Jumblatt calls on Syrian Druze to preserve their Arab identity

Walid Jumblatt (R), the former leader of Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 48th anniversary of his father Kamal Jumblatt's assassination, at the El-Moukhtara palace in Lebanon's Shouf mountains on March 16, 2025, in (2ndR) and Lebanese Phalangist party chief Sami Gemayel (2nd L). (AFP)
Walid Jumblatt (R), the former leader of Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 48th anniversary of his father Kamal Jumblatt's assassination, at the El-Moukhtara palace in Lebanon's Shouf mountains on March 16, 2025, in (2ndR) and Lebanese Phalangist party chief Sami Gemayel (2nd L). (AFP)
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Updated 16 March 2025
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Jumblatt calls on Syrian Druze to preserve their Arab identity

Jumblatt calls on Syrian Druze to preserve their Arab identity
  • Lebanese Druze leader emphasizes the need for Israeli forces to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon

BEIRUT: Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Sunday warned Syrian Druze against foreign influence, urging them to resist Israeli approaches and protect their heritage.

Jumblatt, former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, was speaking on the 48th anniversary of the assassination of his father, and party founder, Kamal Jumblatt.

He said that the arrest of Ibrahim Huweija — who was responsible for the assassination — by Syrian authorities a week ago “represents historical justice taking its course, albeit after a while.”

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The commemoration of the 48th anniversary of Kamal Jumblatt’s assassination took place on Sunday in Moukhtara, Jumblatt’s political stronghold and the center of Druze leadership in Lebanon,

Jumblatt urged Druze from Syria’s Jabal Al-Arab region to defend their shared struggle with Syrian and Arab citizens against “occupation, colonialism, and mandates imposed on the Golan Heights.”

“Safeguard your heritage and beware of being used by some to divide Syria under the banner of the ‘alliance of minorities,’ which Kamal Jumblatt opposed,” he said.

The commemoration of the 48th anniversary of Kamal Jumblatt’s assassination took place on Sunday in Moukhtara, Jumblatt’s political stronghold and the center of Druze leadership in Lebanon, evolving into a significant and inclusive political gathering.

On March 16 every year the Progressive Socialist Party gathers at Kamal Jumblatt’s tomb, marking the anniversary of his assassination and those who were with him.

His convoy was ambushed in Deir Dourite at a pivotal moment in Lebanese politics.

Investigations determined that Ibrahim Huweija, a general in the ousted Syrian regime’s army and a senior security officer, was responsible for the crime.

According to the new Syrian authorities, Huweija is accused of “committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the assassination of Jumblatt.”

Jumblatt’s speech on Sunday coincided with his announcement that the annual commemoration of his father’s assassination would be discontinued after the arrest of its perpetrator.

In his speech, Jumblatt said: “For 48 years, we have gathered on March 16 to recite Al-Fatiha and place a red flower on Kamal Jumblatt’s tomb. This occasion symbolizes our defiance and strength to remember, endure, and persevere.

“We have stood in reverence for the blood of the martyrs who fell treacherously on that fateful day. The Lebanese people will remember their sacrifices and the political legacy.”

Jumblatt said that the Progressive Socialist Party looked forward to a new phase of struggle, challenges, and adherence to the most humane form of socialism.

Jumblatt emphasized the party’s position on recent developments, highlighting the need to end Israeli occupation in the south and establish borders under international resolutions to maintain sovereignty.

He emphasized the need to reconstruct the south and other affected areas by establishing a reliable mechanism at both Arab and international levels.

He also underlined the importance of “rebuilding relations between Lebanon and Syria based on new principles. This includes clearly defining land and maritime borders, supporting legitimate Palestinian rights — particularly the two-state solution and the affirmation of the right of return — and upholding the ceasefire agreement.”

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov participated in the commemoration.

Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin sent a message to Walid Jumblatt, acknowledging the “void left by the assassination of his father.”

He emphasized that his father was an advocate for peace in the Middle East, believing that true peace cannot be achieved without recognizing the Palestinians’ right to establish their own state.

In the meantime, the municipality of the border town of Houla released a statement condemning the ongoing Israeli attacks, especially in the eastern region of the town, where Israeli soldiers are digging a trench extending toward the Al-Abbad site.

The municipality said that Israel’s actions indicated an occupation beyond the five occupied heights.

The municipality urged all relevant officials in the Lebanese government to take immediate action and exert pressure on the UN and the five-member committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.

The goal is to prevent further aggression and to ensure the return of the occupied territories, it added.

The appeal came as Israeli forces opened fire with bursts of machinegun fire and bombs from the Ruwaisat Al-Alam border site on the outskirts of Kafr Shuba late on Saturday and into Sunday.

The forces also launched a military incursion into Odaisseh, occupying the town square for several hours before withdrawing.

A security source reported that a Lebanese army motorized unit was sent from Taybeh to Odaisseh after the Israeli forces pulled out.

 

 


King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation

King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation
Updated 8 sec ago
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King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation

King Abdullah invited to attend Arab Summit in Baghdad as Jordan and Iraq discuss regional cooperation

AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday received an official invitation from Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid to attend the 34th Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the Summit Level, scheduled for Baghdad on May 17.

The invitation was delivered by Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein during a meeting with King Abdullah at Al-Husseiniya Palace, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The king asked Hussein to convey his greetings to Rashid and expressed Jordan’s eagerness to ensure the success of the upcoming summit. He also highlighted the importance of Arab solidarity and joint efforts to support Arab causes, particularly in light of current regional developments.

Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, also attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Safadi received Hussein upon his arrival in Jordan.

Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister (R) with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein (L). (Petra)

The two ministers held talks focused on enhancing relations and exchanging views on the latest developments in the region, JNA reported

They reaffirmed the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Iraq and underscored the commitment of both leaderships to advancing cooperation across various sectors in service of mutual interests, JNA added.

The discussions touched on preparations for the upcoming Arab Summit, with both sides emphasizing the importance of bolstering joint Arab action and strengthening coordination to address challenges facing the Arab world and to promote regional stability and development.


Israeli probe into the killings of Palestinian medics finds ‘professional failures’

Israeli probe into the killings of Palestinian medics finds ‘professional failures’
Updated 20 April 2025
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Israeli probe into the killings of Palestinian medics finds ‘professional failures’

Israeli probe into the killings of Palestinian medics finds ‘professional failures’
  • Israel at first claimed that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire but later backtracked

JERUSALEM: An Israeli probe into the killings of 15 Palestinian medics last month in Gaza by Israeli forces said Sunday it has found “professional failures” and a deputy commander will be fired.
Israel at first claimed that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire but later backtracked. Cellphone video recovered from one of the medics contradicted Israel’s initial account.
The military investigation found that the deputy battalion commander, “due to poor night visibility,” assessed that the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants. Video footage obtained from the incident shows the ambulances had lights flashing and logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier.

 

The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in a threatening manner as three medics emerge and head toward the stricken ambulance. Their vehicles immediately come under a barrage of gunfire that goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses.
Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by troops conducting operations in Tel Al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. UN and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to dig out the bodies.
The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said the slain men were “targeted at close range.”
The Israeli military investigation said the Palestinians were killed due to an “operational misunderstanding” by Israeli forces, and that a separate incident 15 minutes later, when Israeli soldiers shot at a Palestinian UN vehicle, was a breach of orders.
It was not immediately clear whether the military investigation found that any of those killed were Hamas militants. Israel’s military initially said nine were militants.
The investigation found that the decision to crush the ambulances was wrong but denied that there was an attempt to conceal the event.
“The examination found no evidence to support claims of execution or that any of the deceased were bound before or after the shooting,” it added.
Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations.
Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense, most of them while on duty, as well as over 1,000 health workers, according to the UN The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents.
Palestinians and international human rights groups have repeatedly accused Israel’s military of failing to properly investigate or whitewashing misconduct by its troops.
The International Criminal Court, established by the international community as a court of last resort, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes. Israel, which is not a member of the court, has long asserted that its legal system is capable of investigating the army, and Netanyahu has accused the ICC of antisemitism.


Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25

Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25
A displaced Palestinian woman cooks near an unexploded ordnance, with explosive materials left behind by Israeli troops (AFP)
Updated 20 April 2025
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Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25

Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strikes kill 25
  • The overall death toll in the Gaza war has reached 51,201
  • Israel resumed its aerial and ground assault on Gaza on March 18

GAZA:: Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli air strikes since dawn on Sunday have killed at least 25 people across the Gaza Strip, including women and children.
Israel resumed its aerial and ground assault on Gaza on March 18, reigniting fighting after a two-month ceasefire that had paused more than 15 months of war in the coastal territory.
“Since dawn today, the occupation’s air strikes have killed 20 people and injured dozens more, including children and women across the Gaza Strip,” Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency told AFP.
In a separate statement later, the agency reported that five people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a group of civilians in eastern Rafah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday vowed to continue the war and bring home the remaining hostages held in Gaza without yielding to Hamas’s demands.
“We are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and determination to win,” Netanyahu said in a statement, rejecting calls from the militants to end the war and withdraw troops from Gaza.
Since Israel resumed its offensive last month, at least 1,827 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The overall death toll in the Gaza war has reached 51,201, the majority of them civilians, according to the ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.
The war broke out after Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
During that attack, Palestinian militants abducted 251 people, 58 of whom are still held hostage in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead.


Syrian Airlines announces resumption of direct flights to the UAE

Syrian Airlines announces resumption of direct flights to the UAE
Workers give maintenance to a Syrian Arab Airlines Airbus A320-200 aircraft at Damascus international airport (AFP)
Updated 20 April 2025
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Syrian Airlines announces resumption of direct flights to the UAE

Syrian Airlines announces resumption of direct flights to the UAE
  • Syrian Airlines said that it is working to expand its network as quickly as possible

DUBAI: Syrian Airlines on Sunday officially announced the resumption of direct flights between Syria and the UAE, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

The initial phase will include exceptional flights to Dubai and Sharjah.

According to a statement on the airline’s official Facebook page, four weekly flights will operate between Damascus and Dubai on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with plans to expand to daily services soon.

Flights to Sharjah will run on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with efforts underway to increase them to daily flights.

Damascus-Abu Dhabi routes will operate on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Syrian Airlines said that it is working to expand its network as quickly as possible, pending the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.

Travelers are encouraged to contact the airline’s offices inside or outside Syria for more information.


Yemen’s Houthis say two killed in US stikes on Sanaa area

Yemen’s Houthis say two killed in US stikes on Sanaa area
Updated 20 April 2025
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Yemen’s Houthis say two killed in US stikes on Sanaa area

Yemen’s Houthis say two killed in US stikes on Sanaa area
  • The Iran-backed group reported two deaths and 11 injured in the “US aggression on Sanaa”

SANAA: At least two people were killed in overnight US strikes in and around Yemen’s capital Sanaa, media controlled by the Houthi militants reported Sunday, in the latest such air raid.
The Iran-backed group’s Al-Masirah channel, citing the militants’ health ministry, reported two deaths and 11 injured in the “US aggression on Sanaa, the capital, and the governorate.”
The channel earlier said one person was killed in an air strike on the governorate’s Bani Matar area, where a deadly US raid was reported a week ago.
Beyond Sanaa, the Houthis said Sunday that air strikes also hit Yemen’s Marib and Amran provinces.
Earlier this week, the group said that US strikes on the fuel port of Ras Issa killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 in the deadliest attack of Washington’s 15-month campaign against the Houthis.
The US military has hammered the Yemeni Houthis with near-daily air strikes for the past month in a bid to stamp out their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Claiming solidarity with Palestinians, the rebels began attacking the key maritime route and Israeli territory after the Gaza war began in October 2023.
The US strikes began in January 2024 but have multiplied under President Donald Trump, starting with an offensive that killed 53 people on March 15.
Houthi attacks on the Red Sea shipping route, which normally carries about 12 percent of global trade, have forced many companies into costly detours around the tip of southern Africa.