Campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah’s Stance from Arab Summit

Hundreds of Lebanese students shout slogans as they carry Palestinian and Lebanese flags during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian children amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 November 2023. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
Hundreds of Lebanese students shout slogans as they carry Palestinian and Lebanese flags during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian children amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 November 2023. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
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Campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah’s Stance from Arab Summit

Hundreds of Lebanese students shout slogans as they carry Palestinian and Lebanese flags during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian children amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 November 2023. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
Hundreds of Lebanese students shout slogans as they carry Palestinian and Lebanese flags during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian children amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 November 2023. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Hezbollah criticized the Arab summit that will be held on Saturday to discuss the war on Gaza, by saying that the people of Palestine “are not betting on the emergency Arab summit, but on the resistance strategy and the missiles, rifles and arms of the resistance fighters in Gaza.”

Hezbollah’s position, which was conveyed by the party’s Central Council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq, comes at a time when caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is preparing to participate in the high-level Arab meeting, where he is expected to propose a peace plan that is mainly based on a five-day humanitarian truce, the release of some civilian and foreign hostages, and the introduction of aid to Gaza.

Lebanese Forces MP Georges Okais told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah’s attack on the Arab summit was a prior rejection by Iran and its team of any Arab effort, out of their determination to “keep the Palestinian people at the mercy of the resistance strategy.”

“Any effort, whether through a summit or contacts in the United Nations or the Arab League, to stop the genocide in Gaza is welcome. There is an Arab responsibility towards the Palestinian people whether Hezbollah and its team like it or not,” Okais said.

MP Ahmed Al-Khair asserted that it was the duty and interest of all Lebanese, especially Hezbollah, to stand behind the government, which today represents the political decision of the Lebanese state in light of the presidential vacuum.

“Arab pressure is of fundamental importance in stopping the war on Gaza, as well as reviving the terms agreed upon at the Arab Summit in Beirut in 2000. What serves the Lebanon today remains the unified position behind the government and the implementation of Resolution 1701,” he remarked.

Qaouq had attacked the decisions that might be issued at the Arab summit, and addressed memorial services for Hezbollah fighters, saying: “The Israeli enemy does not fear the statements of the Arab summits ... but rather fears a resistance bullet and missile in the South and Gaza.”



Türkiye Says Over 25,0000 Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall

(FILES) Syrians living in Türkiye push a cart loaded with their furniture at the Cilvegozu border crossing gate in Reyhanli on December 12, 2024, on their way back to their country. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
(FILES) Syrians living in Türkiye push a cart loaded with their furniture at the Cilvegozu border crossing gate in Reyhanli on December 12, 2024, on their way back to their country. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
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Türkiye Says Over 25,0000 Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall

(FILES) Syrians living in Türkiye push a cart loaded with their furniture at the Cilvegozu border crossing gate in Reyhanli on December 12, 2024, on their way back to their country. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)
(FILES) Syrians living in Türkiye push a cart loaded with their furniture at the Cilvegozu border crossing gate in Reyhanli on December 12, 2024, on their way back to their country. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)

More than 25,000 Syrians have returned home from Türkiye since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by HTS opposition fighters, Türkiye's interior minister said Tuesday.

Türkiye is home to nearly three million refugees who fled the civil war that broke out in 2011, and whose presence has been an issue for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.

"The number of people returning to Syria in the last 15 days has exceeded 25,000," Ali Yerlikaya told the official Anadolu news agency.

Ankara is in close touch with Syria's new leaders and now focusing on the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, hoping the shift in power in Damascus will allow many of them to return home.

According to AFP, Yerlikaya said a migration office would be established in the Turkish embassy and consulate in Damascus and Aleppo so that the records of returning Syrians could be kept.

Türkiye reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly a week after Assad was toppled by forces backed by Ankara, and 12 years after the diplomatic outpost was shuttered early in Syria's civil war.