Latest news with #demilitarisedZone
The National
28-05-2025
- General
- The National
Syria-Israel talks are focused on reducing military presence near the Golan, source says
Talks between Syria and Israel have focused on the sides cutting back their military presence near the Golan Heights, a Syrian political source said. The source, who does not hold a government position, told The National that 'no political issues have been discussed'. Syria is demanding that Israel withdraws its troops to a 1974 armistice line on the Golan Heights, the source said. Israel sent its forces across the line into Syrian territory after rebel forces toppled former president Bashar Al Assad in December. The Israelis want the Syrian government to commit to an expanded demilitarised zone, free from heavy weapons, that runs from the Golan Heights to the outskirts of Damascus, the source said. Security teams from the sides have been discussing the details in an area of the Golan Heights patrolled by United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, the source said, without naming the participants. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara said this month that Syria is engaged in 'indirect talks through mediators' with Israel 'to calm down the situation so that it does not get out of control'. Quoting sources, Reuters reported on Tuesday that a Syrian team led by Ahmad Al Dalati, a colonel in the security forces, held direct talks with Israel in the region of Quneitra, the heart of the 1974 demilitarised zone. Mr Al Dalati told Syrian state television that he 'categorically denies participating in any direct talks with the Israeli side'. 'Such claims lake accuracy and credibility,' said Mr Al Dalati, who was appointed this month as governor of the mostly Druze province of Suweida in southern Syria. Syria and Israel have been technically at war since 1967. Israel seized the Golan Heights that year and annexed it in 1981. Syria launched an unsuccessful war to regain the area in 1973, leading to the creation of the UN demilitarised zone the following year. The regime of Mr Al Assad, and his father Hafez held peace talks with Israel several times without reaching an agreement. On May 14, President Donald Trump met Mr Al Shara in Riyadh after being urged to do so by Ankara and Saudi Arabia and he asked Syria to join the Abraham Accords that established diplomatic relations between Israel and a number of Arab states. Although Mr Al Shara's Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group is a former ally of Al Qaeda, many see him and his government as a bulwark against more extreme elements. Israel bombed Syria since he was named leader by fellow rebels in late January, but the raids have subsided in recent weeks.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy rejects demilitarised zone proposal for Russo-Ukrainian war from Trump's envoy Kellogg
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the idea of a 30 kilometres demilitarised zone in the war with Russia "dead as of now". Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv with the leaders of France, the UK, Poland and Germany, as reported by an European Pravda reporter Details: Zelenskyy stressed that the ceasefire comes first, with everything else to follow. Quote: "As for the question of the demilitarised zone, the disengagement of troops, I've heard about it in the media and not only in the media, from many different people, from many intelligence services. Officially, Ukraine has not proposed anything like this. But... like sappers, everyone is looking for some opportunities to conduct an experiment on us." Details: He believes that this idea is not very relevant now. Quote: "The issue of the demilitarised zone in both directions is 15 kilometres – why 15 kilometres? And from which line will we measure it – from the border, from the contact line... Even if we talk about 15 kilometres, what are we going to do with Kherson? This means that there will be no our troops in Kherson. If our troops aren't in Kherson, we won't have Kherson." Details: He recalled that after 2014, the contact line shifted and numerous ceasefires had been exploited by the Russians and separatists to advance and seize Ukrainian territories. The Ukrainian leader also emphasised that there should be no illusions about the possibility of ceasefire violations. However, he added that the very truce is a crucial step. Quote: "If we agree to a buffer zone and withdraw 15 kilometres from cities like Kherson, Kharkiv and Sumy, it may appear that peace has been achieved, but the war will continue in these cities as artillery will keep firing over them. That's why it is too early to discuss this, and the idea is dead as of now." Background: Earlier, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy on Ukraine, proposed a demilitarised zone to be jointly controlled by Ukraine and Russia. The countries in the coalition of the willing have agreed to demand that Russia begin a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday 12 May to give diplomacy a chance. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
