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Moscow Confirms Removing Iranian Troops 85 km from Golan

The border crossing between Syria and Jordan. AFP
The border crossing between Syria and Jordan. AFP
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Moscow Confirms Removing Iranian Troops 85 km from Golan

The border crossing between Syria and Jordan. AFP
The border crossing between Syria and Jordan. AFP

Moscow, taking a decision to go into discussions over Iranian presence in southern and southwestern Syria, announced on Wednesday an agreement being struck with Iran for its forces to withdraw to a distance of 85 km from from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

“As we took into account the Israeli concerns, we managed to attain the pullout of Iranian units 85 kilometers from the Israeli-(Syrian) border,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said.

Lavrentiev’s announcement comes a day after Russia’s ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov firmly declaring that the border area would be free of Iranian presence.

Moscow’s moves translate into it taking solid but incremental steps towards resolving debate over Russia's ability to place pressure on Iranian forces and successfully pull them out from some of Syria’s terrain.

Lavrentiev stressed that the agreement on Iranian forces retreating from former positions in the Syrian south comes under the auspices of Russian efforts and is both upholding and implemented.

Moscow has preserved a balance of relations with both sides (Iran and Israel), a well-informed Russian diplomat working on relations with Iran told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Iran is an important partner of Russia in a number of issues, and we are not exerting pressure on any party, but we seek to reach understandings that meet the interests of all parties,” he added while speaking under the condition of anonymity.

The diplomat went on saying that it was Russian efforts which realized a notable compromise, despite the strong opposition they faced by Israel, which was demanding the exit of Iranian forces from all Syrian territory.

Elaborating on Israel’s desire for an Iranian full exit, the diplomat said that Moscow can’t and doesn’t wish to exert pressure to achieve such a demand.

“That the relationship with Iran in Syria is a partnership in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

On another note and stretching a good 375 km, the Syria-Jordan border crossing remains closed despite Syrian authorities claiming that it is clear for operations.

“The road to the Nassib border crossing with Jordan, closed since 2011 because of war, is now operational,” Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hamoud said.

However, Damascus received no request from Jordanian authorities so far on reopening the crossing, he added.

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Red Cross Concerned by Drone Attacks on Critical Infrastructure in Sudan

People collect food at a location set up by a local humanitarian organization to donate meals and medication to people displaced by the war in Sudan, in Meroe in the country's Northern State, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
People collect food at a location set up by a local humanitarian organization to donate meals and medication to people displaced by the war in Sudan, in Meroe in the country's Northern State, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Red Cross Concerned by Drone Attacks on Critical Infrastructure in Sudan

People collect food at a location set up by a local humanitarian organization to donate meals and medication to people displaced by the war in Sudan, in Meroe in the country's Northern State, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
People collect food at a location set up by a local humanitarian organization to donate meals and medication to people displaced by the war in Sudan, in Meroe in the country's Northern State, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The Red Cross raised alarm on Thursday at the growing use of drone attacks by warring parties on hospitals, electricity and water infrastructure in Sudan, which it said was contributing to widespread human rights violations.

Some 70-80% of hospitals in Sudan were not running and there were concerns cholera could surge due to damage caused by the war to water infrastructure, the International Committee of the Red Cross told reporters in Geneva.

"A recent drone attack stopped all the electricity provision in an area close to Khartoum, which means critical infrastructure is being damaged," said Patrick Youssef, the Red Cross's Regional Director for Africa, in a new report.

"There is a clear increased use of these technologies, drones - to be in the hands of everyone - which increases the impact on the local population and the intensity of attacks," Youssef said.

After two years of fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, some people are returning to Khartoum after they were forced to flee when war broke out on April 15, 2023 amidst a ongoing power struggle between the army and the RSF ahead of a transition to civilian rule.

Some 12 million people have been displaced by the conflict since 2023.

"We have seen violations of the law left, right and center,” Youssef said, urging the warring parties to allow the Red Cross access so it can offer humanitarian support and document atrocities.

In March, aid groups told Reuters that the RSF had placed new constraints on aid deliveries to territories where it was seeking to cement its control. Aid groups have also accused the army of denying or hindering access to RSF-controlled areas.

Both sides in the conflict deny impeding aid.