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CENTCOM: Kurilla, Egypt Army Discussed Gaza Humanitarian Aid

In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, US service members load pallets of humanitarian aid onto a cargo aircraft at an undisclosed location in preparation for an airdrop over Gaza, on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie SQUIRES / US Department of Defense / AFP)
In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, US service members load pallets of humanitarian aid onto a cargo aircraft at an undisclosed location in preparation for an airdrop over Gaza, on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie SQUIRES / US Department of Defense / AFP)
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CENTCOM: Kurilla, Egypt Army Discussed Gaza Humanitarian Aid

In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, US service members load pallets of humanitarian aid onto a cargo aircraft at an undisclosed location in preparation for an airdrop over Gaza, on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie SQUIRES / US Department of Defense / AFP)
In this image obtained from the US Department of Defense, US service members load pallets of humanitarian aid onto a cargo aircraft at an undisclosed location in preparation for an airdrop over Gaza, on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie SQUIRES / US Department of Defense / AFP)

US Central Command Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla has discussed with the Egyptian 2nd Field Army and representatives from several international and nongovernmental organizations the process of delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza, CENTCOM said in a statement on Monday.

It said Kurilla visited Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Israel to better understand the security and humanitarian situation and meet with US service members and security partners.

“On Feb. 27, Kurilla traveled to Al Arish and Rafah Gate in Egypt where he met with representatives from several international and nongovernmental organizations, the Egyptian 2nd Field Army, and US embassy leadership to discuss the process of delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza. The administrators described the challenges, opportunities, and level of support from the international community to increase the throughput of supplies into Gaza,” said the statement.

The next day, Kurilla visited Jordan where he met with the Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maj. Gen. Yousef Alhnaity, his staff, and other leaders to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and regional security.

Discussions also focused on opportunities to increase aid into Gaza to address the humanitarian crisis.

On Feb. 28 and 29, Kurilla visited CENTCOM military facilities in Jordan and Syria.

While in Syria, he visited al-Roj and al-Hol displaced persons camps where he met with administrators and dozens of inhabitants to discuss repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of both ISIS detainees and conflict-affected residents. More than 45,000 displaced persons are in both al Roj and al Hol, and over 9,000 ISIS detainees are in Syria.

From Feb. 28 to Mar. 2., Kurilla traveled to Israel and met with Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, the Chief of the Israeli General Staff, Herzi Halevi, and members of the Israeli army staff.

“The three had wide-ranging discussions on security concerns both within and outside of Israel. The conversations also focused on opportunities to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” said the statement.

"This was my 27th trip to the CENTCOM region and every one of these trips allows me to gain a deeper understanding of the security challenges and opportunities as well as the unique perspectives that cannot be attained over the phone or through a video teleconference," said Kurilla.

"These are challenging times in the CENTCOM region, and we rely on the professionalism, commitment and competence of our Service-members as well as the strength of our relationships with our partners to solve them,” he added.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.