Algeria to Host New Palestinian Reconciliation Meeting at End of December

Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune hosted a meeting between Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Algiers after years of rivalry. (AFP) 
Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune hosted a meeting between Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Algiers after years of rivalry. (AFP) 
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Algeria to Host New Palestinian Reconciliation Meeting at End of December

Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune hosted a meeting between Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Algiers after years of rivalry. (AFP) 
Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune hosted a meeting between Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Algiers after years of rivalry. (AFP) 

Hamas announced on Saturday that Palestinian factions will hold a new round of talks in Algeria at the end of December to discuss the Palestinian reconciliation process.  

Khalil Al-Hayya, deputy chief of the movement in the Gaza Strip, said Algeria will invite Palestinian factions for a new session of the national dialogue that is aimed at achieving reconciliation and ending internal division.  

The Fatah movement also spoke of a possibility of a new meeting being held. 

Fatah spokesperson Hussein Hamayel told the Anadolu Agency said factions may hold a meeting to build on the agreements reached during the first round of meetings held in Algeria in October.  

Hamayel reiterated his movement’s commitment to all items of the “Algiers Declaration” that was signed by the factions in October. 

The declaration stressed the importance of national unity and confronting and resisting the Israeli occupation.

It called for achieving the legitimate goals of the Palestinian people, and for adopting dialogue and consultations to resolve differences. 

It stressed the need to hold presidential and National Council elections.  

An Algerian-Arab team would supervise and follow up the implementation of the terms of the agreement in cooperation with the Palestinians.  



US Military Says It Strikes Iran-Backed Militia Facility in Syria

A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
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US Military Says It Strikes Iran-Backed Militia Facility in Syria

A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)
A convoy of US military vehicles near Qamishli, Syria, February 2020. (SANA/via Reuters)

US forces conducted strikes in Syria against Iranian-aligned militia groups for a second day in a row Tuesday in response to further attacks on US personnel, US Central Command said late Tuesday.

In the latest retaliatory strikes, US forces hit a weapons storage and logistics facility after militia groups launched a rocket attack on US personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi in Eastern Syria.

Earlier Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that over the weekend the militias had also targeted US personnel with a drone attack and indirect fires at another base, Green Village, where US troops are operating — which prompted the US to strike nine militia targets on Monday in self-defense.

There are about 900 US troops deployed in Syria. No US troops were injured in either attack.