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G7 Ministers Urge End to Attacks Against Civilians in Middle East War

First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
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G7 Ministers Urge End to Attacks Against Civilians in Middle East War

First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)
First aid responders inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on March 27, 2026. (AFP)

G7 allies on Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war, after a foreign ministers' meeting in France attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio almost one month into the US-Israeli assault against Iran. 

Having skipped the first day of the meeting at the historic monastery turned luxury hotel complex outside Paris, Rubio had a full day of talks with counterparts from leading industrialized democracies at the Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey outside Paris. 

A final communique on the war in the Middle East called for "an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. 

"There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of civilians in situations of armed conflict as well as attacks on diplomatic facilities," it added. 

US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities, but subsequently rowed back that warning to give Tehran more time for talks he said were taking place. 

This was Rubio's first trip abroad since the United States and Israel launched the war with air strikes on February 28 that killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei. 

Before leaving France, he told reporters the US expected to finish Iran operations in the "next couple of weeks". 

He said Iran had not yet responded to a plan to end the war. 

But "we've had an exchange of messages and indications from the Iranian system -- whatever's left of it -- about a willingness to talk about certain things". 

- 'Global economy hostage' - 

The G7 meeting was dominated by uncertainty over the current US strategy in the Middle East conflict. 

"The Iranian regime would be well advised to enter into serious negotiations with the United States now," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said after the meeting. 

"There are initial indications that such talks should be taking place," he added, without elaborating. 

Wadephul said the international community needed to collaborate even more closely now it was dealing with two wars in which Russia and Iran were cooperating -- including the conflict sparked by Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 

"We need to strengthen our unity," he told reporters. 

The UK's foreign minister Yvette Cooper urged a "swift resolution to this conflict that restores regional stability". 

She echoed concerns over the de facto blockade by Iran of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has driven up global oil prices and left vessels queueing up to enter the energy bottleneck. 

"Iran cannot be able to just hold the global economy hostage," she said. 

The final statement said ministers had "reiterated the absolute necessity to permanently restore safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz". 

Rubio said he had made progress with allies in opposing Iranian threats to start "tolling" vessels. 

"It's dangerous to the world, and it's important that the world have a plan to confront it," he said. 

The elite G7 club -- whose origins go back to the first G6 summit held in the nearby Chateau de Rambouillet in 1975 -- and now comprises Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, UK and United States. 

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Arab World

Iraq’s Badr Organization Demands Reopening of Border Crossings with Iran

The Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran in Basra, southern Iraq. (AFP)
The Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran in Basra, southern Iraq. (AFP)
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Iraq’s Badr Organization Demands Reopening of Border Crossings with Iran

The Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran in Basra, southern Iraq. (AFP)
The Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran in Basra, southern Iraq. (AFP)

Iraq’s Iran-aligned Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Amiri, expressed anger on Sunday over remarks by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein concerning the closure of land border crossings with Iran.

The closure of the al-Sheeb crossing in the southern province of Maysan continues to draw opposition from Tehran-aligned groups and businesses whose livelihoods depend on cross-border trade. The dispute also involves networks that exploit weak oversight and security procedures to smuggle prohibited goods.

Truck drivers have staged repeated protests demanding the reopening of the crossing.

The controversy resurfaced after Hussein told Al Jazeera that the US had formally asked Iraq to close all its border crossings with Iran except two.

Some political sources believe the request may have been conveyed during Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s meeting with US envoy Tom Barrack last week, or during an earlier telephone conversation between al-Zaidi and President Donald Trump.

According to the prime minister’s media office, the call addressed the importance of coordination and consultation between Baghdad and Washington on current challenges and efforts to support regional stability.

Al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s position on respecting state sovereignty and preventing its territory from being used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.

Iraqi authorities closed the al-Sheeb crossing on October 21, citing the need to review security arrangements and procedures, as well as inadequate technical infrastructure and surveillance equipment requiring upgrades.

The decision drew criticism from parties and groups allied with or close to Iran, which portrayed it as compliance with US pressure and the economic blockade imposed on Tehran.

An official at Iraq’s Border Ports Authority confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that four of the five crossings with Iran remained open, with al-Sheeb the only one still closed.

Security sources, however, suggested that the shutdown was linked to sensitive security concerns, particularly reports that the crossing had served as a route for carrying out missile attacks against Saudi Arabia on October 10.

Badr rejects US demands

In a statement, the Badr Organization said it had followed recent developments, particularly Hussein’s disclosure of American requests and what it described as dictates to close border crossings with Iran.

The Badr parliamentary bloc categorically rejected those demands, insisting on Iraq’s national sovereignty.

“What the minister’s remarks contradict the previous technical justifications and exposes agendas targeting our resistance-minded south and interfering in sovereign decision-making,” the bloc declared.

The statement referred to the government’s earlier explanations for closing the crossing.

Badr maintained that Iraq was a fully sovereign state and that its people and national political forces would not stand idly by in the face of any violation of sovereignty or submission to foreign agendas harmful to the country’s interests.

The Iran-aligned organization also denounced what it called policies of economic blockade and the starvation of populations, underscoring the longstanding ties between Baghdad and Tehran.

“Iraqi-Iranian relations are deep-rooted, forged through the blood shed for liberation and in confronting terrorism,” it stated.

“We categorically reject Iraq becoming a tool in a campaign to besiege the Muslim Iranian people. Participation in such efforts would betray our fraternal commitments and squander the sacrifices of the martyrs.”

Badr argued that the continued closure of major border crossings, particularly al-Sheeb, had inflicted significant economic hardship on residents and disrupted livelihoods.

The organization urged the government to uphold Iraq’s declared policy of staying out of regional conflicts and avoid being drawn into “hegemonic policies” and “illegal wars” that fuel regional tensions.

It demanded the immediate reopening of border crossings, insisting that the interests of Iraqi citizens and national sovereignty take precedence over foreign pressure.

Arab World

Syrian Foreign Ministry Appointments Mark a Break with Diplomatic Tradition

President Ahmad al-Sharaa with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab last February (SANA). 
President Ahmad al-Sharaa with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab last February (SANA). 
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Syrian Foreign Ministry Appointments Mark a Break with Diplomatic Tradition

President Ahmad al-Sharaa with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab last February (SANA). 
President Ahmad al-Sharaa with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab last February (SANA). 

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has appointed three young deputy foreign ministers as part of efforts to restructure state institutions, breaking with a longstanding tradition of reserving senior diplomatic posts for seasoned officials.

The appointments come as many diplomats who defected from the former regime are still awaiting the resolution of their employment status.

The changes have sparked debate in political circles in Damascus over appointments to senior positions in key ministries, amid unconfirmed reports of a possible cabinet reshuffle involving sensitive portfolios and the reassignment of prominent officials.

Wael Alwan, a researcher and executive director of the Jusoor Center for Studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that there was speculation about Interior Minister Anas Khattab taking over as head of National Security, with Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader al-Tahhan potentially succeeding him.

“There is similar talk concerning the Defense Ministry, but no precise information is available so far,” Alwan said.

He added that he had no knowledge of reports suggesting Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani might be moved to another position.

An Unprecedented Move

On Saturday, al-Sharaa issued three presidential decrees, numbered 205, 206 and 207 of 2026, appointing deputy foreign ministers responsible for consular affairs, international cooperation and executive affairs, respectively.

The appointment of three deputies simultaneously is unprecedented in Syria’s diplomatic history and signals a departure from an administrative structure that has prevailed for decades.

Traditionally, the Foreign Ministry has had two permanent assistant ministers overseeing diplomatic, political and administrative affairs, alongside a deputy foreign minister.

A third assistant was occasionally appointed under exceptional circumstances, while specialized responsibilities were sometimes assigned to advisers. The two-assistant structure, however, remained the norm.

Alwan described the latest appointments as a restructuring of the ministry.

“The country’s new administration is not bound by established practices. It is completely separate from the previous system of government,” he explained.

Ordinarily, senior officials would be selected through institutional promotion, established career paths or extensive diplomatic experience, he noted.

“In a transitional government, however, things are different. Trust, in the sense of loyalty, takes precedence over competence,” Alwan said, attributing the controversial approach largely to security considerations.

Asked whether experienced diplomats who defected from the former regime could be brought back into senior positions, he acknowledged that this was possible but not essential.

Priority, he stressed, would go to trust and alignment with the current administration’s approach.

Young Appointees with Limited Experience

The three newly appointed officials were born between 1988 and 1996 and have backgrounds in public policy, law, international cooperation and administration.

Muhammad Yaqub al-Omar, born in Idlib in 1993, was appointed deputy foreign minister for consular affairs.

According to local media, he holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Idlib, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Al-Shamal University, and a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Idlib.

Qutaiba Ali Kadish, born in Damascus in 1988, was named deputy foreign minister for international cooperation.

A law graduate of Damascus University, Kadish previously headed the Foreign Ministry’s international cooperation and protocol departments.

He also served as deputy minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the Syrian Salvation Government and directed its humanitarian and development projects department.

Obadah Khaled Diab, born in Damascus in 1996, was appointed deputy foreign minister for executive affairs.

He holds an executive master’s degree in development policies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and a bachelor’s degree in foreign service, specializing in international economics, from Georgetown University.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Diab previously headed the foreign minister’s office and directed the ministry’s strategic planning office.

His professional background also includes work as an information management and labor market research expert at Qatar’s Ministry of Labor and as a data specialist at the Center for Humanitarian Data of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Despite the Foreign Ministry’s decision to reinstate diplomats who defected from the former regime, and the appointment of several to head diplomatic missions in regional and international capitals, many cases remain unresolved.

A substantial number are still awaiting the settlement of their employment status and the completion of administrative reviews.

Peace Adviser Appointment Sparks Debate

The presidential appointments came alongside a separate decision by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to name broadcaster Muzna Mamdouh al-Atrash, a native of Sweida, as an adviser for peace affairs.

Some viewed the appointment as a potential boost to national reconciliation efforts, particularly those concerning Sweida.

Others criticized the creation of what they described as a vaguely defined position covering “peace affairs.”

Critics also cited al-Atrash’s previous political positions, noting that she had supported former President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian army’s actions during her work at state television.

Arab World

Lebanon Rushes to Avert Security Vacuum as UNIFIL Mandate Nears End

UNIFIL's mission expires on December 31. (UNIFIL)
UNIFIL's mission expires on December 31. (UNIFIL)
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Lebanon Rushes to Avert Security Vacuum as UNIFIL Mandate Nears End

UNIFIL's mission expires on December 31. (UNIFIL)
UNIFIL's mission expires on December 31. (UNIFIL)

Lebanon is intensifying diplomatic efforts ahead of the expiration of the UN peacekeeping mission’s mandate in South Lebanon at the end of the year, fearing a security vacuum that could undermine its internationally recognized southern border, deprive it of independent documentation of Israeli violations and isolate residents of Christian villages in the Bint Jbeil district.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that its mandate would expire on December 31, under UN Security Council Resolution 2790, after which it would begin a phased withdrawal.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the full withdrawal would take several months, with peacekeepers leaving their positions gradually rather than evacuating all three operational sectors - western, central and eastern - simultaneously. The aim is to avoid leaving entire areas without an international presence.

Lebanon’s concerns are compounded by Israel’s continued occupation of parts of the South following its advance deeper into Lebanese territory between March and June 2026 during the latest war with Hezbollah.

During that period, the Lebanese Army gradually withdrew from dozens of positions south of the Litani River, redeploying to unoccupied areas north of the virtual Yellow Line imposed by Israel that remain within UNIFIL’s area of operations.

Border markers and international monitoring

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the consequences of UNIFIL’s departure would extend beyond the immediate security situation. A principal concern is the potential loss of border markers that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army have worked to establish since the Blue Line was identified in 2000.

The sources warned that the absence of international observers could encourage Israel to intensify violations of Lebanon’s internationally recognized border, which Israel accepted under the 1949 Armistice Agreement.

UN peacekeepers are currently the only international witnesses in occupied areas, they explained, where Lebanese state institutions, including the army and security forces, are absent amid widespread displacement and destruction.

“The only witness today in the occupied area is the United Nations force,” the sources said, describing UNIFIL as a credible international witness and a longstanding source of support for Lebanon.

Its presence allows Israeli actions and attacks to be independently documented and recorded at the United Nations, preserving an international account of the conflict that Lebanon fears losing.

“Amid Israeli claims, international accounts and documentation cannot be called into question,” the sources stressed.

They also recalled UNIFIL’s role since 2006 in assisting the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani River and supporting legitimate state institutions.

According to the sources, the mission has fulfilled its obligations under Security Council Resolution 1701, with 45 countries contributing to those efforts over the past two decades.

Christian villages face growing isolation

The sources warned that withdrawing UNIFIL without replacing it with another UN mission or internationally backed force would leave Lebanon “at the mercy of the Israeli hyena,” alone in confronting Israel.

The repercussions would be particularly severe for hundreds of families who have remained in occupied areas, including residents of the three Christian villages of Rmeish, Debel and Ain Ebel in Bint Jbeil district.

Residents currently rely on UNIFIL escorts when traveling through occupied areas toward the Lebanese interior. Beyond those areas, they continue under the protection of both UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army until reaching territory north of the Litani River. Without UNIFIL, they would have to navigate Israeli security procedures on their own.

The sources revealed that Israel had rejected a Lebanese proposal to establish a safe corridor allowing residents to travel freely to and from their villages under Lebanese security escort.

The proposed route would have passed through Tebnine toward Beit Yahoun and Ain Ebel, providing access to communities surrounded by Israeli-occupied territory.

Lebanon also fears losing what remains of the international framework governing security arrangements in the south.

The trilateral talks between Lebanon and Israel under UN auspices in Naqoura were discontinued, followed by the termination of a five-party mechanism that included France and the United States, was chaired by a US general and convened at UN headquarters in Naqoura.

Lebanese concerns now extend to the possibility that the United States, as guarantor, could declare its mission complete, leaving Beirut to deal directly with Israel - an arrangement the Lebanese government rejects. Lebanon and Israel are technically in a state of war and have no diplomatic ties.

UNIFIL currently maintains some 36 permanent military positions south of the Litani River. Security sources fear Israeli forces could occupy some of these sites or destroy others following the peacekeepers’ departure.

The mission also conducts hundreds of patrols daily. Before the 2024 war, it carried out as many as 410 patrols a day across its area of operations.

In its statement, UNIFIL stressed that peacekeepers from 45 countries would continue their regular activities throughout South Lebanon until the mandate expires.

These include monitoring and reporting developments, liaising with the parties, supporting the Lebanese Army and facilitating humanitarian operations.

Diplomatic push for an alternative

Lebanese diplomatic efforts to secure an alternative international presence are continuing ahead of UNIFIL’s departure.

President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly warned of the dangers of a security vacuum and welcomed the deployment of any international force capable of helping maintain stability in the south.

On Friday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reaffirmed Lebanon’s position during a meeting with EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele.

He stressed that Resolution 1701 remains the legal guarantee of Lebanon’s right to recover all its territory up to its internationally recognized borders, while UNIFIL provides the operational framework for implementing the resolution in full.

Lebanon has proposed expanding the mandate of certain UN observers, but Israel rejected the suggestion.