Saudi Foreign Ministry Offers Condolences to Iraq over Victims of Nineveh Fire

 People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Ministry Offers Condolences to Iraq over Victims of Nineveh Fire

 People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended the Kingdom's condolences and deep sympathy to Iraq and its government, especially the families of the victims, over the fire tragedy at a wedding hall in the northern Nineveh province.

The ministry conveyed the Kingdom's wish for a speedy recovery for the injured.

A raging fire seemingly caused by fireworks set off to celebrate a wedding consumed a hall packed with guests in northern Iraq, killing around 100 people and injuring 150 others as authorities warned Wednesday the death toll could still rise.



Syrian Foreign Minister in Doha to Meet Senior Qatari Officials

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not pictured), after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not pictured), after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
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Syrian Foreign Minister in Doha to Meet Senior Qatari Officials

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not pictured), after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (not pictured), after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. (Reuters)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, appointed by the country's new rulers, arrived in Qatar on Sunday to meet senior Qatari officials, a Qatari official told Reuters.

The officials include Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.

Syrian official news agency SANA confirmed the arrival of the Syrian delegation, which includes the country's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and head of intelligence Anas Khattab.

The Syrian minister's visit to Qatar is his second foreign trip less than a month since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition fighters on Dec. 8.

Al-Shibani is expected to also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships," according to his account on X.

He embarked on his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.