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Haniyeh, Nakhalah Contact Zarif, Offer Condolences over Soleimani’s Death

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. (AP)
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. (AP)
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Haniyeh, Nakhalah Contact Zarif, Offer Condolences over Soleimani’s Death

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. (AP)
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. (AP)

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziad al-Nakhalah telephoned on Sunday Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and offered their condolences over the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was killed in an American strike last Friday in Iraq.

According to a Hamas statement, Haniyeh praised Soleimani for his role in supporting the resistance and backing the Palestinian people’s rights.

Zarif thanked the Hamas chief for the call and stated that Iran would continue to back “the Palestinian people’s rights and resistance in defense of its land and holy sites.”

For his part, Nakhalah said: “The martyrdom of Soleimani is a sign of pride and dignity against America and the Zionist entity.”

Soleimani’s death is a big loss, but it will break the Palestinian resistance, he added.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has vowed “harsh retaliation” for Soleimani’s killing and dubbed the deceased commander the “international face of resistance.”

Tehran considers both Hamas and the Jihad as part of Iran’s “resistance axis” in the region, in addition to Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Shiite groups in Iraq, Yemen and Syria.

However, the relationship between Iran and the Jihad is more advanced than the one with Hamas.

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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)

Syria has imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP on Friday, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians.

The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours since opposition factions topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month.

Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.

But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP Friday that they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side".

The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet.

A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented "new procedures" since last night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on X that its soldiers and Syrians had clashed at the border as the armed forces tried to "close an illegal crossing".

"Syrians attempted to open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots into the air. The Syrians opened fire on army personnel, injuring one of them and provoking a clash".

"Army units deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures," the statement added.

Earlier, a Lebanese military official had said Syria's move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese army and Syrian armed men at the border" who were briefly detained by the army.