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Damascus Tests Alarms, Inspects Shelters

Banner in Damascus featuring President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, March 2022 (Reuters)
Banner in Damascus featuring President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, March 2022 (Reuters)
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Damascus Tests Alarms, Inspects Shelters

Banner in Damascus featuring President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, March 2022 (Reuters)
Banner in Damascus featuring President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, March 2022 (Reuters)

Syria’s Defense Ministry is testing the readiness of alarm sirens and shelters in the capital, Damascus, and various other cities across the nation.

Late Sunday, the ministry announced that the testing of the central alarm siren in Damascus was scheduled for Monday morning.

The Civil Defense in Latakia had previously announced the trial of alarm sirens on Monday afternoon, all in an effort to ensure preparedness. Additionally, inspections of shelters in several areas within the Latakia province, both urban and rural, were carried out.

The sound of alarm sirens has not been officially heard in Syria since the October 6, 1973 war, except for sporadic tests every decade or so, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources added that the newer generations, who have experienced the sounds of explosions and various forms of shelling, are unfamiliar with the sound of alarm sirens, and very few paid attention to its testing on Monday.

In other news, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ways to halt the Israeli “aggression” against Gaza, as reported by the Syrian News Agency (SANA).

Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for “immediate humanitarian assistance for civilians in the sector, as well as ending the shelling and displacement carried out by Israel against innocent people in Gaza.”

This marks Assad’s third conversation since the situation escalated in Gaza, following talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

In a related development, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad received Palestinian Ambassador Anwar Abdul Hadi in the capital, Damascus, on Monday.

The ambassador presented the Syrian minister with an update on the latest developments and the evolving situation in Palestine.

“The Israeli occupation deliberately targets innocent civilians without discrimination, be they women, children, or the elderly, with the support of the US and the West,” said Hadi.

He further pointed out that “the Israeli occupation aims to displace the residents of Gaza as part of its plan to empty the territory of Palestinians.”

Hadi also informed the Syrian Foreign Minister about the efforts made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with world nations to halt the Israeli aggression in Gaza and urgently establish humanitarian corridors.

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EU Condemns All Attacks on UN Missions, Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Says

Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
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EU Condemns All Attacks on UN Missions, Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Says

Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)

The European Union condemns all attacks against United Nations missions, the union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a response to targeting of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, by the Israel Defense Forces.

"Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately," Borrell said in a statement on behalf of the EU published Sunday night.

"The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions," Borrell said.

"It expresses particularly grave concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces against UNIFIL, which left several peacekeepers wounded."

Israel has disputed some UN accounts of incidents involving UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were providing "human shields" for Hezbollah fighters during an upsurge in hostilities.

In his statement, Borrell said "all actors" in the conflict have the obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.

"We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation from the Israeli authorities about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of South Lebanon," he said.

The German government sharply criticized the shelling of UN peacekeepers, calling on Israel to clarify what exactly happened.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told reporters in Berlin on Monday that "all parties to the conflict, including the Israeli army, are obliged to direct their combat operations exclusively against military targets of the other party to the conflict."

Spokesman Sebastian Fischer said that a comprehensive investigation is expected and that talks on the matter were being held with the Israeli side.

The situation in southern Lebanon is causing growing concern, Fischer added, saying that "the shelling of UN peacekeepers and the intrusion into their bases is in no way acceptable," and that the protection and security of UN troops had top priority.