Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syrian Opposition's HNC in Moscow to Inquire about Sochi

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syrian Opposition's HNC in Moscow to Inquire about Sochi

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (3rd L) shakes hands with Nasr al-Hariri (3rd R) next to opposition delegation members. (Reuters)

A delegation from Syria’s High Negotiations Committee headed by Nasr al-Hariri will visit Moscow on Monday to meet with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shvoigo, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources explained that the Syrian opposition delegation will discuss with the Russian officials several issues regarding the Syrian national dialogue conference scheduled to be held in Sochi at the end of the month, including the invited parties, the agenda and outcomes of the conference.

Armed factions have refused to participate in the conference. However, the HNC has not issued a statement pending an official invitation from Moscow to come out with a decision regarding the conference.

The committee announced its participation at the Vienna peace talks scheduled for January 25-26, to discuss the agenda of the negotiations on constitutional reform, elections and political transition, in line with Resolution 2254.

In related news, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir received at the Ministry's headquarters an HNC delegation headed by Hariri.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways of achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Undersecretary for Political and Economic Affairs, Ambassador Jamal Aqil and Director General of the General Administration of Arab States Saeed Osman Sweid.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.