Oman Voices Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity

 Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaid (Asharq Al-Awsat)
 Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaid (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Oman Voices Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity

 Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaid (Asharq Al-Awsat)
 Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaid (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Sultanate of Oman expressed on Tuesday its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the Moroccan autonomy plan, calling it a “serious, realistic and credible” initiative and a “basis for resolving the issue” of the Moroccan Sahara.

This position was expressed in a joint statement issued at the end of the 6th session of the Moroccan-Omani Joint Commission, co-chaired by Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi.

The Sultanate of Oman “reiterated its support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco” and affirmed, in this context, “its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a basis for resolving this regional dispute.”

It also expressed its appreciation for “the wisdom of the Moroccan leadership in its commitment to a peaceful solution that serves security and stability in the Maghreb region.”

Oman hailed the pioneering role played by Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI, in strengthening regional and international security and stability, as well as the Sovereign's sustained efforts to consolidate the foundations of peace and development on the African continent, the statement added.

For its part, the Moroccan side lauded the distinguished role of Oman, under the wise leadership of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, in consolidating the foundations of peace and security in its regional and international environment.

The two sides also stressed the importance of joint Arab action, insisting on the right of Arab states to defend their integrity and sovereignty, to strengthen their security and stability through the promotion of the values of mutual assistance, solidarity and good neighborliness, and to refrain from any interference in the internal affairs of states and any threat to their territorial integrity.

Oman then praised the sustained efforts of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to defend Jerusalem and its inhabitants, preserve its civilizational identity and its status as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence between monotheistic religions.

Morocco and the Sultanate of Oman reaffirmed their commitment to the political and legal status of Jerusalem, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions.

The two parties also reiterated their condemnation of extremism and terrorism in all their forms, whatever their pretexts and motivations, stressing that this dangerous scourge should in no way be associated with any civilization or religion.

They stressed the importance of joint regional and international efforts to combat and eradicate terrorism and its causes.



Syria Says Israeli Strikes Kill 18 People in a Large-Scale Attack on Sites

Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
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Syria Says Israeli Strikes Kill 18 People in a Large-Scale Attack on Sites

Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)
Syrians inspect the damage at the site of overnight Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Masyaf in Syria's central Hama province on September 9, 2024. (AFP)

The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 18 with dozens more wounded, Syria's health minister said Monday — the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

One of the sites targeted was a research center used in the development of weapons, a war monitor said. Syrian officials said civilian sites were targeted.

Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Those strikes have become more frequent as Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israeli forces for the past 11 months against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — in Gaza.

However, the intensity and death toll of Sunday night's strikes were unusual.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations. The strikes often target Syrian forces or Iranian-backed groups.

Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said.

Speaking to reporters, Syrian Health Minister Hassan al-Ghabbash described the strikes as a "brutal and barbaric aggression." He said the death toll had risen to 18 with nearly 40 wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said 25 were killed, including at least five civilians, while the others included Syrian army soldiers and members of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked armed groups.

One strike targeted a scientific research center in Masyaf, and others sites where "Iranian militias and experts are stationed to develop weapons in Syria," the observatory said. It said the research center was reportedly used for developing weapons, including short- and medium-range precision missiles and drones.

Minister of Electricity Mohammad al-Zamel said the strikes had caused "truly significant" damage to water and electricity infrastructure.

"This brutal attack targeted civilian targets, and the martyrs were mostly civilians, as were the wounded," he said.

Muhammad Sumaya, a firefighter with the Hama Fire Brigade, was wounded when shrapnel from one of the strikes hit his foot.

When the strikes began, he said while being treated in the Masyaf hospital Monday, "we moved from one place to another to deal with the fires and work to extinguish them." While they were working, he said, "a missile landed right next to us."

Azzam al-Omar, a SANA photographer, said he was hit by shrapnel in the chest when a missile landed while he was photographing the aftermath of a strike.

Local media also reported strikes around the coastal city of Tartous, which the observatory said were the result of air defense missiles falling.

On Monday afternoon, a charred car remained at the scene of one strike and smoke was still rising from some spots where fires had been put out.