Syria FM Says Sanctions Relief Shows 'International Will'

A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
TT

Syria FM Says Sanctions Relief Shows 'International Will'

A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)
A demonstrator waves the Syrian opposition flag, also known as the revolution flag, during a gathering with other supporters and members of the Syrian community called by the Syria Solidarity Campaign group in Trafalgar Square, central London, on December 8, 2024, to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime. (AFP)

Syria's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the lifting of sanctions on his country showed an "international will" to support Damascus, after EU countries agreed to end the bloc's economic sanctions.

In a press conference in Damascus alongside his Jordanian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani said that "lifting sanctions expresses the regional and international will to support Syria", adding that "the Syrian people today have a very important and historic opportunity to rebuild their country".

"The plan today is to benefit from the lifting of sanctions. Anyone who wants to invest in Syria, the doors are open; anyone who wants to cooperate with Syria, there are no sanctions," he added, AFP reported.

Shaibani's statement came after European diplomats said in Brussels that the EU had given the green light to lifting all economic sanctions on Syria in an attempt to support the country's reconstruction following the December overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

EU foreign ministers are expected to officially announce their decision later on Tuesday.

The move would follow US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that he was waiving sanctions on the war-torn country.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi congratulated Shaibani on the developments, saying Syria was now "in a new phase, and Syria's success requires giving it a chance to succeed".

Lifting sanctions would provide the Syrian government with "the capabilities it needs to serve its people and will allow the private sector in all countries of the world to work towards that", Safadi said.

The EU had already suspended some restrictions on Syria's key economic sectors in February.

Officials said these measures could be reimposed if Syria's new leaders do not fulfil their promises to respect minority rights and move towards democracy.



Syria to Start Currency Swap on January 1st, Central Bank Governor Says

Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
TT

Syria to Start Currency Swap on January 1st, Central Bank Governor Says

Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syrian pounds are pictured inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria February 3, 2020. Picture taken February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Syria will start swapping old banknotes for new ones under a ​plan to replace Assad-era notes starting from January 1, 2026, Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh said on Thursday.

Husrieh announced the introduction of the new Syrian currency, saying the decree "sets January ‌1, 2026, ‌as the start date ‌for ⁠the ​exchange ‌process". Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in August that the country will issue new banknotes, removing two zeros from its currency in an attempt to restore ⁠public confidence in the severely devalued pound.

The ‌step is intended ‍to strengthen ‍the Syrian pound after its purchasing ‍power collapsed to record lows following a 14-year conflict that ended with President Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December.

Husrieh ​said the operation will take place through a smooth and orderly ⁠swap - a move bankers hope will ease fears that the new currency could fuel inflation and further erode the purchasing power of Syrians already reeling from high prices.

He added that a press conference will soon outline the exact regulations and mechanisms.


Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
TT

Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)

The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.

The high-level Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries.

The wreckage was scattered across an area covering 3 square kilometers (more than a square mile), complicating recovery efforts, according to the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

A 22-person delegation, including five family members, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.


Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
TT

Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Thursday that the country’s parliamentary elections are a constitutional obligation that must be carried out on time.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency quoted Aoun as saying that he, alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is determined to hold the elections on schedule.

Aoun also emphasized that diplomatic efforts have continued unabated to keep the specter of war at bay, noting that "things are heading in a positive direction".

The agency also cited Berri reaffirming that the elections will take place as planned, with "no delays, no extensions".

The Lebanese parliamentary elections are scheduled for May next year.