Latest news with #UnitedNations-patrolled
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria ready to work with US to return to 1974 disengagement deal with Israel - Region
Syria said on Friday it was willing to cooperate with the United States to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, a deal that created a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone separating the two countries' forces on the Golan Heights. In a statement following a phone call with his US counterpart Marco Rubio, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed Damascus's 'aspiration to cooperate with the United States to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement.' The accord, reached a year after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, established an 80-kilometre (50-mile) UN-monitored buffer zone between Israeli-occupied territory and Syrian-controlled land. While the Golan Heights is internationally recognised as Syrian territory, Israel captured around two-thirds of the area during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and unilaterally annexed it in 1981—a move not recognised by most of the international community. Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the Israeli army occupied outposts on the Syrian-controlled sector of Mount Hermon, inside the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) buffer zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Syrian forces had abandoned their positions after Assad's fall and said he ordered the army to 'temporarily' seize the area until new security arrangements could be made. Netanyahu later declared the 1974 agreement 'collapsed' and expanded Israeli military control into parts of the demilitarised zone, citing security concerns. The UNDOF condemned the move as a 'severe violation' of the ceasefire and said Israeli activity breached the terms of the agreement. At the 34th Arab League Summit in May 2025, al-Shaibani described Israel's ongoing violations as posing 'a direct threat to regional stability,' urging international pressure for Israeli withdrawal, according to Anadolu Agency. Despite widespread international condemnation, Israel has shown no intention of pulling back. In recent weeks, Washington has intensified diplomatic efforts to broker a normalisation deal between Syria and Israel. US envoy Thomas Barrack told The New York Times that the two sides were engaged in 'meaningful' US-brokered talks aimed at ending their decades-long border conflict. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday that Israel had an 'interest' in normalising relations with Syria and Lebanon. However, he insisted the Golan Heights 'will remain part of the State of Israel' under any future agreement. Syrian state media reported that al-Shaibani and Rubio also discussed US sanctions, the chemical weapons dossier, Iranian involvement in Syria, counterterrorism efforts against ISIS, and repeated Israeli attacks on southern Syria. Rubio reportedly warned that the worst outcome would be a fragmented Syria or a return to civil war. Syria and Israel have technically remained in a state of war since 1948. Israel has carried out frequent airstrikes and incursions across Syria, particularly in the south, targeting army positions and killing civilians. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel strikes Syria again, claims to have killed alleged Hamas member
The Israeli army has again bombed Syria, claiming it killed a Hamas member during an air strike in the south of the country, in the latest in its series of attacks on Syria in the wake of former President Bashar al-Assad's ouster last December. In a statement on Telegram on Sunday morning, the Israeli army said it had struck the alleged Hamas member in the Mazraat Beit Jin area. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that one person was killed and two others were wounded in the Israeli attack targeting a vehicle in the town near the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone. Hamas has not yet commented on the death of the alleged member. The observatory says Israel has carried out 61 attacks – 51 by air and 10 by ground – in Syria so far this year. Two rockets launched from Syria targeted Israel earlier this week, a first since the fall of groups claimed responsibility for the attack. The first group, named the 'Martyr Mohammed Deif Brigades', is a little-known group named after the Hamas military commander who was killed last year. A second little-known group, the 'Islamic Resistance Front in Syria', called for action against Israel from southern Syria a few months ago. Israel struck southern Syria shortly afterwards, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz saying that he was holding Syria 'directly responsible'. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned Israel's attacks and called them 'coordinated provocations aimed at undermining Syria's progress and stability'. 'These actions create an opening for outlawed groups to exploit the resulting chaos,' he said, adding, 'Syria has made its intentions clear: we are not seeking war, but rather reconstruction'. Syria and Israel had recently engaged in indirect talks to ease tensions, a significant development in relations between states that have been on opposite sides of conflicts in the Middle East for decades. But Israel has relentlessly waged a campaign of aerial bombardment that has destroyed much of Syria's military infrastructure. It has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and taken more territory in the aftermath of al-Assad's removal, citing lingering concerns over the country's new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who it dismisses as a 'jihadist.' Syria's new government has taken several major steps towards international acceptance after the United States and European Union lifted sanctions on the country last month, giving a nation devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war a lifeline to recovery.
Al Jazeera
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Turkiye and Israel hold talks to avoid clashes in Syria
Turkish and Israeli officials have begun talks aimed at easing tensions in Syria, where the militaries of both countries are active, officials from both sides say. Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria and deployed troops to a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights since opposition fighters removed President Bashar al-Assad in December. Turkiye is a key backer of the interim government in Syria, where its support includes operations against the ISIL (ISIS) armed group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Wednesday that technical talks with Israel were under way, emphasising that deconfliction mechanisms were necessary to prevent misunderstandings between the two regional powers' forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Thursday that the two sides 'agreed to continue the dialogue in order to preserve regional stability'. The talks come as the two sides pursue competing interests in Syria. Turkish sources quoted by the news agency Reuters said the talks in Azerbaijan on Wednesday marked the beginning of efforts to set up a communications channel to avoid potential clashes or misunderstandings over military operations in the region. 'Efforts will continue to establish this mechanism,' one of the Turkish sources said, without providing details on the scope or timeline of the talks. A Turkish Ministry of National Defence official quoted by The Associated Press news agency said assessments for the establishment of a base for joint Turkish-Syrian training are ongoing, adding that such activities followed international law 'without targeting third countries'. Israel has expressed concerns that Syria's new leadership will pose a threat along its border while Israel also reportedly wants to thwart Turkish influence in Syria. Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Turkish bases in Syria would be a 'danger to Israel'. An Israeli political source quoted by Reuters said that during the talks 'Israel made it unequivocally clear that any change in the deployment of foreign forces in Syria – and in particular the establishment of Turkish bases in the Palmyra area – is a red line and will be considered a breaking of the rules.' According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom-based war monitor, Israel's military carried out more than 500 air attacks on targets in Syria from December 8 to December 31 and has carried out at least 43 attacks so far this year. Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Israel of waging a campaign against 'the stability of the country'. Ties between Israel and Turkiye have deteriorated over Israel's assault on Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of Israel's war, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians.
Washington Post
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Amid air strikes, interests of Turkey and Israel clash in Syria
ISTANBUL — Israeli strikes in Syria over the past two days have opened a new flash point in the Middle East as Israel increasingly appears to take aim at Turkish interests in Syria. Israel struck several targets on Wednesday night, including military bases in Hama and Homs in western central Syria, the Israel Defense Forces said. Turkey, a NATO member state and key ally of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has shown an interest in a military footprint in Syria. Syrian state news agency Sana reported that the strikes on Wednesday night targeted five different areas of Syria and resulted in injuries and the 'near-total destruction' of Hama Military Airport. At least nine people were killed in a strike in southwestern Syria, the news agency said, citing local officials. While Israel has struck other targets in Syria in recent months, this week's attacks marked an escalation in tensions between two key regional players that have both sought to gain political leverage from the turmoil in Syria. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday accused Turkey of 'doing their utmost to have Syria as a Turkish protectorate.' Turkey has publicly signaled in the past that it is willing to take on a greater role in Syria. After a regional meeting in early last month, its Defense Ministry said that 'in line with the demands of the new Syrian government, Turkey continues to evaluate the establishment of bases for training purposes.' It did not specify where these bases could be located — however, both Hama and Homs are locations that could host foreign troops. Turkey's Foreign Ministry called Israeli criticism this week 'provocative,' 'aggressive' and 'expansionist,' and urged Israel to 'cease undermining the efforts to stabilize Syria.' Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Israel has carried out operations deep into southern Syria, bombarded military bases and taken control of a demilitarized United Nations-patrolled buffer zone on the Syrian side of its border, citing security concerns. The Israeli strikes that killed nine people this week hit near the Israeli-Syrian border, where locals had reported clashes with Israeli forces. Turkey was seen as one of the biggest geopolitical winners when Sharaa-led militants stormed the Syrian capital of Damascus in December, ousting Assad and shocking his Russian and Iranian allies. Before Assad's fall, Turkey had supported various militant groups in Syria, including factions that have fought against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and that participated in last year's offensive that toppled Assad. Now, Turkey has numerous incentives to help stabilize the interim Syrian government. Ankara hopes to speed up the return of millions of Syrian refugees at a time when Turkey's weak economy has emerged as a key political issue, and Turkish businessmen have in recent months scouted Syria for investment opportunities. Islamic State militants operating in Syria also continue to pose a threat both to Syrian and Turkish targets, and a weak Syrian central government could give rise to calls for Kurdish independence in Syria — a demand Turkey has been particularly determined to suppress. Syria's interim government has made some progress at reining in tensions with Kurdish-led forces. Governmental and Kurdish-led forces exchanged prisoners this week, Sana reported, potentially paving the way for more extensive talks between both sides. But the government around Sharaa has struggled to quell other conflicts. In the wake of coordinated attacks on its security forces, militant groups affiliated with the government deliberately targeted members of the country's Alawite minority in early March, killing more than 100 people in the coastal city of Baniyas alone, Amnesty International found in an investigation that it published on Thursday. The attacks fed regional doubts over Sharaa. In neighboring Israel, some worry that an emboldened Syrian interim government could also curtail Israel's military options. Israeli officials view Sharaa as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing,' Yoni Ben-Menachem, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, wrote in an analysis last month. He 'presents himself as a moderate while remaining a jihadist with an unchanged ideology, now seeking to consolidate power with Turkey's backing,' he said, summarizing Israeli officials' thinking. But Israel's strikes in Syria this week could backfire, cautioned Omer Ozkizilcik, a Turkey-focused nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council. In neighboring countries, they are likely to boost Ankara's arguments that a Turkish military presence could be useful. 'Turkey and Israel by themselves are very unlikely to resolve this,' he said. 'It needs American mediation to find a security mechanism or arrangement between both sides.' Loveday Morris in Berlin and Beril Eski in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Morocco World
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Israel Intensifies Attacks on Syria, Killing 13
Israel has amped up its attacks on Syria on Wednesday night, launching airstrikes in the Syrian capital Damascus and the province of Hama in Western-Central Syria. Syrian media reported that the strikes targeted the vicinity of the scientific research center in the Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus, as well as the airport of Hama. The escalations follow reports of Turkey's efforts to seize control of the Tiyas air base (T-4) in Central Syria. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement declaring that the Wednesday airstrikes were 'a clear message and a warning for the future: we will not allow the security of the State of Israel to be harmed.' Kats also warned that the IOF would remain in the Golan buffer zone within Syria to counter any perceived threats to Israel's security, threatening Ahmed al-Sharra of a 'heavy price' if Syria allowed 'forces hostile to Israel' to enter Syrian territory. At a press conference in Paris on April 3, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Turkey of turning Syria into a proxy and rear base for what he ironically appeared to describe as a hegemonic regional policy. ' It's clear that is [Turkey's] intention' is to turn Syria into a 'protectorate,' he said unselfconsciously. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced on Wednesday that it has struck 'remaining military capabilities' at the Hama military airport and T-4 airbase, and 'military infrastructure' in the Damascus area. The IOF later claimed that they killed several gunmen after they were attacked in the Syrian town of Tasil while they were working to 'confiscate weapons and destroy terror infrastructure.' Read also: The latest attacks have killed at least 13 people, marking the deepest movement of Israeli ground forces into Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December. The Syrian government condemned Israel's impunity and lamented that the attacks were impeding Syrians' attempts to rebuild their country after 14 years of civil war. 'These repeated attacks form part of a clear Israeli strategy to normalise violence once again within the country, undermining recovery efforts and entrenching a culture of impunity,' said Syria's official statement. Israel, which has been occupying the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967, has deployed troops to the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone and conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since al-Assad's overthrow. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Israel has targeted the research center in Barzeh, North of Damascus, in the days following al-Assad's ousting on December 8. Israel has maintained that the center was used to develop guided missiles and chemical weapons, despite possessing a vast arsenal of such weaponry itself. According to SOHR, Israel carried out more than 500 air attacks in Syria between December 8 and December 31, 2024, as well as at least 43 attacks so far in 2025. Even during the Assad presidency, Israel frequently struck Syrian territory under the pretext of targeting Hezbollah. Tags: Air Strikes in SyriaIsrael Aisrael attacksIsrael war crimes
