Russia, Iran Seek to Advance Türkiye-Syria Normalization Negotiations

Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
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Russia, Iran Seek to Advance Türkiye-Syria Normalization Negotiations

Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)
Turkis-backed fighters are positioned on the Mahsali and Arab Hasan frontline on the outskirts of Manbij in northeastern Syria as they fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on September 4, 2023. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP)

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad reaffirmed that the Turkish occupation in northeastern Syria will end, and the Turkish withdrawal is the only way to restore relations between the two countries.

Mikdad discussed during a symposium at the al-Assad National Library in Damascus about cooperation between the Syrian and Russian delegations to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

He stressed that the US occupation of northeastern Syria, its looting of wealth, and its support for separatist terrorist groups will end thanks to the struggle of the people of Deir Ezzor and Hasaka, side by side with the Syrian Arab Army.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Tehran is trying to create good conditions to resolve the problems between Türkiye and Syria, stressing that the territorial integrity of Syria is a fundamental issue.

Regarding the disagreements between Syria and Türkiye and the process of normalizing their relations, Kanaani mentioned that Iran is actively working to facilitate improved relations between the two nations.

In a joint press conference in Tehran with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the necessity of resolving the problems between Ankara and Damascus through dialogue and respecting borders.

Furthermore, Manbij witnessed renewed escalation after five members of the Turkish-backed National Army were killed and about 15 others injured when the Manbij Military Council, affiliated with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), targeted a Turkish military vehicle.

The vehicle was seized, and members of the National Army withdrew from the battlefields.

The incident coincided with the bombing of a car belonging to the deputy commander of the military council of Manbij due to an IED planted inside the car by unknown persons, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Contact lines between "Euphrates Shield" areas, controlled by the Turkish forces and their proxies, and areas of the military council of Manbij witnessed infiltration operations on several frontlines.

Clashes erupted between the factions and the military council of Manbij, accompanied by artillery shelling by regime forces within Euphrates Shield areas on the opposite side of the al-Sajour line.

A National Army member was killed, and others were injured, in violent clashes between groups of the military council of al-Bab and National Army factions in al-Bohij village in Manbij countryside following an infiltration operation.

Syrian regime forces stationed in al-Farat and Jabal al-Sayadah villages in the countryside of Manbij fired heavy artillery shells on areas within the Euphrates Shield areas.

The Syrian forces repelled a new infiltration of the National Army into Um Jeloud village, forcing them to retreat.

Furthermore, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that at least six Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) members were killed in northern Syria.

It said they were preparing to launch an attack in the Peace Spring area in northeastern Syria, which has been witnessing an escalation for days.

The clashes extended to Afrin, northwest of Aleppo, where Turkish forces and factions loyal to them bombed the Olive Branch area.

In Idlib, Russian warplanes carried out four raids in Jabal al-Zawiya within the de-escalation zone called the "Putin-Erdogan" zone.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed in Sochi recent developments in Syria and pushed the path of normalization between Ankara and Damascus.



EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.


Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 


Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.