Sisi Calls for Joint Arab Responsibility to Combat Terrorism

President Sisi addresses the forum. (Presidency spokesman)
President Sisi addresses the forum. (Presidency spokesman)
TT

Sisi Calls for Joint Arab Responsibility to Combat Terrorism

President Sisi addresses the forum. (Presidency spokesman)
President Sisi addresses the forum. (Presidency spokesman)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Tuesday for the “adoption of the principle of joint responsibility” to deal with challenges in the region, especially terrorism and extremism.

Speaking virtually during an extraordinary meeting of the Arab Intelligence Forum held in Cairo, Sisi said combatting terrorism on a regional scale requires comprehensive approaches, including ending foreign meddling in Arab affairs, as well as respecting the Arab peoples’ voice and Arab states’ sovereignty.

“Egypt had not and will not spare any effort to assist its fellow Arab states in protecting themselves through comprehensive political solutions,” he stressed.

These solutions should be based on unifying each country’s military institutions, the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries and ending the presence of armed militias.

Presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said Sisi commended the initiatives launched by the forum to achieve joint security work and exchange assessments in a transparent way.

The extraordinary meeting of the Arab Intelligence Forum was attended by chiefs of intelligence agencies at Arab countries.

They highlighted the importance of the forum as a firm mechanism that supports close intelligence cooperation among Arab states and contributes to establishing a comprehensive and tight system to combat terrorism.



Syria’s Sharaa Agrees with Ex-opposition Factions to Merge Under Defense Ministry

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
TT

Syria’s Sharaa Agrees with Ex-opposition Factions to Merge Under Defense Ministry

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks to the media in Damascus, Syria, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa reached an agreement on Tuesday with former opposition faction chiefs to dissolve all groups and consolidate them under the Defense Ministry, according to a statement from the new administration.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir had said last week that the ministry would be restructured using former opposition factions and officers who defected from Bashar al-Assad's army.
Sharaa will face the daunting task of trying to avoid clashes between the myriad groups.
Syria's new rulers appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defense minister in the interim government.
Syrian opposition fighters seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war.