Germany Throws Support Behind Sudan’s Government

Merkel and Hamdok hold a joint press conference prior to their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Berlin on 14 February 2020. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Merkel and Hamdok hold a joint press conference prior to their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Berlin on 14 February 2020. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
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Germany Throws Support Behind Sudan’s Government

Merkel and Hamdok hold a joint press conference prior to their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Berlin on 14 February 2020. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Merkel and Hamdok hold a joint press conference prior to their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Berlin on 14 February 2020. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed support to the Sudanese government during a meeting in Berlin with Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

“Sudan is at a historical turning point,” Merkel said after her talks with Hamdok, who was in Germany to attend the Munich security conference.

Before Hamdok’s arrival in Berlin, the German parliament decided to lift sanctions placed on Sudan since 1989 and to resume development, technical, political and financial cooperation between the two countries.

“Sudan is looking forward to finding opportunities ... namely in the sectors of energy, agriculture, training and infrastructure,” the Sudanese PM tweeted, commenting on the German decision.

At the press conference in Berlin, the Chancellor said: “We have followed [events in the country] with great sympathy and also great respect over the last year, what the Sudanese people have done without violence and courage, how they have collapsed a regime of injustice and that the country has now begun a new process.”

Merkel said Germany could only begin to imagine how difficult the task is to tackle political and economic reforms.

“We will support Sudan with everything we can with our partners,” she said, adding that Germany has been participating in the UN mission in Sudan with a task to promote the rule of law and peace mediation in Sudan and to provide humanitarian aid.

Merkel explained that her country is committed to coordinating international support efforts within the framework of the informal Friends of Sudan group.

She said the economic situation in Sudan is very serious and that people are waiting for success, probably for quick successes.



Israel Surrounds Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israel Surrounds Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

Israeli forces have blocked supply routes to the southern Lebanese border city of al-Khiam ahead of storming it.

They have also surrounded the strategic city with Hezbollah fighters still inside, launching artillery and air attacks against them.

Hezbollah fighters have been holding out in Khiam for 25 days. The capture of the city would be significant and allow Israeli forces easier passage into southern Lebanon.

Field sources said Israeli forces have already entered some neighborhoods of Khiam from its eastern and southern outskirts, expanding their incursion into its northern and eastern sectors to fully capture the city.

They cast doubt on claims that the city has been fully captured, saying fighting is still taking place deeper inside its streets and alleys, citing the ongoing artillery fire and drone and air raids.

Israel has already cut off Hezbollah’s supply routes by seizing control of Bourj al-Mamlouk, Tall al-Nahas and olive groves in al-Qlaa in the Marayoun region. Its forces have also fanned out to the west towards the Litani River.

The troops have set up a “line of fire” spanning at least seven kms around Khiam to deter anti-tank attacks from Hezbollah and to launch artillery, drone and aerial attacks, said the sources.

The intense pressure has forced Hezbollah to resort to suicide drone attacks against Israeli forces.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television said Israeli forces tried to carry out a new incursion towards Khiam’s northern neighborhoods.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that since Friday night, Israeli forces have been using “all forms of weapons in their attempt to capture Khiam, which Israel views as a strategic gateway through which it can make rapid ground advances.”

It reported an increase in air and artillery attacks in the past two days as the forces try to storm the city.

The troops are trying to advance on Khiam by first surrounding it from all sides under air cover, it continued.

They are also booby-trapping some homes and buildings and then destroying them, similar to what they have done in other southern towns, such as Adeisseh, Yaround, Aitaroun and Mais al-Jabal.

Khiam holds symbolic significance to the Lebanese people because it was the first city liberated following Israel’s implementation of United Nations Security Council 425 on May 25, 2000, that led to its withdrawal from the South in a day that Hezbollah has since declared Liberation Day.