Syrian, Israeli Officials Reportedly Meet at Hmeimim Air Base

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is prepared for takeoff at the Russian military base of Hmeimim, Syria, on 26 September 2019. (Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is prepared for takeoff at the Russian military base of Hmeimim, Syria, on 26 September 2019. (Getty Images)
TT

Syrian, Israeli Officials Reportedly Meet at Hmeimim Air Base

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is prepared for takeoff at the Russian military base of Hmeimim, Syria, on 26 September 2019. (Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is prepared for takeoff at the Russian military base of Hmeimim, Syria, on 26 September 2019. (Getty Images)

Syrian and Israeli officials reportedly held a meeting last month at the Russian air base in Hmeimim, Syria.

The Russia-sponsored meeting tackled several issues, including Israel’s demand for Iran to pull out its militias from Syria, said the Jusoor for Studies website.

Damascus and Tel Aviv have not commented on the report.

The website said the meeting included Syrian national security bureau chief Ali Mamlouk, presidential palace security aide Bassam Hassan, Israel’s former Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and commander of Russian forces in Syria, Alexander Chayko.

The Syrian officials demanded that their country’s return to the Arab League be “facilitated” and that it receive financial aid to pay debts to Iran. They also called for lifting western sanctions on Damascus.

Israel demanded that Hezbollah, Iran and Iranian militias be withdrawn completely from Syria, that a Syrian government that includes opposition figures be formed and that the military be restructured.

The website said that “no specific agreements were reached, but it represented the beginning of Russian efforts” towards a certain objective. More meetings are expected in 2021.



Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
TT

Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon during 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday. At least 13,492 have been injured.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 ignited the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.

The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2 million people.

Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct. 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon.

In Israel, 72 people have been killed from Hezbollah attacks, including 30 soldiers.