Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israel’s defence minister on Thursday issued a veiled warning to Syria, without confirming or denying what Damascus said was an Israeli air strike on its territory. Syria’s army accused Israel of hitting one of its positions, killing two people in an attack earlier the same day …
Read More »‘I’ve lost it!’ Tearful Syrian commentator goes viral
Hong Kong, China | AFP | A video in which a TV commentator broke down in tears while celebrating Syria’s priceless World Cup qualifying equaliser against Iran has gone viral, racking up more than one million views online. When Omar Al Soma scored in the 93rd minute, earning Syria a …
Read More »Russia sends new submarines to Mediterranean
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia has sent two large newly-upgraded submarines to reinforce its naval presence in the Mediterranean, where it has a Syrian base, the defence ministry said Monday. “The Black Sea fleet’s new large diesel and electric submarines, Kolpino and Veliky Novgorod… have arrived in the Mediterranean,” the …
Read More »Netanyahu, Putin to meet over Syria conflict
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Russia on Wednesday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, mainly focussing on the war in Syria, his office said late Saturday. The two leaders will meet in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi to “discuss the …
Read More »Syrian rebel aid program was ‘dangerous and wasteful’: Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Monday announced he had ended a program to support rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad because it was “massive, dangerous, and wasteful.” The comments came days after General Tony Thomas, the head of US special operations confirmed that …
Read More »Israel opposes Syria truce deal over Iran presence: official
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the southwest Syria ceasefire agreed by Russia and the US since it would enable Iran to solidify its presence there, an official said Monday. The July 9 accord creating a de-escalation zone in the Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida regions includes …
Read More »US, Russia agree on ceasefire in south Syria from Sunday: Lavrov
Hamburg, Germany | AFP |Russia and the United States have agreed to a ceasefire in southern Syria starting from midday on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Friday in Hamburg. “Today in Amman Russian, American and Jordanian experts… agreed on a memorandum of understanding to create a de-escalation zone” …
Read More »Erdogan hosts Russia defence chief amid Syria border tensions
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday held talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Istanbul as tension soared on the Syrian border between Turkish troops and a Kurdish militia. Turkey and Russia were long at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with Ankara seeking …
Read More »Erdogan urges US to ‘immediately’ reverse decision on arming Syrian Kurds
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called on the United States to immediately reverse a decision on arming Syrian Kurdish fighters considered by Ankara to be a terror group. “I hope very much that this mistake will be reversed immediately,” Erdogan said after Washington …
Read More »Lafarge boss to step down after probe reveals armed group funding
Paris, France | AFP | French-Swiss cement maker LafargeHolcim said Monday its chief executive Eric Olsen is stepping down following an internal investigation into the company’s activities in Syria. His resignation, which has been accepted by the group’s board, will be effective on July 15, LafargeHolcim said in a statement. …
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