Latest news with #Assad
The National
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Iran's Araghchi heads to Geneva, and Israel's secretive nuclear programme
Iran's Foreign Minister has confirmed he will travel to Geneva today. What we know about Israel's nuclear weapons programme. An Assad-era military figure seeks support from Iran. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: This episode features Mina Aldroubi, Senior Foreign Reporter; and Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Jordan Correspondent.
Roya News
a day ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Over 2 million Syrians return home since Assad's ouster: UN
More than two million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their homes since December, marking a turning point in Syria's years-long crisis, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. "Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December—a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions," Grandi wrote Thursday on X, as he traveled from Lebanon to Syria on the occasion of World Refugee Day. I am in Lebanon, heading to Syria for #WorldRefugeeDay. Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December—a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions. This proves that we need political solutions—not another wave of instability and displacement. — Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) June 19, 2025 Grandi emphasized the importance of achieving a lasting political resolution to the Syrian conflict. 'This proves that we need political solutions—not another wave of instability and displacement,' he said. The surge in returns follows the December 8 ouster of longtime Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after nearly 25 years in power. Assad's departure ended the Baath Party's decades-long rule, in place since 1963. Ahmad al-Sharaa, a leading figure in the opposition forces that pushed out the Assad regime, was declared transitional president in late January. His leadership has ushered in cautious optimism among Syrians both inside and outside the country. The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 after Assad's violent crackdown on peaceful protests, displaced over half the population, with millions seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Grandi's visit to Lebanon—a country hosting an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees—underscored the scale of the humanitarian crisis and the challenges of voluntary return. While many returnees are hopeful, they often find their homes destroyed or uninhabitable after 14 years of war. Reconstruction remains a massive challenge, with the UN estimating the cost at more than $400 billion. However, with the lifting of Western sanctions following the regime's fall, Syria's new authorities are seeking international assistance to begin rebuilding efforts.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Two million Syrians returned home since Assad's fall
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Over two million Syrians who had fled their homes during their country's war have returned since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi said Thursday, ahead of a visit to Syria. The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests, displaced half of the population internally or abroad. But Assad's December 8 ouster at the hands of Islamist forces sparked hopes of return. "Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December," Grandi wrote on X during a visit to neighbouring Lebanon, which hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to official estimates. It is "a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions," he said. "This proves that we need political solutions -- not another wave of instability and displacement." After 14 years of war, many returnees face the reality of finding their homes and property badly damaged or destroyed. But with the recent lifting of Western sanctions on Syria, new authorities hope for international support to launch reconstruction, which the UN estimates could cost more than $400 billion. Earlier this month, UNHCR estimated that up to 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and two million internally displaced persons may return by the end of 2025. - AFP
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syrians watch Iran-Israel crossfire as government stays silent
For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the new government in Damascus has so far remained officially silent on the unprecedented conflict. Iran was one of former ruler Bashar al-Assad's biggest backers, playing a crucial role in propping up his government by providing military advisers and the support of affiliated armed groups throughout the 14-year Syrian civil war. Israel, meanwhile, has occupied the Golan Heights since seizing it from Syria in 1967, and has kept troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone there since December, when the fall of Assad at the hands of an Islamist-led coalition sparked a wave of Israeli air strikes on military targets. But despite both countries looming large in Syrian affairs over the years, Damascus -- and everyday Syrians -- appear eager to keep the current crisis at arm's length. "From my balcony at night, I watch the missiles going towards Israel and the anti-missile systems, and I observe the explosions in the sky," said surgeon Mohammed Khayr al-Jirudi. "The people are fed up with everything related to killing and destruction, we've had enough. Therefore, we are currently in the position of spectators to both sides, and will not gloat over either of them." On Friday, Israel launched an unprecedented campaign against Iran, saying it aimed to stop the country from obtaining the nuclear bomb -- an ambition Tehran denies. Iran has responded with barrages of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities, with the exchanges of fire sparking fears of regional spillover. Unlike most Arab countries, which issued strong condemnations of Israel's strikes, Syria's new government has not commented on the war, potentially signalling a shift in the country's regional posture. "It is very difficult for us to take a stand," Jirudi said, with many war-weary Syrians seeming to share the government's reluctance. - 'Both dictatorial systems' - Sitting with his wife in Damascus' famous Rawda cafe, 42-year-old actor Ahmad Malas said he hoped to "be rid of both the Iranian and Israeli regimes, as they are both dictatorial systems (and) Syrian people have been paying the price for their actions". However, he added, "I have an emotional connection with the Iranian people, and with the Palestinian people, as their cause has been ours for a long time". Iran's support for Assad following his violent repression of peaceful protests in 2011 created strong animosity towards Tehran among many Syrians. Thousands of Iranians left Syria after the fall of Assad, and Tehran's embassy was subjected to looting and vandalism. The walls surrounding the embassy in Damascus still bear the spray-painted slogans "curse Iran" and "free Iran". Since becoming Syria's interim president, former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has repeatedly criticised Iran's role in his country during the civil war, stating that restoring relations with Tehran will require respect for Syria's "sovereignty" and "non-interference" in its affairs. Iran has said it is "not in a hurry" to establish ties with the new Syrian authorities. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria since Assad's fall, saying it aimed to stop advanced weapons from reaching the new rulers, whom it considers jihadists. Israeli troops in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Syria and the Golan Heights have also regularly carried out ground incursions, condemned by Damascus. Syria admitted to holding indirect talks with Israel seeking de-escalation, and the United States has called for it to normalise ties with its southern neighbour. - 'Neutrality' - Amid the breaches of Syria's airspace, at least one civilian has been killed and several others injured by fallen debris from intercepted projectiles. The Syrian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the war. "Damascus adheres to a policy of neutrality... It tries to completely distance itself from the war and any mention of it, because Syria has no interest in getting involved," said Bassam al-Suleiman, a political analyst close to the new authorities. As the government tries to kickstart post-war economic recovery and reconstruction, Syria's primary battle is "internal", according to Suleiman. He added that while "both Israel and Iran are a source of danger, we have no stake in this war", which he said Syria should "avoid". From a rooftop nightclub overlooking Damascus, a 27-year-old doctor who gave her name as Sarah watched the flash of missiles in the sky. "We try to forget the atmosphere of war by spending time here with friends," she said. "However, I still fear that some effects of the war will reach us." lar-mam/nad/smw
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Syrians watch Iran-Israel crossfire as government stays silent
DAMASCUS: For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the new government in Damascus has so far remained officially silent on the unprecedented conflict. Iran was one of former ruler Bashar al-Assad's biggest backers, playing a crucial role in propping up his government by providing military advisers and the support of affiliated armed groups throughout the 14-year Syrian civil war. Israel, meanwhile, has occupied the Golan Heights since seizing it from Syria in 1967, and has kept troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone there since December, when the fall of Assad at the hands of an Islamist-led coalition sparked a wave of Israeli air strikes on military targets. But despite both countries looming large in Syrian affairs over the years, Damascus -- and everyday Syrians -- appear eager to keep the current crisis at arm's length. 'From my balcony at night, I watch the missiles going towards Israel and the anti-missile systems, and I observe the explosions in the sky,' said surgeon Mohammed Khayr al-Jirudi. 'The people are fed up with everything related to killing and destruction, we've had enough. Therefore, we are currently in the position of spectators to both sides, and will not gloat over either of them.' On Friday, Israel launched an unprecedented campaign against Iran, saying it aimed to stop the country from obtaining the nuclear bomb -- an ambition Tehran denies. Iran has responded with barrages of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities, with the exchanges of fire sparking fears of regional spillover. Unlike most Arab countries, which issued strong condemnations of Israel's strikes, Syria's new government has not commented on the war, potentially signalling a shift in the country's regional posture. 'It is very difficult for us to take a stand,' Jirudi said, with many war-weary Syrians seeming to share the government's reluctance. 'Both dictatorial systems' Sitting with his wife in Damascus' famous Rawda cafe, 42-year-old actor Ahmad Malas said he hoped to 'be rid of both the Iranian and Israeli regimes, as they are both dictatorial systems (and) Syrian people have been paying the price for their actions'. However, he added, 'I have an emotional connection with the Iranian people, and with the Palestinian people, as their cause has been ours for a long time'. Iran's support for Assad following his violent repression of peaceful protests in 2011 created strong animosity towards Tehran among many Syrians. Thousands of Iranians left Syria after the fall of Assad, and Tehran's embassy was subjected to looting and vandalism. The walls surrounding the embassy in Damascus still bear the spray-painted slogans 'curse Iran' and 'free Iran'. Since becoming Syria's interim president, former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has repeatedly criticised Iran's role in his country during the civil war, stating that restoring relations with Tehran will require respect for Syria's 'sovereignty' and 'non-interference' in its affairs. Iran has said it is 'not in a hurry' to establish ties with the new Syrian authorities. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria since Assad's fall, saying it aimed to stop advanced weapons from reaching the new rulers, whom it considers jihadists. Israeli troops in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Syria and the Golan Heights have also regularly carried out ground incursions, condemned by Damascus. Syria admitted to holding indirect talks with Israel seeking de-escalation, and the United States has called for it to normalise ties with its southern neighbour. 'Neutrality' Amid the breaches of Syria's airspace, at least one civilian has been killed and several others injured by fallen debris from intercepted projectiles. The Syrian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the war. 'Damascus adheres to a policy of neutrality... It tries to completely distance itself from the war and any mention of it, because Syria has no interest in getting involved,' said Bassam al-Suleiman, a political analyst close to the new authorities. As the government tries to kickstart post-war economic recovery and reconstruction, Syria's primary battle is 'internal', according to Suleiman. He added that while 'both Israel and Iran are a source of danger, we have no stake in this war', which he said Syria should 'avoid'. From a rooftop nightclub overlooking Damascus, a 27-year-old doctor who gave her name as Sarah watched the flash of missiles in the sky. 'We try to forget the atmosphere of war by spending time here with friends,' she said. 'However, I still fear that some effects of the war will reach us.'
