33 Regime, Opposition Groups Invited to Sochi

File Photo/Astana meeting held last January. AP
File Photo/Astana meeting held last January. AP
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33 Regime, Opposition Groups Invited to Sochi

File Photo/Astana meeting held last January. AP
File Photo/Astana meeting held last January. AP

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday a list of invitees to the so-called “Syrian National Dialogue Congress” to be held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Nov. 18.

The list of 33 groups and political parties from both the Syrian regime and the opposition includes the Free Syrian Army, the High Negotiation Committee and the Syrian National Coalition from the opposition groups, in addition to the Syrian ruling Baath Party and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party.

The list of invitees shows that some changes had been made to the initial proposal of holding the Congress, first suggested by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

The name of the congress was changed from the “Congress of Peoples of Syria” to the “Syrian National Dialogue Congress.” Its location was also moved from the Hmeimim air base in western Syria to the Russian Sochi resort.

An opposition source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group plans to discuss with the High Negotiation Committee whether to participate in the Sochi congress, adding that Russia was now trying to circumvent the Geneva meetings and the political transition by directly discussing a new Constitution for Syria.

For his part, Ambassador Bashar Jaafari who represents the Syrian regime, said his country was ready to participate in Russia’s Congress. But, Jaafari condemned the Turkish military intervention in Syria.

“Since the 6th Astana meeting, Turkish forces have infiltrated with their armored vehicles, in cooperation and coordination with al-Nusra Front, into Syrian territory in contrary to its obligations under the agreement of de-escalation zones among the guarantor states,” Jaafari said.

He confirmed that Syria was first suggested as the location of the conference, saying the Congress will instead be held in Russia.

On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended holding the Congress, and said it “aims to expand the scope of participants in the Syrian peace process by inviting the representatives of various tribal, ethnic and religious groups to join it.”

Lavrov was also cautious to explain that Russia does not consider the Congress as a rival to UN Resolutions, or to their path. “The Congress aims to fully implement all the UN decisions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition failed on Tuesday to reach any solution in the Astana meetings concerning the file of hostages and captives in Syrian prisons.

On the battlefield, regime forces shelled Damascus’ eastern Ghouta, leaving several casualties.



Israel Seals off the Occupied West Bank

Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Israel Seals off the Occupied West Bank

Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk by the closed Deir Sharaf checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

Israel closed all checkpoints to the Israeli-occupied West Bank Friday as the country attacked Iran, a military official said Friday.

The move sealed off entry and exit to the territory, meaning that Palestinians could not leave without special coordination.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military recommendations.

Around 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule.

With the world’s attention focused on Gaza, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have grown in size, frequency and intensity.

The crackdown has also left tens of thousands unemployed, as they can no longer work the mostly menial jobs in Israel that paid higher wages.

Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran on Friday that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least two top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal. In its first response, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through.

Israeli leaders cast the attack as necessary to head off an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, though it remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that.