Regional, Int’l Powers Welcome Sudanese Political Agreement 

Sudanese Army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (4-L) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (3-L), accompanied by leaders of civilian groups hold up signed documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
Sudanese Army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (4-L) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (3-L), accompanied by leaders of civilian groups hold up signed documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
TT
20

Regional, Int’l Powers Welcome Sudanese Political Agreement 

Sudanese Army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (4-L) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (3-L), accompanied by leaders of civilian groups hold up signed documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)
Sudanese Army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (4-L) and commander of the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (3-L), accompanied by leaders of civilian groups hold up signed documents of a framework agreement to end the political stalemate in Khartoum, Sudan, 05 December 2022. (EPA)

Several regional and international powers welcomed the signing of a framework deal between Sudan’s ruling generals and the main pro-democracy group on Monday. 

The deal pledges to establish a new, civilian-led transitional government to guide the country to elections and offers a path forward in the wake of Sudan's stalled transition to democracy following the October 2021 coup. 

The Saudi Foreign Ministry congratulated on Monday the parties for inking the deal, hoping it will help achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people.  

It stressed that the Kingdom continues to support all efforts aimed at establishing peace, security, stability and growth in Sudan.  

It reiterated Riyadh’s backing of the tripartite mechanism aimed at facilitating dialogue and consultations between the parties to the transition, it added. 

Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hussein Jaafar described the deal as a “historic accomplishment.” 

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said the agreement was a first step that must be followed up with others to complete the peaceful settlement through intra-Sudanese dialogue. 

He added that the Saudi government was working with all parties to push forward the dialogue to meet the demands of the transitional phase and the aspirations of the people. 

“The Kingdom’s position is clear. It supports stability, development and growth in Sudan,” he added. 

The United States and its partners welcomed the agreement and urged all parties to make a concerted effort to finalize negotiations on a new civilian-led government.  

“This is the key to unlocking the resumption of international development assistance and deeper cooperation between the government of Sudan and international partners,” the countries said in a joint statement.  

“We are working with partners to coordinate significant economic support to a civilian-led transitional government to help address the challenges facing the people of Sudan.”  

Participating countries include Norway, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the US. 

Egypt welcomed the agreement, saying it was a “significant and pivotal” step towards consolidating the structure of rule in Sudan. 

The Foreign Ministry expressed Cairo’s complete support to deal and readiness to cooperate with different parties to ensure it is implemented in full to meet the aspirations of the people and bolster Sudan’s role as a backer of peace and stability in the region and Africa. 

It called on the international community to provide “all elements to support the fraternal state of Sudan to allow it to successfully progress through the transition and achieve the interests of its people.” 

Bahrain welcomed Monday’s deal, saying it was a significant step towards ensuring the success of the transitional period. 

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said the agreement was an “important step in building a civilian-led Sudanese government” that would culminate in holding elections. 

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf underscored the Gulf’s firm support to everything that would achieve peace, security, stability and growth in Sudan. 



Israel Says Rockets Fired from Syria for the First Time Since Bashar Assad’s Fall 

An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20

Israel Says Rockets Fired from Syria for the First Time Since Bashar Assad’s Fall 

An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle is seen near the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, May 4, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli army said two rockets were fired from Syria into open areas in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, marking the first time a strike has been launched toward Israel from Syrian territory since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian state media reported that Israel shelled the western countryside of Syria’s Daraa province after the rocket launch. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, also reported Israeli airstrikes that caused “violent explosions” around the city of Quneitra and in the Daraa countryside.

A group calling itself the Mohammed Deif Brigades — named after a Hamas military leader killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza last year — claimed the attack in a post on Telegram. The group first surfaced on social media a few days before.

“Until now, it’s just a Telegram channel. It’s not known if it is a real group,” said Ahmed Aba Zeid, a Syrian researcher who has studied armed factions in southern Syria.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Israel considers “the Syrian president directly responsible for every threat and firing toward the State of Israel” and warned of a “full response” to come “as soon as possible.”

Israel has been suspicious of the former opposition fighters who formed the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory since Assad’s fall.

Syria’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run TV channel that it has “not yet verified the accuracy” of the reports of strikes launched from Syria toward Israel.

“We affirm that Syria has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region,” the statement said. It condemned the Israeli shelling, which it said had resulted in “significant human and material losses.”

The US, which has warmed to al-Sharaa's government and recently moved to lift some sanctions previously imposed on Syria, has pushed for Syria to normalize relations with Israel.

In a recent interview with the Jewish Journal, al-Sharaa said he wants to see a return to a 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries but stopped short of proposing immediate normalization, saying that “peace must be earned through mutual respect, not fear.”