Latest news with #Druze
LeMonde
3 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Kurdish integration offers hope for Syria's reconstruction
On March 10, a historic agreement was signed between Syria's transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition), General Mazloum Abdi, to integrate the autonomous Kurdish institutions of Northeast Syria into the state. Three months later, General Michael Kurilla, who leads the US Central Command for the Middle East, delivered a positive assessment, telling the US House Armed Services Committee in Washington on June 10 that integration was going well despite some friction points. Kurilla added that Turkey, engaged militarily against Kurdish forces since 2016, was now playing a constructive role. The March 10 agreement brought a glimmer of hope in the face of the immense security and economic challenges confronting Damascus authorities since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024; it also spared Sharaa from international opprobrium following massacres carried out by his own forces against the Alawite minority in early March. The renewed unity of Syria, splintered by Druze and Kurdish autonomy demands, will depend on the success of this process, which must conclude by year's end. US pressure proved decisive in bringing about the agreement. Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the prospect of a US withdrawal from Syria has loomed. Kurdish forces, strategic US partners in the fight against the Islamic State group (IS) since 2014, would no longer enjoy American protection from Turkish threats; Turkey views the SDF as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara has designated as a terrorist organization. Patience and openness The Trump administration decided on a gradual disengagement, which began in mid-May. The plan called for reducing troops from 2,000 to 1,000 and retaining only one of the eight bases in Northeast Syria. Washington, which has drawn closer to Syria since the meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14 and the announcement of the lifting of US sanctions on the country, is demanding the return of Damascus's sovereignty over its entire territory.
MTV Lebanon
4 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Watch: Diplomatic appointments to be approved today
The Cabinet will approve today the long-awaited diplomatic appointments, and MTV has obtained the names: Lebanese Ambassador to Washington: Nada Hamadeh Moawad (a Druze who received the Maronite Emad's secret) Lebanese Ambassador to France: Rabih El Chaer Lebanese Ambassador to New York: Ahmad Arafa Lebanese Ambassador to UNESCO: Hind Darwish Lebanese Ambassador to London: Farah Berri Saudi Arabia (from within the staff): Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt: Ali Karanouh Lebanese Ambassador to Kuwait: Ambassador Ghadi Khoury Lebanese Ambassador to the European Union and Brussels: Walid Haidar Lebanese Ambassador to Bahrain: Hadi Hachem Lebanese Ambassador to Rome: Carla Jazzar Lebanese Ambassador to the Vatican (from outside the staff): Fadi Assaf Lebanese Ambassador to Spain: Hani Shamtali Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE: Tarek Mneimneh
Independent Singapore
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Independent Singapore
'He's Christian, I'm Hindu' — How to accept each other even when our religious beliefs differ in a relationship
With travel, technology, and international societies bringing people together in extraordinary ways, relationships have naturally become more diverse, encompassing matters related to faith. Whether the partners share an identical spiritual route or come from totally diverse religious backgrounds, steering religion within a relationship can be a daunting challenge, but also a good opportunity. The intersection of love and belief Religion is profoundly and intensely personal. It outlines values and an individual's sense of identity. When two people meet from dissimilar faith upbringings, those disparities unavoidably surface in everyday routine. From how to have fun during holidays, to raising children, to nutritional habits, religion's role in a couple's life can be extensive. Take the case of Amal Clooney and George Clooney. According to an NBC News story, Amal Clooney came from a Druze family, a devout group entrenched in Islam but distinct and often enigmatic. On the other hand, George Clooney was raised as a Roman Catholic. Notwithstanding their diverse religious and cultural circumstances, the Clooneys have manifested the tradition of mutual respect. Their wedding in Venice blended traditional rites with a predominantly secular approach, showcasing a contemporary and inclusive style. Respect must be the foundation The path to relationship success in a religiously diverse union is respect. It denotes recognising and accepting each other's religious opinions without judgment or the thought of converting or fixing the other. It's about viewing your partner's faith as a vital part of who they are and not as a threat. An example is the marriage of Nick Jonas (Christian) and Priyanka Chopra (Hindu). According to a story published by the Times of India , both talked about learning from each other's philosophies and beliefs. Priyanka said she admires Nick's honesty and readiness to embrace Hindu rituals such as Diwali and puja ceremonies. Nick came from a devout Christian home, Priyanka, on the other hand, was born and raised in India, and practices Hinduism. Their nuptial celebration incorporated both traditions, hosting a Christian service solemnised by Nick's father and a customary Hindu marriage with all the formalities. Respect does not impose the idea that one partner needs to agree with the other. It involves listening. It means making space for your companion to share their divine outlooks, their sacraments, and their explanations for practising—or not practising—a creed. See also Lee Min Ho teases new drama starring Kim Go Eun Open conversations matter Religion can be a delicate theme to talk about, so proper communication is vital. Couples who discuss their religious beliefs, principles, and expectations ahead of time are more likely to dodge confusion and misinterpretations along the way. These talks help set truthful and accurate expectations and expose possible areas of concession or irreconcilability. Since people evolve with time, so do their spiritual beliefs and requirements. With these constant positive dialogues, couples can adjust to each other together. To illustrate, there is Julia Roberts (Christian, now Hindu practitioner) and Daniel Moder (Catholic). A story published by the NY Daily News featured Julia Roberts' well-known conversion to Hinduism after doing the movie Eat, Pray, Love , and has continued to practise it since then. Her husband, Daniel Moder, was raised Catholic. While not much is known to the public about how they handle their religious practices at home, Roberts has been open about her conversion and spiritual path, and the couple's relationship has been strong and harmonious, demonstrating that changing one's faith doesn't have to undermine a relationship. See also Venomous remedy for male impotence? Handling differences in religion within a relationship is more than navigating belief systems; it's more about caring for what each other values, being humble about what one believes, and the enthusiasm to grow and evolve. It's about accepting that your partner's spiritual path can also enrich your own, even if what the other believes is entirely different from yours.
Shafaq News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Exclusive: Washington backs Israel-Syria peace efforts
Shafaq News/ The United States continues to support efforts to establish long-term stability between Israel and Syria, a State Department spokesperson confirmed exclusively to Shafaq News. 'Efforts that lead to lasting stability between Israel and Syria remain a priority,' the spokesperson said, adding that 'stability and peace in Syria serve the security interests of all parties.' When questioned about Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, the spokesperson referred inquiries to Israeli authorities. 'Questions regarding military operations should be directed to the Israeli authorities.' The statement comes amid reports of direct communication between Syrian and Israeli officials aimed at reducing tensions and preventing a wider confrontation along the border. In an interview published in the Jewish Journal, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara expressed support for ending cross-border hostilities with Israel, noting that 'prosperity cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear.' He also highlighted the potential for cooperation on shared security challenges, reflecting a shift in the regional landscape. Since the collapse of the previous government, southern Syria has seen increasing instability, including Israeli patrols in Quneitra province and the establishment of new checkpoints between Khan Arnabah and Jaba. Al-Shara called for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, describing it as 'a fundamental safeguard for mutual restraint and the protection of civilians, particularly the Druze communities in the Golan Heights.'
LeMonde
02-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
In Suwayda, Syria's Druze confront the pull of Israel
With its cannon pointed toward the desert horizon, an aging tank, hidden behind mounds of earth, awaited the enemy's approach. At the entrance to Suwayda Governorate, obstacles erected across the road from the outskirts of Damascus forced the few motorists traveling this route to slow down. About 10 heavily armed Druze militiamen nervously watched the comings and goings. Since the intercommunal violence that struck the Druze population from April 28 to 30 – leaving 134 dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – this region, the heartland of Syria's Druze community, had barricaded itself in anticipation. Just a hundred meters away, the small hamlet of As Sawara Al Kubra, emptied of its inhabitants, bore the scars of the fighting. On Khaled Alaoui's terrace, the spring breeze that swept the arid hills and orchards of the country's south stirred up ashes. His three-story home was consumed by flames, after being looted and set alight amid the violence. "When they entered the village, they destroyed cars, looted houses and stole whatever they could – even the children's toys," Alaoui, a 40-year-old Druze businessman with light eyes and a graying beard, said indignantly. Who are "they"? Radical "takfiri" and "Salafist" groups, he explained, who came to support local Bedouin who had stopped Druze militiamen from Suwayda trying to join their coreligionists in Damascus – with, according to him, the blessing of the Interior Ministry's security service. Many buildings were ransacked or destroyed, including the village's Druze shrine and the mausoleum of Issam Zahreddine – a former Druze commander in the Syrian national army, killed in 2017 by a landmine explosion. For Alaoui, it did not matter that Zahreddine had been a key figure in suppressing the Syrian opposition, the executioner of the Damascus suburbs and central Homs. The destruction of his tomb was nothing more than an "excuse" to "attack us," he said.
