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Arab World

UN Overwhelmingly Endorses Declaration on Two-State Solution for Palestinians, Israel

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Overwhelmingly Endorses Declaration on Two-State Solution for Palestinians, Israel

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.  

The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the UN in July - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event. 

A resolution endorsing the declaration received 142 votes in favor and 10 against, while 12 countries abstained. 

The vote comes ahead of a meeting of world leaders on September 22 - on the sidelines of the high-level UN General Assembly - where Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium are expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state. 

The declaration endorsed by the 193-member General Assembly condemns the attacks against Israel by Palestinian Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. 

It also condemns the attacks by Israel against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, siege and starvation, "which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis." 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the resolution secured the international isolation of Hamas. 

"For the first time today, the United Nations adopted a text condemning it for its crimes and calling for its surrender and disarmament," he said in an X post. 

The resolution was supported by all Gulf Arab states. Israel and the United States voted against it, along with Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga. 

The declaration endorsed by the resolution says the war in Gaza "must end now" and support the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council. 

The United States described the vote as "yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt" that undermined serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. 

"Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas," US diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the General Assembly. "Far from promoting peace, the conference has already prolonged the war, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace in both short and long term." 

Israel, which has long criticized the UN for not condemning Hamas by name for the October 7 attacks, dismissed the declaration as one-sided and described the vote as theater. 

"The only beneficiary is Hamas …When terrorists are the ones cheering, you are not advancing peace; you are advancing terror," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said. 

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities. 

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Arab World

Syrian Army on Alert after SDF Armed Groups Detected East of Aleppo

People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Syrian Army on Alert after SDF Armed Groups Detected East of Aleppo

People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
People walk down a street as a car drives by following a ceasefire which ended days of fighting between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, of the northern city of Aleppo on January 11, 2026. (AFP)

The Syrian army went on alert on Sunday after detecting armed groups aligned with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of Aleppo city.

In statements to the SANA state news agency, the Operations Command said that the nature and objectives of these military reinforcements and troop concentrations brought by the SDF to eastern Aleppo have not yet been identified.

The Command added that Syrian army forces have been placed on full alert, deployment lines east of Aleppo have been reinforced, and all necessary measures have been taken to be ready for all possible scenarios.

First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.

The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the SDF, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.

The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to opposition groups in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.

The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF.

However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”

Arab World

Hadhramaut Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Stance Was Decisive, Situation Is Calm

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hadhramaut Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Stance Was Decisive, Situation Is Calm

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut governorate Salem al-Khanbashi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Governor of Yemen's Hadhramaut Salem al-Khanbashi stressed that the situation in the governorate was returning to normal in wake of the recent developments and withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat from his office in Mukalla, he said: "The general situation is calm and stable. Work is underway to resume operations at various public administrations."

"Security measures have also been intensified, especially over the possession of weapons," he added.

He revealed that several suspects involved in looting and the possession of heavy weapons have been arrested.

"Life is gradually returning back to normal and the situation will improve," he stressed.

On Saudi Arabia's role, Khanbashi credited the Kingdom with helping move forward the issue of the STC withdrawal from Hadhramaut in record time.

Coordination with the Kingdom continues, he added.

He also noted that a meeting was held with senior Hadhramaut officials with leaders of the "Hadhramaut elite brigades" to discuss returning the forces to their former military positions.

Coordination with Saudi Arabia is at a "very high level", he revealed. Hadhramaut has received pledges from senior Saudi officials that major projects will be implemented in the governorate to develop infrastructure.

On restructuring the local authority, Khanbashi stressed: "Measures have been taken against officials who had openly expressed their support to the STC or who had taken contentious political positions."

Commenting on the conference Riyadh will be hosting on the southern issue, he said the Hadhramaut leadership has met with several members of the Hadhramaut National Council to discuss the issue.

The details of the talks and mechanism to choose representatives have not taken shape yet, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Expanded meetings with various political and social figures will be held in the governorate in the coming days with the aim of coming up with a unified vision that represents Hadhramaut at the conference, he added.

He noted the historic differences that exist between Hadhramaut and other southern governorates that should be taken into consideration and discussed.

On the issue of the Hadhramaut airports, he said the Riyan Airport is ready and expected to resume operations in the next two days.

Arab World

Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
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Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said on Sunday that his country has entered a new decisive phase in restoring state institutions and ending armed coups.

The process of handing over military camps in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra governorates to legitimate authorities is a step towards imposing state monopoly over weapons, he added.

He made his remarks during a meeting in Riyadh with British Ambassador to Yemen is Abda Sharif.

The formation of a supreme military council will help unify all armed forces and military and security formations under the defense and interior ministries, al-Alimi went on to say.

The formation of the committee sends a message that the state has not veered off its national priorities and that the process to hand over military camps was the right call in protecting the internal front, he stressed.

The move aims to protect the internal front and focus state efforts in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi coup either through peaceful means or war, he added.

He discussed with Sharif the latest local developments and efforts to restore order in the liberated governorates.

He hailed the positive role the UK has played in supporting Yemen's unity and legitimate authorities, as well as peace and humanitarian efforts.

Moreover, al-Alimi described as "brave" the Southern Transitional Council's decision to dissolve itself.

It marked a "pivotal moment that reflects a realization of the sensitivity of the current phase and the danger of sliding into internal conflicts that would weaken the internal front against the confrontation against the real threat," he said.

The next phase demands that all national, civilian and military forces align with the state and legitimate authorities and the rule of law, he demanded.

Al-Alimi also highlighted Saudi Arabia's central role in easing the escalation and sponsoring intra-southern Yemen dialogue. This is an extension of its economic and humanitarian support to Yemen.