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UN Syria Envoy Holds Talks with Political, Military Officials in Moscow ahead of Damascus Visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meet in Moscow. (AP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meet in Moscow. (AP)
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UN Syria Envoy Holds Talks with Political, Military Officials in Moscow ahead of Damascus Visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meet in Moscow. (AP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen meet in Moscow. (AP)

After concluding the 15th round of the Astana talks on Syria in Sochi, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen is holding military and political talks in Moscow ahead of making a much-anticipated visit to Damascus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, discussed regional issues including Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria and Libya in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Also, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the outcomes of the two-day meetings in Sochi with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Miqdad.

A statement by the Russian foreign ministry stated that the two ministers exchanged views on developments in the situation in and around Syria, focusing on the results of the Astana meetings and the tasks of promoting a political settlement based on UN Security Council resolution 2254, including the work of the Constitutional Committee.

The ministry indicated that Lavrov affirmed Moscow’s unconditional respect for “the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and the legitimate right of Syrians to independently determine the future of their country.”

According to the statement, the two ministers condemned the use of unlawful unilateral sanctions and politicized methods in providing humanitarian aid to Syria, in addition to the continuing “illegal foreign military presence” on its territory.

Moscow and Damascus also expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, including Russian aid in eliminating terrorism in Syria, restoring the social and economic infrastructure, combating the coronavirus pandemic, and ensuring the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland and displaced persons to their permanent places of residence.

More so, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin discussed the latest developments in Syria with Pedersen.

“The two sides exchanged points of view on the situation in Syria within the framework of political settlement process and activities of the Constitutional Committee,” said the Russian defense ministry in a statement posted on its website.

The statement added that talks pointed out to the importance of the active participation of the relevant UN bodies to help in the reconstruction process in Syria and create normal living conditions in areas liberated from terrorism.

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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.