None.

Syria set to be removed from US list of ‘terrorism’ sponsors

The US is set to remove Syria from its “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list after nearly 50 years.

The move follows Washington’s decision last month and the end of a congressional review period.

Kuwait condemns Israeli drone attack on civilian car outside Damascus

Kuwait has condemned an Israeli drone attack on a civilian car in a village southwest of Damascus that injured several civilians.

“The ministry renews its call upon the international community and the Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities in halting the repeated Israeli occupation aggressions against Syrian territories,” Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on social media.

Israel defended the strike, claiming it was targeting “terrorists” and that the attack was in response to “an immediate threat to our forces”.

This is Israel’s second attack within a week. On Tuesday, it bombed the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria’s Idlib province over allegations that Turkish troops were being deployed at the base.

Israeli minister defends Syria strike, renews warning over alleged Turkish military presence

Israel Katz has defended the recent strike on an airbase in Syria and he renewed warnings against what Israel says are Turkish efforts to establish a military presence in the country.

In a post on X, the defence minister criticised Israeli opposition figures and commentators who questioned the necessity of the attack, saying the military recommended it based on what he described as “clear intelligence information”.

He also defended public warnings issued by himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying Israel would not allow Turkiye “to establish itself in Syria and endanger Israel’s security”.

Ankara has rejected Israeli claims that it planned to establish a military presence at Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase and has condemned Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.

There is no alleged Turkish military presence but Turkish military presence, as they never have left Syria. They have been there since 2017.

Turkey maintains a military presence in parts of northern Syria, though the administrative control of those regions has largely shifted to the Syrian transitional government following the fall of the Assad regime.

Turkish officials have stated there are no immediate plans to withdraw their armed forces from the area.

‘We do not trust Israel’: Syria’s foreign minister

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says negotiations with Israel over a security agreement remain frozen, with no date yet set for their resumption.

“We do not trust Israel currently,” al-Shaibani told Reuters, adding that contact between the two sides was cut after Israel bombed Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase last week.

He said Damascus expects negotiations to resume soon and that Washington is “trying continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table”.

Al-Shaibani accused Israel of relying unsuccessfully on military force.

“Israel has tried to maintain its security through brute force, and it hasn’t succeeded. Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for diplomacy.”

Syria’s FM: Israel lacked ‘real will’ to implement security deal

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says Syria and Israel had “agreed on paper to almost everything” regarding a security agreement early this year, but Damascus saw no genuine Israeli willingness to implement it.

“We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement,” Shaibani told Reuters, adding that Syria’s priority was to “stop Israeli aggression even before reaching a security agreement”.

“Then perhaps we can open the topics of peace and the Golan,” he added.

The draft deal would require Israel to stop attacking Syria and would be linked to its withdrawal from territory seized after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

It would also establish several security zones in Syrian territory near the Israeli border, including a buffer zone where only the UN would be present and other areas where Syrian forces could deploy at varying levels.

Israel doesn't lack but refuse to comply to any deal. Accepting to "agree" is just a procedure that has no value to them.

Syrian FM meets Israeli delegation in Jordan with US mediation: Syrian diplomatic source

Syria’s National News Agency (SANA) citing a Syrian diplomatic source says a Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has met an Israeli delegation in Jordan, with US mediation.

The Syrian delegation also included the heads of Syria’s general and military intelligence, the report said, adding that the meeting explored the possibility of reaching a security deal that could form the basis for a more comprehensive future agreement.

SANA said the discussions focused on establishing mechanisms to stop Israeli attacks, arrests, and targeting of Syria and to revive the negotiation process. Talks also addressed the importance of supporting Syria’s stability and maintaining regional security, including efforts to bridge the gap between Turkiye and Israel.

It reported that the meeting came within the framework of efforts aimed at de-escalation following Israel’s recent bombing of Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airport.

The Syrian side emphasised the priority of the withdrawal of Israeli forces to their positions before December 8, 2024, and the reactivation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The Syrian side reaffirmed Syria’s official position that Israeli occupied Golan Heights is part of Syrian territory, and discussing its final status and the path leading to it, is premature at this stage.