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New Syria FM to Visit Iran on First Foreign Visit

FILE: Newly-elected Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad addresses the media after a meeting at the Geneva Conference on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva when he served as Deputy Foreign Minister in February 14, 2014, w REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
FILE: Newly-elected Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad addresses the media after a meeting at the Geneva Conference on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva when he served as Deputy Foreign Minister in February 14, 2014, w REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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New Syria FM to Visit Iran on First Foreign Visit

FILE: Newly-elected Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad addresses the media after a meeting at the Geneva Conference on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva when he served as Deputy Foreign Minister in February 14, 2014, w REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
FILE: Newly-elected Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad addresses the media after a meeting at the Geneva Conference on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva when he served as Deputy Foreign Minister in February 14, 2014, w REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that newly-appointed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Meqdad will visit Tehran Monday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement that the top Syrian diplomat will meet with his Iranian counterpart and other Iranian officials.

The visit to Tehran marks Meqdad's first foreign trip since his appointment as foreign minister last month after the death of former FM Walid Al-Muallem.

Last month, Zarif called Mekdad to congratulate him on his appointment and underline Iran's wish to preserve its strategic cooperation with Damascus.

Al-Muallem, who had served as Syria’s top diplomat since 2006, passed away on 16 November at the age of 79.

Mekdad, started a career at the Syrian foreign ministry in 1994, and has been deputy foreign minister since 2006. Before that, he served as his country's permanent representative to the UN from 2003 to 2006.

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Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
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Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli military said Wednesday that troops have recovered the body of a hostage held in Gaza and were examining whether another body recovered was also that of a captive.

Earlier, Israel's defense minister said that troops recovered the bodies of two hostages.

The military said the body of Yosef Al Zaydani was brought to Israel on Tuesday after being discovered in an underground tunnel near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It said troops uncovered information about Al Zaydani's son Hamzah that "raised serious concerns for his life."

Military spokesman Col. Nadav Shoshani said the military was looking into the identity of a second set of remains recovered.

Al Zaydani and his son were taken captive during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, among 250 hostages snatched by the group during its cross-border raid.

Israel believes a third of the remaining 100 hostages are dead.

The body's recovery comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free the hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza.

However, Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive and their return could ramp up the pressure on Israel to move ahead on a deal.

Yosef Al Zaydani's name was on a list of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Associated Press that the group said were slated for release.

Many families of hostages say the continuation of the war in Gaza puts the lives of the remaining hostages at risk. They have demanded throughout the conflict that Israel reaches a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones.