Syrians Face Death in Sudan Amid Clashes

Smoke rises from burning aircraft inside Khartoum Airport during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum (Reuters)
Smoke rises from burning aircraft inside Khartoum Airport during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum (Reuters)
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Syrians Face Death in Sudan Amid Clashes

Smoke rises from burning aircraft inside Khartoum Airport during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum (Reuters)
Smoke rises from burning aircraft inside Khartoum Airport during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum (Reuters)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it was following with concern the developments in Sudan, a week after deadly clashes erupted in the country, killing 11 Syrians.

Syria is also following with great interest the situation of its nationals and the diplomatic mission in Sudan, it said.

State-owned Syrian News Agency (SANA) official news agency quoted an official source as saying that the Ministry instructed the Syrian embassy in Khartoum to register the names of Syrian community members wishing to be evacuated.

Syrian refugees residing in Sudan had sent out, via social media, distress calls to evacuate them from the troubled country.

A Syrian woman told Asharq Al-Awsat that she lost contact with her brother four days ago, who informed her earlier that the situation was challenging. She said he and his family were confined to their home without electricity, water, or enough food.

The woman was trying to find a way to help her brother out of the country, but that didn't seem easy.

Aside from the dangerous security situation, her brother cannot return to Syria because his passport has expired, and he is wanted by the Syrian security forces.

According to Syrian sources in Sudan, several Syrian workers were stabbed when they left their embassy in Khartoum on Friday. They also confirmed that the death toll had risen to eleven since the outbreak of the clashes a week ago; four of them were killed in an attack at the embassy five days ago.

Meanwhile, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Khartoum, Bishr al-Shaar, stated that they were outside the embassy, and it was difficult to reach the premises due to the security conditions difficult situations.

Syrian website, Athr Press, quoted Shaar as confirming the difficulty of evacuating all 30,000 Syrians after Khartoum International Airport was closed.

He explained that other evacuation options included Port Sudan, which is a 15-hour car ride.

The official said that the embassy would prepare for the evacuation if airports were re-opened or land roads were secured, pointing out that the evacuation of 10,000 people to safe areas requires 50 planes or 200 buses.

Unofficial sources estimate over 90,000 Syrian refugees live in Sudan, mostly young men fleeing compulsory military service, and hundreds of families who oppose the regime.

Since the outbreak of the war in Syria in 2011, Sudan has been at the forefront of countries that received refugees "without conditions," treating them as Sudanese citizens. Several of them were also given passports.

The number of Syrian refugees in Sudan in 2019 was estimated at more than 250,000. Many left the country after the toppling of the Omar al-Bashir regime, and the transitional government imposed restrictions on Syrians.

The Syrians were required to obtain an entry visa, and the Sudanese passports of 10,000 of them were revoked.



Arab League Secretary-General Welcomes Announcement of US-Iran MoU

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab League Secretary-General Welcomes Announcement of US-Iran MoU

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, paving the way for its formal signing on June 19, with the aim of reaching a sustainable ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement issued today, Aboul Gheit expressed hope that this development would represent an important step toward ending Iranian and Israeli attacks on Arab territories and creating the conditions for launching a process that would end the war and achieve lasting stability in the region, SPA reported.

He warned of Israel's continued efforts to undermine the agreement and perpetuate a state of ongoing conflict, while commending the diplomatic efforts made by Arab, regional, and international parties to reach the MoU.

The secretary-general called on the concerned parties to approach the next phase of negotiations in a positive spirit and work toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

He stressed that any final agreement must respect the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Arab states and take into account legitimate Arab demands for achieving security in the region.


Arab Parliament Speaker Welcomes US-Iran Agreement

Arab Parliament Speaker Welcomes US-Iran Agreement
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Arab Parliament Speaker Welcomes US-Iran Agreement

Arab Parliament Speaker Welcomes US-Iran Agreement

Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Yamahi welcomed the preliminary agreement reached between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as a positive step toward de-escalating tensions in the region and enhancing security and stability at the regional and international levels, SPA reported.

In a statement today, Al-Yamahi praised the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and all regional and international parties that contributed to bridging viewpoints and supporting the diplomatic endeavors that led to this agreement, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting regional security and stability.

He stressed that any final and permanent agreement must take into account the security interests of Arab states, foremost among them the Arab Gulf states, and be based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

Al-Yamahi reaffirmed the Arab Parliament's support for all peaceful initiatives aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.


UKMTO: Container Vessel Fired upon and Boarding Attempted by Skiff off Yemen Coast

Patrol boats affiliated with the Yemeni coast guard off the port of Mokha in the southern Red Sea (Saba News Agency)
Patrol boats affiliated with the Yemeni coast guard off the port of Mokha in the southern Red Sea (Saba News Agency)
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UKMTO: Container Vessel Fired upon and Boarding Attempted by Skiff off Yemen Coast

Patrol boats affiliated with the Yemeni coast guard off the port of Mokha in the southern Red Sea (Saba News Agency)
Patrol boats affiliated with the Yemeni coast guard off the port of Mokha in the southern Red Sea (Saba News Agency)

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received a report on Monday ‌that ‌a container ‌vessel was ⁠approached and fired upon ⁠by a small skiff 14 ⁠nautical miles south ‌off the ‌coast of ‌Yemen, ‌with an attempted boarding.

Authorities are investigating, ‌and vessels are advised ⁠to transit ⁠with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO, it said.