preserve the chance for a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria, its security forces must prevent ISIS and any other violent extremists from entering the area and carrying out massacres, Mr Rubio said on social network X. He called on the Syrian government to "hold accountable and bring to justice anyone guilty of atrocities including those in their own ranks". Once in control of large parts of Syria, ISIS was territorially defeated in the country in 2019 largely thanks to the efforts of Kurdish-led forces supported by an international coalition. Sources in Jordan monitoring the situation in Sweida told The National that at least 12,000 pro-government fighters led by Syrian security officials have been advancing on the city from three pockets to the west. The first advance was from the town of Mazraa, where 6,000 militia fighters have assembled under Shaher Amran, a commander in neighbouring Deraa province, as well as Ahmad Dalati, who is in charge of security in Sweida. From the town of Najran, another 800 pro-government fighters were being led by Mouwafaq Al Dokhi, a Bedouin security official. In Al Thaala, an extra 1,500 gunmen have been assembled under the command of an intelligence official known as Khattab, head of a newly created intelligence force called Unit 555. On the back lines, there are 4,000 infantry positioned in Deraa province, mainly in the towns of Busra Al Harir and Izraa, near the main motorway from Deraa city to Damascus. Their weaponry, mainly weapons such as DShK Soviet-era heavy machine-guns, are being provided by the government and transported on vegetable lorries from Damascus to help disguise the process and make it difficult for Israel to attack from the air, the sources in Jordan said. In Deraa province, the launchpad of the government offensive, authorities have given governor Anwar Al Zubi the responsibility of collecting donations to provide food and logistics for the troops, while mosques have also issued calls for donations, the sources added. Sweida is home to most of Syria's registered 800,000 Druze. But many have left, particularly during the country's 13-year civil war, with about 270,000 remaining. Many Druze have opposed attempts by the Syrian government to station security forces from outside the area in the province, saying such personnel should be drawn from the local population. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, commander of an Al Qaeda faction before cutting ties with the group in 2016, has said protecting Druze citizens and their rights is 'our priority'. He has vowed to hold to account those who committed violations against 'our Druze people'. Overseas, dozens of Syrians rallied on Saturday in London and Paris, calling for action to protect the Druze. In central London, about 80 protesters called for an end to the deadly violence and a humanitarian corridor to be opened up via the Jordanian border. Protest organiser Emad Al Eismy told the AFP news agency that atrocities were being carried out in Sweida. "Shootings, beheadings, raping, killing children, torching shops, homes. It's a barbarian movement going on," he said.
The Independent
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Several injured as anti-migrant violence erupts in Spanish town
Violent clashes have erupted in a town in southeastern Spain following an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants earlier this week. Five people were hurt and one was arrested during the unrest in Torre-Pacheco between far-right groups, local residents and North African migrants on Saturday, local officials said. It was described as one of the worst such episodes in the country in recent decades. The town was quieter on Sunday, but government sources said more arrests were expected. Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night's violence, which followed several days of lower-intensity unrest. Tensions flared up between local residents and migrants after the elderly man was attacked in the street on Wednesday, causing injuries from which he is recovering at home. The reasons behind the assault are unclear, and no one has been arrested. The central government's representative in the area, Mariola Guevara, told Spanish public TV the attack was being investigated. She also denounced "hate speech" and "incitement to violence', and said additional Guardia Civil officers would be deployed to deal with the violence. Nearly a third of Torre-Pacheco's population is of foreign origin, according to local government data. The area surrounding the town, which is located in the Murcia region, also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as day labourers in agriculture, one of the pillars of the regional economy. Less than two weeks ago, Murcia's government had to backtrack on a proposal to buy housing to accommodate unaccompanied migrant minors as the ruling conservative People's Party (PP) was threatened by far-right Vox, whose support the PP needs to pass laws. In 2000, violent anti-immigration protests broke out in the Almeria town of El Ejido in southern Spain after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.
CNN
13-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Violent clashes erupt between far-right groups and migrants in Spanish town
Violent clashes erupted between far-right groups, local residents and North African migrants in a town in southeastern Spain late on Saturday following an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants earlier in the week. Five people were hurt and one was arrested during the unrest in Torre-Pacheco, local officials told Reuters, in one of the worst such episodes in the country in recent decades. The town was quieter on Sunday, but government sources said more arrests were expected. Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night's violence, which followed several days of lower intensity unrest. Tensions flared up between local residents and migrants after the elderly man was attacked in the street on Wednesday, causing injuries from which he is recovering at home. The reasons behind the assault are unclear and no one has been arrested. The central government's representative in the area, Mariola Guevara, told Spanish public TV the attack was being investigated. She also denounced 'hate speech' and 'incitement to violence,' as far-right groups moved into the town, and said additional Guardia Civil officers would be deployed to deal with the violence. Nearly a third of Torre-Pacheco's population is of foreign origin, according to local government data. The area surrounding the town, which is located in the Murcia region, also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as day laborers in agriculture, one of the pillars of the regional economy. Less than two weeks ago, Murcia's government had to backtrack on a proposal to buy housing to accommodate unaccompanied migrant minors as the ruling conservative People's Party (PP) was threatened by far-right Vox, whose support the PP needs to pass laws. In 2000, violent anti-immigration protests broke out in the Almeria town of El Ejido in southern Spain after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.
CNN
13-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Violent clashes erupt between far-right groups and migrants in Spanish town
Violent clashes erupted between far-right groups, local residents and North African migrants in a town in southeastern Spain late on Saturday following an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants earlier in the week. Five people were hurt and one was arrested during the unrest in Torre-Pacheco, local officials told Reuters, in one of the worst such episodes in the country in recent decades. The town was quieter on Sunday, but government sources said more arrests were expected. Videos posted on social media showed men dressed in clothes bearing far-right symbols and migrants carrying Moroccan flags hurling objects at each other in Saturday night's violence, which followed several days of lower intensity unrest. Tensions flared up between local residents and migrants after the elderly man was attacked in the street on Wednesday, causing injuries from which he is recovering at home. The reasons behind the assault are unclear and no one has been arrested. The central government's representative in the area, Mariola Guevara, told Spanish public TV the attack was being investigated. She also denounced 'hate speech' and 'incitement to violence,' as far-right groups moved into the town, and said additional Guardia Civil officers would be deployed to deal with the violence. Nearly a third of Torre-Pacheco's population is of foreign origin, according to local government data. The area surrounding the town, which is located in the Murcia region, also hosts large numbers of migrants who work as day laborers in agriculture, one of the pillars of the regional economy. Less than two weeks ago, Murcia's government had to backtrack on a proposal to buy housing to accommodate unaccompanied migrant minors as the ruling conservative People's Party (PP) was threatened by far-right Vox, whose support the PP needs to pass laws. In 2000, violent anti-immigration protests broke out in the Almeria town of El Ejido in southern Spain after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.
