Arab FMs Prepare Final Recommendations Ahead of Summit

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
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Arab FMs Prepare Final Recommendations Ahead of Summit

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)

Meetings of the Arab foreign ministers will kick off on Friday in Tunis to adopt the agenda of the summit and review draft resolutions and final drafts to be submitted to Arab leaders and presidents on Sunday.

“There is a large number of items that include issues of regional crises, including the Palestinian issue, the crises of Syria, Libya and Yemen, Arab national security, and other key files,” Ambassador Khalid Al-Habas, Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The Palestinian issue is a priority as usual, and the Arab position on it is unified and strong,” he emphasized.

He added that there would be also a firm stance on the recent US resolution, which recognized the annexation of the Golan Heights to Israel. The Arab League will underline the importance of international resolutions, which stressed the Arab identity of the Golan Heights that Israel occupied in 1967, the ambassador noted.

The summit will also highlight “the total rejection of interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries related to Turkey and Iran, which will constitute an important message to countries that try to destabilize the security and stability of the region,” he added.

Habas said that the Arab Summit in Tunis would constitute a new addition to the previous Arab summits and would support the aspirations of the peoples, countries, and the Arab League to achieve security and stability and formulate firmer positions on the challenges that have plagued the region for several years.

On the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Tunisia, Habas said it fell within “the context of strengthening Arab solidarity, providing support to Tunisia, and discussing all issues of common interest.”



Assad to Araghchi: Iranian Response to Israel ‘Was Strong’

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in Damascus on Saturday. (EPA)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in Damascus on Saturday. (EPA)
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Assad to Araghchi: Iranian Response to Israel ‘Was Strong’

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in Damascus on Saturday. (EPA)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in Damascus on Saturday. (EPA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Damascus on Saturday, coinciding with an Israeli strike that targeted a car on the Homs-Hama road in northern rural Homs. Reports suggest that a prominent member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in the attack.

Araghchi, along with his delegation, met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other top officials, including Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali and Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh.

According to a statement from the Syrian presidency, Assad praised Iran’s “strong response” to Israeli violations, stating it delivered a lesson to Tel Aviv and demonstrated the ability of the Axis of Resistance to counter Israel’s aggression. He also emphasized the strategic importance of the Syrian-Iranian relationship in facing regional challenges, further adding that Israel must cease its violent actions and return rightful territories to their owners.

Discussions between Assad and Araghchi focused on Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the need for regional support for the displaced Lebanese population.

The Iranian official reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting efforts for a ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon and Gaza, and stressed the importance of international coordination to halt the aggression. This follows earlier comments made by Araghchi in Beirut, where he pointed to Iran’s efforts to achieve a simultaneous ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.

This was Araghchi’s first visit to Damascus since assuming office. Recently, analysts have highlighted growing differences between Iran and Syria on several issues, including Tehran’s limited economic and energy support for Damascus, which faces a severe economic crisis.

Furthermore, reports have suggested that Iran has reduced its military presence in Syria due to increased Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian forces and commanders since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

During Araghchi’s visit, Syrian state media reported that air defenses intercepted hostile targets over western Homs, though details were not provided. Local sources reported the death of one person and the injury of three others in a drone strike on a car in the Homs area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack, noting that it targeted one Syrian and two foreign nationals, including a commander.