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UNITED NATIONS, Russia and China joined forces Thursday to block adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at establishing a cease-fire in northwestern Syria and gaining full access for humanitarian workers to the province of Idlib.The two veto-wielding powers blocked the text put forward by drafters Belgium, Germany and Kuwait, who hold the Syria humanitarian file on the Security Council.We remain convinced that the council cannot stay silent and must act, German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said. "That is why we have tabled this humanitarian resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities.But Russia said the text was doomed to failure and ignored the need for fighting terrorists. Thursday's veto was its 13th on Syria since the conflict began in 2011.The Syrian air force, wit...

UNITED NATIONS, Russia and China joined forces Thursday to block adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at establishing a cease-fire in northwestern Syria and gaining full access for humanitarian workers to the province of Idlib.The two veto-wielding powers blocked the text put forward by drafters Belgium, Germany and Kuwait, who hold the Syria humanitarian file on the Security Council.We remain convinced that the council cannot stay silent and must act, German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said. "That is why we have tabled this humanitarian resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities.But Russia said the text was doomed to failure and ignored the need for fighting terrorists. Thursday's veto was its 13th on Syria since the conflict began in 2011.The Syrian air force, wit...

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, received this Wednesday at his office in Yarze the Norwegian Ambassador to Lebanon Leni Stenseth, followed by the Finnish Military Attache in Lebanon, Colonel Juha Makela, with talks touching on cooperation between the armies of the two countries.Source: National News Agency

UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Wednesday that a long-sought agreement has been reached on the composition of a committee to draft a new constitution for Syria, an important step toward hopefully ending the more than eight-year conflict.The U.N. chief told a news conference that U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is doing the final work with the parties in relation to the terms of reference, and we hope that this will be very soon concluded.Guterres expressed hope that formation of the constitutional committee will be a very important step in creating the conditions for a political solution for this tragic conflict.At a Russian-hosted Syrian peace conference in January 2018, an agreement was reached to form a 150-member committee to draft...

GENEVA, An independent commission on Syria has accused all parties in the coutry's conflict of cold-bloodedly pursuing military objectives regardless of the cost in civilian lives and human suffering. Investigators of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria say the battle raging in the northern city of Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria, is being waged by all sides with total disregard for the safety of its 3 million civilian inhabitants. Presenting their latest report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, they say members of the terrorist group, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, have launched indiscriminate rocket attacks against military positions of pro-government and Syrian government forces, killing and maiming dozens of civilians.They say the response by Syria and...

Supporters of Islamic State are rejoicing at what appears to be a new message from the terror group's reclusive leader, in which he promises the war against the United States and its allies is far from over.The voice, purportedly that of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, tells supporters during the more than 30-minute-long audio recording that the U.S. is now drowning in the quagmire of Iraq and Afghanistan, adding Washington is powerless to help its allies in the region and around the world.No longer can it do anything but give empty talk and false promises to its partners," the voice said, according to a translation by SITE Intelligence Group.The wheel of attrition is running smoothly by the grace of Allah and on a daily basis and on different fronts, the voice added.U.S. officials said analysts are...

Supporters of Islamic State are rejoicing at what appears to be a new message from the terror group's reclusive leader, in which he promises the war against the United States and its allies is far from over.The voice, purportedly that of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, tells supporters during the more than 30-minute-long audio recording that the U.S. is now drowning in the quagmire of Iraq and Afghanistan, adding Washington is powerless to help its allies in the region and around the world.No longer can it do anything but give empty talk and false promises to its partners," the voice said, according to a translation by SITE Intelligence Group.The wheel of attrition is running smoothly by the grace of Allah and on a daily basis and on different fronts, the voice added.U.S. officials said analysts are...

Damascus, Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Sunday stressed that the criminal and repressive acts being exercised by the separatist terrorist militias of the so-called QASAD against Syrian citizens match up with the schemes implemented by states agents to the USA and prepared by authorities of the Israeli occupation for the region, stressing Syria's determination to restore every inch of the Syrian territories and liberate them from terrorism.The Ministry said in a letter directed to Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Security Council that separatist terrorist militias of the so-called QASAD continue their terrorist and criminal exercises against the Syrians in the provinces in Hasaka, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo �backed by the USA and forces of Internation

Damascus, Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Sunday stressed that the criminal and repressive acts being exercised by the separatist terrorist militias of the so-called QASAD against Syrian citizens match up with the schemes implemented by states agents to the USA and prepared by authorities of the Israeli occupation for the region, stressing Syria's determination to restore every inch of the Syrian territories and liberate them from terrorism.The Ministry said in a letter directed to Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Security Council that separatist terrorist militias of the so-called QASAD continue their terrorist and criminal exercises against the Syrians in the provinces in Hasaka, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo �backed by the USA and forces of Internation

Homs, Since the start of 2019, Krak des Chevaliers castle witnessed extensive renovation and restoration operations carried out by the Syrian-Hungarian joint mission, which is due to continue its work in October.Director of the castle Naima Muhartem said these operations were carried out in the castle and its courtyards and some of its holes, including insulating the roof of the chapel and excavations for uncovering water channels.She added that since the start of 2019, around 15,000 people have visited the castle, with 4,641 visitors in August alone.Source: Syrian Arab News Agency