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Assad Meets Iran Supreme Leader in Tehran

Syrian regime head Bashar Assad meets with Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran in this handout released by SANA on February 25, 2019. (Reuters)
Syrian regime head Bashar Assad meets with Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran in this handout released by SANA on February 25, 2019. (Reuters)
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Assad Meets Iran Supreme Leader in Tehran

Syrian regime head Bashar Assad meets with Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran in this handout released by SANA on February 25, 2019. (Reuters)
Syrian regime head Bashar Assad meets with Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran in this handout released by SANA on February 25, 2019. (Reuters)

Head of the Syrian regime Bashar Assad held talks in Tehran on Monday with Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

It marked Assad’s first visit since the eruption of the Syrian war.

The leaders "reviewed the fraternal and strong relations between their two peoples, which have been the main factor in maintaining Syria and Iran in the face of plots by enemy countries", the presidency said.

Syrian and Iranian state television showed footage of Assad and Khamenei smiling and embracing, and Syrian TV said the two leaders agreed “to continue cooperation at all levels for the interests of the two friendly nations”.

Assad also met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani during his trip.

Iran “as before will be alongside the people and government of Syria," Iran government's official website quoted Rouhani as saying.

It was Assad’s first known foreign visit other than to Russia since the war began, and his first to Tehran since 2010.

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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.