Russia, Iran Seek to Advance Türkiye-Syria Normalization Negotiations

Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
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Russia, Iran Seek to Advance Türkiye-Syria Normalization Negotiations

Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad reaffirmed that the Turkish occupation in northeastern Syria will end, and the Turkish withdrawal is the only way to restore relations between the two countries.

Mikdad discussed during a symposium at the al-Assad National Library in Damascus about cooperation between the Syrian and Russian delegations to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

He stressed that the US occupation of northeastern Syria, its looting of wealth, and its support for separatist terrorist groups will end thanks to the struggle of the people of Deir Ezzor and Hasaka, side by side with the Syrian Arab Army.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Tehran is trying to create good conditions to resolve the problems between Türkiye and Syria, stressing that the territorial integrity of Syria is a fundamental issue.

Regarding the disagreements between Syria and Türkiye and the process of normalizing their relations, Kanaani mentioned that Iran is actively working to facilitate improved relations between the two nations.

In a joint press conference in Tehran with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the necessity of resolving the problems between Ankara and Damascus through dialogue and respecting borders.

Furthermore, Manbij witnessed renewed escalation after five members of the Turkish-backed National Army were killed and about 15 others injured when the Manbij Military Council, affiliated with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), targeted a Turkish military vehicle.

The vehicle was seized, and members of the National Army withdrew from the battlefields.

The incident coincided with the bombing of a car belonging to the deputy commander of the military council of Manbij due to an IED planted inside the car by unknown persons, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Contact lines between "Euphrates Shield" areas, controlled by the Turkish forces and their proxies, and areas of the military council of Manbij witnessed infiltration operations on several frontlines.

Clashes erupted between the factions and the military council of Manbij, accompanied by artillery shelling by regime forces within Euphrates Shield areas on the opposite side of the al-Sajour line.

A National Army member was killed, and others were injured, in violent clashes between groups of the military council of al-Bab and National Army factions in al-Bohij village in Manbij countryside following an infiltration operation.

Syrian regime forces stationed in al-Farat and Jabal al-Sayadah villages in the countryside of Manbij fired heavy artillery shells on areas within the Euphrates Shield areas.

The Syrian forces repelled a new infiltration of the National Army into Um Jeloud village, forcing them to retreat.

Furthermore, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that at least six Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) members were killed in northern Syria.

It said they were preparing to launch an attack in the Peace Spring area in northeastern Syria, which has been witnessing an escalation for days.

The clashes extended to Afrin, northwest of Aleppo, where Turkish forces and factions loyal to them bombed the Olive Branch area.

In Idlib, Russian warplanes carried out four raids in Jabal al-Zawiya within the de-escalation zone called the "Putin-Erdogan" zone.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed in Sochi recent developments in Syria and pushed the path of normalization between Ankara and Damascus.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon's Presidential Elections to Be Held on Time, No Prior Deal over Govt

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. (National News Agency)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. (National News Agency)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon's Presidential Elections to Be Held on Time, No Prior Deal over Govt

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. (National News Agency)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. (National News Agency)

Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Friday that efforts are ongoing to hold the presidential elections on time on January 9.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said he had no intention to delay the elections and he had not received any request to that end from any of the political powers.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since October 2022 when the term of President Michel Aoun ended without the election of a successor. Bickering between the political blocs over a suitable candidate has thwarted the polls.

Efforts are underway to ensure that the elections are a success, declared Berri.

He denied claims that he was seeking understandings over the shape of the new government, including its prime minister, lineup and agenda, ahead of the elections.

The presidential elections come first, he stated.

There are constitutional guidelines that dictate what happens after the elections, he added, referring to the binding parliamentary consultations the new president will hold to name a new prime minister.

The prime minister, in turn, will hold non-binding consultations with lawmakers over the government lineup.

Berri declined to comment on his ally, former MP Walid Jumblatt’s endorsement of army commander Joseph Aoun as president, saying: “Everything will become clear during the elections.”

The speaker had previously said that Aoun’s election requires a constitutional amendment that demands the resignation of first-rank civil servants, including the army commander, at least two years before their election as president.

Aoun, who is not related to Michel Aoun, is projected to win 86 votes in the elections.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah MP Hussein al-Hajj Hassan dismissed the figure, saying no candidate has the needed number of votes to be elected president.

He added that Hezbollah is holding contacts over the elections but it does not have time to reveal what they have yielded.

The results will be revealed during the elections in January, he told the Sputnik news agency.