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China Calls for Peace Conference in the Middle East

A group photo of the leaders participating in the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum (Egyptian Presidency)
A group photo of the leaders participating in the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum (Egyptian Presidency)
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China Calls for Peace Conference in the Middle East

A group photo of the leaders participating in the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum (Egyptian Presidency)
A group photo of the leaders participating in the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum (Egyptian Presidency)

China called for a peace conference to end the war in Gaza, stressing its readiness to work with Arab countries to establish the “five frameworks of cooperation”.
The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum kicked off on Thursday in Beijing. The event represents a platform for strengthening bilateral relations between Arab countries and China, and deepening mutual understanding and strategic cooperation between the two sides.
Addressing the opening session, Chinese President Xi-Jinping said that his country will host the second edition of the China-Arab Summit in 2026, describing it as another “milestone” in the course of Chinese-Arab relations.
He added that China will work with the Arab side to consolidate cooperation in key economic fields such as oil and gas, trade and infrastructure, as well as in new areas such as artificial intelligence, investment, finance and renewable energy.
During the first edition of the China-Arab Summit in Riyadh in December 2022, Xi-Jinping put forward the “Eight Joint Actions” for practical cooperation. The five frameworks include a more dynamic basis for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and financial cooperation, a multifaceted structure for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, and a broader space for people-to-people exchanges.
With regard to the Middle East, the Chinese President said that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict “has escalated strongly and caused enormous suffering to the Palestinian people,” stressing “the necessity of stopping the war in the Gaza Strip.”
He added that the “war must not continue indefinitely, justice must not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-state solution must not sway according to whims.”
Addressing the session, Xi expressed his support for a “broad-based” peace conference to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
In a statement, Arab countries and China said that the forum contributed to strengthening Arab-Chinese relations in various political, economic, social, media and development fields.
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the importance of finding a horizon for just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region based on the two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged the international community to carry out its moral and legal responsibilities to “stop the brutal Israeli war.” He called for action without delay to “immediately and sustainably deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to put an end to the Israeli siege.”
In his speech, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit emphasized commitment to advancing relations between Arab countries and China towards a better future.
For his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan underlined the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, while ensuring adequate and continuous entry of aid, and finding a reliable and irreversible path to a two-state solution.

 

 

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Arab World

Bashir Moved to Khartoum Hospital amid Reports He Will Be Flown Abroad

Sudan's ex-president Omar al-Bashir leaves the office of the anti-corruption prosecutor in Khartoum, Sudan, June 16, 2019. (Reuters)
Sudan's ex-president Omar al-Bashir leaves the office of the anti-corruption prosecutor in Khartoum, Sudan, June 16, 2019. (Reuters)
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Bashir Moved to Khartoum Hospital amid Reports He Will Be Flown Abroad

Sudan's ex-president Omar al-Bashir leaves the office of the anti-corruption prosecutor in Khartoum, Sudan, June 16, 2019. (Reuters)
Sudan's ex-president Omar al-Bashir leaves the office of the anti-corruption prosecutor in Khartoum, Sudan, June 16, 2019. (Reuters)

Sudanese former President Omar al-Bashir, 80, has been transferred from the northern city of Merowe to a hospital in the capital Khartoum for continued treatment and tests after he developed symptoms of an “unknown” medical case.

His lawyer, Mohamed El-Hassan El-Amin told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that his client was transferred to Khartoum two weeks ago for routine medical examinations, confirming that "there is no change in his health status."

However, he noted the emergence of certain symptoms of "unknown cause," which may require travel abroad to undergo testing using advanced medical equipment.

El-Amin declined to provide further details about Bashir’s condition.

However, he noted that the former president suffers from recurrent low blood pressure and infections, adding: "This is all we can disclose at this stage."

On reports about the Sudanese authorities approving Bashir's travel abroad, El-Amin stated: "There is no official decision so far."

However, he revealed that certain government officials expressed no objection.

"This request was raised more than a year ago, but no progress has been made in its implementation," he added.

Bashir's lawyer Mohamed El-Hassan El-Amin. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

El-Amin confirmed that the same official authorities facilitated the travel of the former Vice President, Bakri Hassan Saleh, to the Turkish capital, Ankara, for medical treatment, revealing for the first time his presence outside the country.

The International Criminal Court has accused Bashir of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region during his rule. He was also convicted on charges of corruption and illicit financing and faced other trials before the outbreak of the war in April 2023. At that time, he was held at a military base in Omdurman, prior to his transfer to Merowe in northern Sudan.

Sudanese media reports had said that the former president's health had deteriorated significantly over the past few days, necessitating his transfer to Khartoum.

However, high-level sources refuted to Asharq Al-Awsat claims regarding the deterioration of his health, saying that recent measures aim to pave the way for his travel abroad in anticipation of domestic political shifts or regional developments.

The sources said Islamists are seeking to preempt potential rapid shifts in the political landscape that could place the authorities, led by the President of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in extreme embarrassment before the International Criminal Court if Bashir remains in the country.

According to the sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, prominent Islamist leaders in the ousted National Congress Party had previously made contacts to arrange Bashir's transfer abroad, after obtaining approval to host him.

The sources added that the ousted president had previously been offered a transfer to Eritrea but refused, despite Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki having expressed his willingness to host him.

Arab World

Hezbollah Denies Any Link to Cell Dismantled in Syria

A man waves Hezbollah flag at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad on September 26, 2026, to mark the second anniversary of killing of Hezbollah's former chief Hassan Nasrallah, in a major strike by Israel on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon. (AFP)
A man waves Hezbollah flag at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad on September 26, 2026, to mark the second anniversary of killing of Hezbollah's former chief Hassan Nasrallah, in a major strike by Israel on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon. (AFP)
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Hezbollah Denies Any Link to Cell Dismantled in Syria

A man waves Hezbollah flag at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad on September 26, 2026, to mark the second anniversary of killing of Hezbollah's former chief Hassan Nasrallah, in a major strike by Israel on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon. (AFP)
A man waves Hezbollah flag at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad on September 26, 2026, to mark the second anniversary of killing of Hezbollah's former chief Hassan Nasrallah, in a major strike by Israel on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon. (AFP)

Hezbollah denied on Wednesday any connection to a cell that Syrian authorities said they had dismantled in the country's south and which they accused of being affiliated with the Lebanese group.

A statement from the Iran-backed movement's media office said it "categorically denies any relationship or connection between Hezbollah and the alleged cell" and emphasized that "it has no presence whatsoever on Syrian territory and has no involvement in any security or military activity there".

On Tuesday, Syria said intelligence services and security forces "thwarted a sabotage plot in the Yarmuk basin in Daraa (province) and arrested a Hezbollah-affiliated cell composed of three individuals".

Authorities said the cell attempted "to prepare rocket launch platforms with the aim of carrying out attacks to destabilize security and stability", without specifying the target.

The Yarmuk basin area, where state media has previously reported Israeli incursions and shelling, borders the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, as well as Jordan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said there were "indications" that Israel's enemies could try to attack ahead of elections scheduled for late October.

Syria's new authorities, who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024, are hostile to Hezbollah, which is a sworn enemy of Israel and fought on Assad's side during the Syrian civil war.

Authorities have previously said they dismantled several Hezbollah-linked cells preparing attacks in Syria, accusations the group has denied.

In Wednesday's statement, Hezbollah accused Israel of seeking to disrupt ties between Lebanon and Syria.

It called on Syrian authorities "to identify the real beneficiary of escalating tensions between the two countries, namely the Israeli enemy".

Last month, Hezbollah's chief Naim Qassem said he had no objection to meeting openly with Syria's leadership.

In June, responding to a question about whether he would sit at the table with Hezbollah, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said that "if this serves Lebanon's interests and safeguards Syria's interests, why not".

Arab World

US Removes Syria from Arms Export Ban

A large Syrian flag flutters above Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (AFP)
A large Syrian flag flutters above Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (AFP)
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US Removes Syria from Arms Export Ban

A large Syrian flag flutters above Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (AFP)
A large Syrian flag flutters above Tishreen Park in Damascus on June 4, 2025. (AFP)

The Trump administration is removing Syria from a list of countries that are not allowed to purchase or import US weaponry, a step that is part of a monthslong process of easing sanctions on the new government in Damascus and its leaders.

In a notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register, the State Department said it was amending its International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, so that Syria no longer was among the nations subject to a policy of denial for licenses and other approvals needed for the sale of US weapons and munitions.

The change effective Thursday means that arms sales requests from Syria will now be considered on a case-by-case basis.

President Donald Trump acted last year to ease economic sanctions on Syria that had been in place for decades during now-ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. In August, Secretary of State Marco Rubio rescinded Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, helping paving the way for the latest step in drawing closer to the current government.

The State Department has also announced plans to reopen the US Embassy in Damascus. It has been closed for 14 years.

With Syria’s removal from the ITAR blacklist, only seven countries remain subject to the policy of denial for licenses for US arms exports: Belarus, China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Venezuela.

Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa overthrew the Assad government nearly two years ago and has embarked on a policy of change that has impressed the Trump administration. His moves have led to hopes of eventual stability in a country that was wracked by civil war and the ISIS insurgency that engulfed northeast and western Iraq for years.

Wednesday’s withdrawal of US forces from Iraq may mean that the Syrian government plays a greater role in preventing an ISIS resurgence.