Syrian Opposition Expanded Meeting 2 Kicks off in Riyadh

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends an interview with Reuters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends an interview with Reuters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Syrian Opposition Expanded Meeting 2 Kicks off in Riyadh

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends an interview with Reuters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends an interview with Reuters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

The Syrian Opposition's second expanded meeting launched in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, who hosts the meeting, addressed the opening session of the two-day gathering before leaving the room for the members of Syrian opposition to discuss the crisis in their country, welcoming them in the Kingdom and expressing hope that their endeavor and efforts strike every success.

In his speech, Jubeir said the meeting comes amid international consensus on the importance of reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis, describing the stage the Syrian crisis is witnessing as critical as it turned seventh.

Addressing the partakers, he said "the Syrian people everywhere are now gearing to you and waiting for tangible results to achieve their aspirations as you are now facing an historic responsibility to end the crisis which your people can no longer tolerate and gearing to see a solution in the offing and move to future under a clear political framework".

Jubeir stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will remain standing by the side of the Syrian people, as firm as it was.

“We will provide help and support for them in all what they need,” Jubeir told reporters.

“We hope they can come out of the conference unified,” he added.

He pointed that there would be no solution for the Syrian crisis without Syrian congruence and consensus that would achieve the aspirations of the people who look forward to see their suffering coming to an end based on Geneva I declaration and UN Security Council resolution No. 2254.

For his part, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for the Syrian crisis, who also attended the opening session, demanded the Syrian opposition to form a unified delegation to Geneva talks, saying that humanitarian assistance should reach everyone in the besieged areas and adding that "within few days we are going to put a framework for the political process in Syria".

De Mistura added that Riyadh meeting aims at reactivating Geneva negotiations.

Following the departure of Jubeir, the conference, which gathers a wide-range spectrum of the Syrian opposition, started.



Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.


Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.


Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
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Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA

Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh visited the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, held from February 6 to 16, where the Kingdom is serving as the Guest of Honor.

He commended the efforts of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission in showcasing the rich diversity of the Saudi cultural and literary scene. The pavilion features exhibitions of manuscripts, a Saudi fashion corner, and archaeological replicas, SPA reported.

The minister reviewed the commission's Tarjim translation initiative and Saudi literature comics.

This participation at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair showcases Saudi creativity and fosters cultural dialogue, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of knowledge exchange and cultural leadership.