Spanish Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria Must End Violence Permanently

Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
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Spanish Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Syria Must End Violence Permanently

Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)
Attendees pose for the official group photo at the IX Conference on Syria, on the occasion of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium, 17 March 2025. (EPA)

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Asharq Al-Awsat ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels that European foreign ministers assured their Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani that the EU is committed to supporting the interim government to ensure humanitarian aid reaches all Syrians in need.

He confirmed that the EU would announce additional aid amounting to 10 million euros to address the basic needs of Syrian citizens.

Albares emphasized that, in return, there must be a definitive end to violence, respect for the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities, and the protection of women's rights.

Donors at a European Union-led conference on Monday pledged 5.8 billion euros ($6.3 billion) to help Syria's new authorities as they struggle with humanitarian and security problems after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Moreover, Albares expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached between the transitional government and the Kurds, paving the way for their full integration into Syria’s peaceful future.

Contrary to expectations ahead of the Brussels donors’ conference, the European Union did not reduce its pledges to Syria but instead committed approximately 2.7 billion dollars (2.5 billion euros) for 2025 and 2026.

The majority of this funding will come in the form of direct aid through international agencies and humanitarian organizations, with no involvement from the transitional government.

The latter had insisted on sending a clear message, through Shaibani, rejecting any “foreign agendas” being imposed on Syria, according to sources at the conference.

Discussions at the conference focused on a “comprehensive peaceful transition” and reaching a political solution to ensure a stable future for Syria.

The challenges of poverty, hunger, lack of education, and the deterioration of critical infrastructure, especially in health, education, and banking sectors, were also addressed.

Sources revealed that the US withdrew from the donor group, despite the presence of American organizations and individuals at the conference.

The general atmosphere at the conference was described as positive and calm, with efforts focused on pushing the reconstruction process forward in Syria.

However, the aid provided remains minimal, covering less than 1% of Syria’s estimated $350-$400 billion reconstruction needs.



Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
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Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq announced that their forces have deployed in new areas near the border with Syria.

Army commander Amir Rashid Yarallah also toured the border area in western Nineveh near Syria.

No reason was given for the reinforcements, but they took places a day after fierce fighting on the Lebanese-Syrian border and four days after Baghdad announced the killing of the head of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

The US Central Command said Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or “Abu Khadija,” was killed in Iraq’s Anbar province in an operation in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces.

Iraqi authorities have tightened border security since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to prevent the infiltration of gunmen and members of ISIS to the country.

The PMF said its new reinforcements are in line with a deployment plan launched by the Nineveh operations command to boost security and stability in the area.

Forces are equipped with medium and heavy weapons and they will monitor the border to protect the country against any possible threat, it added.

Field sources in al-Anbar said they did not detect any unusual military activity near the border with Syria.

Also on Tuesday, the PMF stated that it did not record any security breach along the border with Syria.

Anbar operations commander Qassem Mosleh told the Iraqi News Agency that his forces are highly trained and armed. Effective cooperation is ongoing with all security agencies, including the army and police.

Moreover, he highlighted the high coordination with tribes in the area that have provided information about ISIS terrorist gangs.

Foreign Miniter Fuad Hussein had received in Baghdad last week his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani for talks on “joint security challenges”.