Biden Administration ‘Disavows’ Trump’s Policies in Syria
FILE PHOTO: A Syrian flag flutters in Damascus, Syria, April 20, 2018. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
For months, the international community and those interested in the Syrian file have closely watched the steps of the US administration in dealing with the Syria crisis.
Rumors spread right, left, and center about US desire to ignore the file, unlike the previous administration, after the US Treasury officially announced its amendments to Syria sanctions, allowing “limited dealings” with the regime, under the guise of humanitarian support for NGOs.
In a US Treasury statement released on Wednesday, the administration introduced amendments that expand the authorizations for nongovernmental organizations to engage in certain transactions and activities.
The expansion allows NGOs to have new investments in Syria, purchase of refined petroleum products of Syrian origin for use in Syria, and certain transactions with elements of the Government of Syria.
The US Treasury underlined six “non-profit” new investment activities that will be allowed in Syria.
These new transactions and activities are authorized only in support of the not-for-profit activities already approved under the general license, including humanitarian projects that meet basic human needs, democracy-building, projects supporting education, non-commercial development projects directly benefiting the Syrian people, and activities to support the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites.
The new amendments are not the only decision taken by the Biden administration.
They followed a number of decisions, such as halting the extension license given to Delta Crescent Energy LLC to explore and extract oil from wells located east of Syria in areas under the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control.
Moreover, the Biden administration chose to remain neutral and not prevent some Arab countries from normalizing ties with the Syrian regime. Finally, the administration did not appoint a special envoy for Syria, contrary to what the previous administration was working on.
One of the most important things that the US administration still claims to preserve and not change is the Caesar Act, which aims to protect civilians in Syria, whereby bipartisan US law allows imposing sanctions on any person, Syrian or foreign, who provides assistance to the regime’s military operations or construction, engineering, energy, and aviation sectors in the country.
During the last six months of the Trump administration, the Caesar Act and other powers were used to issue more than 100 penalties on the Syrian regime and its elements, including members of the Assad family.
Under the current administration, President Joe Biden has so far issued one round of sanctions related to Syria, where he punished several regime prison officials and a Turkish-backed Syrian opposition group in July last summer.
Bassam Barbandi, a Syrian dissident and former diplomat at the Syrian embassy in Washington, saw that the new steps taken by the US administration in easing some sanctions for the work of humanitarian organizations in Syria are evidence of the US administration’s approach to facilitating the use of the sanctions tool in foreign policy.
The administration intends to use sanctions when needed, not indiscriminately.
More so, the Biden administration is adhering to its commitments to allowing the work and transit of humanitarian aid to and from Syria, “and this is the political management line and not a conspiracy.”
The State Department had requested $125 million in economic aid to Syria for the 2022 fiscal year.
Barbandi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the most important thing is the continuation of the humanitarian aid crossing from Turkey to Syria and ensuring the continuity of consensus between the Russians and the Americans.
Ensuring the US-Russia consensus in Syria will protect aid in the coming period.
Barbandi considered that Russia wants the Americans to show leniency in other matters for consensus to persist.
“Therefore, the new exceptions ease the transit of money for early recovery and ease the work of organizations and financial transactions in Syria.”
For his part, Heiko Wimmen, director of the Syria program at the International Crisis Group, saw the Biden administration’s announcement as another indication of its continued departure from former president Donald Trump’s policy on Syria.
“We are witnessing a general tendency [from the Biden administration] to show more flexibility about drawing the line between what counts as early recovery and hence falls under the humanitarian exception, and what is considered reconstruction,” Wimmen told The National.
Wimmen said, in theory, the move could strengthen the defense of the sanctions structure in Syria by focusing it on the Assad regime and not the people.
“By providing more precise and generous definitions of what is humanitarian, you can draw that distinction and perhaps also deflate some of the criticism against the sanctions regime,” Wimmen argued.
Libya's Dbeibah meets Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Antalya summit on Thursday (Dbeibah's Office)
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and the latest political and security developments in Libya on Thursday on the sidelines of the COP31 World Leaders Climate Summit in the Turkish city of Antalya.
Dbeibah's media office said the meeting covered bilateral relations and prospects for expanding cooperation in various fields, particularly the economy, investment, security and defense, as well as progress in implementing agreements and memorandums of understanding signed by the two countries.
The talks also addressed efforts to support stability and unify Libya's institutions, alongside continued coordination on regional and international issues.
Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's continued support for Libya's stability, stressing that "any initiative not embraced by Libyans will have no impact on the ground."
On the sidelines of the climate summit, Dbeibah also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss developments in Libya's political process and efforts by the UN mission to support stability.
Dbeibah reaffirmed his government's readiness to continue coordinating with the mission to help it fulfill its mandate, praising UN envoy Hanna Tetteh's efforts to facilitate dialogue and bridge differences among Libyan factions.
He also welcomed the "4+4 agreement" and called for building on its outcomes to end the transitional periods and pave the way for elections.
Representatives of Dbeibah's government and the eastern-based General Command signed the 4+4 agreement on Aug. 30 to break the political deadlock and create conditions for presidential and parliamentary elections within 24 months, through unified institutions and a single executive authority.
Dbeibah's meetings in Antalya on Thursday also included talks with Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on developments in Sudan, ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, facilitate the movement of citizens and coordinate on security and border issues.
Dbeibah reiterated Libya's support for Sudan's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempts to divide the country or undermine its national institutions.
He stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to secure a ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those affected by the conflict.
Dbeibah attended the summit's opening on Wednesday. The event, hosted by Antalya on Nov. 11-12 under Erdogan's chairmanship, brought together Guterres and around 102 leaders and senior representatives from 95 countries and seven international organizations.
Discussions focused on climate finance, the energy transition and strengthening international cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals.
The meetings come amid renewed momentum in Libyan-Turkish relations after Libya's House of Representatives ratified a maritime memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between Ankara and Libya's former Government of National Accord.
Contacts and consultations between Libya's rival factions and Turkish officials have intensified recently.
On Wednesday, Turkish Ambassador Guven Begenc met General Salahuddin al-Namroush, chief of the general staff under Dbeibah's interim Government of National Unity, to discuss developing military relations in ways that serve the two countries' mutual interests.
Meanwhile, General Khaled Haftar, chief of the general staff under the eastern-based General Command, arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday for an official visit lasting several days.
Tunisia Says It Is Prepared For 'Various Threats, Scenarios'https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5340626-tunisia-says-it-prepared-various-threats-scenarios
Tunisia Says It Is Prepared For 'Various Threats, Scenarios'
Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Sehili speaks with Justice Minister Leila Jaffel during a parliamentary session (EPA)
Tunisia is preparing for a number of scenarios as conflicts widen and regional and global tensions mount, Defense Minister Khaled Sehili said, outlining plans to bolster military readiness and secure essential supplies, according to local media reports.
Speaking during a joint parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, Sehili said the country's proactive strategy includes stockpiling fuel, medicines and food, diversifying supply sources and tightening surveillance along its land, air and maritime borders.
The military is also reinforcing border security by extending an earthen barrier along the entire eastern frontier and building a parallel 95-km (59-mile) trench to curb infiltration and smuggling, he said.
Sehili announced plans for legislation regulating drone use to address emerging challenges and govern the technology.
Preparing for potential threats and scenarios "requires developing defense capabilities and strengthening readiness" to protect Tunisia and its national interests amid rapidly changing security conditions, he said.
He described the Defense Ministry's budget as "an investment in Tunisia's security and stability" and a safeguard for independent national decision-making as regional and international developments bring mounting military and security risks.
Sehili said Tunisia's security situation remained "relatively stable," but warned that continued vigilance and preparedness were essential.
The military is responding to evolving threats through targeted preemptive operations aimed at putting pressure on suspicious elements and restricting their ability to act and move, he said.
Those efforts include securing borders, combating terrorism and dismantling logistical support networks used by terrorist groups.
"Tunisia's security cannot be separated from that of its regional surroundings," Sehili affirmed, underscoring the need to prepare for different scenarios.
He warned of escalating armed conflicts, growing security threats, intensifying strategic competition over transit routes and a widening arms race.
The developments are closely linked to Tunisia's immediate neighborhood, particularly North Africa, the Sahel and the Sahara, where mounting security challenges risk creating fertile ground for terrorist and criminal groups, he said.
Sehili called for more effective military operations, better use of available resources and greater self-reliance, alongside continued international military cooperation to build a strong national army capable of carrying out its duties effectively.
UK Condemns Houthi Attacks on Airports and Civilians as Unacceptablehttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5340516-uk-condemns-houthi-attacks-airports-and-civilians-unacceptable
UK Condemns Houthi Attacks on Airports and Civilians as Unacceptable
The British Minister of State stressed that Resolution 2216 remains the basis for resolving the conflict in Yemen (Doughty's X account)
British Minister of State for the Middle East Stephen Doughty described the Houthis' escalating attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia as appalling, stressing that launching missiles and drones at airports and places where civilians live and work was unacceptable.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Doughty said the Houthis had chosen to escalate and reignite the conflict in Yemen, holding the group and those who arm and enable it responsible for the renewed violence.
The British minister said the United Kingdom, as the penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council, continued to regard Resolution 2216 as a foundation for a political settlement, with London focused on ensuring the full implementation of existing resolutions.
Doughty also described the situation in Taiz as heartbreaking, urging the Houthis to reopen roads, allow humanitarian aid to pass, facilitate medical evacuations and end attacks on civilians.
He warned that Iranian support for the Houthis and other groups was making the conflict more dangerous, while threats to shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait had consequences extending well beyond Yemen, including for the United Kingdom.
Visit to Riyadh
Discussing his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Doughty said he had traveled to Riyadh to personally reaffirm Britain's solidarity with its partners during difficult times, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen's legitimate government.
He said he held extensive talks with Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji on a range of shared interests and met Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber and other senior officials to discuss Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and developments on the ground in Yemen.
According to Doughty, the discussions addressed the Houthis' escalation in recent weeks, both within Yemen and across the border into Saudi Arabia, as well as British efforts to support the Kingdom's defense.
They also covered ways to deliver assistance to those most in need in Yemen, ensure humanitarian access, protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and mobilize international support for a political settlement.
Doughty said the talks also explored opportunities for long-term cooperation as Britain and Saudi Arabia approach the centenary of their diplomatic relations.
He noted that bilateral ties had expanded beyond defense and energy to encompass trade, investment and education, alongside cooperation on regional security and stability in the Middle East and efforts to combat terrorist organizations.
The minister also met senior Yemeni officials, including the chairman and vice chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, the prime minister and the foreign minister, to discuss ways to support the Yemeni government and ensure security and prosperity for the Yemeni people.
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Doughty condemned the Houthis' escalation as appalling, stressing that firing missiles and drones at airports and places where ordinary people lived and worked was unacceptable.
He said there could be no justification for such attacks and called on the Houthis to end their reckless actions.
The British minister stressed that there should be no doubt about who bore responsibility for the escalation: the Houthis and those supplying them with weapons and enabling their operations.
He said Britain stood alongside Saudi Arabia and had deployed air-to-air refueling aircraft, fighter jets and military advisers to support defensive operations.
Saudi Arabia's Role in Containing the Escalation
Doughty said Saudi Arabia was facing attacks on its own territory and that Britain's position was unequivocal: the Kingdom had the right to defend itself.
At the same time, he emphasized that the United Kingdom had consistently supported efforts to reach a political settlement in Yemen and remained one of the country's major humanitarian and development assistance providers.
He said Britain and Saudi Arabia shared the same objectives: a stable Yemen, a secure Gulf and safe maritime routes for the shipping on which the entire world depended.
Reflecting on discussions at the Manama Dialogue a few days earlier, Doughty said he had been struck by the determination of many governments and regional partners to find a way back to the political process and address wider instability and its humanitarian consequences.
Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi receives British Minister of State for the Middle East Stephen Doughty (SABA)
Military Developments in Yemen
Asked about developments on Yemen's military fronts, Doughty said the Houthis had chosen to escalate and renew the conflict, while the Yemeni government had the right to protect its people.
He reaffirmed Britain's firm support for Yemen's legitimate government.
The minister warned that continued fighting was costing lives, forcing large numbers of families from their homes and deepening the humanitarian crisis with every passing week.
He said the violence was also undermining regional stability and serving no one's interests.
Doughty stressed that the Houthis must halt their attacks inside Yemen and against Saudi Arabia and return to peaceful dialogue.
Support for the Yemeni Government
Doughty said Britain's partnership with the Yemeni government was longstanding and that London remained committed to working with it to promote regional stability and build a prosperous future for the Yemeni people.
In practical terms, he explained, this involved supporting state institutions so they could serve the population, helping maintain public services and contributing to economic stabilization.
He said the United Kingdom was providing £104 million ($137.9 million) in humanitarian assistance this year and had recently announced that £10 million of that amount would be allocated to the UN emergency fund in response to the renewed conflict.
Doughty added that Britain was using its position at the Security Council and in other international forums to keep Yemen high on the global agenda.
He said London would continue consulting its partners over the coming weeks on what further action could be taken.
The minister noted that Yemen had long been among the world's worst humanitarian crises and stressed the need to break the cycle of destruction through a solution that placed the well-being of the Yemeni people at its center.
Resolution 2216 Remains the Basis for a Settlement
Asked whether London believed new Security Council resolutions were needed in light of developments inside Yemen, Doughty said the United Kingdom held the pen on Yemen at the Council and took that responsibility extremely seriously.
He explained that the existing framework, including Resolution 2216, continued to provide the foundations for a settlement, and that those principles had become even more important amid the renewed fighting.
Britain's priority, he said, was to ensure the full implementation of existing resolutions and provide the UN Special Envoy for Yemen with the support needed to carry out his mission.
Doughty added that London was working closely with Security Council members, including its Gulf partners, to ensure that Yemen remained at the forefront of the international agenda.
Continued Iranian Support for the Houthis
Doughty identified Iran's support for the Houthis and other armed groups as a major factor making the conflict increasingly dangerous.
He said Britain had made clear that such support only deepened regional instability and that de-escalation offered the best path toward peace.
The minister explained that the United Kingdom was working to enforce the UN arms embargo and cooperating closely with partners to prevent weapons from reaching the Houthis.
He added that London continued to hold Iran accountable through sanctions and by raising its concerns in multilateral forums.
Threats to Maritime Navigation
Asked about the risks posed by Houthi control of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, Doughty said the waterway was one of the world's vital routes for international trade and commercial shipping.
He warned that threats from the Houthis had consequences far beyond Yemen, including for Britain.
The minister emphasized that freedom of navigation was not merely an abstract principle and was just as important in Bab Al-Mandab as in the Strait of Hormuz and other major shipping routes worldwide.
He reaffirmed Britain's commitment to working with allies and partners to keep these waterways open and secure.
As a longstanding maritime nation and the host country of the International Maritime Organization, Britain was working internationally to uphold maritime law and protect vessels and their crews, he added.
A Message to the Yemeni People
Addressing the Yemeni people, Doughty assured them that they had not been forgotten.
He acknowledged the immense suffering Yemenis had endured and described the Houthis' decision to plunge the country back into conflict as tragic.
The minister reaffirmed that Britain had stood alongside the Yemeni government and people for many years and would continue to do so.
He said that commitment would be demonstrated through vital humanitarian assistance, support for public services and government institutions, and continued efforts to keep Yemen high on the international agenda.
Doughty stressed that peace must ultimately be achieved through a political settlement that would provide Yemenis with the security, dignity and opportunities they deserved.
Siege of Taiz Is Heartbreaking
Commenting on the Houthi siege of Taiz, Doughty described the situation in the city as heartbreaking.
He said families had spent years living with closed roads, shelling and sniper fire, even when attempting to reach hospitals, markets or schools.
He placed responsibility for their suffering squarely on the Houthis.
The minister called on the group to reopen roads, allow humanitarian assistance through, facilitate medical evacuations to places where patients could receive safe treatment, and stop attacks targeting civilians.
Doughty also noted that large numbers of families had been uprooted from their homes across Yemen, while humanitarian workers continued to face detention and attacks.
He referred to the death of a UN staff member in a disturbing incident the previous week.
The minister expressed deep distress that Yemeni UN personnel who had dedicated their lives to helping ordinary people remained in Houthi detention.
He conveyed his sympathy to their families and colleagues, noting that the Houthis had yet to acknowledge responsibility for the deaths.
Doughty stressed that the victims' families and the United Nations deserved to know the truth and called for the immediate release of everyone still being held.
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