Latest news with #AbuQasra
Daily News Egypt
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda
Syria on Tuesday asserted its right to defend its territory by all means under international law, after Israel announced it had struck Syrian army military vehicles in the predominantly Druze province of Suwayda, where a ceasefire has now been declared after days of deadly clashes. Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a complete ceasefire in the southern city of Suwayda on Tuesday following an agreement with local dignitaries, after dozens were killed and around 200 injured in armed clashes between local Druze groups and Bedouin tribes since Saturday. The Syrian army has begun withdrawing heavy machinery from Suwayda in preparation for handing over the city's neighbourhoods to internal security forces, state news agency SANA reported. 'To all operational units within the city of Suwayda, we declare a complete ceasefire,' Abu Qasra said in a statement. 'Forces will begin handing over the city's neighbourhoods to internal security forces as soon as clearing operations are complete.' The moves came after Israeli airstrikes hit the city, according to SANA. An Israeli military spokesperson said the attack came after it monitored convoys of armoured personnel carriers and tanks moving towards the Suwayda area on Monday. Israel said it struck several armoured vehicles, including tanks, personnel carriers, and rocket launchers, as well as roads to obstruct their advance. 'The Israeli military continues to monitor and follow developments and remains on high alert,' the spokesperson said. The Israeli military later said that dozens of Israelis had crossed into Syria from the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and that it was working to ensure their safe return. It was not immediately clear how they had crossed the border. The Israeli strikes followed an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz. A joint statement said the attack was a response to Syria's decision to deploy forces and weapons in southern Syria, calling it a 'violation of a previous agreement and a threat to Israel's security.' Defence Minister Katz added that the strikes were a 'clear warning to the Syrian regime' and that Tel Aviv would 'not allow harm to the Druze residents in Syria.' Syrian joint army and internal security forces had entered Suwayda earlier on Tuesday, imposing a curfew. It marked the first time government forces have deployed in the city since the transitional government took power in December following the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad. The deployment came after Druze leaders, who had previously rejected any presence of Syrian forces, urged Druze fighters to lay down their arms and allow government forces to enter. However, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, who had initially welcomed the deployment, later appeared to retract his support in a televised statement. He claimed a previous statement had been imposed on him 'by Damascus under pressure from external parties' and that the government had 'broken its covenant' by continuing to shell civilians. 'We are facing a comprehensive war of annihilation,' he said, calling for resistance. On Monday evening, a Syrian defence ministry spokesperson announced that 18 army personnel had been killed in armed attacks on military points in the province.
Jordan News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Syria: Ceasefire in Sweida Following Agreement with Local Leaders - Jordan News
Syrian Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a complete ceasefire in the city of Sweida on Tuesday, following an agreement reached with community elders and dignitaries in the city. اضافة اعلان In a statement via the platform X (formerly Twitter), Abu Qasra affirmed that the army would adhere to the truce but retains the right to respond to any fire or attacks from outlawed groups. He emphasized that strict instructions had been issued to military units stationed in Sweida to ensure civilian safety, preserve societal peace, and protect both public and private property from exploitation. The minister also revealed that once clearing operations are complete, control of neighborhoods in Sweida will be handed over to Internal Security Forces, to help curb chaos and facilitate the return of residents and restore stability. 'We have instructed the deployment of Military Police within Sweida to monitor military conduct and hold violators accountable,' said Abu Qasra. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Dalati, head of Internal Security in Sweida, stated that forces from the Ministries of Interior and Defense would soon enter the city center, which has a majority Druze population, in order to protect civilians and restore security after recent deadly events. He urged residents to stay indoors and prevent "outlaw groups" from using residential buildings as positions to confront government forces. He called on religious authorities and faction leaders to fulfill their national and humanitarian responsibilities by cooperating to secure the city center and stabilize the province. According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense's media office, armed groups were retreating toward the urban core to evade confrontation, as the Syrian army continued its security operations in and around Sweida. The ministry urged civilians to report any movements by armed groups attempting to use populated areas as launchpads for further attacks. Druze Religious Leadership: 'Statement Was Imposed' In a video message, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri said that a recent official statement issued in the name of the Druze religious authority was 'imposed upon them' under pressure from foreign powers and Damascus. 'Despite our acceptance of this humiliating statement, random shelling of unarmed civilians in Sweida continued,' Al-Hijri said. 'We are facing a campaign of extermination,' he added, accusing government forces of breaking their word and calling for resistance. Earlier on Tuesday, the Druze Spiritual Authority had issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragic events in Sweida in recent days, which resulted in numerous casualties. The statement stressed the importance of bloodshed prevention and restoring order. It welcomed the deployment of Interior and Defense Ministry forces into the province, as part of state efforts to re-establish control and ensure stability. The authority urged all armed factions in Sweida to cooperate, refrain from resisting government forces, and surrender their weapons to the official authorities. It also called for dialogue with the Syrian government to address the consequences of the conflict and revive the functions of state institutions in collaboration with local professionals and community members. Clashes Continue in the Western Countryside Despite the ceasefire announcement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that clashes continued on Monday in the western countryside of Sweida, involving Bedouin tribal fighters and government forces against local Druze militias. Government troops, backed by tanks, vehicles, and hundreds of soldiers, took control of the Druze-majority village of Al-Mazraa on the outskirts of Sweida and were advancing toward the city. Since May, Druze fighters have assumed control of security in Sweida under a local agreement with the authorities. However, armed Sunni Bedouin groups also operate in the rural areas of the province. The Druze population in Syria is estimated at around 700,000, mainly concentrated in Sweida, with smaller communities in Jaramana, Sahnaya (near Damascus), and limited presence in Idlib in the northwest. Regionally, the Druze total over one million, primarily living in Lebanon, Syria, Israel/Palestine, and Jordan.
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Damascus Gives Syrian Armed Groups 10 Days to Join State Security Apparatus
Syria's post-Assad regime has given independent armed factions 10 days to merge with the state-run security apparatus or face punitive measures, according to Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. In a statement released over the weekend, Abu Qasra said Syrian 'military units' had been successfully merged into a 'unified institutional framework' subject to government control. But he went on to stress 'the need for the remaining small military groups to join the ministry within a maximum period of ten days ... in order to complete the efforts of unification and organization.' Abu Qasra's statement, however, did not specify which factions the ultimatum referred to. It did not appear to be aimed at the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led armed group backed by Washington that now controls much of the country's northeast. In March, the SDF signed a deal with Damascus to incorporate its fighters into the state security apparatus, and for SDF-held territory and institutions to be placed under the control of Damascus. Related Stories 5/18/2025 5/13/2025 At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the deal, reaffirming Washington's support for a 'political transition [in post-Assad Syria] that demonstrates credible, non-sectarian governance as the best path to avoid further conflict.' Last week, however, neighboring Turkey, which views the SDF as a terrorist group, said the terms of the deal between the group and Damascus had yet to be implemented. 'We expect these steps to be put into practice,' Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on May 15 after meeting both Rubio and his Syrian counterpart in Turkey's southern Antalya province. 'In order for stability to be achieved in Syria, there must be a comprehensive government, a single legitimate armed force.' Ongoing Violence The regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled last December by a rebel offensive led by Hezb Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an armed Sunni group formerly linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Since then, Syria's new HTS-led government has sought to consolidate its authority and bring the country's disparate armed factions under state control. Shortly after the regime's collapse, Sunni militant groups that had opposed Assad—including HTS—agreed to be merged into the state security apparatus. Graduates of Syria's General Security forces under the country's new administration attend a ceremony in the city of Aleppo, Syria, on Feb. 12, 2025. Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images Syria remains home to a host of armed factions that continue to operate independently, some of which support the new government while others oppose it. In March, Sunni militants in the coastal Latakia province killed hundreds of members of Syria's Alawite community, a religious minority from which the long-ruling Assad family hailed. Last month, scores were killed in southern Syria after fighting erupted between Sunni militants and armed members of the country's minority Druze community. On May 17, Syrian security forces raided sites linked to the ISIS terrorist group in the city of Aleppo, during which three ISIS terrorists were killed, according to Syrian authorities. The defense ministry said one member of the security apparatus was also killed during the raids, while another four ISIS terrorists were detained. The following day, three security personnel were killed when a As of publication time, the perpetrators of the attack were still unknown. During a landmark visit to Saudi Arabia last week, U.S. President Donald Trump met HTS chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim leader. After the meeting, Trump announced that longstanding U.S. sanctions on Syria, which had ostensibly targeted the Assad regime, would be lifted. Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said the move would help efforts to 'consolidate security and stability and promote civil peace in Syria and the region.' Reuters contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Has the Damascus leadership begun reconciliation with Syria's minority groups?
Also in Syria Syrian forces detain 20 from Suwayda after forum participation: Monitor New batch of Damascus-SDF prisoners to be exchanged Sunday: Advisor Syria says working to repair Tishreen Dam Syria's first Kurdish education minister works to bridge gaps with Rojava A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The new leadership in Damascus is exerting efforts to mend fences with Syria's Druze community, weeks after the latter's spiritual leaders accused the new Syrian government of being 'extremist in every sense of the word.' The stated-run Syrian news agency (SANA) on Thursday reported that Damascus's newly-appointed Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra on Sunday 'received a delegation from the Rijal al-Karama (Men of Diginity) Movement, led by Sheikh Laith al-Bal'ous.' The Rijal al-Karama (Men of Dignity) Movement was founded in 2013 by Laith al-Bal'ous's father, Sheikh Abu Fahad Waheed al-Bal'ous, in Syria's southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda. The group opposed the compulsory military service imposed by the regime of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad regime. Following a swift offensive, a coalition of rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - on December 8 toppled the regime of president Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was in late January appointed as Syria's interim President, vowing to form an 'inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity,' hold "free and fair elections" and preserve Syria's "civil peace" and territorial unity. After the fall of Assad, the Rijal al-Karama Movement became one of the largest armed groups in Suwayda, playing a key role in protecting the local population in the Druze-majority province, ensuring security, and organizing local militias to safeguard the region from external threats and internal corruption. On Sunday as well, SANA reported that Defense Minister Abu Qasra received 'a group of officers from the Veterans' Association of Suwayda.' Abu Qasra's meetings with Druze community dignitaries notably coincided with similar meetings by Suwayda Governor, Mustafa al-Bakur. SANA on Sunday reported that Bakur led an official delegation to visit the Syrian Druze communities top spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari at his Qanawat headquarters 'to congratulate him on the Eid al-Fitr holiday,' the celebration of the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The state-run Syrian news agency quoted the Druze leader as stating, 'We have confidence in governor Dr. Mustafa al-Bakur who is the link between us and the government in Damascus." SANA further cited Hajari as urging officials in Syrian state institutions to 'address obstacles in a way that serves the public interest.' He also highlighted the importance of governmental and societal oversight 'to build a strong and balanced nation.' The Suwayda governor Bakur additionally met with other two spiritual leaders of Syria's Druze community, Youssef Jarbou and Hammoud al-Hannawi at their headquarters as well. The state-run news agency also reported that Bakur visited the Bostra, Horan, and Jabal al-Arab Orthodox Archdiocese and met with Metropolitan Archbishop Antonios Saad. 'During the meeting, the importance of Syrian unity, equality in citizenship, and brotherhood among all components of society was emphasized,' SANA said. Why this matters? The Syrian Druze community's top leader in mid-March Hajari slammed the current government in Damascus as "extremist in every sense of the word" and 'wanted by international [courts of] justice." He then denied reports that a deal had been struck between Syria's Druze community and the Damascus leadership. Dealing with the new Syrian leadership is something the Druze community cannot 'approach with leniency,' stressing that 'there is no entente or understanding with the current government in Damascus' and that 'we are working for the interest of our sect, and every sect [in Syria] is strong in its men, cadres, and national ideology.' Hajari's mid-March remarks notably came hours after Syria's interim President Sharaa approved a 53-article constitutional declaration that centers on Islamic jurisprudence, stipulates that the country's president must be a Muslim, and sets a five-year transitional period of the country. It also maintains the name of the country as the Syrian 'Arab' Republic. The constitutional declaration additionally grants Sharaa exclusive executive power – effectively abolishing the post of prime minister - the authority to appoint one-third of the legislature, and the ability to appoint judges to the constitutional court, which is the body that can hold him accountable. The interim constitution then sparked much criticism from Syria's Kurds, Druze, Christians, as well as international rights groups who warned that it consolidates power in the hands of the president and risks entrenching 'authoritarian control,' and censured the exclusion of Syria's ethnic and religious components from the drafting process. Amid tensions with the new leadership in Damascus, a delegation of Druze religious elders from Syria in mid-March crossed into Israel for the first religious pilgrimage in more than 50 years, since the creation of Israel in 1948. Around 100 Druze sheikhs from villages on the slope of Mount Hermon in Syria, overlooked by the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, visited shrines including sites. The clerics crossed the armistice line between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights and headed to northern Israel on board three buses escorted by military vehicles. They then headed to the tomb of Nabi Shuayb near Tiberias in the Galilee - the most important religious site for the Druze. The visit came weeks after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in early March underscored that 'Israel has strong ties with the Druze,' and urged 'the new rulers in Damascus' to 'respect the rights of minorities, including the Druze.' What's next? The apparent rapprochement between the Damascus leadership and Syria's Druze community comes only days after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Rojava and Damascus-affiliated forces on Thursday began the process of swapping nearly 250 prisoners. The swap came after the SDF and Damascus struck a key deal on Tuesday to exchange all prisoners and keep the SDF-affiliated internal security forces (Asayish) in Aleppo's predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsood. Prior to that in early March, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim President Sharaa signed a landmark agreement on Monday to 'integrate all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the [Qamishli International] Airport, and oil and gas fields.' The deal emphasized that 'the Kurdish community is indigenous to the Syrian state, which ensures this community's right to citizenship and all of its constitutional rights.' As the new Syrian leadership's efforts to build bridges with the Kurds and now Druze community seem to be underway, similar initiatives may well be launched by Damascus to mend fences with other religious and ethnic components in Syria, namely the Christians and the Alawites. This is especially possible in light of the international pressure on the Syrian government to uphold the rights of Syria's minorities or face delays in the much-needed sanctions relief. A European Union official in late February warned Damascus that eased EU sanctions would be reinstated if the situation in the country does not progress in the 'right direction.' The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President, Kaja Kallas, then elaborated that 'any [new] government formed [in Syria] must be inclusive, encompassing the [country's] various [ethnic and religious] groups.' She warned that if things 'do not head in the right direction, we are ready to reimpose the waived sanctions.' The most delicate rapprochement for Damascus will probably be with Syria's Alawite community. The Assad family, which ruled Syria from 1970 to 2024, notably descends from the Alawite religious sect. In early March, violence broke out in the Alawite-majority coastal areas of western Syria after loyalists of ousted Syrian president Assad launched attacks on security forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) then reported that around 1,500 people, mostly Alawite civilians, have been killed in the violence. The UK-based war monitor added that most casualties were caused by government or government-affiliated forces Global human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Thursday censured the 'mass killings' recorded in Syria's Alawite-majority coastal areas in March, accusing Damascus of perpetrating a 'war crime' against the minority group and warning of further 'atrocities' if accountability is not enforced. Amnesty stated that 'the Syrian government must ensure that the perpetrators of a wave of mass killings targeting Alawite civilians in coastal areas [west of Syria] are held accountable,' adding that its investigations concluded that 32 of the killings specifically 'targeted at the Alawite minority sect and were unlawful.'
Al Arabiya
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Lebanese, Syrian defense ministers to meet in Jeddah after postponing sitdown
Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, a day after a planned visit by the Lebanese official to Damascus was postponed, Al Arabiya reported. Lebanon's Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, are expected to hold talks in Jeddah, according to information obtained by Al Arabiya. Menassa was planning to head to Syria on Wednesday for talks with Abu Qasra that aimed to discuss tensions along the border. A Lebanese official told AFP on Wednesday that the delay was 'in no way related to tensions or conflicts' but didn't specify when the meeting was postponed to. Menassa had been set to meet Abu Qasra in the first visit by a Lebanese minister since the cabinet was formed in February. Border tensions flared earlier in March after Syria's new authorities accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah of kidnapping three soldiers into Lebanon and killing them. The Iran-backed group, which fought alongside the forces of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, denied involvement. But the ensuing cross-border clashes left seven Lebanese dead. Information obtained by Al Arabiya said that the Jeddah meeting will tackle border control between the two countries following the border clashes. With AFP
