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Kuwaiti Embassy In Lebanon Calls On Nationals To Leave

Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the clashes area in the southern suburb of the capital Beirut, on October 14, 2021 (ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the clashes area in the southern suburb of the capital Beirut, on October 14, 2021 (ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
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Kuwaiti Embassy In Lebanon Calls On Nationals To Leave

Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the clashes area in the southern suburb of the capital Beirut, on October 14, 2021 (ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the clashes area in the southern suburb of the capital Beirut, on October 14, 2021 (ANWAR AMRO / AFP)

Kuwait called on its citizens to leave Lebanon and told those wishing to travel there to wait, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to Reuters, the ministry said its embassy in Beirut "calls upon Kuwaiti citizens present there to exercise caution and to stay away from sites of gatherings and security disturbances in some areas and to stay in their residences."

The statement came after at least six people were killed and 32 others wounded in armed clashes in Beirut involving snipers, pistols, Kalashnikovs and rocket-propelled grenades.

The clashes erupted during a protest near the Palace of Justice in Beirut to demand the removal of Tarek Bitar, the judge heading the probe into last year's deadly Beirut port blast.

In the past few days, Hezbollah launched a smear campaign against Bitar, who demanded to question former ministers and security officials about suspected negligence in the port case.

On Thursday, the Tayouneh roundabout, situated near the Justice Palace where the Judge’s office is located, turned into a war zone, witnessing heavy gunfire and the shelling of projectiles while snipers shot from buildings.

The exchange of fire came despite the deployment of Lebanese Army patrols.

Tayouneh is considered a former front line from the civil war of 1975-1990 between Christian and Muslim areas.

The Lebanese Army failed on Thursday to identify the side that first started the shooting.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said the “fighting started with sniper fire, with the first casualty shot in the head."

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Moscow Open to Dialogue with Trump on Syria

The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
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Moscow Open to Dialogue with Trump on Syria

The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)
The Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting last week in the Kazakh capital, Astana (Reuters)

Russia, Iran, and Türkiye have called for an end to Israel’s military escalation in the Middle East, expressing concern over the worsening regional situation and warning of negative impacts on Syria.
At the conclusion of the 22nd round of Syria talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to a political solution, focused on restarting the work of the Constitutional Committee.
The escalation in the region, combined with the uncertainty following US President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, was a major topic of discussion in Astana, both during bilateral talks and in broader sessions.
The Russian delegation was led by Alexander Lavrentiev, Special Representative for Syria, while Iran’s delegation was headed by Ali Asghar Haji, Senior Political Advisor to the Foreign Minister. Türkiye’s delegation was led by Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Director-General for Syrian Affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
The Syrian government delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Riad, and the opposition delegation, led by Ahmad Tohme, were also present.
Representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with observers from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, attended the talks.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen was also present.
Sources at the meetings told Asharq Al-Awsat that much of the discussion focused on the impact of ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon and their effects on Syria, particularly amid Israel’s efforts to expand the conflict.
There was a strong emphasis on preventing Syria from becoming further embroiled in the growing conflict. Additionally, the impact of Trump’s election on US policy towards the region and Syria was widely discussed, with increasing speculation that Trump might follow through on promises to withdraw US troops from Syria.
This issue was highlighted by Russia’s envoy, Lavrentiev, at the close of the talks.
Lavrentiev stated that Russia is open to talks with the new US administration once it is in place to discuss issues related to Syria.
“If there are proposals, Russia is open and ready to continue communication with the US,” he added.
According to Lavrentiev, “Some compromises can only be reached through negotiations.”
A source from the Syrian opposition, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, said there is a shared view that a US withdrawal from Syria is “not inevitable, even if Trump has mentioned it.”
The source noted that Trump has become more pragmatic and responsive to the "deep state," with a better understanding of foreign policy.
The source also pointed out that Türkiye shares this view. While Ankara wants the US to leave, it does not want a unilateral withdrawal without coordination, especially since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are open to talks with both the Syrian government and Russia.

The discussions also highlighted that, despite Israel's efforts to reduce Iranian influence in the region, it is unlikely that Trump will push for a withdrawal under the current situation.