Truck Crashes into Passenger Vehicles in Egypt’s Alexandria Leaving 15 Dead

Representation photo: In this photo provided by Assiut Governorate media office, the authorities work on the collision site where a bus overturned, while trying to pass a truck on a highway in southern Egypt on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, near the city of Assiut, Egypt. (Assiut Governorate media office via AP)
Representation photo: In this photo provided by Assiut Governorate media office, the authorities work on the collision site where a bus overturned, while trying to pass a truck on a highway in southern Egypt on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, near the city of Assiut, Egypt. (Assiut Governorate media office via AP)
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Truck Crashes into Passenger Vehicles in Egypt’s Alexandria Leaving 15 Dead

Representation photo: In this photo provided by Assiut Governorate media office, the authorities work on the collision site where a bus overturned, while trying to pass a truck on a highway in southern Egypt on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, near the city of Assiut, Egypt. (Assiut Governorate media office via AP)
Representation photo: In this photo provided by Assiut Governorate media office, the authorities work on the collision site where a bus overturned, while trying to pass a truck on a highway in southern Egypt on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, near the city of Assiut, Egypt. (Assiut Governorate media office via AP)

A truck slammed into several passenger vehicles in Egypt’s Mediterranean province of Alexandria, killing at least 15 people, authorities said Wednesday.
The crash, which happened late Tuesday in Amreya district, west of Alexandria city, also injured eight people, according to a police report, The Associated Press said.
The truck slammed into four microbuses, a type of mass-transit minivan that's popular across Egypt, the report said. One microbus overturned and a second was set ablaze, it said.
Ambulances rushed to the scene of the crash and transported injured people to hospitals, according to local media.
Traffic accidents claim thousands of lives every year in Egypt, which has a poor transportation safety record. Crashes and collisions are often caused by speeding, bad roads or poor enforcement of traffic laws.
In October, a passenger bus slammed into a parked vehicle on a highway linking Alexandria with the capital of Cairo, killing at least 32 people.



Arab League Plans ‘Exploratory Visit’ to New Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Arab League Plans ‘Exploratory Visit’ to New Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat

Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts and growing Arab engagement with Syria’s new administration, the Arab League is planning to send a special envoy to Damascus.

The mission will aim to “assess the situation, meet with the new government, and engage with various groups in the country,” according to an Arab diplomatic source.

The source, speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, explained that, in light of recent developments, “there is a push within the Arab League to send a special envoy to Syria.”

“The goal is to establish communication with the new authorities, understand their vision, and inform them about the Arab League’s operations and its relationship with Syria,” they added.

Although the timing and nature of the visit have not yet been decided, the source emphasized that it would not be limited to meeting Syria’s new leaders but would also involve discussions with different social groups.

“The visit is exploratory and aims to open communication channels and show the Arab League’s readiness to work with the new administration,” the source added.

One key objective of the visit is to offer an honest assessment of the situation in Syria and present the new administration’s views to other Arab nations, especially in North Africa.

On May 7, 2023, the Arab League reinstated Syria’s membership, reversing a suspension that began in November 2011 after the country’s protests. This decision formed a contact group of six Arab countries to work directly with Syria on a comprehensive solution to the crisis.

The diplomatic source pointed out that with Bashar al-Assad’s regime fallen, the goal of the Syria-focused group has shifted to helping Syrians adapt to the new political reality.

The Arab League’s planned visit comes as Syria sees increasing Arab attention. This includes a recent visit to Riyadh by Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, marking his first foreign trip. The visit coincided with the arrival of Saudi humanitarian aid to Syria. The UAE, Kuwait, and Oman have also held talks with Syrian officials.

Egypt, while cautious about closer ties with Syria, has emphasized that Syria should be a source of regional stability. Egypt has been monitoring the new administration's actions closely.

Observers note a growing “Arab openness” to Syria, driven by fears of Syria’s fragmentation and concerns over security issues, including terrorism.

The Arab League’s engagement reflects a shared interest in Syria's future, with a focus on stability, reconstruction, and political transition.